“Christ, Lord of All.”—This is the title of a “Prize Essay on Some Distinctive Principles of the Reformed Presbyterian Church,” by the Rev. Samuel Kennedy, B.A., Limavady, Ulster. The Essay is in booklet form. It is well written, and embodies in brief compass some of the chief principles of what is commonly spoken of as the “Cameronian” Church. The first chapter is on the “Plenary Inspiration” of the Scriptures, and other chapters treat of such subjects as “The Divine Law of Worship” and “The Divine Law for Nations.” A final chapter is on “The Divine Law for Secret Societies,” and condemns Freemasonry, Good Templarism, Orangeism, etc. We would strongly recommend the reading of this chapter to all who are interested in such societies. The price of the pamphlet (which is to be had from Mr. Kennedy) is threepence; postage, 1d. extra.
Protestantism in New Zealand.—We were very pleased to see by a note in The Bulwark for February, that Protestantism has still some vigour in New Zealand. There has been a Marriage Amendment Bill before the House of Representatives there—(we trust it does not favour marriage with a deceased wife’s sister)—and in this Bill there is a clause against the Ne Temere decree of the Pope. The clause has been carried by forty-four representatives against twenty-five, and it runs to the effect that it will be “a penal offence to allege or imply that persons lawfully married are not truly or sufficiently married, or that the issue of such unions is illegitimate or born out of wedlock.” It seems that there have been many publications by the Roman Church of late years, impugning the validity of marriages contracted otherwise than according to Papal law. As may be expected, the Roman bishops are very displeased at this new statute, and “Archbishop O’Shea of Wellington, has been specially violent in his abuse” of the Protestant party. It seems that there is a New Zealand Protestant Political Association and that its influence is telling in many directions.
Sinn Fein’s Record of Crime.—We trust that this black record will open people’s eyes more and more to the dreadful state of affairs in Ireland. The following list of crimes for 1920 is taken from official reports in the press:—Court-houses destroyed, 68; Vacated police barracks destroyed, 507; Vacated, some damaged, 114; Occupied police barracks destroyed, 23; Occupied, some damaged, 49; Raids on mails, 998; Raids on Coastguard Stations and Lighthouses, 46; Raids for Arms, 2801: Policemen killed, 165; Policemen wounded, 225; Soldiers killed, 53; Soldiers wounded, 118; Civilians killed, 43; Civilians wounded, 103. And the list is not complete in every respect. Truly, things are in a bad way, and no deliverance seems at hand.
Sabbath Desecration.—Mr. Lloyd George recently travelled to the Treaty Conference at Paris on the Lord’s Day. This was a very bad example to set the Parisians by the Prime Minister of Great Britain, who is a professing member of the Christian Church, and such conduct on the part of our chief representative bodes ill for this country. Another case of gross Sabbath desecration by public men falls to be noted. Sir Harry Lauder and Sir Thomas Lipton gave a treat to 300 children at a place in the country, near St. Alban’s, on Sabbath, 6th February. After boxes of chocolate were distributed, Sir Harry Lauder delivered two of his popular, amusing songs. A better method for weakening reverence for the Lord’s Day in the minds of the young could not be devised. We see that the Committee of the Glasgow Town Council have decided to continue band concerts in the parks on Sabbath, notwithstanding protests from the Churches, presented by the Rev. A. Boyd Scott, B.D. An effort is also being made to get playgrounds open for children, but we hope it will fail. If things proceed much further on this line, the once dreaded “Continental” Sabbath will be soon upon us in full swing.
S.G. Union Pamphlets.—The Secretary of the Sovereign Grace Union has sent us several pamphlets, containing valuable Gospel matter of strongly Calvinistic character, such as “The Covenant of Life and Peace” and “The Covenant in the Wilderness,” by Joseph Irons; “The Two Covenants,” by James Battersby (3d. each); and a quarterly magazine, “Peace and Truth,” edited by Mr. W. Sindén (price 2d.) It is announced that the Conference of the S.G. Union will (D.V.) be held at Grove Chapel, Camberwell Grove, London, S.E., from 2nd to 5th May.