Some Changes the European War has made.
The tremendous upheaval in Europe has had a wonderfully sobering effect on multitudes who, two or three months ago, seemed to think that man’s chief aim in life was pleasure and sport. We dare not prophesy how long this sobriety may exist in certain quarters, but it is a new thing to find the secular press condemning in no measured terms the mania for sport as it has been doing during last month. In one of the literary columns of a Scottish daily it is hinted that, while the book world will suffer generally during the war, it is light fiction which will suffer most of all. This is not bad news. It proclaims that literature of this kind is poor comfort in times of serious stress. It has been also intimated in some of the papers that, owing to the disorganised state of France generally, and Paris in particular, that many of the mad fashions in women’s dress will not be seen in this country this year. This is as it should be. The insane fads of the feminine world in headgear and dress had reached a pitch when nothing but some overwhelming danger would bring it to an end. The word of God, both in the Old Testament and in the New, speaks with no uncertain voice against these vanities, especially to those professing godliness, as such passages as Is. iii. 16-26; 1 Tim. ii. 9, 10; 1 Pet. iii. 3-5, clearly teach. The plea that women must go in for many of these absurd fashions on the ground that they must take what is offered them, as they cannot get what they would like, may be a sufficient excuse for worldlings, but it will scarcely stand for those who profess to take the Word of God for their guide. We live in a time when all—men and women—should be characterised by sobriety in speech, behaviour, and dress, and when they should exercise discretion in the matters of food and the use of money. For in all these things the British people had reached a pitch which called for lessons of self-restraint and self-control. It is no ordinary judgment that has fallen on us, and ere this titanic struggle will be brought to an end there will be many a desolate and necessitous home. At the same time we are deeply conscious that no judgment, however severe, will have a lasting and beneficial effect, unless God’s Spirit convince us of our sins and give us true repentance. For these blessings we ought to pray with one mind.
Made in Germany.
Some of our leading dailies have recently been discussing the question as to the best means of capturing German trade for this country. In furtherance of this propaganda, business men have banded themselves together in associations, with the purpose of boycotting articles made in Germany. Up to the time of writing, however, we have waited patiently, in vain, for any indication on the part of thousands of British professors and ministers to declare that they too were determined to have nothing more to do with theology made in Germany. The only thing from British theologians was a foolish letter addressed to Professors Harnack and Sucken, in which they, among other things, let it be known how deeply indebted they were to the church historian and the philosopher. Modern German theology and modern German philosophy have ruined the intellectual independence of thousands of teachers in these islands. But it will take a mightier power than the armies of the Allies to destroy its ascendancy among us.
The New Pope.
The Archbishop of Bologna has been elected Pope, and he has taken the office with the name of Benedict XV. The new Pontiff is in many respects a contrast to the former, and will likely prove a more subtle and dangerous personality. Dr. Robertson, Venice, thus writes in The Scotsman. “Pope Pious X. was a peasant; he is a nobleman. Pious X. was uneducated and ignorant; he is a scholar and highly cultured. Pious X. was narrow and intolerant; he is wide-minded and even sympathetic with modernism. Pious X. had no knowledge of politics; he is a trained politician. Pious X. was violently pro-Austrian and anti-French; he is pro-French and anti-Austrian.”
Rome Ever on the Alert.
Rome knows how to take advantage by the hand, and the following newspaper cutting shows the use she is making of the present situation:—”On the 20th September a solemn public procession took place of the Roman Catholics of London from the Church of SS. Anselm and Cecilia, Kingsway, to Westminster Cathedral, to pray for peace and for the repose of the souls of those who have fallen in the war. The flags of the Allies were carried, and many of the French and Belgian refugees now in London took part in the religious demonstration.”
False Sentiment Opening Wide the Gates of Heaven.
In a time when so many homes are visited with sad tidings there is a danger that blind leaders of the blind should seek to comfort the bereaved with the thought that it is well with their beloved dead simply because they died heroically at the post of duty. This is a cruel delusion, and all the more so because it is a deadly poison applied to a sore, wounded heart. Let there be no misunderstanding on this matter. There is no entrance into heaven except through “the strait gate.” All the fine heroism of the battlefield, while it thrills our blood, is not to blind our eyes to the great announcement made by the Lord Jesus Christ: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.” Let us be on our guard lest our false sentiment and misguided patriotism make Christ a liar. Another line of attack made by the adversary in these times is the sending forth of men as lecturers, proclaiming in the most subtle manner possible that the Bible does not teach the doctrine of eternal punishment. Pastor Russell’s emissaries are abroad in the land. Whether they are meeting with much success we cannot say, but at such a time one can well understand how many an unstable soul will be carried away with their cruel teaching. We hope to discuss this subject at length in future numbers of the Magazine.
Pastor Primmer’s Will.
The will of Rev. Jacob Primmer, Kingseathill Manse, near Dunfermline, dated in May, 1912, holograph and written on black-edged notepaper, provides that there should be no flowers and no prayer at his grave; that his two sons, John and Jacob Hope, were to have their selection of his books.
