The Establishment Principle.
In the extract from the writings of Dr. James Begg in the December magazine it was mentioned that one of the sacred national arrangements is the opening of Parliament with prayer. It may not be generally known that the following prayer is offered on the beginning of each day’s sitting of the House of Commons:—”Almighty God, by whom alone kings reign and princes decree justice, and from whom alone cometh all counsel, wisdom and understanding, we, Thine unworthy servants, here gathered in Thy Name, do most humbly beseech Thee to send down Thy Heavenly wisdom from above to direct and guide us in all our consultations—and grant that, we having Thy face before our eyes and laying aside all private interests, prejudices and partial affections, the result of all our counsels may be to the glory of Thy blessed name, the maintenance of true religion and justice, the safety, honour and happiness of the Queen, the public wealth, peace and tranquillity of the realm and the uniting and knitting together of the hearts of all persons and estates within the same, in true Christian love and charity one toward another through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.” (Extract from Mother of Parliament by Sir Herbert Dunnico, K.R., J.P., formerly Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons).—R. R. S., London.
Anti-Sabbath Bill in Parliament.
At the time of writing for this issue we have learned that under the leadership of Mr. J. Parker, M.P. for Dagenham, the Sunday Observance Bill has been introduced to Parliament, having in view the repeal of some existing legislation, the effect being to sanction the opening of theatres and other forms of entertainment on the Lord’s Day, and probably much more than this. The Second Reading of the Bill was appointed for 30th January, 1953. We have received forms from friends of the Lord’s Day in England, for those concerned about the preservation of this day to sign. Signatures obtained were to be presented to the House of Commons in the form of a petition, respectfully calling upon the House of Commons to reject this iniquitous Bill. We shall, with others, be relieved and glad to learn of the success of all endeavours to retain existing legal safeguards of the Lord’s Day in our beloved land, sadly given over already to widespread Sabbath desecration. The god of this world, the devil, is prompting worldly men to do all they can to abolish any legal restraint upon violations of God’s holy commandment in this professed Christian nation. We are assured that these activities have in view money-making, seven days a week, instead of six, and the enslavement of many under a seven-day working week, although the hours per day may be limited. God does not exist in the view of men who have no time to devote to God and His worship. Yet they will ultimately meet God face to face at the judgment of the Great Day.
Church Sales of Work Condemned.
At the beginning of last December the shopkeepers of Dunfermline protested against sales of work by churches and other organisations. Mr. Peter Weir, president of the Fife Drapers’ Association, said: “If church congregations would contribute their just dues, then there would be no need for their sales of work.” It appears that these sales of work seriously affect the legitimate business of shopkeepers, and shopkeepers themselves are said to be blameworthy in giving support to such sales. Later the Rev. J. C. Brackenridge, of Headwell Church, said, “If we had such a thing as a perfect congregation the money from it would be sufficient to make sales unnecessary.” We, of course, look upon this method of gathering money by professed Christian Churches, as of worldly wisdom from root to branch. The Free Presbyterian Church during its 59 years’ existence has consistently condemned church sales of work, and hitherto the Lord, to whom the earth belongs, has supplied our needs and opened the hearts and purses of our people to give liberally to His cause. This is not boasting, but a simple statement of fact relative to the precious Cause of Christ.
Divorce Figures for Scotland.
The Scottish divorce figures for 1952, issued from the Court of Session at the end of last December, show that for every 16 marriages one couple was divorced. The number of divorce cases was the highest since the record figures of 1946. The figure then was 2,909, and in 1952 it was 2,754. Desertion on the part of husbands was a chief ground of 1952 divorces, and misconduct by offending parties was the ground in 1,052 cases. The figures reveal one sad feature of the decline in morals and religion in Scotland, and there is the inevitable sorrow, bitterness and misery in the background, affecting children and innocent parties. The Scriptures of the New Testament give clear counsel to husbands and wives as to their respective obligations to one another. Husbands and wives, whoever they be, ignore these at their peril, as far as the comfort and stability of the marriage bond is concerned. Husbands and wives would do well to read carefully Ephesians, chapter five, from verses 21 to 33, and other parts of the New Testament concerning their respective obligations, seeking grace to fulfill what they have promised and covenanted to do with respect to their partner in marriage and that before God and witnesses.
Dancing and Drink in Town Halls.
In a recent Note and Comment we referred to the desire on the part of some Councillors in Dingwall to have a license for drink at dances held in their Town Hall. Strangely enough in December there appeared in the same edition of The Bulletin, the Glasgow paper, and on the same page a report of the annulling of the by-law by Dingwall Town Council forbidding the sale of liquor in the Town Hall, and a report that Stornoway Town Council had banned the holding of Saturday night dances in the Town Hall on account of the drinking carried on at these dances. “The Town Hall was like a madhouse,” said Councillor Donald Stewart, Stornoway. So dancing and drinking can turn a Town Hall into a madhouse in one night. It is a pity that the Stornoway Councillors had not an opportunity of advising the Dingwall legislators to retain their by-law against liquor in the Town Hall. “They that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption.” But we must not omit to state that Dingwall Councillor William Morrison said he was convinced that two-thirds of the crime before Ross-shire magistrates was caused by drink.
Lecturer’s View of Eternal Punishment.
Mr. J. A. Hadfield, London University lecturer in psycho-pathology and mental hygiene, in his presidential address to the Educational Association Conference in London on 29th December last argued first of all that society had a right to vengeance for violent crimes. Then he is reported as saying that religious doctrines taught in the past had contributed to the moral decay of our day. And further he said, “But we no longer believe in hell; we no longer believe in a God who takes pleasure in seeing people suffer eternally the tortures of the damned.” We would make brief comments on the aforesaid statements. Mr. Hadfield expresses the view of the masses who have discarded the Bible as the Word of God. He allows to society, himself included, to take vengeance for crimes of violence, but does not permit God to take just vengeance upon rebels against the majesty of heaven. He does not believe in hell, but that is quite understandable in the case of the unbelieving, natural man. Yet this does not eliminate the reality of hell. And finally no Christian even believes in a God who takes pleasure in seeing people suffer eternally. Because God declares, “As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”
Mr. Hadfield had better read in the book of Ezekiel to get his mind clear on some of these points. But of course God’s justice and holiness and sovereignty relative to His creatures are matters Mr. Hadfield may not have thought upon before discussing God in public. God’s Word shall stand, and “the wicked shall be turned into hell.” But what darkness and death prevails in and over the souls and minds of this generation! “O! send Thy light forth and Thy truth” (Ps. xliii).