A New Year Note.
We cannot say that things are better and brighter in the World of today as another year—1959—commences. But on the contrary, our own Nation is involved with others in international affairs which give rise to anxiety and concern for the peace of the World. In our midst, the true religion based on God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit, is at a low ebb even in the professing Christian Church; and immorality of all kinds abounds. Yet people in general are more comfortably situated as to temporalities, and appear to be more concerned about these mundane matters than about their immortal souls and salvation. Those who fear the Lord and have a modicum of discernment recognise the need there is of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us as a Nation. Those of our Church and readers of the Magazine who are followers of the Redeemer in other parts of the World, such as Canada, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.A., will no doubt agree with our rather dull outlook as to the general situation. But it is as the Christian turns to the blessed truths of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, to God’s great and precious promises, and the hope of the glory of God, that they find satisfaction, consolation and joy; and also divine encouragement to witness for and serve their Lord, as they look out upon the days that lie ahead, according to the Will of God. We wish our readers well for time and Eternity, and grace, mercy and peace from God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. And to our friends in the Church, at home and in Canada, on the Mission Field in Southern Rhodesia, in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.A., we herewith send our prayerful good wishes, that the God of all grace and of comfort will be with them in all their duties, and in prosperity and adversity. Let us remember in the midst of all that takes place, that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever.”
Roman Catholic Church and Communism.
In the same edition of a Scottish daily paper in November, there appeared two items relating to the Roman Catholic Church and Communism. The first reported that two days before the Australian Federal elections, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne bitterly attacked Dr. Evatt’s Australian Labour Party. He said: “Every Communist and every Communist sympathiser in Australia wants victory for the Evatt Party. That should be a significant warning for every Catholic and for every decent Australian.” The other item was in the form of a letter to the Editor, in which the writer states: “You say in your leader yesterday, ‘Maltese Puzzle’ that the influence of the Roman Catholic Church would prevent Communism from gaining a hold in Malta. Is it not time that this belief was recognised for the myth which it is in view of the fact that one completely Roman Catholic country (Italy) has the largest Communist Party this side of the Iron Curtain, and one nominally Roman Catholic country (France) the second largest.” So it seems the Australian Archbishop is trying to do in Australia what the Pope, Vatican and a host of priests cannot do in Italy, that is, keep Roman Catholics from supporting the Communist Party and all that it stands for. This is a serious indictment of the Roman Catholic organisation, which all over the World cries aloud that it is the main bulwark against the menace of Communism. And it is nothing of the kind in Italy, the home and centre of Romanism. A solid Protestantism, with its liberty and Christian democracy is the bulwark we need.
Further Notes on so-called Coronation of Pope.
Reporting the “Coronation” of Pope John XXIII, the Roman Catholic press referred in headlines to the glittering procession and the unparalleled splendour of the Holy See’s centuries of pomp and panoply which accompanied the Pope to his “crowning.” The usual triple crown was placed on his head amid all the scenes of outward worldly pomp and show. How absolutely unlike the lowly Lord Jesus Christ during His sojourn in the world, who became poor and had a crown of thorns placed on His blessed head! And the Apostle Peter, whose successor the Pope claims to be, never had a coronation, a throne or a crown here in the World. How unlike Peter the Pope is! Then at the final stage of the proceedings the Pope chanted among other things: “May the holy apostles Peter and Paul, in whose power and authority we trust intercede for us with God.” Let our readers note two scriptures at this point viz., “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” Psalm, 146, verse 3; and “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews, chapter 7, verse 25). And so the Pope leads in giving the evil and erroneous example to his followers to trust in the power of man and in the non-existent intercession of Peter and Paul in heaven, and so discounting the all sufficient intercession of Christ as not sufficient in itself. How contrary all this is to the Word of God and the glory of Christ! At this Romish function, Britain’s delegation was headed by the Roman Catholic, the Duke of Norfolk, who represented the Queen. He was accompanied by Mr. Peter Hope, member of a prominent Roman Catholic family, who is head of the Foreign Office news department. They were joined by Britain’s Minister to the Vatican, Sir Marcus Cheke, who is not a Roman Catholic. A ‘plane of the Queen’s Flight took the Duke and Mr. Hope to Rome. Not one of these men ought to have been present at the Pope’s “Coronation.” Our Queen is a Protestant, Her Throne is based on a Protestant Constitution, and Britain is a Protestant Nation. On the other hand, the Pope and his Church are sworn enemies of Protestantism; and the Pope is “crowned” as “the father of princes and kings,” which R.C.’s apply to our Queen as well as others. From the British Throne downward, there is need that God would protect us as a Nation from the boldness and influence of Romanists. For example, what kind of influence will Mr. Hope wield at the Foreign Office, as head of the news department there?