New South African Prime Minister
Dr. Verwoerd, the new Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, is a man who will not lessen, but will increase the tension obtaining in the Union over the policy of separation between Europeans and non-Europeans, especially native Africans. He said in a speech after his appointment, “That the policy of separate development is designed for happiness, security and stability provided by the Bantu, as well as the white, having their own home, language and administration.” Of course, as far as the African natives are concerned, this complete separation within large selected areas of the country is what the Bantu Act has envisaged. Mr. Verwoerd is strongly criticised in South Africa by liberal-minded Europeans as a man “closely identified with harsh non-European legislation and equally harsh administrative actions.” Indeed, many of the English-speaking population, with their roots in Great Britain and who are South Africans legally, care not for the full-blown Nationalist Government’s colour policy. Yet Dr. Verwoerd has said that their colour policy was still misunderstood. We do not think it is misunderstood by thousands of Europeans who reside in and know South Africa thoroughly. There is even tension between the English-speaking and Afrikaans-speaking section of the population. Dr. Verwoerd admitted this when he proposed the establishment of a republic for the Union. One basic reason we would give for the ardent desire of Afrikaans for a republic, is to cut away vital links, legal, patriotic and emotional, from those connected with Great Britain, and if possible influence such to forget the Home Country. So one can see that there is disunity throughout the body-politic, and extreme policies will not heal this, in as much as that they are man made and of human wisdom, with little or no regard to Christian principles applicable to man’s relation to man.
The Head of the Mormons
We recently had a Note and Comment on the black history of the origin of Mormonism, with reference to the opening of what they call a new “Temple,” at Linfield, Surrey. A Mr. David O. MacKay, the President of the Mormons, came over to England to open this building at the beginning of September. Mr. MacKay’s father belonged to Thurso, Caithness, and went to America nearly a century ago. Mr. MacKay is 85 years of age, but his religion is darkness itself in comparison to the Christianity and piety of ministers, men, and women who resided in Caithness when his father left Thurso for America. He referred in an interview with the Press to the “prophet” Joseph Smith and his successor Brigham Young, who were founders of this strange sect. He said that no Negro would be allowed into their “priesthood” until there was a revelation from the Lord to that effect, Mr. MacKay thus revealing that he and his dupes do not believe the Bible to be the full and adequate revelation of God’s mind. Of course, Joseph Smith was a deceiver, claiming to have special revelations from heaven. Another remark which he made in London was “that every man will receive blessings as to his merits.” Poor Mr. MacKay and his like seem to have no idea at all of the glorious Gospel fact that we, as poor sinners, cannot receive any spiritual, saving blessings, but on the ground of the infinite merit of Christ’s atoning death. Mr. MacKay is said to be his sect’s “high priest,” “seer,” and “prophet.” He is also president of banking, insurance, hotel, sugar and department store businesses, etc. We trust and pray that this old man’s hope that Mormonism will become a force in the religious life of Great Britain will never be realised. Britain is plagued with the Jehovah Witness sect and many other religious evils which had their origin in America. And Mormonism is another evil force of the devil’s to undermine the work of the pure gospel and the Cause of Christ in our land, which have enemies enough already.
Glasgow Corporation and Death Penalty
At the beginning of September the Glasgow Corporation had before it a motion to ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to see to the reintroduction of capital punishment for all types of murder and corporal punishment for crimes of violence. In a free vote, 38 voted for the motion and 36 against. So this motion from such a large city with its crime problems, should weigh with members of the Government to comply with its terms. We fully agree with this action on the part of Glasgow councillors. The pity is that so many voted against the motion. False charity, false views of sin and crime as against God as well as Man, false conceptions of justice as requiring the punishment of the guilty apart from other considerations, are influencing some to
appear and speak against capital punishment as if they were the only people with Christian principles. Christianity stands for the honour of God and obedience to His Word, and the employment of the sword for the punishment of evil doers according to the nature of the case.
