The B.B.C. and Bad Language.
Councillor W. Weir Gilmour, of Peebles Town Council, alleged at a meeting of the Council recently that obscene language had been used in programmes of the B.B.C. He wished the Convention of the Royal Burghs of Scotland to request the B.B.C. to stop broadcasting such language, and sought the approval of his Council for the tabling of such a motion at the Conference. He obtained approval by seven votes to two. We are entirely dependent upon Councillor Gilmour for accepting the fact that such language was used on the B.B.C., and we doubt not, but that he has first hand knowledge. We trust that the B.B.C. will be taken severely to task by the Convention of Royal Burghs. It is indeed wicked in the extreme that B.B.C. officials should permit such a state of affairs. Church Committees, on Religion and Morals in Scotland should obtain details from Councillor Gilmour, and thereafter enter strong protests to the B.B.C. Truly the instruments in Satan’s armoury, for ruining souls, are many.
Support in Eire for Irish Republican Army.
Although the authorities in Dublin have taken action recently against members of the illegal Irish Republican Army and sentenced some to terms of imprisonment; it is reported that Mr. Sean McBride, leader of Eire’s Republican Party in the Eire Parliament, has threatened a vote of “No confidence” in the Eire Government because of their action against the I.R.A. and for other reasons. Without McBride’s support, it is said, the Government could be defeated. So here is an influential party in Eire who apparently support the men who raid Ulster. This is exactly the situation as we believed it to be. And we are also of the opinion, as we have already stated in these notes, that the Church of Rome is at the back of the whole campaign against Protestant Ulster. Another matter which came to light when men of the I.R.A. were being tried in Dublin was, that they were receiving money from America to support them. It seems that the plot “down with Britain” emanates from all parts of the world. But may the Lord, who reigns, frustrate the designs of the enemy.
Organised Recreation on School Playing Field at Alves on Sabbath.
In January, a recommendation came to the Moray and Nairn Education Committee from their playing fields sub-committee, that the use of the playing field at Alves be granted the local committee and that it be granted on the Sabbath from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Rev. A. Gemmel opposed the granting of this recommendation. Mr Gemmel, a Church of Scotland minister, and a member of the above Education Committee said, “My conscience does not allow me to support recreation and organised games on Sunday.” He was told by the Director of Education that the matter had been raised with Alves Kirk Session, who had left the decision to the education committee. A poor Kirk Session indeed, leaving a moral and religious matter to be dealt with entirely by the education committee. What about the “Tell Scotland” movement? Does this Kirk Session not know its duty to tell men to keep the Sabbath Day holy? The Rev. Joseph Grant, who presided at the Education Committee said the position would be reviewed in six months. This evil recommendation was approved. Whoever the Rev. Joseph Grant is, he did not seem to support Mr. Gemmel either. It may seem an arrogant and unguarded statement to make, but we make it, viz., that many of the men who hold the office of the ministry and the office of the eldership in the Church of Scotland today, ought to clear out from taking an official and public part in the Christian religion which is based upon the infallible Word of God. In the light of Scripture, much of their conduct and many of their views are anything but Christian. It is also a shame that this Education Committee would not give deference to Rev. A. Gemmel’s views, who probably is a Church representative on the Committee to put the Christian point of view on the matters arising, when necessary.
A Jesuit Priest and the People of Lewis.
In the Stornoway Gazette, 8th January issue, there appears a long article by Rev. J. G. Capaldi, Jesuit priest, and a brother of Mr. P. Capaldi, cafe owner, Stornoway. The article is taken from the magazine The Mercat Cross. Among many things he avers that the younger generation in Lewis are kicking against the goad of the strict discipline of their Churches and especially against the Biblical Sabbatarianism of their parents. He seems to think that the religious future of the island is not very promising. He states this point in so many words. Then he laments that the “Catholic Church” (what he ought to say is Roman Catholic Church) in Lewis and Harris, is not in a position to offer an alternative to Protestantism in general and Presbyterianism in particular. He further entertains the hope that the few Roman Catholics in this area will act as a beacon to guide back to the faith of the Pope the friendly and kindly people of Lewis. His actual words are “the faith and Church of their fathers.” This servant of the Pope uses the right word when he writes “back” to the R.C. faith. He would like Lewis to go back to idolatry, superstition, the blasphemy of the Mass, servility to a celibate priesthood, to penances, a purgatory for all, Latin services instead of Gaelic or English, and to the conditions prevailing in Spain, Eire, Colombia, and the miserable conditions in the Pope’s country of Italy riddled with Communism. And by the way, the brother of this Jesuit priest seems to thrive well in business among the Protestants of Stornoway; while Protestant Pastors are persecuted and killed in these modern times in Colombia, by members of Jesuit Capaldi’s Church, for preaching the Gospel of Christ.