The testator left his Bible, “a gift from his mother before we were married, which I have read from end to end at least 40 times,” to his son, Jacob Hope, and his journal and scrap books to write his life to his son John. He directed that the inscription for his tomb should be:—Pastor Jacob Primmer, fell asleep in Jesus, 19—, age —. Only a poor sinner saved by grace. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”—Philipp. i. 21. I go to be with the Lord Jesus Christ with a heart hatred of popery, prelacy, and ritualism, praying “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.”
Might is Right.
In regard to the mighty conflict in which the nations are engaged at present, it should not be lost sight of that the Germany military classes seem to have put the hateful teachings of Bernhardi, Treitschke, and Neitzsche into practice. The position may be at once gauged when it is nakedly stated, in the daring antithesis, Galilee or Corsica—Christ or Napoleon. That Napoleonism should triumph would be one of the greatest calamities that ever visited the civilized nations. And, while it is our duty to pray for our enemies, we can honestly pray that the God of peace may shatter for ever the diabolical teaching that has intoxicated the German military authorities, and made them launch on the nations of Europe a war of unparalleled severity.
F. P. Magazines to Soldiers and Sailors.
We propose sending a few free circulation copies of Magazine to soldiers and sailors of the reserve forces at various centres in England. There are many there belonging to our Church and other connections who would be pleased to read them. If any of our readers feel disposed, we shall be pleased to receive small subscriptions for this purpose.
America and Peace—Day of Prayer.
The President of the United States has issued a proclamation, designating Sabbath, the 4th day of October, as a day of prayer and supplication for peace. The proclamation requests “all God-fearing persons to repair on that day to their places of worship, there to unite their petitions to Almighty God, that, overruling the counsel of men, setting straight the things they cannot govern or alter, taking pity on the nations, now in the throes of conflict, in His mercy and goodness showing a way where men can see none, He vouchsafe His children healing peace again, and restore once more that concord among men and nations without which there can be neither happiness nor true friendship, nor any wholesome fruit of toil or thought in the world; praying also to this end that He forgive us our sins, our ignorance of His holy will, our wilfulness and many errors, and lead us in the paths of obedience, to places of vision, and to thoughts and counsels that urge and make wise.”
Popery in South America.
The Protestant Alliance Magazine in quoting a letter from South America written by Sr. Norberto Navarro, a colporteur of the American Presbyterian Church in Columbia, gives a vivid glimpse of the gross darkness and superstition of that unhappy part of the world. Sr. Navarro tells, how on coming to a certain place, there were evident signs that preparations were being made to receive some important personage. This is his story:—
“By this time about twenty or twenty-five people had gathered from far and near. Going up to the owner of the house I asked him whatever was the meaning of all this, to which he replied: ‘The Lord has sent to us this holy minister that he may sell us the redemption of our souls.’ In great surprise I asked him if many had already made such a purchase, and he said, ‘No, because the priest says that he will not begin to sell until everyone has arrived, in order not to interrupt the dance that is to follow.’ ‘Oh,’ I said, ‘so he sells the redemption with the help of dancing.’ ‘Yes, sir; the priest himself says that when all have bought, we ought to dance and drink something in order to show our joy over the great treasure that God has sent to us by means of His holy apostle.’ I asked him what this great treasure consisted of, and he showed me a paper with the following words written on it: ‘I, Missionary to all parts of the world, by the authorization of his Holiness the Pope, and in the name of the holy church of Jerusalem, land of the Virgin Mary and of her beloved Son, do hereby grant to the sinner, N.N., the pardon of his sins for fifty years. I have received the payment for this document, and given him my blessing, and may the Virgin endow him and fill him with her holy grace. Year of 1913. I, Fray Gregorio, of the Santa Sede Apostolica.'”
Gross Ignorance of one of Rome’s Spiritual Guides.
Sr. Navarro referred to in the preceding note then dealt with the priest in charge of the proceedings. This is his account of the interview:—
“At once I went up to the ‘priest’ and asked him: ‘What is the price of one of those pardons?’ to which he answered: ‘For unfortunates who, however, can always manage to obtain something, even though it be by begging, it is worth ten cents a year; for those people who work or gain daily wages, it is worth twenty cents, and for well-to-do people it is worth thirty cents. As I believe you to have enough money, you ought to buy a document that will serve you for fifty or even for 100 years.’ After telling me that he was acquainted with Valera’s translation of the Bible, and that there was no difference between it and the Roman Catholic Bible, I asked him: ‘Do you accept the teachings of St. Paul and the other apostles?’ ‘Of course,’ he replied, ‘otherwise I could not be a minister of Jesus Christ.’ Then I asked for an explanation of St. Paul’s words when he says: ‘In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace’ (Eph. i. 7). He told me that although this was true, still everyone was obliged to contribute something towards the maintenance of their pastors. I answered that each one should give voluntarily what he wished, but that this money had nothing to do with the salvation of his soul. The ‘priest’ answered: ‘But if we have not one of these documents of pardon bought from an accredited agent or minister of the Pope, the vice-regent of Christ and successor of St. Peter, we cannot be saved.’ Then I asked him: ‘And has the Pope really given you permission to sell this pardon?’ ‘Of course,’ he answered, ‘because His Holiness the Pope observes and teaches according to St. Peter, and I, as his servant, carry out his teachings.’ ‘Then,’ I asked, ‘you believe and practise all that St. Peter taught his disciples?’ ‘Of course,’ replied the priest, ‘otherwise I could not be a true minister.'”