A Scientist’s Folly
A certain Dr. Margaret Murray, a 90-year-old scientist, attended the British Association Meeting in Glasgow recently. In an interview with her, reference was made to the 33rd book she is soon to publish. “The book,” she said, “is about the origin of religion. After all, animals don’t have religion and man was at one time an animal. So where and when did he acquire religion?” The interviewer gave the information that this aged child of Adam has spent 20 years searching for the answer, and now she thinks she has found it. It seems that this old educated woman has been in the dark for 90 years and is still wandering in the darkness of spiritual ignorance; while others in their youth have discovered in the mercy of God, through the Holy Scriptures, and by the teaching of the Spirit of truth, that they have a soul, and that Christ Jesus saves the soul in sin that lies. The aged doctor’s case is a sad one. “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”
Racial Riots
An unexpected series of racial riots has occurred in London, following upon a clash between Englishmen and coloured men in Notting Hill. The facts are, of course, known to our readers. The most balanced minded persons in Britain on race relations cannot, and do not, fail to observe in their travels south and north, east and west throughout Britain, that coloured people are to be seen and met with everywhere and constantly. In fact, this is a state of matters which frequently brings comment from the lips of those who have a proper Christian outlook on such matters. The influx of coloured people to this country has certainly reached very large figures and they are such as possess British passports and are British subjects. When many coloured people without the influence of the Gospel of Christ in mind and practice come to live side by side with many British white people in our cities who also are irreligious and devoid of spiritual and moral principles, then anything can happen when differences and jealousies and controversies arise between them. The natural man, white and black, is described by the Apostle in these terms: “Foolish and disobedient, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” It is asserted that it is not because they are coloured people that they have been attacked, but because of vice and housing, in regard to which the Londoners have been irritated and angered. Whatever
the true causes of these deplorable scenes, gangs must not be permitted to take the law into their own hands. The Government must see to the prevention of such irresponsible conduct. They have indicated they intend to do so.
Communists and Roman Catholics in Poland
Reports from Poland told recently of tension between the Communist Government of Poland and the Roman Catholic Church there. A Communist Party announcement stated that any priests “breaking the State law” would be treated as ordinary criminals. Cardinal Wyszynski ordered all Roman Catholics to pray for three months against the government’s attitude to this Church. More than a million Roman Catholics were said to be marching to the monastery of Czestachowa to worship the image of the Virgin, Poland’s most sacred relic. We note here the superstition and idolatry of the Roman Catholics, so often denied by their protagonists. To us their superstitions and pagan views and worship are on a level with much of the evils of Communism. The situation was said to be one which could easily lead to civil war.
Roman Catholic Criticism from Stornoway
A picture postcard dated 22nd August, 1958, and stamped Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, was received by us, as editor. The written contents were: “In the Free Presbyterian Magazine for August it is stated that Roman Catholics teach their people to pray to the Virgin Mary. This is not true. They teach them to ask for her prayers, a very different thing, e.g., Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners; just as I might ask you to pray for me; only Mary is in heaven and you are not! Fair Play.” To the uninformed, these Roman sentiments may seem clever and witty in seeking to dispose of the charge that Roman Catholics are taught to pray to the Virgin Mary. We limit our answer to brief references to what is called The Psalter of the Virgin. Mary is called the Queen of Heaven, and praises which belong only to God are ascribed to her. Bonaventure published a Psalter of the Virgin, which was partly the Psalms of David, with the name of Mary substituted for that of God. This was published in Rome in 1934, with the approval of the Papal authorities. The following are extracts which teach R.C.s to pray directly to Mary: Psalm 2, “Let thy right hand protect us, Mother of God”; Psalm 3, “Lady, how are they increased that trouble me . . . Loosen the bonds of our iniquity; remove the burden of our sins. Have mercy upon me, O Lady, and heal my infirmity.” There is here not only praying to Mary, a creature, but blasphemously giving her the eminence of God. The more we search into these Roman Catholic views, the more abominations we find.
Bitter Attack on Lord’s Day Observance Society
In The News Chronicle of 29th August, 1958, there appeared an editorial article headed “Impertinence.” This brief editorial contains concentrated bitterness against the Lord’s Day Observance Society. The following statements are made: “The Society has carried its impertinent interference with other people’s lives to a new extreme. It is now objecting to Sunday dances held in Brighton on behalf of Jewish charities.” “The Sabbatarians are impervious to argument.” “This flagrant example of nonsensical Sabbatarianism is provoking a healthy reaction.” “… this absurd inheritance from the Ironsides.” It may be that The News Chronicle has at times condemned robbery, violence, immorality, etc., but the Sabbath law, at the very centre of the divine law, and as to its application to men, is the object of vigorous opposition. The second Psalm sums up this situation thus: “Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”