Meeting of Scottish Reformation Society.
The annual public meeting of the western branch of this Society was held in the Christian Institute, Bothwell Street, Glasgow, on the evening of the 20th March. W. C. Maughan, Esq., J.P., presided, and delivered a brief but vigorous opening address. The other speakers included the Revs. David Ness, M.A., Jas. M. Brisby, John Hay (South America), James Pollock (Belfast), Professor Morton and Mr. Archibald MacNeilage. Several of the addresses hit the nail on the head when it was asserted that the callous indifference of nominal Protestants was one of the chief evils with which the Reformation cause had to contend with at the present day. There was appropriate condemnation of the Home Rule Bill for Ireland, and disgust was strongly expressed at the want of thorough-going Protestantism among both political parties in the State.
The Smashed Images at Sheffield.
A case was raised at the beginning of February before the Sheffield Police Court against Mr. H. A. Baker (Wyckliffe Preacher) for breaking and destroying a crowned Madonna in St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, on the 22nd January. The prosecutor was the vicar, Rev. G. C. Ommaney. The case aroused great public interest, and the large court-house was crowded. Defendant’s counsel was Mr. T. W. H. Inskip, a Protestant lawyer, who stands high in his profession. Mr. Baker was formally committed for trial at the Assizes, which took place at Leeds, on 3rd March. This court inflicted a fine of £10 upon Mr. Baker. A great demonstration was held at Sheffield on 14th March, when the Wyckliffe preacher received an enthusiastic welcome. Some people may stand in doubt as to the Christian lawfulness of forcibly breaking these images, but Mr. J. A. Kensit points out in The Churchman’s Magazine that the Homilies of the Church of England have the following statement on the “Peril of Idolatry,” which Mr. Baker stands by as justifying his action: “Therefore God by His Word, as He forbiddeth any idols or images to be made or set up, so doth He command such as we find made and set up to be pulled down, broken, and destroyed.”
Rank Popery in English Church.
Mr. Kensit, in a faithful letter to the Bishop of London, calls attention, among other things, to a sermon by Rev. G. N. Whittingham, vicar of a church at Kentish Town, in which the following most Popish statement was made: “The souls of the faithful departed need our prayers, for they need to be further purified before they can see the Blessed Virgin Mary, let alone Jesus Christ.” In another church, he observes that candles were carried in procession on Candlemas Day, and a hymn was sung to the Virgin with the refrain in every verse, “Hail! Mary, full of grace.” Other superstitious observances are also being revived, and the Bishop, while weakly objecting to some things, tolerates in practice the whole business. Truly we have fallen upon evil and blasphemous times!