Daring Blasphemy.—The Paris correspondent of the “Westminster Gazette” writes to his paper saying that the Passion Play at Nancy has been a tremendous success. The play has been enacted in a theatre. For years the press has published accounts of the daring performance at Oberammergau, and as it has been quite a success financially, other places, it seems, intend competing in this daring act of blasphemy. One can scarcely realise the depths to which men and women can sink when the most awful sin committed by men in this world should be enacted before thousands simply for the gain of money. Such happenings show to what a state Roman Catholicism may reduce a people, and the fools who profess to be Protestants and encourage such spectacles are even worse.
Gospel Book Mission to the Army and Navy.—Mr Brider has issued his 49th Annual Report, in which he says:—Bibles, books, magazines, sermons, and tracts have been issued to seamen and soldiers. In a “personal word” appended to his report, Mr Brider says:—”As my friends know, I do not possess any private means whatever, neither do I take anything from the Mission Fund, but am wholly dependent upon the Lord for our personal support. Hitherto He has graciously taken care of me.” As our readers are aware, a parcel of Magazines is sent monthly by us to Mr Brider.
Some Interesting Booklets.—During the Editor’s absence a number of interesting and useful booklets were sent for notice in the Magazine. Among these may be mentioned Dr Hay Fleming’s “John Knox Cleared from the Slanders of the Rev. W. L. Sime” (Edinburgh: John Knox Club. Price, 3d). Dr Fleming has done his work in his usual masterly fashion, and the parish minister of Smailholm must, if he has any feeling, wish that he had left John Knox severely alone, especially when Dr Hay Fleming is on the field. Another booklet of considerable interest to Protestants is Rev. W. Corkey’s “The Church of Rome and Irish Unrest: How Hatred of Britain is Taught in Irish Schools” (Edinburgh: William Bishop Market Street. Price, 3d). Mr Corkey has no difficulty in showing what evil influences are at work in many of the Irish National Schools. History, as taught in many of these schools, has a strong anti-Protestant, anti-British bias. Miss Ormiston’s “The Crucifix” (Bristol: T. O. Elworthy and Son, Newmarket Avenue. Price, 2d) is a useful exposure of the use of the crucifix in religious worship. She appeals to Scripture and the great Protestant leaders in proof of her contention. Mr Forbes Moncrieff, who has made a name for himself as a writer of addresses for the young, sends us “Happy Homes: An Address to the Young” (Edinburgh: W. F. Henderson, 19 George IV. Bridge. Price, 2d). The booklet is nicely illustrated, and written with the charm and simplicity that are characteristic of Mr Moncrieff’s style. The fine religious tone pervading these booklets is a feature that enhances them in value for the young.
A Chinese Appeal.—The following appeal has been sent by some Chinese Christians to an American Missionary Board:—
“We write to say that some missionaries from your Board here in China do not believe the Bible, and we earnestly ask you not to send any more such missionaries to China. We have a great many persons in China already who do not believe the Bible, and it is not necessary for you to send more such persons to us. We would like to have to teach the Chinese those who do believe the Bible.”
Satan’s Empire Falling!—These were the words that caught our eye the other week as we were scanning a daily newspaper. They headed an advertisement intimating lectures by men sent out by the International Bible Students’ Association, which enjoyed at one time the unenviable notoriety of being engineered by the late “Pastor” Russell. According to the Russellites Satan’s Empire is falling. This would be good news to us if it were true, but as long as he can make men to be so active as these Russellite lecturers in preaching error and deluding the people, we have the gravest doubts as to the downfall so blatantly advertised.