Original Seceders and “Selected Psalms.”—In reference to our note on this subject in last issue, we have received the following letter from the Rev. Thomas Matthew, Kilwinning:—
O.S. MANSE,
KILWINNING, 1st July, 1907.
REV. AND DEAR SIR,—I have just got the July number of the Free Presbyterian Magazine, which I am always pleased to see and peruse. I notice you have a note on “Original Seceders and the Psalms,” which you must have written under a misapprehension of the design of the proposed selection of Psalms. It is not from any idea that any part of the Inspired Psalter is unfit for New Testament worship, for as a matter of fact we sing all the Psalms from beginning to end, and there was no intention to limit our liberty in this direction in congregational praise. But it was found that in Sabbath Schools there were a number of Psalms which were considered more suitable for use than others, and which, in fact, were generally given out to be sung. And it was these that were to be gathered into a small volume along with the music, and which the children might carry in their hands and learn to sing more efficiently after having committed them to memory. I believe the design was to give the young a more intimate acquaintance with the divine Hymn Book, and to show them there was no necessity for having recourse to human Hymns. At the same time I saw no need for the proposed selection, and gave the proposal no encouragement, and so general has this feeling been throughout the Church that it is very doubtful if the proposed volume will ever be issued. The proposal emanated from the Psalmody Committee, who thought that the Psalms usually sung in young people’s meetings would, in this way, come to be better sung. As the note seems to me to give your readers a wrong impression of the real facts of the case, I trust you will put the matter right in your next issue.—And, with kind regards, I remain, yours very truly,
THOMAS MATTHEW.
We are pleased to learn that Mr. Matthew did not encourage the proposed volume, and that it is not likely to be published. There is a wide-spread disrelish of the Psalms in the churches of to-day, and whatever may be the object of the promoters of the Psalm Book referred to, we do not think the method is at all a justifiable or desirable one. We have seen complete Psalm Books that the smallest child could carry. There is too much cry about music now-a-days. The music is more to many than the words of eternal life, and the tuning of the voice more than the tuning of the heart by the Spirit of God.
Scottish Members and First Reading of Convent Inspection Bill.—It is melancholy to observe that of 22 Scottish members who voted on the first reading of Mr. T. L.
Corbett’s Bill, 12 voted against it. A number, of course, didn’t vote at all, who ought to have made a point of being present, and voting in favour of the Bill. The following is a list of the Scottish “Ayes”:—Rt. Hon. H. O. Arnold-Forster (Unionist), St. Andrews; Sir Arthur Bignold (U.), Wick Burghs; A. W. Black (Liberal), Banffshire; Hon. Thos. H. A. E. Cochrane (U.), Ayrshire (North); Norman Lamont (L.), Buteshire; Major M’Micking (L.), Kirkcudbrightshire; D. V. Pirie (L.), Aberdeen (North); H. J. Tennant (L.), Berwickshire; W. Mitchell-Thomson (U.), Lanark (N.-W.); Sir John Batty Tuke (U.), Edinburgh and St. Andrews Universities. Scottish “Noes” (all Liberals):—J. S. Ainsworth, Argyllshire; J. A. Bryce, Inverness; Sir T. G. Coats, Renfrewshire; Rt. Hon. R. B. Haldane, Haddingtonshire; J. D. Hope, Fife (West); J. M. Macdonald, Falkirk Burghs; P. A. Molteno, Dumfriesshire; J. Murray, Aberdeenshire (East); D. M. Smeaton, Stirlingshire; J. E. Sutherland, Elgin Burghs; Eugene Wason, Clackmannan; J. D. White, Dumbartonshire.
Resolution anent Bill for Inspection of Monasteries and Convents.—The following is the resolution that has been drawn up and forwarded by the Committee of the Free Presbyterian Synod on above subject:—”The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland desire to express their cordial approval of the present Bill before Parliament in regard to the Inspection of Monastic and Conventual Institutions, and would humbly urge upon His Majesty’s Government the extreme desirability and urgent need of giving every facility to its becoming law at no distant date. They would respectfully submit the following considerations in favour of Mr. T. L. Corbett’s Bill: (1) That Great Britain alone of civilized nations (not excepting such as are Roman Catholic) permits these Monastic and Conventual Institutions to exist and grow without any Government inspection; (2) that these Institutions impose a bondage upon the inmates thereof, which deprives them of the individual liberty that is the birthright of all other subjects of King Edward VII., and involves a slavery of the most absolute kind; and (3) that these Institutions, though professedly organised in the interests of sanctity and purity, have been proved by history and the testimony of individual experience to be the abodes of injustice, cruelty, and even gross immorality.
“The Synod instruct that copies of this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister, Mr. T. L. Corbett, M.P., and Mr. John Redmond, M.P.”
It may be pointed out that the latter M.P. is one of the Irish opponents of the Bill. Personally we do not see why intelligent Roman Catholics should not favour such a Bill as this. It is in perfect harmony with the efforts of such men as O’Donnell, Macarthy, and Jeremiah Crowley, who have written and spoken against the corruptions of their Church. We have received the following letter of thanks from Mr. T. L. Corbett, M.P.:—
“HOUSE OF COMMONS, 11th July.—DEAR SIR,—Accept my hearty thanks for your kind letter and for the resolution passed by the Synod of the Free (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland. It is very cheering in fighting a hard battle to find that our cause has so many friends in all parts of the United Kingdom. Please convey to the members of your Synod my grateful thanks for their help.—Yours sincerely, T. L. CORBETT.”
Obituary.—There have been several losses by death recently throughout the Church, among these being Kenneth Maclean, Gairloch, an aged, humble Christian, eminent in the exercise of prayer; John Banks, a well-known figure at Communions in Sutherlandshire, and though, in divine providence, possessing infirmities, an able speaker on doctrine and experience; and Miss Mary Macbeath, Halkirk, Caithness, many years a sufferer on bed, but an example of meekness and grace to all—much missed by her many friends. We hope to have some fuller notices of these worthy persons in a future issue.
Examinations in Convent Schools.—Mr. J. Hay Thorburn has done a good thing in calling attention to the alarming fact that examinations for the Protestant Oxford University are frequently held in Roman Catholic Convents. The exact figures, he states, are 55 out of 318 places. In Scotland there are four centres, and three of these are Convents. How this wrong state of matters has arisen we cannot say, but it shows that Romanism is actively trying to pose as a patron of education with its own pernicious ends in view.
Several articles held over till next month.