The Reformation called a Conspiracy.
Just before the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland met in May last, when as readers know, the Report on Bishops in Presbytery was to be debated, an Episcopalian minister in Edinburgh, preached a sermon against the Reformation in Scotland. Rev. Douglas Lochart, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh, made the following statements in his sermon—That the Reformation was a hell-hatched conspiracy, and that it should be commemorated with penitence and not satisfaction. He said that there was nothing to be thankful for in the Scottish Reformation. Instead of John Knox, he said, directing his energy and zeal to a genuine reform of the Old Scottish Church, he came with a new religion. And in the report of his diatribe, not sermon, he declared a great deal more to the same effect. Mr. Lochart’s view is that the Old Church of pre-Reformation times should have been purged and not destroyed. The new religion he referred to, is the religion of the New Testament and of the Apostles. But this religion Scotland sorely needed when John Knox came on the scene in the wonderful providence and mercy of God. The bishops lording it over all others, the priests, the mass, the holy days, without the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, was certainly not the religion of the Bible. Knox was instrumental in bringing into Scotland, not a new religion, but a true religion, which Episcopalians still despise as evidenced by Mr. Lochart’s efforts to defame the giant of those past days, John Knox.
A Solemn Event.
On the first Wednesday of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, in May, the Rev. S. T. M. Robertson, Ardclach Church of Scotland, rose in the Assembly and returned to the attack on the Church’s sponsored Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh. He criticised this Church Theatre and the type of plays staged in it at the 1958 Assembly, but was practically laughed at by his brethren then, because he admitted he had never attended the theatre. Mr. Robertson, up to that time had done what we have done, namely, read reviews in the press of plays staged at this theatre for information. But the Rev. Mr. Robertson was not finished with his exposure of this real evil within the Church. He attended the Theatre to hear and see for himself what went on there under the auspices of his Church. So at this year’s Assembly he condemned the “suggestiveness, and swearing, and taking the Holy Name of Almighty God in vain,” on the stage of this theatre. And he demanded that a committee be set up to consider the whole matter. He said, “We need John Knox to come down from his statue in the Assembly Hall courtyard, and, thunder again from the pulpit of St. Giles’.” He was not supported by the Assembly in his witness against blasphemy and evil. No committee was appointed. What a terrible indictment against even the moral insensibility of hundreds of so-called ministers of Christ, and, professed Christian elders! After Mr. Robertson delivered himself, he went out to the corridor of the Assembly Hall, and almost immediately collapsed and died. In our humble opinion, this is one of the most solemn events in the providence of the Lord, of its kind, which we have heard and read of. Instead of sniggering by members as in 1958, there were serious faces when the Moderator announced to the Assembly, Mr. Robertson’s death. May we be found on the side of truth and righteousness, and witnesses against evil, when we come to meet with death, and this by the reign of grace in our hearts; not necessarily in a great assembly of our fellow men, but in our soul’s experience and activity.
An Unwanted Holiday.
This Letter to the Editor of “The Bulwark,” Edinburgh, speaks for itself.
25 Paton’s Lane
Dundee.
26th March 1959.
DEAR SIR,
You may be interested to have the following information regarding the way in which Roman Catholic influence is being felt in Dundee.
The Spring Holiday for the schools here is from 3rd to 20th April, but tomorrow, Good Friday, another day is being given to pupils of all schools. The reason for this is that the R.C.’s have complained bitterly that their school children would not be able to attend their Church three times on that day (this is apparently compulsory for them), if the schools were open. These R.C.’s made their influence felt so much that now our Protestant children are off school for one day without any reason. Except, of course, that it is a Roman Catholic holiday and must, if necessary, be imposed on other people irrespective of their feelings in the matter.
R.C. schools are in the minority in Dundee. What would it be if they had a majority? We should leave them to their dead works, and not to be partakers of their sins. After this victory, what next? It seems that no one cares very much one way or the other.
Yours faithfully,
(Mrs.) JOY OLDWALL.