Manx Day of Humiliation and Prayer.—The Manx House of Keys, as the Parliament of the Isle of Man is designated, decided, with the exception of three dissentients, to appoint a Day of Humiliation and Prayer, during last month, in connection with the war. One of the dissentients was evidently a thorough-going materialist, and expressed his concern at the working classes being deprived of a day’s employment. His objection, however, had very little influence on the other members of the House of Keys. This action on the part of this small legislative body is encouraging, and we chronicle it with interest.
Italy, the Vatican, and the War.—This is the title of an article by Romolo Murri in the February number of the Contemporary Review. The writer makes it very clear that the Vatican has played a very important part in keeping back Italy from embarking in the herculean contest in which the European nations are engaged. The policy of the Vatican and the Italian State do not move along the same lines. If Clericalism gets its way, Italy will not join hands with the Allies, but there are not wanting signs that the Vatican is not altogether so successful in its diplomacy with Italy as it has been with Protestant Britain.
The Pope’s Dream.—The writer of the forementioned article makes no hiding of the fact that the diplomacy inaugurated by the new Pope, Benedict XV., has as its end and aim the re-entrance of the Pope into the province of European politics. Hence the Vatican’s declaration of neutrality in this momentous struggle—a neutrality that must make devout Papists belonging to the Allies feel that infallibility is a worthless and contemptible thing when it cannot decide, in a struggle like this, on which side the moral blame chiefly falls. The clerical party in Italy are not favourable to the French and British, and the Vatican had to intervene in some cases to restrain the ardour of some of the Italian clerical journals.
The Pope as Mediator in Peace Negotiations.—Some interesting light, says the English Churchman, is thrown upon the hopes entertained by the Papal party in a note which appeared in a recent issue of the World, apparently from the pen of a Roman Catholic. This note speaks of “a growing belief in official circles that the Pope will be the chosen mediator in peace negotiations.” It says that colour is lent to the idea by Sir Henry Howard’s mission—”a mission which in normal times would have called forth a storm of protest from the Church of England and Nonconformist sections of the community.” After ruling out the possible mediation of President Wilson, it adds, “If, indeed, Austria in her distress appeals to the Vatican to intercede on her behalf, and the Pope has the consent of the other belligerents to intervene, the Holy See will take a long step back towards the political sway which it exercised in the Middle Ages, and a remarkable impetus will be given to Roman Catholicism all over the world.” The latter part of this quotation shows the real aim of the Papacy. Under the guise of peace-making it is working for self-aggrandisement. Our Government has, unfortunately, encouraged its ambitious designs, but we hardly think that they will receive favour in Russia, France, or Italy. Meanwhile, faithful Protestants should put forth all their efforts to save England from the degradation of becoming the catspaw of the Roman Curia.
The U.F. Presbytery of Edinburgh and Envoy to the Pope.—The Edinburgh U.F. Presbytery has followed the lead
of Glasgow in rejecting a motion mildly protesting against the Government’s action in sending an envoy to the Pope. The Clerk of the Presbytery moved an amendment to the effect that the motion should be passed from on the ground of public expediency. The U.F. Church has not, for the first time, given plain indication that she can play with the affairs that vitally affect the interests of Christ’s kingdom on the ground of expediency. This policy will yield, in the end, a harvest of desperate sorrow. The ministers and elders who, by their votes, defeated the motions brought before the Glasgow and Edinburgh Presbyteries may think that they are Protestants of the Protestants, but a discerning public will recognise in them men who are helping the cause of an enemy more to be dreaded than Germany’s cultured hordes.
Building the Tombs of the Prophets.—Intimation has been made in the public press that a movement is on foot to celebrate the centenary of Dr. Chalmers coming to Glasgow. Among the names of those who are mentioned as a committee to carry out arrangements, a number of United Free Churchmen are mentioned. It seems somewhat inconsistent on the part of these gentlemen to commemorate the fame of one whose ecclesiastical views, if he were alive, they would reject with ill-concealed scorn. The other week we noticed that Dr. Wallace Williamson, St. Giles, Edinburgh, took part in a meeting which had for its purpose the eulogising of the Covenants. It is one of the worst signs of the times that men who are doing their utmost to overturn and set aside the principles that made the professing Church of Christ in Scotland to be an honoured name, should be doing their little part to commemorate the memory of these heroes of renown. The only explanation of this otherwise inexplicable action is to be found in the words of Christ to the Pharisees, who were mighty builders of the tombs of the prophets, but, whose teaching they scorned with a highborn disdain.
The Blindness of Learned Men.—Those whose studies take them at times into the dreary deserts, where the great masters of unbelieving criticism move to and fro, cannot help at times of having a feeling of supreme contempt for what passes as genuine and unadulterated truth. The critics, however, are being met by scholars who have given a lifelong study to the subjects with which they deal. Among these may be mentioned Sir William M. Ramsay, whose studies in New Testament archaeology have conferred an immense boon on believing scholars. Sir William is excellent when he confines himself to his own special line, but his excursions in the field of theology are at times deplorable in their results. As an instance of the good work he has done, we cannot do better than quote a few sentences from his recently-issued book on “The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament.” He quotes the late Prof. Bruce’s words on Luke ii. 1-3—”One could wish that
verse 2 had been omitted, or that there were reason to believe, as has been suggested by several writers, that it is a gloss that has found its way into the text, and that Luke is not responsible for it, so much trouble has it given to commentators.” Sir William’s reply to this bungling and short-sighted criticism of one famous in his day for the light that led astray, is that of a scholar who has at his hand indisputable evidence—”Not merely,” he says, “are all the statements in Luke ii. 1-3 true, they are also in themselves great statements, presenting to us large historical facts, world-wide administrative measures, vast forces working on human society through the ages.”
