Bolshevism and Religion.—A correspondent, writing from Russia, says that the Bolsheviks have made a determined attempt to abolish the Lord’s Day. The hatred of these wild revolutionaries to everything that savours of religion, is seen in the substitution of Monday for Sabbath as a day of rest. “The last Sabbath in April,” says this correspondent, “was peremptorily ordered to be erased from the calendar as a rest day. Works, factories, and shops were commanded to carry on their business as on other days of the week. The streets of Odessa were thronged with
crowds of truculent, jubilating ‘Reds,’ making a great parade of work. The following Tuesday, 1st May, was substituted for the condemned day, and duly observed as the Festival of ‘the Holy Revolution.’ On this day all workshops, houses of business, and factories were strictly forbidden to work; even bread was not allowed to be baked.” The Bolsheviks are far-sighted enough to see that, as long as recognition of the Sabbath is made, their God-banished rule has little chance of success.
Dancing in Church Halls.—At a special conference of ministers, missionaries, and church and mission workers connected with various denominations, held in the Christian Institute, Glasgow, on 5th April, at which there was an attendance of almost 1000 persons, the following resolution was unanimously passed:— “That we, as Christian workers in the city, being deeply grieved at the inroads of worldliness and pleasure-seeking in the Church, and especially finding our own work made much more difficult by so many churches introducing dancing among their young people, appeal to all ministers, office-bearers, and workers to maintain the distinctive mission of the Church of Christ as spiritual and its function as that of manifesting God to men through Jesus Christ, and thus seeking to elevate the mind and inspire the life of our community by higher and nobler ideals. We do not presume to judge fellow-Christians in their choice of amusements, but the introduction of this form of amusement into the Church must mean dissipation of energy which should be devoted to directly spiritual work, hindrance to development, and discipline of the Christian character and such dangers as may lead to the complete annihilation of all Christian work and influence in many of our spheres of labour. We deeply deplore this untoward development in the Churches at a time when the city and the nation more than ever need the help of decisive and definite Christian character, that character which the Churches should exist to produce. We earnestly pray that God’s Spirit may be poured out upon all, that we may be enabled to give ourselves without stint or reserve to the service of the Redeemer in the salvation of men.”
Copies of the resolution are being sent to the City Presbyteries of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland, and to the Councils of other Churches and religious organisations in the city. The resolution was drawn up by a committee consisting of the Rev. J. E. Houston, Shawlands Parish Church; the Rev. W. D. Miller, Ruchill U.F. Church; the Rev. A. Gilchrist, Springburn U.F. Church; the Rev. J. M’Millan, Bishopbriggs U.F. Church; the Rev. G. Burnett, Rockcliffe U.F. Church; the Rev. J. Young, John Street Baptist Church; Mr. A. Galbraith, Seamen’s Chapel; Mr. Robert Millar, Bethany Hall; Mr. G. Hood, Grove Street Institute; Mr. Herbert Lockyer, Mizpah Band; and Mr. P. T. M’Rostie, Tent Hall (Convener).—
The Glasgow Herald.