Sabbath as Ordinary Working Day Opposed
The congress of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers met in Aberdeen at the end of May. One important question raised was the opposition of electricity workers to the Sabbath being regarded as an ordinary working day. Mr Alf. Needham, a delegate from Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, commenting on staggered day working provisions, said: “We are not so much opposed to staggered hours, but we are opposed to making the Sabbath an ordinary working day.” Mr Needham used the word “Sabbath” as quoted above; and he seems to see the serious danger to-day of making the Sabbath like an ordinary weekday, and that men may get time off on some other day to keep their working hours down to the agreed number. This is happening all over the country, men working on the Sabbath and having leisure on other days of the week. It is indeed obvious that such arrangements are a subtle influence toward the elimination of God’s Day in the week of the working man. What a loss to the working man!
The Skye Ferry on Sabbath
Most of our readers are familiar with the facts and the news leading up to the running of the ferry from Kyle to Kyleakin, Skye, for the first time on a Sabbath, on the first Sabbath of June. The Caledonian Steam Packet Company carried out their ill-conceived decision to run this ferry on Sabbath as well as weekdays, for the transport of tourists wishing to visit the Isle of Skye. They have now begun to cater for Sabbath-breakers against the clear wishes and protests of a considerable and influential section of the people of Skye. After all that had been
done by way of protest against this worldly and money seeking project which defies God’s law, we are of the opinion that the demonstrations on the Sabbath against the running of the ferry were uncalled for and unwise. No doubt those who took part thought it their duty to do so, but the weapons of our spiritual warfare are not carnal. By all the publicity given in this case to the Sabbath, Satan may be outwitting himself, many being forced to think of the significance of God’s Day, who never gave it a thought before. The men involved in carrying out this new venture, which will encourage much Sabbath desecration in the West of Scotland, will have to answer to God for their conduct.
The Minister of Labour and Moral Standards
Mr Ray Gunter, Minister of Labour, speaking recently in Edinburgh, said that the Labour Party, trade unions and the Co-operative movement had somehow receded from the moral standards upon which they came into being. If Mr Gunter had before his mind moral standards based upon and derived from the moral law of God, then we may appreciate his expression of opinion. He also declared: “I don’t believe there is any purpose in the Labour movement unless it has a moral background.” We agree; and this applies to any Government and body of men in places of authority in our nation. All sections of the nation need to be brought back to the standards of the Word of God and the Ten Commandments in a day of divine power. Many problems which baffle men to-day would then be solved. The law is not only holy and just; but good.
Annual Meeting of Trinitarian Bible Society
The 134th Annual Meeting of the Trinitarian Bible Society was held at Caxton Hall, Westminster, on Tuesday, May 25th. The Rev. T. Shaw, M.A., a Vice-President of the Society, opened the meeting with prayer and the Chairman of the Committee, Mr H. T. Haynes, read a part of the 6th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. In his opening remarks from the Chair, Alderman G. A. Warburton, J.P., President of the Society, spoke of the Society’s constant need of the presence and guidance of God in all its endeavours and especially with regard to its future premises. The Secretary presented a summary of the accounts and a report of the year’s work and a resolution was passed approving the accounts and electing the Committee for the year.
After proposing the resolution the Rev. D. C. Downham gave an address based on 2 Kings 6, 1-7, emphasising the Christian’s need of the guidance of God and communion with God in planning
and service. He acknowledged the help given by the Society in providing copies of the Holy Scriptures in many languages for distribution in what has been described as the most cosmopolitan parish in the country. In demonstration of the power and fruitfulness of God’s Holy Word Mr Downham outlined the experience of a violent criminal whose heart the Lord opened while he was reading through one of the Gospels in the lectern copy of the Bible in the empty church.
The Rev. H. N. J. Waite seconded the resolution and delivered an exposition of Titus 1: 9, declaring the supreme place of the Word of God in the calling and sanctification of the redeemed and their preparation for the Lord’s service, and the use of the same Word in the refutation of error.
Politicians Condemn TV Immorality
As we glean our Comments from all quarters, we were gratified to read that a resolution by Mr G. F. Cullie, Aberdeen, at the Scottish Unionist Association Conference, condemning certain undesirable programmes on B.B.C. Television, was accepted by the Conference in April. Mr Cullie said there had been a rather frightening development of mass demoralisation by the repeated viewing on television of scenes which 30 years ago would have shocked us. He also said: “The obsession with sex and the glorification of crime were a serious threat to the moral welfare of our own and future generations.” Mr Cullie is to be respected for his true and outspoken witness against this great and evil menace of to-day.