Sabbath Labour in the Mercantile Marine.—In the House of Lords attention was called by Lord Muskerry to the amount of Sabbath labour which is imposed upon the officers and men of British merchant ships when lying in seaports both at home and abroad. He moved: “That this house is of opinion that it is desirable that this question should receive the attention of His Majesty’s Government, in order that legislative measures may be introduced to deal with it.” The Earl of Granard, speaking for the Government, said that while he was in full sympathy with the movement to lessen labour on the Lord’s day, yet it was difficult to see what kind of legislation the Government could bring in to accomplish this purpose. After further discussion the motion was withdrawn, nothing definite being done.
Knox and Liturgies.—This subject is dealt with by a writer in the August number of the Quarterly Register, the organ of the Alliance of Reformed Churches holding the Presbyterian system. “It is due to the memory of Knox,” he says, “that his position toward Liturgies in general, and to those of Edward the Sixth in particular, should be correctly stated. So far from being in sympathy with such, Knox, during all his career as a Reformed minister, seems to have carefully avoided their use. ‘In no instance,’ says Laing (Knox’s Works, vol. vi., part ii., page 283), do we find Knox himself using set forms of prayer.’ The book denoted by the title, ‘Knox’s Psalms and Liturgy,’ is by no means a Liturgy as the word is understood to-day; and its use in this latter sense in connection with his name, is a great injustice to his memory.”
Knox’s Liturgy.—The writer above referred to proceeds to show the origin of the Scottish Book of Common Order, commonly known as Knox’s Liturgy, and points out that the following statement at its close shows the light in which the book was intended to be used:—“It shall not be necessary for the minister daily to repeat all these things before mentioned; but, beginning with some manner of confession to proceed to the sermon, which ended, he either useth the prayer ‘For all Estates’ before mentioned, or else prayeth as the Spirit of God shall move his heart, framing the same according to the time and matter which he hath entreated of.” It is evident from this statement that the book was simply meant as a help and directory. There can be little doubt that the book was used by the Readers, but these were temporary arrangements permitted at a time when the Reformation Church was in its infancy and confronted with overwhelming difficulties.