ORDINATION AT STORNOWAY.
The Northern Presbytery met at Stornoway on the 18th January, and ordained the Rev. George Mackay, probationer, to the pastoral charge of the congregation there. Rev. John Macleod, M.A., Ullapool, preached and presided. After sermon on Psalm lxxviii. 18, Mr. Macleod gave the narrative of the steps taken in proceeding with the call. He then put the questions to the pastor-elect, who, having signed the formula, was solemnly ordained by prayer and laying on of hands to the pastorate of the congregation. Rev. John R. Mackay, M.A., Gairloch, addressed pastor and people as to their respective duties. There was a large congregation present. The call to Rev. George Mackay has been signed by 107 members and 589 adherents.
AN OLD THEATRE-GOER CONDEMNS THE STAGE.
Mr. Clement Scott, a dramatic critic of thirty-seven years standing, having been interviewed, gives the following testimony:—”He said that he was the worse for his thirty-seven years of playgoing; that actresses are not, as a rule, ladies, nor pure, and that their prospects frequently depend on the nature and extent of their compliances; that the theatrical profession induces the vain and egotistical that is in all of us to a degree that would scarcely be credited by the outsider; that whilst the pit and gallery retain the old faith, the men who write and criticise are freethinkers; that Ibsen is an atheist; and that whilst Cardinal Manning at one end of the religious scale hated the theatre, and the Puritan, Wesleyan, or Baptist minister detests it at the other, the philosophic man of the world, with an equal knowledge of human nature, stands between them and says they are each right.”
Mr. Bernard Shaw, another dramatic critic, corroborates as follows:—”Mr. Scott might have said a great deal more on the same side, and yet been well within the mark. He might, for example, have said that no member of the theatrical profession ever dreams of believing any statement made by any other member of it; that a tradesman will give credit to any professional man more confidently than to an actor of equal standing; that disloyalty, often operating as what a trade-unionist would call shameless blacklegging, excites neither surprise nor disapprobation in the green-room; that theatrical agreements are perhaps the riskiest securities in the world; and that the extent to which modern industrial developments are daily throwing masses of money into idle, irresponsible, ignorant, and immature hands, has made the stage probably more corrupt at present than it has ever been in the history of the world before. In short, Mr. Scott has erred, as he always errs, on the side of good nature.”
THE MISCHIEF IN BROAD BAY, LEWIS.
An indignation meeting was held in Stornoway, on Wednesday evening, 5th January, to protest against the illegal trawling in Broad Bay and Loch Roag. The apathy of the Government in not policing the waters properly was noted and condemned. The contrast was remarked between the sharp measures taken to protect the rich man’s salmon waters and the poor man’s fishing grounds. Owing to the poaching practices of trawlers the take of fish in Broad Bay was reported to have fallen from 9,000 odd tons in 1895 to 4,000 tons in 1897. The fishermen in these parts have a distinct grievance, and we hope the Government will see their way to terrorise more effectually the evildoers who are impoverishing so many respectable families.
PAINFUL EVENT IN GLASGOW.
On Tuesday, 4th January, ere the New Year festivities of the citizens were well over one of those sharp visitations, like the fall of the Tower of Siloam, took place in the city. At a fire in Renfield Street an explosion occurred which brought down a roof on which a number of the fire brigade men had mounted. Four of these brave men were killed in the burning ruins. Their corpses were found in the course of the day. The event caused profound grief and pain through the whole community, and yet, except in the case of the sorrowing few, the impression is now worn away, and business and pleasure chase each other as recklessly as before.
DR. WHYTE AND GENERAL BOOTH’S ARMY.
Dr. Whyte evidently believes in the Army. On Monday evening, 24th January, he lectured to the members in their Hall, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on “John Bunyan, his genius and services to the Church of Christ.” It is true, if Dr. Whyte is going among these people in the capacity of a physician, and believes that a dose of John Bunyan would do them good, he can justify his proceeding, as they stand sorely in need of remedial measures; but if, as is most likely, Dr. Whyte regards the Army and John Bunyan to be Christian workers of the same spirit but slightly differing in some non-essential things, he shows lamentable ignorance.
“THE SCOTSMAN” AND PRESBYTERIAL VISITATION IN THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH.
“The Scotsman” is no safe prophet to follow; but sometimes Balaam speaks the truth. In reference to a motion by Dr. Scott in the Established Presbytery of Edinburgh in favour of the visitation of Presbyteries throughout the Church—a leading article in the above newspaper of 27th January, thus concludes:—“The principal effect of Dr. Scott’s movement so far has been to give life to the suggestion that the Church should revive the old institution of superintendents. Dr. Scott has no patience with the suggestion. It makes him almost as angry as the stab of a letter in the newspapers. He would rather go farther back and have real bishops. . . . Let him beware of the goal he is driving or drifting towards. His bishop of shreds and patches may beget the superintendent, and the superintendent may beget the bishop, and the bishop the cardinal, and the cardinal the pope; and before he is aware our Scottish Zion may be an idolatrous Babylon, and the scarlet woman may flaunt her furbelows, and practise her harlotries even among the shades of the martyrs in the Castle Hill of Edinburgh.”