A ROMANIST UNIVERSITY.
The Pope having removed the prohibition of Romanists from attending universities, arrangements are already in progress for establishing a Romanist college at Oxford. A site has been purchased by the Duke of Norfolk for the purpose of building a college, and no doubt is felt that the wealthy Romanists will raise sufficient money to erect and endow it. In addition, it is probable that the Jesuits will establish a small hostel at Oxford.
THE BIG BLUNDER IN FREE CHURCH FINANCE.
A correspondent of the British Weekly has been sojourning in Aviemore, and comparing notes with the natives. He or she found “secession” in the air. One Highlander made an objection to “the million and half which Dr. Rainy had lent to the Roman Catholics of Fort-Augustus.” By way of taking him off he was asked if he would object to sell a sheep to a Roman Catholic. This is all very well; but it will hardly answer the purpose, as the morality of the two actions is quite distinct. The Highlander might be a little astray in his facts, but the transaction which is really in question is one that, in the purer and more sensitive days of the Free Church, would not for a moment be entertained. It may not be wrong for a private person to sell a sheep to a worshipper of the Virgin, but it does not therefore follow that the Church when she enters the banking business should fish in all waters for profit. It is meet that the Church, in her official capacity, should hold no traffic or intercourse with idolaters. A Romish doorkeeper of the Assembly Hall would be a strange anomaly; but a Romish farmer of the revenues is no less strange. The Scripture command is “Ye shall make no covenant with them.” But the Free Church has made a covenant with Rome, and a disastrous covenant it is. She has, it may be, covenanted to get four per cent. on the quarter of a million invested; but also she has covenanted to close her mouth in the Protestant controversy. The etiquette of shopkeeping necessitates this; for there is no discreet merchant or banker that will make a point of wounding the susceptibilities of his best customer; and so when the Free Church enters the banking trade and becomes the banker of Romanist landlords, she must watch her tongue like any other discreet man of business. Wherefore we may conclude that the public Protestantism of the Free Church is as good as dead.
But as touching this large sum of money at the disposal of the Free Church there is somewhat to be said. The Free Church is a rich corporation; but the Scripture has uttered no benediction on mere wealth. The Scripture rather looks askance on riches. “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” The Free Church can plead no exemption from this rule of the kingdom. Her wealth is one of her suspicious features. Had she but served her God as faithfully as she has looked after her finances she had been in better case to-day. But the stern ominous words of the apostle may well be applied to the Free Church:—”Ye have heaped together treasure for the last days.”
NOTE FROM DR. KENNEDY on the text, “No man can come to me except the Father that hath sent me draw him.” “All who are commanded to acknowledge the Father’s sovereignty are entitled to contemplate the Father’s love.”
DIVERS AND STRANGE DOCTRINES.
Dr. John Macleod of Govan, the chief Ritualist of the Established Church, has written a volume in support of his High Church views. Many have taken in hand to expound the Ritualistic position, but the Govan divine’s peculiarity is, that he finds Baptismal Regeneration in the Confession of Faith. His conclusions, however, are very difficult and precarious, as the long laboured volume, which he has been forced to write, shows. His publication has provoked a reply from a brother minister, who speaks his mind in a series of open letters to Dr. Macleod, which letters are now appearing in the British Weekly. As the attempt to find Sacramentarianism in the Confession of Faith is quite sure to be a vain, hopeless one, the critic has no difficulty in convicting the Doctor of gross absurdity, and he often pins him to the wall very effectually. Altogether we are glad to see such a sound, vigorous statement of the evangelical position from the pen of an Established Church minister.
THE POPE’S ENCYCLICAL.
The Pope has issued another Encyclical in which he rejects the Anglican Orders as quite invalid. This seems straightforward, but he knows that the High Church party are making straight for his fold, and therefore, concessions are unnecessary.
OPENING OF NEW CHURCH AT PORTREE.
The New Free Presbyterian Church at Portree was opened on the 16th September. It is a neat, well-finished building, seated for 400 persons, and costing about £800. Rev. Messrs. Mackay, Gairloch, and Mackenzie, Inverness, conducted the opening services. The collection taken at the several diets of worship amounted to £32 9s. 4d.