Crime Today.
The question of crime is becoming increasingly a subject of concern, consideration and discussion today within our own nation. Theft, robbery with violence, vandalism, murder, indecency, and embezzlement are some of the common crimes which are rife today. Even young boys are given to housebreaking and theft, and it is not uncommon to read of young girls beyond the control of their parents. And men in positions of trust are frequently appearing before the Courts on criminal charges. Robbery with violence could be cut by 75 per cent if the birch was brought back declared Mr. H. Cronin, secretary of the Prison Officers Association in Aberdeen recently. And there is a desire on the part of many for the return of the death penalty in the cases of murder which presently do not expose the culprits to this penalty. Many cases of actual murder, in our opinion, are today reduced to the charge of manslaughter. And there are cases of proved murder, where the guilty are sane, yet receive but a few years imprisonment on the ground of diminished responsibility. The evil nature of our outstanding sins against society is not looked upon by vast numbers of people today, with that abhorrence which once was felt. The Word of God and the law of God may be thought little of in many homes today, but our abandonment of respect for these is bearing its own terrible fruit. A generation has arisen without moral or religious example or instruction; and what wisdom is in them? Men may despise the Bible and the Moral law, but, regard for these in the past had its own blessed and beneficial effects in family and national life. There was indeed crime in the past in our land, but there was piety also. But today there is a cry for culture, yet there is abundant crime, and little piety. We cannot continue in our backsliding and irreligion, and be free from increasing crimes against society.
The Church Encourages the World.
Much is taking place whereby supposed Christian Churches are giving clear encouragement to the world to continue walking according to the course of this world. Recently, the Clerk of the Perth Church of Scotland Presbytery, Rev. W. W. Hunter, said “People play golf and tennis on a Sunday, and I am not saying that they are doing wrong.” And so let people go to their golf and tennis, and neglect the weighty matters of the divine law, and let them go with the approval of men who hold the office of the Christian Ministry. And they will go, and the Churches will become emptier than they are already. What a conspiracy against precious souls! Then in North London, there is the Holy Trinity Church, Dalston, where there are “Sunday” evening “rock ‘n’ roll” sessions for young people in the district. “Sunday” dance sessions were said to be a step toward introducing the young people to the Church. As one of the office-bearers of this Church of England congregation said: “We just take a different view to the narrow one.” Yes, but the “narrow way” leads unto life everlasting; and the “broad way” leads to everlasting destruction. Surely the darkness can be felt when Churches in Britain are leading old and young down the “broad way”?
Biblical Quotations by Cable.
Some time ago the “Glasgow Evening Citizen” reported that an exchange of cables had taken place between Mr. Isaac Foot and his son, Sir Hugh Foot, Governor of Cyprus—”Foot, Government House, Cyprus: See Second Corinthians four, verses eight and nine.”—These read: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken: Cast down, but not destroyed.”—The reply sent to this was: “Foot, Callington, Cornwall. See Romans Five, verses three and four.” These verses read: “and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: Knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience, and experience hope.” This exchange of cables with mutual directions to specific parts of Scripture could not be bettered as expressing the minds of the senders.
Minister Disagrees with Opposition to Sabbath Cinemas—
At the Deer Presbytery of the Church of Scotland, Aberdeenshire, which met in September, a member, Rev. Dr. William J. Morris, Peterhead, opposed a statement to be issued in the name of the Presbytery indirectly rebuking Fraserburgh Town Council for allowing open on Sabbath one of the Town’s cinemas, and the public recreation grounds. We now give two quotations from Rev. Dr. Morris: “I go to the pictures every Sunday night—in my own home watching television. What right have I to say that couples cannot sit in comfort in the cinema”? What an extraordinary statement and argument from Rev. Morris! of course in our opinion it is just the language of an unconverted and very worldly man, with no personal regard for God’s holy day. Truly, “a blind leader of the blind.” Next he said, that all the opposition to Sunday cinemas seemed to him quite ludicrous. Their stand as Christians should be to act as Christians, no matter how many, cinemas were open on “Sundays.” But Rev. Morris himself does not, on his own statement, act like a Christian, and a professing Christian Minister, when he spends the evening of the Lord’s Day watching television. He does not himself act as a true Christian and cannot therefore support protests against unchristian activities on the Lord’s Day. He would thus condemn himself. He says in effect that he is not prepared to do that. And the sad state of matters is, that such men are not even gently reproved by anyone far less disciplined, in the Courts to which they belong.
Edinburgh not to have Cinemas on Sabbath.
An application for “Sunday” cinemas in the city by the Edinburgh and Southeast of Scotland section of the Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association was rejected by 39 votes to 13, at a Corporation meeting in October. Lord Provost Ian A. Johnson-Gilbert opposed the application strongly and said that the observance of “Sunday” is deeply rooted in Scotland, and that if one door was opened, there will be no case for refusing dancing and other forms of entertainment. We appreciate these statements of the Lord Provost; although we cannot say to-day that Sabbath observance is any longer deeply rooted in Scotland. It certainly is deeply rooted in the minds of those who fear God in Scotland. Councillor D. M. Weatherstone had solid arguments against the opening of the cinemas on the Lord’s Day from a practical and significant point of view, when he stated that there had been no request from the customers, no request from the employees, and only a half-hearted one from the employers. Of course the rejected request was for the regular and permanent opening of cinemas on the Lord’s Day. As was pointed out, the cinemas were allowed to be open on Sabbath during three weeks of the Edinburgh Festival; and on five other Sabbaths they are permitted to be open in the name of charity. The Sabbath is so trampled upon today that we are relieved to read of even a measure of opposition to further encroachments upon its sanctity.