The Worship of Robert Burns.
—In these days when vital religion is low it is not to be wondered at that the Scottish people should be careless about the character of their idols. Robert Burns, whose genius as a poet gives him the place of the national idol, was, unfortunately, anything but an example to follow. He has written poems of high moral tone and beauty, but he has also written others whose whole tendency is to encourage degrading vice, and which, if acted on, would sap the morals of the nation. Speaking generally, Burns’ Societies are a curse to the land, and the worst feature of the whole matter is that professed ministers of Christ are found among the idolaters, and some of them think it quite in keeping with the high functions of their office to discourse on the Lord’s Day on subjects taken from their hero’s poems.
Movement towards the Union of the Churches in Canada.
—The Conference of the Joint Committee on Church Union representing the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches, has issued the Creed agreed upon by these representatives. It is too long to quote here. But our readers may easily understand that a Creed which satisfies Methodists is not likely to have much of the distinctive doctrines of Calvinism embodied in it. The explanation of the unanimity of these representatives of the different churches is not to be found in a movement towards Calvinism by the Methodists, but in a retrograde movement towards Arminianism by the Presbyterians. Whether the Union will ever take place or not is a question that may be left open meantime, but we feel there is something in the opinion expressed by a leading Methodist preacher of Toronto that the most serious obstacle to its consummation is not doctrinal but financial. The doctrinal difference might be easily compromised, but the establishment of the different funds on a common basis would, in his opinion, be a much more serious matter.
A Movement in the Right Direction.
—The Rev. Dr. Peake, Secretary of the Lord’s Day Observance Society, says the English Churchman, sends us the following, having been authorized by the signatories to do so:—”The undersigned companies engaged in the meat trade greatly regret that the principle of the old law which forbade ‘any butcher to kill or sell any victual on the Lord’s Day, commonly called “Sunday,” has of late become widely disregarded; and that an increasing number of butchers’ shops are now open on that day. They have, therefore, agreed together that the shops under their control, in number over 2,000, and employing about 7,000 persons, shall remain closed on ‘Sundays’; and they earnestly invite their fellow-tradesmen to join them in this resolve and action. It is their belief that such a step will be immediately beneficial to all engaged in the trade, whether masters or servants, and that it will prove helpful rather than injurious to the business interests concerned. They make a strong appeal to the public to support them in this matter.—Eastmans, Ltd., the London Central Meat Co., Ltd., W. & R. Fletcher, Ltd., the River Plate Fresh Meat Co., Ltd.”
Centenary of John Newton’s Death.
—It is now slightly over a hundred years since this eminent evangelical minister of the Church of England died. Born in London, in 1725, he ended his days in the same city on the 21st December, 1807. His early career gave faint hope that he would be such a devoted minister of Christ in later years. But from a reckless and godless life he was delivered by the grace of God. One of the books that made the deepest impression on him was the Life of Col. Gardiner. In 1764 he was presented with the curacy of Olney and laboured there for 15 years. It was here that he became acquainted with the poet, Cowper, and, as a result of this acquaintanceship, we have the famous Olney Hymns. Dr. Carey, the great Indian missionary, was another who was deeply influenced by Newton, as also Thomas Scott, the commentator, and author of the Force of Truth. In fact, Scott was converted from his Socinianism by Newton. In 1779 he removed to London, and his church, St. Mary Woolnoth’s was continually crowded to hear him. He died in his 83rd year, but his memory is still fragrant to all who love evangelical doctrine. Cecil’s Life of Newton gives an excellent picture of the man.
Working Men’s Lord’s Day Rest Association.
—This Association, in a New Year’s Address, informs us that in London one organisation alone drew £26,000 for concerts on the Lord’s Day, while another drew £48,000 for excursions. The Address gives the interesting information that Lord Charles Beresford is striving to put a stop to all unnecessary work on the Lord’s Day in the Navy. One would wish that the same could be said about the authorities at the War Office. The Midland Railway has made the important concession of a six-day week to all grades of its employees, who had hitherto been engaged on the seven-day scale. In Dover an attempt to bring the tramways into operation on the Sabbath has failed. The Great Central Railway has put a check on goods traffic on the Lord’s Day, and the recommendations of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Sabbath postal labour are still carefully observed by the Postmaster-General.
Gospel Magazine.
—This Magazine, so rich with the precious truths of the everlasting gospel, is still holding on its way, bringing comfort to many a home. It goes back to the days of Augustus Toplady, and so may well be described as the “oldest religious Magazine.” It is edited by the Rev. James Ormiston, Rector of St. Mary-le-Port, Bristol. It is not too much to say that it maintains the high spiritual level to-day that it had under the gracious leadership of Dr. Doudney and George Cowell—names embalmed in the memories of God’s people. The Gospel Magazine appears monthly, and may be had for six shillings yearly through Samuel Arnold, 74 Strand, London, W.C.
Crime in Scotland.
—The Westminster Gazette on a recent occasion had the following editorial paragraph:—”The Criminal Statistics for Scotland for 1906, issued yesterday, make rather sorry reading. Apprehensions and citations in twenty years have increased 40 per cent., the total in 1906 being no fewer than 175,000 odd. Scotland is the land of distilleries, and the drink figures given are certainly remarkable. The increase in the number of persons charged in 1906 (more than 11,000 over 1905) was, the report states, almost entirely due to drunkenness, the persons charged with which increased from 42,160 to 55,450; but the total number of cases of drunkenness is returned at 105,452. In fact, nine-tenths of the cases of disorder arise from intoxication. This is surely a startling total. Curiously enough, the Highland counties are the most sober, drunkenness being chiefly found where there is plenty of money in the hands of the lowest class of labourer.”