A Witness for the Sabbath in the Army.—We intended to notice some time ago the case of a young man from Edinburgh who has proved himself a steadfast witness for the sacredness of the Lord’s Day in the Army. He was asked to do some work in a quarry in France on that day, but he refused, as he did not consider the work demanded came under the conditions of necessity or mercy. As the result of his refusal, he was court-martialled, and sentenced to a year’s imprisonment, with a recommendation to mercy as he had refused to work from religious scruples. He was put in prison, but was released at the end of two months. He is now engaged, we believe, at Army Service work in England. He is a member of the Original Secession Church. His noble stand deserves the highest praise. It may stimulate and strengthen others in the Army and Navy who, while loyal to their earthly superiors, are desirous of serving God, according to His Word.
Mr. Gerard’s Disclosures re Germany.—Mr. James W. Gerard, who was the United States Ambassador at Berlin until the recent declaration of War by the States, has written a volume entitled “My Four Years in Germany.” The chapters of this volume, prior to its publication, are at present appearing in “The Daily Telegraph” and “The Scotsman” newspapers. They contain many remarkable disclosures. Mr. Gerard gives an account of various personal interviews with the Kaiser, and he publishes a facsimile of a letter sent by the Kaiser through him to President Wilson on the 10th August, 1914, in which His Imperial Majesty tells more than one deliberate falsehood bearing upon the War, then newly begun. Mr. Gerard also gives glimpses
of the daily life and habits of the Germans. He states it as a solid fact that it is a common thing for well-to-do Germans to indulge in seven meals a day. Gluttony appears rife among them, and it is given as one of the evils, that has contributed to make them gross, irritable and eager for war.
The Soldiers and the Psalms.—At a meeting of the Established Church Presbytery of Edinburgh, held on the 25th July, Mr. Niven, elder, moved that a Committee should be formed to advance the greater use of the Metrical Psalms. The motion (states The Scotsman) was cordially received and carried. One speaker said that the popularity of the Psalms among the soldiers was well-known. Dr. Wallace Williamson said that anything that could be done to extend their use in the ordinary worship of the Church should receive warm support.
Acknowledgment of Donations.
MR. ALEXANDER MACGILLIVRAY, General Treasurer, Woodbine Cottage, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, acknowledges, with grateful thanks, the following donations up to 24th August:—
SUSTENTATION FUND.
Mrs. Moffat, Sandaig, Glenelg, 10/; “Friends in Canada,” £1; os. 10d.; B. F. (Pitlochry postmark), £1; Per Rev. N. Cameron—Mr. Thos. MacDonald, Brock, Sask., £2 3s.; B. F. (Pitlochry postmark), £1.
JEWISH AND FOREIGN MISSIONS FUND.
Per Rev. D. N. MacLeod—”Friends,” Harris, £3; Lochinver (postmark), £1; Per Rev. N. Cameron—Mrs. C. Burnet, Seafair, Kishorn, 5/, and Mrs. Swanson, Halkirk, 5/.
MISSION TO FORCES FUND.
Lochinver (postmark), £1; Per Rev. A. Macrae—Mrs. Burnet, Kishorn, 4/; “Friends in Canada,” 4/2.
Per Rev. J. S. Sinclair:—Home Mission Fund—Mrs. Gibb, Weston-Super-Mare, £1 10/, and “Helper to Cause,” £1; Mission to Forces Fund—Miss Macinnes, Broadford, 10/6; Mrs. Gibb, Weston-Super-Mare, £2; “A Friend” (per Captain Macdonald), 5/, and Mrs. Clarkson, Gillibrand River, Australia; Organisation Fund—Mrs. Gibb, Weston-Super-Mare, 17/; Foreign Mission Fund—Mrs. Gibb, Weston-Super-Mare, 2/; “Helper to Cause,” 2/.
Rev. Neil Cameron, Glasgow, desires to acknowledge, with thanks:—For Bibles, etc., to Soldiers and Sailors—”Friend Dingwall, 10/; “Friend,” at Lairg, 10/; Miss S. C., Rosolis, 5/; Mrs. M., Gairloch, 5/; Mrs. G., Gairloch, 4/; Mrs. C., Bear, 4/; Mrs. M., Glasgow, 10/; per Rev. N. Macintyre—N. Macdonald, London, 10/; Miss M. M., Glasgow, 10/. For Kafir Bibles—”A Friend,” £1; Mrs. M., Gairloch, 5/; Mrs. G., Gairloch, 4/; “Friend,” Inverness, 5/. Assistance for Needy—From T. M., Brock, Sask., £2.
The Treasurer of the Dingwall Congregation (Mr. Murdo Urquhart, Craig View) acknowledges, with thanks, the sum of 5/ from “A Friend” in Shieldaig, and £2 from “A Friend” in Dingwall, for the Manse Building Fund. The Editor regrets that owing to a mistake the amount of debt on this Fund was stated in last month’s issue to be “upwards of £170” instead of “upwards of £240.” Donations may be sent to the Rev. D. Macfarlane, F.P. Manse, or Mr. M. Urquhart, Treasurer.
The Treasurer of the London Mission (Mr. R. R. Sinclair, 37 Albert Palace Mansions, Battersea Park, London, S.W.), acknowledges, with sincere thanks, the donation of £1 from Miss Mackenzie, Oldany Lodge, Lochinver.
Rev. D. M. Macdonald, F.P. Manse, Dusary, North Uist, acknowledges, with sincere thanks, the following donations to the North Uist Manse Building Fund:—”A Friend,” Claddach, Kirkibost, £2; per Rev. D. N. Macleod, Harris, “A Friend,” 4/6; per Mr. J. Macdonald, merchant, Mrs. Mackay, Geocrab, S., and Rev. D. N. Macleod, 10/.
Rev. J. S. Sinclair acknowledges, with thanks, £1 from Mrs. Gibb, Weston-Super-Mare, for John Knox’s Sustentation Fund, and £2 from “A Friend,” Strentian, for Rev. J. B. Radasi, Matabeleland.