A Popish Priest Commending the Protestant Bible.
—The Protestant Observer calls interesting attention to a very unusual thing on the part of a Roman Catholic priest and scholar, George Hitchcock, D.D., of Tunbridge, Wells. Dr. Hitchcock in a recent article in The Universe describes the Roman Catholic Bible, known as the Douay and Rheims version, as “often obscure and sometimes unintelligible” and “as of little service as a means of studying the Biblical writers scientifically, or of referring people in general to their statements,” not being known by Catholics or Protestants. He further praises our Authorised Version as “the first classic in the language” and “indispensable to an English education,” and advises the Bible students of his Church to obtain a copy of the Cambridge Bible which embodies the readings of the Authorised and Revised Versions. Dr. Hitchcock shows considerable daring in view of the declared principles of his Church, which has been accustomed to burn all Protestant Bibles and their readers together. Is Dr. Hitchcock entirely sincere and
are his objects wholly good, or is he in the service of the Jesuits with a view to win Protestants to the Romish faith? If his objects are really good we earnestly trust that the Lord may bless his labours and lead him more and more into the light.
The Home Rule Movement.—As far as can be seen at the present moment, this movement has received a check, and the Government are beginning to pause and consider. The general opinion of the press, both secular and religious, seems to be that the Government now feel that it is impossible to force through the Home Rule Bill without any regard to the opposition of the men of Ulster. Suggestions of conference and compromise, even from the Liberal side, are in the air. May the Most High have respect to the prayers of His people and avert the feared calamity! The present signs are encouraging.
Statistics re Britain and Roman Catholic Ireland.—A contemporary magazine computes that our State gives a million and a half pounds a year to the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland for educational purposes. It is feared that much of this money never reaches the persons who are employed in the work of education, but simply enriches the coffers of the so-called Church. Statistics are also given of pauperism in Ireland. In Belfast, for example, “1 in every 42 Nationalists is a pauper, while the ratio for Unionists is only 36 per 10,000, or 1 in every 278.” Some people have thought that it was “the land” question in Ireland that kept the people poor. The land conditions have greatly improved, but the people continue poor. The real cause is the incessant and excessive demands of “the Church” upon the people from the cradle to the grave, and even in view of what is supposed to be beyond it, purgatory. Scottish Protestants have very little conception of the extent of Popish exaction.
Literary Notice.
Turton’s Pillar: A Memorial of the Wonders of Grace in the Regeneration and Pilgrimage of James Turton. London: C. J. Farncombe & Son, Ltd., 30 Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus, E.C. Paper covers, 4d.; postage, $\frac{1}{2}$ d. Cloth, 7d.; by post, $8\frac{1}{2}$ d.
We have read this “Memorial” (edited by Mr. J. K. Popham, minister, Brighton) with much interest and appreciation. James Turton, who is still alive at the age of seventy-four, writes a very lively narrative of his experiences in grace and providence. Brought up by godly parents, he did not, in his youthful days, pay much heed to their example and instructions, but ran riot in the ways of sin and death. At last the Lord arrested him in the very midst of his ungodliness, when he was about twenty-three years of age, and for two years “the arrows” of the Almighty sank deep into his soul and filled him with utter shame and confusion
of face, afraid that at any moment he should “drop into the pit.” At length he heard “the joyful sound” of the Gospel under Mr. Thomas Bradbury of London, and saw by faith “the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.” After this date he had many seasons of spiritual enjoyment and of sharp trial. His painful experiences in providence were not small. At the beginning of his book he gives some interesting details of his father, John Turton. “My dear old father would read no book but the Bible. . . . He used to sing the Psalms to his heart’s delight. . . . He lived ninety-two years in one house, died in the same corner of the room he was born in, and never slept a single night in any other room; never rode in a cab, coach, or carriage in all his long life, and never required a doctor. He was a born slave, and yet he was God’s free man; I should say, the freest man I have known.” “Turton’s Pillar” is written in a humble, sincere, godly manner, with a freshness and vivacity that leave a very pleasing effect upon the mind. We commend it to our readers as a suitable and edifying gift-book for old or young.
Church Notes.
Communions.—Oban, first Sabbath of November; St. Jude’s, Glasgow (Jane Street, Blythswood Square), second; Fort William, and Halkirk (Caithness), third; Edinburgh (Hall, Riego Street, near Tollcross), fifth.
Meeting of Synod.—The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland will (God willing) meet in the hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on Tuesday the 11th November. The Moderator, Rev. Neil Macintyre, Stornoway, is expected to conduct public worship at eleven in the forenoon.
Acknowledgments.—Mr. Angus Clunas, Treasurer, 35 Ardconnel Terrace, Inverness, begs to acknowledge, with thanks, the following donations:—For Sustentation Fund—£30 16/ (balance of expenses), from Deputy (Rev. J. R. Mackay) to Canada; 10 dols. from “Friend,” Lobo, Canada, 5 dols. from “Friends,” Williams, Canada, 5 dols. from “Friend,” North Newton, Canada, 5 dols. from “Friend,” Lochalsh, Canada, 5 dols. from “Friend,” Canada, 5 dols. from “J. M.,” Campbeltown, Canada, 5 dols. from “Friend,” Detroit, U.S.A., 1 dol. from “Friend,” Lochaber, Canada—all per Rev. J. R. Mackay; £5 from Miss M., New York, per Rev. N. Cameron; £5 from “A Friend,” per Mr. Wm. Macdonald; £1 from “Anon,” (Calderbridge P.O.) For Matabele Building Fund—£100, equally for this Fund and Kaffir Psalms, “In memory of a beloved sister who took a deep interest in the Matabele Mission”; 20/ from “A Free Presbyterian,” Daviot; 5/ from “A Free Presbyterian,” Stratherrick; 2/6 from “A Friend,” Inverness; and 5 dols. from “Friend,” Wardsville, Ont., 5 dols. from “Friend,” Canada, 5 dols. from “Three Friends,” Detroit, U.S.A., 2½ dols. from “Two Friends, East
Williams, Ont., per Rev. J. R. Mackay. For Kaffir Psalms—10/ from “Oban,” and 3/ from “A F.P. Member,” Arran, per Rev. N. Cameron; and 5/ from “Well-wisher to Cause,” per Rev. J. S. Sinclair. For Foreign Missions—20/ from Miss M., New York, per Rev. N. Cameron. For Missionaries and Catechists—10/ from “A Friend,” Tain, per Rev. J. R. Mackay.
Rev. N. Cameron begs to acknowledge, with sincere thanks, the following donations in aid of Bembesi Building Fund—”A Friend,” Tighnabruaich, £1; Mr. T. M’D., Brock, 15/6; “To help wipe out debt,” 10/; “A Friend,” Liverpool, £1; “Two Friends,” Resolis, £1; “A Friend,” Garloch, 10/; “Well-wisher,” Garloch, 5/; “A Free Presbyterian,” Arran, 10/; “A Friend,” Thurso, 10/; Miss K. M., 2/6; “Clydebank,” 5/; “A Lady Friend,” New York, £1; Mr. M. M’Leod, U.S.A., £1; Mrs. M., Cathcart, 10/; “Queensland,” 10/; F. P., Edinburgh, 5/.
For St. Jude’s Building Fund—”F.P. Member,” Arran, 10/; Mrs. M., Thurso, 10/; “A Friend,” Swansea, £1; “Lady Friend,” Glasgow, 10/.
—Rev. D. N. Macleod, Harris, acknowledges, with thanks, 20/6 from “A Reader,” for Harris Building Fund.