The Decree from Cæsar Augustus (Luke ii. 1).—The census (taxing) made when Quirinius (Cyrenius) was governor of Syria, has been regarded as pure fiction by learned men of the advance, and they did not hesitate to attack the general trustworthiness of Luke as a historian through what they regarded as such a colossal blunder. Sir William has shown long ago that it was the critics that blundered and not Luke, and in his recently-issued volume he brings forward confirmatory evidence. He deals with the critics in no gentle fashion. “I confess,” he says, “that when I see the self-satisfied and pretentious ignorance of the critical theologians miscalling and vilifying this most wonderful little gem of historical insight and word-painting, I find it difficult to restrain my indignation. These are the dull and blind savants whom the modern world has accepted as learned, and to whom so many have humbly bowed down and done homage and worship.” Our interest in this is not so much in the confusion it brings to the critics as in the fact that we recognise in this decree of Cæsar Augustus the undesigned fulfilment of a more ancient decree. For it was through this decree that God’s promise that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem of Judah became an accomplished fact. There is a wonder in these things so simply narrated by Luke, which go to the upbuilding and strengthening of the faith of God’s elect. There is little wonder that the devil blinded the eyes of the learned critics that they should not recognise in this a proof of the truthfulness of His word. It was one of the advance attacks delivered against Satan’s stronghold, and it was his policy to make his dupes believe that the whole thing was a fabrication, and he managed to get thousands of learned men to believe the lie.
Decay in Religion.—Count Hirosawa, a Japanese nobleman, who took his degree at Cambridge with distinction, in an interview with a representative of the Standard said: “Since I was here (eleven years ago) I notice a distinct decay in religion. The influence of Christianity seems to be waning, and in its place a new gaiety and search for enjoyment have come into being.” His testimony is true, and alas! that it should come from a stranger from a far country which never knew the truth as England once knew it.
Sir Henry Howard and the Archbishop of Malta.— Recently a new Archbishop for Malta was ordained at Rome, and Sir Henry Howard, the British Envoy, was present at the ceremony which was conducted with great pomp. Thus Britain pays court to “the Man of Sin.”
Acknowledgment of Donations.
MR. ANGUS CLUNAS, General Treasurer, 35 Ardconnel Terrace, Inverness, acknowledges, with thanks, the following donations:—
SUSTENTATION FUND.
Mr. D. Cameron, Isle of Soay, 31/; Mr. K. MacAskill, Isle of Soay, 20/; Mrs. Macleod, Kishorn, 15/. Per Rev. J. S. Sinclair—Miss Wilson, Larkhall, 7/; J. R. Campbell, Esq, Shinness, 20/, and 5/ for Organisation Fund. Per Rev. N. Cameron—Mr. A. MacVicar, Grenetote, Lochmaddy, 20/.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Mrs. MacAskill, Polochar, South Uist, 10/; Miss MacAskill, Lochboisdale School, South Uist, 10/. Per Rev. N. Cameron—”Friend,” Broadford, 20/; “Friend,” Cathcart, 20/; “Friend,” Edinbane, 20/, for Kaffir Psalms. Per Rev. J. S. Sinclair—Mr. S. Bannerman, Portage-la-Prairie, Manitoba, 20/6. Per Miss Mackintosh, Union Road—”Friend,” 20/, for Kaffir Bibles.
MISSION TO FORCES FUND.
Per Rev. J. R. Mackay—Mr. A. Fraser, Strath, Gairloch, 10/; Mr. K. Macleod, Lonmore, Gairloch, 5/. Per Rev. N. Cameron—”Friend,” Edinbane, 20/; “Friend,” Rona, 2/6. Per Rev. J. S. Sinclair—Mr. M. Morrison, Que Que, Rhodesia, 20/; Mr. M. Nelly, Detroit, U.S.A., 8/2. Mr. K. Livingstone, Mangapehi, 20/; Mr. A. Munro, Nedd, 5/.
The Treasurer of the Dingwall Congregation begs to acknowledge, with thanks, the sum of £2, received per Rev. D. Macfarlane, for Manse Building Fund, from an “Anonymous Friend,” postmark, “Woodlands Road, Glasgow.”
Rev. J. S. Sinclair, John Knox’s, Glasgow, acknowledges, with thanks, 10/ from Mr. D. Calder, Aldershot, for General Funds; £1 for Sustentation Fund and 10/ for Foreign Mission, from Mr. D. Sutherland, Castletown; and 4/6 for Bibles to Soldiers and Sailors, from “Two Wellwishers.”
Mr. W. Grant, Treasurer, 12 Wellington Square, Chelsea, London, S.W., acknowledges, with thanks, 7/6 from “Friend,” Edinburgh, towards London Building Fund.
Rev. N. Cameron begs to acknowledge, with thanks, the following donations:—For Bibles to our Soldiers and Sailors—Clachan, Raasay, School Children, 6/6; “A Young Man of St. Jude’s Congregation,” 20/; “A Free Presbyterian,” Glasgow, 5/. For Kaffir Bibles—”A Free Presbyterian,” Glasgow, 5/.