A Restless World.
In these times almost all the nations of the world are disturbed by one cause or another and for one reason or another. The United States is concerned and restless now over the scientific advancement of Russia. They will not rest until they are on a parity in such matters with Russia. Our Prime Minister, Mr. McMillan, is on a Commonwealth tour, no doubt to get agreement on matters of policy. Arab nations are restless and apprehensive at the prosperity of Israel. Indonesia has been expelling Dutch people from their country. France has a great and difficult situation to handle in Algeria, great restlessness obtaining in that part of North Africa. The Union of South Africa has created dissatisfaction and unrest within its borders by government policy towards African natives, and everywhere one looks there is a restless spirit. Of course, there is no rest for wicked individuals or the godless nation. And there is no rest to nations backsliding from the Word of God and who trample His laws under their feet, as in Britain today. God is ignored, Christ the king of nations is ignored. The Word of God is ignored. And the leaders of the nations and the people of the world are guilty in these points. There can be no rest, peace, satisfaction, or universal quiet, apart from the gospel of Christ, its principles and blessed effects upon men and nations, who are “hateful and hating one another.” Men, money, human wisdom and power can never bring rest and peace to this troubled and restless age. We need the Prince of Peace in the power of His gospel for all nations.
The South Uist Virgin Mary Statue.
Some concern has been expressed recently by Roman Catholics in South Uist, that work is proposed in a quarry adjacent to the site selected some time ago for the erection of a large statue of the Virgin Mary on the island. The Roman Catholics, in their idolising of the Virgin Mary, pray to her for practically everything. They are not satisfied with the lying dogma of the Assumption of Mary or of her body into heaven. They must have a great image (idol) of her erected before their eyes. No sensible person will accept the argument of the Roman Church to Protestants that their thousands of images, great and small, are not adored and worshipped. What a poor, miserable religion it is, which requires aids and helps made of wood and stone, the work of men’s hands!
Proposed Church of England New Canons.
We have received the following leaflet which we print below to show people in Scotland what is going on in the Church of England at present.—Editor.
SOME OUTSTANDING DANGERS IN THE PROPOSED NEW CANONS.
Many people who have not the time to make a detailed study of the proposed new Canons, or to follow their progress through all stages from start to finish, have asked for a brief statement of the salient facts which have aroused Protestant Evangelicals to oppose them. In an effort to provide such a brief summary the Truth and Faith Committee sends out this leaflet.
The doctrine of the Church of England is grounded in Holy Scripture. Below are listed some of the new Canons which, as at present proposed, undermine that sure foundation, or promote teaching which is contrary to Holy Scripture.
CANON 5.
The first draft of this Canon in 1947 stated that the “doctrine of the Church of England is grounded in the Holy Scriptures and in the teaching of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church. . . .” In the course of the years since 1947 it has been amended more than once. The last amendment was worded to make it plain that only such teaching of the Fathers and Councils as is agreeable to Holy Scripture may be quoted as the teaching of the Church of England. How the Steering Committee have dealt with that amendment is not yet known. We are anxious to secure that the Bible alone shall be honoured as the authority in every question of faith and order, so that the Church of England shall continue in purity of doctrine and practice.
CANON 17
will allow clergy to wear the customary vestments of a priest saying Mass. In the Bible (Hebrews 1, 3), it is stated that when Christ “had by Himself purged our sins (He) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” His offering of Himself was the one, full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction. Therefore permission to use vestments, which are significant of the doctrine of the Sacrifice of the Mass, should not be allowed at all.
In the Convocation of Canterbury this Canon was on the agenda for discussion in May and October, 1957. The legal advisers to Convocation have said that vestments are at present illegal. This Canon has been sent back to the Steering Committee for further alterations. We must continue to emphasise the Scriptural grounds for our opposition to vestments.
CANON 26
will, if passed, provide that wafers may be used at the Holy Communion. This goes contrary to the Scriptural way of “breaking bread,” and destroys the symbolism of the loaf. It is also a departure from the existing requirement of the Book of Common Prayer, that bread shall be used. Wafers are used by those who believe in the presence of Christ’s body and blood in the elements, because they are less likely to drop crumbs.
