The Opening of Assemblies.—The Assemblies of the Established, United Free, and Free Churches were opened on Tuesday, the 21st May. The Moderators are Dr Marcus Dill, Ayr, Dr Thomas Whitelaw, Kilmarnock, and Rev. William Fraser, Strathpeffer, respectively.
Foolish Advice.—Time and again we come across very foolish utterances made by ministers—utterances which are not only foolish but positively mischievous. Recently the Glasgow Herald had a report of a speech made by the Rev. Hector MacKinnon, Established Church Minister, Shettleston, at the Glasgow Highland Club dinner. He was glad, he said, that their Highland Club, while not losing reverence, at the same time was curing the Highlanders of a false reverence and superstition by reviving in Highland life and character much that they associated most fondly with the Highlands, such as music, dancing and other things that went to make life joyous, and that really were quite consistent with the highest reverence. So much for Mr. MacKinnon. In these days when there is a mad rush for pleasures that do not make for a serious outlook on life, ministers should do their utmost to discourage such questionable practices as dancing, etc., and not encourage them in this blameworthy manner. The spirit shown is that of the earth, earthy.
Superstitious Practices at Culloden.—Last year we called attention to the custom of crowds going out on a pilgrimage to Culloden Well on the first Sabbath in May. In his Survivals of Belief among the Celts, Dr. Henderson mentions that some years ago as many as 2,000 went out on this pilgrimage. Last year, if we remember rightly, the Northern Chronicle says there were about 1,000, and for this year the same newspaper gives the number as between eight and nine hundred persons. It adds:—”The trees about the well showed the devotion of these pilgrims, who hung
pieces of cloth on the branches, and the pieces of money that found their way into the water testified to their liberality. The collection amounted to the handsome sum of £2 8s. 7 $\frac{1}{4}$ d.” It appears almost incredible that so much superstition should still exist in the vicinity of Inverness.
The Memorial Altar in Crathie Church.—The last, writes the Daily News’ Aberdeen correspondent, has not yet been heard of the agitation against the marble altar in Crathie Parish Church, presented by King George in memory of his father, the late King Edward. Lord Garioch, son and heir of the Earl of Mar, the premier Earl of Scotland, has associated himself with Pastor Primmer’s protest in a vigorous and outspoken letter, in the course of which he says:—”As one whose ancestors for hundreds of years owned the Braemar, Invercauld, Balmoral, and other estates in the county, and whose family have been bound up with the county for close on a thousand years, I desire to record my protest against the presence of the Popish altar in Crathie Church. It is sad to see our ministers of religion bolstering up with contemptible snobbishness what Scotsmen have shed their blood to deliver us from. These persons made no attempt to answer Pastor Primmer’s exposures, and this can be construed only as an admission that they are wrong. The position they assumed amounts to this—because his Majesty gave it, we do not object. What snobbery! What morality! I hope that Pastor Primmer may find a more healthy condition of things when he brings the matter before the Synod.”
It will be remembered that in our last issue we noted the fact that Lord Garioch had withdrawn a legacy of £30,000 which was intended for the Aged and Infirm Ministers of the Established Church. Since then the above letter has been written, and it is to be hoped that when Mr. Primmer brings up this matter and also the St. Cuthbert’s Virgin and Child Font that he will be strongly supported at the Assembly.
A Timely Protest.—Irreverence in matters so solemn and awful as the sufferings and death of Christ reveal a condition of things that is simply revolting to every serious mind. It was against such things that the Manchester Protestant League entered a strong protest. The Dean of Manchester had granted the Cathedral and Parish Church of Manchester to be used for a lantern exhibition of pictures of the suffering and death of Christ. The protesters say:—”They regard the introduction of such exhibitions as contrary to the teaching of the Church of England and to the Word of God, and is at once a confession that the proclamation of the Gospel has lost its power. They would also further protest against an exhibition of the crucifixion of our Lord as being His shame which He endured for us, and they strongly protest against Him so again being put to open shame. The pictures at the best cannot be anything but the imagination of an
artist, and instead of being a representation may possibly be a misrepresentation. The Word of God gives the only true picture, and that ought to be sufficient for Manchester Christians.”