Drunkenness Throughout the United Kingdom
Last August it was reported that the Home Office were to appoint an enquiry into the increased rise in drunkenness throughout the nation. This was stated as a reply to Mr Compton Carr, M.P., who had asked for details of the annual official statistics on drunkenness. It was said that the nation’s insobriety was causing concern to Government Ministers, and Mr Brooke, the Home Secretary, was to deal with the matter as one of inquiry. A 14 per cent. increase in convictions for drunkenness in England and Wales in the first nine months of last year. The inquiry was to apply to Scotland. In connection with this serious state of affairs in the habits of the people many comments may be made. Undoubtedly people generally have more money than they need for essentials, although Unemployment and National Assistance payments are also being thrown away on drink and gambling by many. Then the advertising of drink in all classes of newspapers and magazines is obviously costing a lot of money, and many of these advertisements of a pictorial kind are aimed at attracting young men and girls to the evil habit of partaking of intoxicating liquor. Again it is really notorious and scandalous how many are being charged with “drunk driving” in our Courts. Again, drinking is frequently causing trouble and disturbances at public dances in all parts of the country. Instead of the Government relaxing restrictions on the sale of drink, it should restrict its sale, as that which stupefies, debases and renders men more like animals than human beings. The health of the nation and of children yet unborn is bound to suffer seriously by general and constant drinking habits by an increasing number of people. We have successful campaigns, medically, against tuberculosis, polio, etc., and at the same time a rise in drunkenness. What folly!
Tension in and Between Nations
During the late summer authentic reports on international affairs contained much information regarding internal political trouble in quite a number of countries and of political strife and tension between other nations. In South Viet-Nam, the President, Ngo Dinh Diem, came in for severe criticism and opposition in his own country by Buddhist, the monks, students and the people of that pagan faith. Yet the facts seemed to reveal that Dinh Diem and his brother and sister, being ardent Roman Catholics, were out to deal harshly with the Buddhists, accusing their monks and others of being Communists. President Kennedy, who was supporting this regime, ultimately saw fit to send there Mr Cabot Lodge to restrain the extreme actions of this Roman Catholic-led Government. The religious strife and persecution was bad propaganda for the late Pope John’s supposed policies and for President Kennedy’s religion. Then the South African Government were said to be losing friends among the European and Western Nations. South African key Ambassadors were summoned home at the end of August for consultation. The alleged kidnapping of Dr. Kenneth Abrahams, a South African, within the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland, who was brought later to Court in Capetown, caused concern in London. And all over a large area of the northern parts of the great continent of Africa no South African planes are permitted to land by Independent African Nations. The extreme policies of the South African Government in their handling of native Africans continues to ferment serious tension and distrust between black and white there. And the latest news, in our reading, as to Russian-Chinese relations, is that China is making it known that in the not too distant past Russia, by Treaties, obtained large areas of China, which Treaties, in 1840 and later, were never recognised by the Chinese Communists. This indicates the spirit of enmity which is being fostered between peoples and nations. The aforesaid items are but points re the state of the world, nations and men of all races, without the light, power and influence of the Word of God and the Gospel of Christ. Our own nation is low spiritually and morally, so many having turned their back on the Word of God. And there is no real peace without the blessing which God alone can give through His Word.
A Welcome and Needed Protest Against a Television Feature
Mr John Campbell, a Glasgow lawyer, protested recently at views expressed in a B.B.C. television programme on “Sex and Family Life.” Mr Campbell claimed that Dr. Alex. Comfort, a biologist and writer, made a well-prepared and strong attack on Christian morality and decent family life on the programme. He said that scores of people had supported his stand; and that being dissatisfied with a reply from the B.B.C. Director-General, he was bringing the matter to the attention of the Board of Governors. We are glad indeed to know of Mr Campbell’s action and trust that his opposition to this satanic attack upon the foundations of Christians’ moral principles will have some definite effect in the minds of those who control television in this country.
This “new morality” propaganda is a flood coming out of the “gates of hell,” and Satan is not only using television to spread the flood, but also professors and ministers of religion (so-called).
Humanism Today
Humanism is being referred to a great deal in these times and may be passed off by some as a harmless philosophy of life. But underneath this term lies the outlook of the atheist and the agnostic. A recently founded British Humanist Association set down as their “starting point” the following statement: “That human problems must be faced in terms of man’s intellectual and moral resources without invoking supernatural authority.” There you have a denial of man’s corrupt, bankrupt and immoral nature and a directive that there must be no recourse to the one living and true God or to the Bible. One problem which will defy their prescription and that is sin. What will Humanism do for men at death? Our God is a consuming fire.
Churchmen’s Attacks on the Bible
Canon Pierce-Higgins, clergyman of the Church of England, spoke at a Conference at Cambridge of Modern Churchmen and, as has been widely reported, he asserted that much in the Bible if taken literally is just “plain wrong.” Another minister recently in Scotland rejected the Book of Jonah as a literal record of fact and put it on the same level as the Pilgrim’s Progress. The aforesaid English clergyman who when inducted as a Canon protested against some fundamental doctrines of the 39 Articles of his Church which are solidly based on Scripture, such as Predestination and Eternal Punishment. It is Canon Pierce-Higgins who is all wrong religiously right from the heart. But he seems to consider it right on his part to take the salary of a man who is expected to honour God and have love and respect for the Word of God. How wrong he is that he does not seek to fit himself to teach in a technical college or enter the world of industry and give up the task of endeavouring to tear the Bible to pieces and undermine the faith of some. Such men are described in the Bible as those who give occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme. That is a terrible task and a sowing to the flesh. Such will of the flesh reap corruption, if they repent not.