In the October, 1957, session of Convocation, Evangelicals tried to secure that this Canon be amended to remove the above objections. After lengthy discussion it was referred back for further consideration in Committee.
CANON 35a and CANON 65
will greatly facilitate the setting up of the Confessional throughout the parishes of our land. The Bible teaches that there is only one Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ through whom confession should be made. To make rules for the habitual intervention of a human priest is unscriptural, and wrong.
CANON 51
opens the way for the use of Latin in the services of the Church to be extended. Services conducted in that dead language at best can only be an intellectual exercise, and, at worst, will become an empty and meaningless performance. The Bible teaches that five words with the understanding are better than ten thousand in an unknown tongue (I Corinthians 14).
The legal advisers have declared the extension of the use of Latin in worship to be contrary to the 1662 Act of Uniformity.
CANON 59
is so phrased that it will severely limit the ordained ministers of the Church of England in exercising their preaching gifts. The Scriptures give us our Lord’s instruction to go into all the world and preach. We must obey God.
CANON 69a
will require an unqualified promise of obedience to every Canon, present or future, which the Convocations may devise and have promulgated. Already the sinister reminder that there will be courts and penalties for infringement of Canons has been given. The attitude of “Sign or leave” is becoming very apparent with Canon-making enthusiasts. This Canon will put an intolerable burden on the clergy and such laity as hold office in the Church.
The legal advisers to Convocation say that this Canon was misconceived. It is probable that it will be dropped. We must continue to pray that it may be.
CANON 97
makes provision for the erection of stone tables. We ask, “Whoever heard of a stone table being used regularly for meals?” A stone Altar is essential for the Mass. In the explanation of this Canon the original Report (1947) referred freely to “stone Altars.”
CANON 126
as originally proposed entirely omitted the laity from any place in the synods of the Church. That is contrary to Holy Scripture. The Church is the company of believers, and the first synod of the Church is recorded for us in Acts 15. In verses 22 and 23 of that chapter we read that the decision of the Synod was adopted by the Apostles and elders and brethren, who were all present and voted. This is the only pattern of a Church Synod which we have in Scripture, and we should follow it. To omit the laity would be to hand over the Church to clerical domination, which has always led to disaster. A Commission is now preparing a report on Synodical Government. But nothing can alter the fact that this attitude of exclusive clerical control was the desire of the original Canon Law Commission, which reported in 1947.
NOTE.—Before the Convocations start to consider a Canon on what is called Stage 2, it has to be examined by legal advisers to the Convocations. They report on the legality of the contents of each Canon. It is important to note that of the above Canons those with a star * have all been declared, by the legal advisers, to be contrary to the Law as it now stands.
for more details and other literature write to:—
THE TRUTH AND FAITH COMMITTEE,
Rev. Donald R. Hill, Hon. Secretary,
c/o The Rectory, Whinburgh,
Dereham, Norfolk
Former MacQueen Memorial Minister at Ceilidh.
Rev. A. D. MacLeod, formerly minister of MacQueen Memorial Church, Inverness, and now of the Church of Scotland, Musselburgh, is reported in The Oban Times of 4th January, 1958, as president of the Musselburgh Highland Association, to have presided at a ceilidh in the Town Hall there on Saturday, 21st December, 1957. Three things appear in the report. Mr. MacLeod was piped to the platform; among other items, there was an exhibition of Highland dances; and there followed a dance.
Some time ago a Note and Comment appeared in our columns regarding similar activities on the part of Rev. A. D. MacLeod. It now appears that Mr. MacLeod habitually lends himself to these worldly and carnal activities, so frequently presided over by modern and worldly minded ministers of religion. One of our main purposes in noting this deplorable conduct is that it may assist, even at this late date, in revealing to some people how guided and right the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland was in opposing Rev. A. D. MacLeod’s ecclesiastical activities prior to his leaving the Free Presbyterian Church, with his hollow flourish of personal faithfulness to the principles of the Church. It is also a sad commentary on the lack of discernment on the part of those who supported him right to the time of his departure for the Church of Scotland from the MacQueen Memorial Church in Inverness.