Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Skye: At Portree on 4th February 1992 at 11 a.m.
Southern: At Glasgow on 18th February 1992 at 6 p.m.
Outer Isles: At Stornoway on 25th February at 12 noon.
Zimbabwe: At Bulawayo on 13th March 1992 at 2 p.m.
Canadian: At Inverness on 20th March 1992 at 9 p.m.
Sabbath Opening of Stores in England and Wales
The following is the text of a letter sent by the Clerk of the Sabbath Observance Committee to the Attorney General, the Government’s chief law officer for England and Wales:
I write on behalf of the Committee to protest in the strongest possible terms against your decision, announced last week, not to prosecute the major stores who are flouting the Shops Act, 1950 by opening in England and Wales on the Lord’s Day.
Our concern, of course rests primarily on the fact that these stores are in breach of the Fourth Commandment as given by God Himself for all time: “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.” The terms of this commandment are to some extent, however imperfectly, reflected in the provisions of the Shops Act. We believe that it is your duty to see that this law is obeyed.
We do realise that local authorities have been given a special responsibility in this connection, but we cannot accept that it is right for you to abrogate your responsibilities in this matter. The least the Government should do is to indemnify local authorities, who take successful steps towards enforcement, against the possibility of future claims for damages. We do feel that, when so many other members of the EC have laws which restrict Sabbath trading, far too much attention is paid to the possibility of falling foul of European law.
There are, as I am sure you realise, wider implications for the law-abidingness of the general public if powerful concerns such as the major multiples can with impunity break this particular law. There can be little doubt about the feeling of Parliament on the matter, having refused to pass the Government’s Sunday Trading Bill in 1986. There is something totally unsatisfactory from every point of view about so many of the country’s major retailers being prepared to break a particular statute so readily, especially when the Government’s chief law officer in England and Wales has publicly announced that he will take no steps to have the law enforced. A precedent has been set; can you be sure that such law-breaking will stop here?
We have no doubt that it is not only in the best spiritual interests of this country that the Sabbath be rightly observed, but also in the interests of people’s physical and mental well being. We are particularly concerned about pressure being put on individuals to work on Sabbaths against their wills and against their consciences. We therefore appeal to you to reverse your decision and make known your intention to encourage the prosecution of all retailers who are in breach of these particular provisions of the Shops Act.
Free Presbyterian Publications
A new edition of “The Life of John Knox” by Thomas McCrie (D.V.). A new edition of “The Life of John Knox” by Thomas McCrie (216pp, £5.95) should be available by the time this issue of the magazine appears. It is much more attractively presented, both inside and out, than previous editions. Although it was first published as long ago as 1812, no one since M’Crie has succeeded in bringing out nearly so well the spiritual dimension of Knox’s life and work. The one major fact to emerge since then is that Knox was born probably in 1514, rather than 1505 as M’Crie believed; this is brought out in a new Publisher’s Introduction.
A new edition of “Gospel Gleanings for Young People” has also been printed. This book has already proved very useful. It has been thoroughly revised and some new material added. It too has an attractive new layout inside and a pleasant cover design. We hope that it will make a worthwhile contribution to young people’s reading material when there is such a dearth of sound books on this nature. A completely new book for children is also to be published.
Committee Meetings will be held at Inverness Church D.V.:
Tuesday, 24th March
| 9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. | Church Centenary Committee |
|————————-|—————————-|
| 10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. | Training of Ministry |
| 11.00 a.m. – 11.45 a.m. | Church Magazines |
| 11.45 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. | Publications |
| 2.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. | Welfare of Youth |
| 2.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. | Finance |
| 3.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. | Religion and Morals |
| 4.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. | Dominions and Overseas |
| 7.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. | Foreign Mission. |
Wednesday, 25th March
| 9.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. | Church Interests |
Eastern Europe
The interest shown by our church people in connection with the last visit to Eastern Europe indicates that the missionary vision of our people is very much alive. Liberal financial support and practical help was readily given by our church people and friends from other denominations. Transport was kindly provided free of charge by Lochcarron Garage. We are indebted also to the Trinitarian Bible Society for their grant of scriptures, tracts and calendars. To each and all we express our heartfelt thanks.
Thankfully the journey went smoothly. So different to our visit when it was a crime to take a Bible into Romania and a nerve racking experience to take a few Bibles into Russia. All that, in the wonderful providence of God is in the past and Bibles have a much easier passage into these once forbidden territories. One Hungarian Missionary who distributes Bibles in many languages requested especially the Authorised Version expressing his disapproval of the New International Version. We assured him it was our policy to distribute only the Authorised Version.
In our communication with some churches one matter which did concern myself and Rev. Neil Ross was the obvious lack of understanding about Reformed doctrine, worship and practice. In some places where there has been a history of Reformed doctrine, sadly as in our own country, lip service to a great degree is given to these doctrines. Among a group of believers one person told us that by his reading of the Word of God he came to understand and believe in the final perseverance of believers but regrettably nobody else belonging to the group believed this doctrine. What a need therefore for Reformed teaching. It is so, despite the erroneous teachings of Arminianism, that the Sovereign God will bless His own Word when and where He will. At the same time how many by these errors are given a false hope and so deceived for eternity. Our desire and prayer is that our small Mission to Eastern Europe will be able more and more to supply Reformed literature so much needed among the Churches in these parts. We were glad that along with Bibles and Gospels we did on this occasion have such literature to offer, which was supplied by churches in the West.
We were disappointed to be told when in Kiev, that due to the lack of paper in the Ukraine the printing of the Mother’s Catechism in the Russian language has to be delayed. We hope however to obtain the translation and get it printed elsewhere.
A full report of our visit to Eastern Europe will be given to the Synod, in the meantime we ask your prayerful interest for the progress of this work began a number of years ago. We remind you also that while there is a steady flow of Bibles and good literature entering Eastern Europe it is imperative that the Most High would grant an outpouring of His Holy Spirit without which all our labour is in vain.
(Rev.) D. A. Ross