North of Scotland Cinema Company and the Sabbath.
The Caledonian Associated Cinemas Ltd., which, we understand, runs the Cinemas in the Inverness area and in Caithness, has recently put in operation a campaign for the opening of their cinemas on the Lord’s Day. We understand that there has been no denial of the fact that this evil campaign has in view the intake of more cash for this Company. It is good to report that Thurso Town Council, Caithness, rejected the application sent to them. Wick Town Council has advised the Magistrates of the town to refuse this application for opening of cinemas on the Lord’s Day. We understand Nairn Town Council granted the application presented to them recently which is indeed deplorable. But it is gratifying to record that the Churches, including the F.P. Church, in Thurso and Wick opposed this attempted intrusion upon the sanctity of God’s Holy Day. Petitions and letters were sent to the respective Town Councils and it was made clear that there was absolutely no demand from any section of the public for this God-dishonouring opening of places of worldly entertainment on the Lord’s Day. We were glad to hear one professional gentleman say that he would have the cinemas closed every day of the week. These present day attacks on the Lord’s Day come from many quarters. Aberdeen Town Council Finance Committee in June, decided to take no action regarding an application for permission to open the amusement park at the beach on two Sababths during the Summer season. This action is what should be expected from those in places of responsibility.
Condemnation of Violence on Television.
That there is too much violence in children’s television programmes was the main conclusion of 700 viewers—95 per cent of them mothers—who took part in a survey of children’s television for the Council for Children’s Welfare. In condemning this wicked and injurious aspect of television for children it was said: “Life seems to be held too cheaply and this gives a child a false sense of values. Always the goal is attained by violence.” This is a deplorable indictment which of course has applied to the cinema for many years. How a civilised Government professing to have the welfare of youth in mind in education and social services, etc., permit this demoralising entertainment, is difficult for us to understand. Juvenile delinquency being the grievous problem it is, even to the Home Secretary, Mr. Butler, it is amazing that nothing at all is done to purge the T.V. and cinema programmes of what is admitted to be most harmful to the young and those who are not so young. We reap bitter fruit from the presentation of brutality as entertainment. There appeared in the Daily Telegraph in June a note to the effect that “The orthodox Calvinist Church in Holland instructed members not to watch television and warned them against continuous misuse of the radio.”
World-Wide Bible Quiz.
Winners of national contests in at least fifteen countries will meet in Jerusalem on 19th August for the final test in an International Biblical Questions Contest, the first ever to be held. The contest has been organised by the Israeli Broadcasting Service, in connection with Israel’s tenth anniversary celebrations. Its main purpose is to increase popular interest in the Bible. Protestants, Roman Catholics and Jews will be among the finalists in the competition, which is non-denominational. The countries where preliminary contests have been held include the United States, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Mexico and South Africa. On each contest, questions have been taken from the Old or New Testaments or from both and have been based on general knowledge of the Bible, without reference to religious meaning. The winners of national contests will, of course, win a free flight to Jerusalem and ten days stay in Palestine. It has been stated that this contest represents a new departure in the field of cultural programmes on radio and television. We are indebted for all this information to The Inverness and Elgin Evening Express. Those concerned in this contest are searching the Scriptures at any rate and the Most High may overrule it for good in His own way according to His all-wise purposes. It is of interest that the New Testament, of course, is included in a programme linked up with the present nation of Israel, because there are bound to be questions relative to the Lord Jesus Christ, their rejected Messiah. Is the Most High removing from their minds a measure of the bitterness of their hatred to the name of Jesus and Gospel revelation? We wonder! and we should pray that it be so.
Romish Processions in South Uist.
In The Oban Times for 21st June last, there is an account of a Romish procession which recently took place in St. Michael’s Parish, Eochdar, South Uist. It is called the Corpus Christi procession. About 900 people took part. Prayers were “recited” at a Church, then a sermon and after that the procession was led by Rev. John Morrison (priest) to where an alter had been erected. Afterwards a number of the people visited “the shrines which have been erected in every township in the parish.” The account states that the statue (the idol) of the Madonna and Child which is to be erected on Rueval has been nearly completed and is expected to be crated and shipped to the island in the near future. And so the South Uist people will set up their “dragon” which can neither see, nor hear, nor speak. The Roman Catholics aver that they do not worship these images and statues. That is what their theologians say and we do not accept everything they assert by any means. At any rate they teach their people to pray to Mary, a creature. What is that but idolatry and sin? And Mary is always the outstanding and predominating figure in these statues. Shrines everywhere! These are but worthless and dangerous influences, keeping the people in superstition. A Church which will preach the Gospel of Christ and justification by faith in Him alone, according to the free grace of God; and a people who delight in worshipping God around the Bible in the homes, do not need empty popish processions and shrines for their spiritual comfort and growth in grace. It seems that the Churches in Ephesus, Corinth, etc., established by God through the apostles and evangelists, got on without big ugly statues idolatrously portraying the supposed imaginary likeness of the Redeemer. Dark South Uist needs the light!