Spanish Protestants Under Pressure.
A certain young Spaniard some time ago obtained copies of the Gospel Standard Magazine from Pastor J. H. Gosden, Maidstone. Mr. Gosden later asked us to send the young man the Free Presbyterian Magazine to Spain. These magazines were deeply appreciated. But some time ago, in a letter to Mr. Gosden, he writes as follows:—“However, I must sadly say, that I’m very sure living outside this frontier, it is just impossible to imagine to what extreme Romanism is to-day ruling this country, but in some senses I think it is stronger than during the Inquisition. However, the Lord is our strength and against this no power shall prevail.” This is first-hand testimony from a Spaniard in Spain regarding the real activities of the Pope’s Church. Then, at the end of August, this young Spanish Christian was forced by circumstances to write Mr. Gosden, and Mr. John Grant, to cease sending to Spain the Gospel Standard and Free Presbyterian Magazine respectively. He writes, “… I forcibly have to ask you not to send me any more of the monthly copies of the magazine, which I have liked so much…” What an outrage on the human liberties which the Western Powers are said to be so concerned to preserve! Are the U.S.A. and British Governments cognisant of the oppression and persecution of law-abiding Christian Protestants in such a country as Spain? If so, they seem to be able to do nothing about it. It would be no wonder if many in Spain had their affiliations turned secretly to Communism as a reaction, and yet the U.S.A. are pouring money into Spain to make it a bulwark against Russia—and Spain itself officially against freedom for all classes. May the Lord arise and help needy ones who fear His blessed name in these dark places of horrid cruelty.
Strathpeffer Convention.
A religious Convention, now commonly known as the Strathpeffer Convention, takes place yearly. This Convention is supported by a number of Churches and religious organisations such as the Church of Scotland, Free Church, and Plymouth Brethren, etc. An article appeared in our pages some time ago severely criticising the mixed witness of those taking part. And in The Stornoway Gazette for 24th August last, an intimation appeared stating that the Convention would meet from September 24th to September 30th, and that “The disappearance of sectarian barriers is one of the most noteworthy features of the Convention.” And the notice proceeds that “Here are gathered in harmonious unity representatives from the Church of Scotland, the Free Church, Free Presbyterian Church, Episcopal Church and the Plymouth Brethren.” Whoever was responsible for writing the said intimation had no authority whatsoever from any court or committee or minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland to state that representatives from the Free Presbyterian Church would take part in this conglomerate convention. The Free Presbyterian Scriptural Witness could not possibly go hand in hand with the modernistic Church of Scotland and the Anglicans of the Episcopal Church. The Free Church claims to include Reformation and Calvinistic principles in what she calls her Free Church Witness, but that professed witness must surely be relegated to a corner at Strathpeffer—it is not a witness for all times, all circumstances, all places. Some of the implications of this are obvious.
Church of Scotland Minister Condemns System of Electing Ministers.
The Rev. M. MacDonald, former minister of the Church of Scotland, Taynuilt, near Oban, before leaving this charge for South Uist last August, made strong comments on certain modes of procedure within his denomination, when ministers were elected to another parish. He said, “Some congregations, before they accepted a man, insisted on his submitting a sheaf of testimonials and taking part in that “Devil’s play” called competitive preaching, and congregations had been known to be taken in by glowing testimonials from influential people.” “It is not right,” he said, “that ordained ministers to Christ should be treated as if they were little better than pedigree cattle, with the prizes going to the one who can blow the loudest . . .” Mr. MacDonald also condemned Gaelic-speaking ministers who deserted the Highlands “to collect higher stipends in the South.” This critical survey appears to emphasise a worldly and carnal state of matters in the Church of Scotland on the questions concerned, and indicates the lack of any spiritual, godly and gospel concern for the honour of Christ Jesus and the salvation of sinners. Of course, we do not look for such a concern where unconverted ministers are involved, and no one need be surprised at strange and worldly activities on the part of professed ministers of Christ and office-bearers and members in Churches when these persons are totally ignorant of the regenerating operations of the Holy Spirit. It is, of course, exceedingly sad!
Football Pools.
The curse of seeking temporal gain divorced from legitimate labour and lawful and honest service permeates the nation. Millions of men and women, boys and girls, are more concerned about winning money from Football Pools week by week than they are about their souls and salvation. To win Christ as their Saviour from sin is of no consequence at all in comparison to winning large and small sums of money by studying the activities of the football world. Now and again we read of some obtaining as much as £75,000 for the expenditure of two shillings and sixpence. One man recently obtained £75,000 in this way who had never seen a football match in his life. Only the very few attain to this cash reward out of the millions who spend sums weekly to seek to gratify the covetous exercise of their sinful hearts. “Thou shalt not covet,” says the divine law. We denounce Sabbath desecration, adultery, murder, etc., as grievous violations of the law of God, but let us think for a moment how widespread the sin against the Tenth Commandment is, viz., “Thou shalt not covet.” This sin is committed constantly in a large percentage of the homes of Britain; and shall not God visit us for these things. The promoters of Football Pool betting are amassing huge sums of money by working upon the covetousness of man’s evil heart. What a reward these men will receive at the judgment seat of Christ! “What shall it profit a man although he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
A Modern Ahithophel.
Ahithophel was the chief counsellor to King David, and then to Absalom when Absalom rebelled against David, his father. Later when the counsel of Ahithophel was sought as to how David should be pursued after with a view to his destruction, the counsel of Ahithophel was rejected by Absalom and his men in preference for the counsel of Hushai, the Archite. Thereafter Ahithophel “gat him home to his house . . . and hanged himself and died . . .” (II Sam. ch. 17). And during the month of August last a political crisis arose in Brazil. The President of Brazil, Vargas to name, who was the “strong man” of Brazilian politics for 25 years, found strong opposition arising against himself personally and his policy in ruling the country. There was a demand for his resignation, but he said he would only leave the Presidency dead. He then wrote a note and took a pistol and shot himself dead. In the note he left he declared, “Now I liberate myself into eternal life.” What spiritual darkness and delusion pervaded his poor wicked heart! And here is a modern Ahithophel possessed of reason and mental sanity, but overcome, as Ahithophel was, with the wounded pride of an unregenerate and desperately wicked heart. Truly the sin of pride is a crowning and awful sin even in its most limited activities, but when it is cherished it can urge men on to commit awful acts against themselves and others and against the God of heaven with terrible consequences to the sinner himself in time and Eternity.
Nehru Condemned regarding Indian Untouchables.
A system called untouchability is still in operation in India, a system which shuts out certain Hindu castes from social privileges and condemns them to menial tasks. As reported in the press, a former law minister in India, Dr. Ambed Kar, severely castigated Indian Prime Minister Nehru for permitting this system to continue. Dr. Ambed Kar, on 6th August last, declared that untouchables were being oppressed by caste Hindus everywhere. Thirty persons were shot dead in Rajasthan by caste Hindus who opposed the untouchables having their fundamental rights. Dr. Ambed Kar said that Nehru had thrown “cold water” on social work to lift up the untouchables. If the Prime Minister had done this, what enthusiasm could be expected from social workers, he asked. Here is an Indian exposing Nehru and an evil and wicked system which, of course, belongs to pagan darkness and which he does nothing to eliminate. We make note of this matter firstly because it shows how plausible and dishonest Nehru is when he speaks in public about peace for the world and affects to be a peace-maker, but no social peace or justice for human beings under his own government and care. Then, secondly, the continued existence of the oppression of one caste by another in India, and in the manner this is perpetrated, glaringly reveals the fact that India and Indians, from Nehru downwards, indeed need the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the principles of Christianity.