Disturbances in Nyasaland.
Readers are conversant with the information available from the press, letters to editors and discussions in Parliament, regarding unrest among Africans, and Government and police action within the Federation of Nyasaland and Northern and Southern Rhodesia. At the time of writing reports of some incidents involving Church of Scotland Missions in Nyasaland are conflicting. A Mr. Albert C. McAdam of the Church of Scotland Mission, Blantyre, Nyasaland, states in a published letter quite categorically: “The truth is, that the police initiated violence.” He stated much more to the same effect. We are told that the Government out there had information of a plot by Africans to act irresponsibly, and on this basis imprisoned a large number of African political leaders throughout the Federation, and took other strong-handed precautions. In all this, there can be nothing but the greatest anxiety among those who have been labouring for many years in these parts of Africa to bring the Word of God and the gospel of Christ to Africans of all ages, and to educate the African children and young men and women in their thousands. Writing with some first hand knowledge of our own Church Mission and Schools in Southern Rhodesia, a great work and responsibility has been left upon our Mission by the Southern Rhodesian Government in the matter of educating the Native children and in African Teacher Training. The utmost harmony has existed between the Africans and European staff and personnel in the ordinary course of the Missions activities. It is to be hoped that this invaluable work bound up with the Cause of Christ in S. Rhodesia, will not be hampered and hindered by recent events developing into racial, political and open conflict throughout the Federation.
Communist Ceremonies in place of Christian Ordinances.
In an article in “The News Chronicle” of 5th February, a special correspondent writes of, “The Communist Party’s latest move in its fight against the Church is to issue an approved form of solemn civil ceremony for births, marriages and deaths. People are not forbidden from having Church ceremonies. The aim is to make it unnecessary for them to do so. “This campaign is said to have been launched in East Germany. Instead of baptism there should be a “name giving” ceremony, and the parents are to make a formal vow to bring up their child as a “Socialist thinking, feeling and acting citizen.” And so on, to the exclusion of God and the fear of God. Hitler instituted like pagan ceremonies. Where is he and his government today? It seems to us, whoever will see it, that the God of heaven will destroy and eliminate from the face of the earth the Communistic blasphemers, in His own time and way, and however much others may suffer in the divine procedure.
Statue of the Virgin for Iona.
Rev. Dr. George F. MacLeod, leader of the Iona Community, had a long and plausible article in a daily paper at the beginning of February, defending the erection of a statue representing the Virgin Mary in the buildings connected with the Iona Abbey. He had a great deal to say about who suggested the making of it, about the artist, about who would pay for it and so on. When we got rid of all this “dust,” the plain fact is that Dr. MacLeod and others in the Church of Scotland are proceeding apace and boldly to introduce Romish practices where and whenever they can. Rev. Dr. Charles L. Warr, of St. Giles, Cathedral, Edinburgh, a trustee of Iona Abbey said, “I suppose some people will object although I can’t see why. Let there be a controversy. The Trustees are reputable men and have a perfect right to erect what they choose in Iona.” The tone of these remarks is indeed indicative of an evil determination to condone anything in the religious life of Scotland which shall assist in obliterating the testimony of Scottish Protestant Reformers. Those who have a high place in the professing Christian Church, and know not the grace and simplicity of the gospel of Christ, in doctrine, experience and practice, find fleshly satisfaction in that which appeals to the natural eye and senses in Romish forms and symbols. It is not a spiritual mind which supports the erection of such a statue. The spiritual mind in the child of God has no need of such idolatrous and nonsensical aids to worship. Dr. MacLeod and his supporters are like little children playing with expensive toys, and such as are dangerous to the souls of men. Will other ministers and laymen in the Church protest and ban the statue, as far as their powers will permit them to go in Presbyteries and Assembly? One here and there may lift their voice. The rest are not interested in such controversy. In Scotland, the things that remain are ready to die. It is a time for much prayer on the part of those who fear the Lord.
Spanish Protestants Day of Prayer.
On the 8th of February, a special day of prayer was observed in Protestant Churches throughout Spain in view of the anxious situation in which all Spanish evangelicals find themselves. All the Bibles and New Testaments of the Bible Society in Spain were confiscated nearly three years ago, and it is still illegal to import the Bible, or to print and distribute it in Spain. All evangelical schools are still closed. There are still great difficulties for Protestants wishing to get married. This is the reign of Rome and the Church Dr. George MacLeod is heading for. Freedom! The Protestant Reformers everywhere in the past obtained that for us. And what bondage there is in Spain in 1959! The aforesaid facts about Spain were published in “The Times” of London, on February, 9th, 1959.
British Medical Association Booklet.
A booklet was recently published by the B.M.A., entitled “Getting Married.” Several medical personalities contributed articles or chapters to the book. When it was published some people with some moral sense immediately objected to it, and the Medical Association stopped selling it until further consideration of its contents. Certain doctors who contributed to the book resigned from the Association and hotly criticised objectors. What we may think of their outlook and resignations may be influenced by the following quotation from an article in the book by Dr. Chesser, headed “Is chastity Outmoded?” viz., “Surely the individual citizen should have the right to choose between being chaste or unchaste, always assuming this was not detrimental to the society of which he was part.” This statement in a book intended to be helpful in the matter of marriage, is completely devoid of any thought of God, His law, His claims, and man’s responsibility to His Maker. How can people who write thus be helpful to anyone. It is satisfactory that doctors as well as others have attacked the book. Truly, the more we read and hear of the views of many in all sections of society throughout the Nation, the clearer it appears that a substantial number in our land have absolutely no regard for morals as derived from the law of God. “They have rejected the Word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?”