Drunkenness.—This form of depravity is one of our national vices. People who have travelled far abroad and returned have said that the first certificate they had that they were home again in Scotland was the circumstance that they saw a drunk man. Wine may flow freely in other countries, but for downright abandonment to the liquor vice Scotland stands pre-eminent. There is a large school of temperance reformers who base their opposition to the drink habit on the doctrine that alcohol is a poison, and so to be banished like arsenic or Prussic acid. It may be this is an extreme view, which will hardly square with certain statements of scripture. Nevertheless, there is a vein running through the Bible, not only of commendation of temperance, but of approval of complete self-denial in respect of wine and strong drink. It is noticeable that Timothy was a total abstainer until he was paternally admonished by Paul to use wine for behoof of his infirmities. Jonadab, the son of Rechab, procured much respect for his total abstinence, and was rewarded for it by God Himself. Athletic trainers, leaders of dangerous expeditions, and captains of war are, we believe, unanimous in their disapproval of alcoholic drinks. When Kitchener learned that certain Greek merchants following the army to Khartoum had liquors to sell, he promptly ordered the stuff to be poured out on the desert sands, and then he went forward and repulsed the Mahdi on teetotal principles. Nansen’s arduous expedition across Greenland was performed on strictly non-alcoholic fare. It seems then, that total abstainers have a most respectable case to present. Content, however, with suggesting that if they are fanatics, they are still fanatics in good company, we will adduce one scripture, given, we believe, as a divine direction for such a time as this is, and not to be slighted by any who profess to fear God. The apostle says (Rom. xiv. 21), “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or made weak,” and again (1 Cor. viii. 13), “Wherefore, if meat (and much more wine) make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth.” We have a fear that these pertinent apostolic directions have not had such a commanding place in the thoughts and actions of many well-meaning excellent people as they should have had, with the consequence of results outside themselves too painful to describe. But if any inside the Free Presbyterian Church or out of it are minded to shape their social course by these maxims of the Apostle we conceive they cannot well be reproached.
Coronation Day.—The Coronation of King Edward VII. is expected to take place in Westminster Abbey on the 26th June. In view of this important occasion, it would be desirable to have services in all our congregations for the exercises of prayer on behalf of the King and Queen and the national welfare, confession of sins, and thanksgiving for mercies.
The Destruction of St. Pierre.—On Saturday, 3rd May, a volcanic mountain on the French Island of Martinique in the West Indies became active after a rest of fifty years. Four days later the large town of St. Pierre was engulfed in a stream of burning lava. It is supposed that about 40,000 persons have perished. The town was Roman Catholic. The inhabitants were gay and lively, and nowise distinguished for strict morals. About 2,000 people also perished on the neighbouring British Island of St. Vincent. These calamities are of exceptional magnitude, and are fitted to make the nations tremble.