Northern Ireland Education Act.
In a recent issue we had a note referring to the above Act. At the last meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland much dissatisfaction was expressed with the Act inasmuch as it stipulates that “the education authority shall not provide religious instruction in any elementary school.” A resolution calling on the members of the Church to make every effort to have the Act amended so as to conserve to the Protestant people of Ulster the rights which they have hitherto enjoyed, was adopted by the Assembly. The Rev. Henry Montgomery spoke out very strongly, saying they must delay no longer, and say in a clear, firm way that the regulations must be changed, so that local authorities should have power to select their teachers, and that Bible instruction must be in the curriculum for each day. It would be well that the Presbyterian Churches in Scotland would take up the same firm attitude in regard to religious education in our national schools.
Lord Kelvin.
The celebration of the birth centenary of Lord Kelvin at Glasgow University on 25th June was a notable, impressive, and worthy affair. Full testimony was given to his genius by Dr Russell, Principal of Faraday House, London. He said it was difficult for the younger generation to realize the tremendous vitality of mind and body that characterized Lord Kelvin. Dr Russell said Kelvin’s name would be world-famous if he had written on one only of the following subjects: thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, electricity, telegraphy, heat, electrical engineering, dynamics, or navigation; but he had written on and illuminated them all. His works were a gift to universal humanity. Had it not been for Kelvin the world would have been perceptibly poorer to-day. To him it was given to throw light upon dark places, and as the years rolled on our debt to him grew ever greater. This noted scientist when the camp followers of science were seeking to rid the universe of its Creator boldly met their speculations with the assertion: “Scientific thought is compelled to accept the idea of creative power.” We were specially interested in learning of his zeal to deliver his brother, also a Glasgow professor, from the Arian views he adopted, to the orthodox views of the divinity of Christ. God does not need men to defend him from the cavils of the creatures He has made, but when men like Lord Kelvin speak as he did it becomes the lesser lights to put a bushel upon their flickering candles.
The First Protestant President of France.
Gaston Doumergue, who has recently been elected, is the first Protestant President of France, says the “Churchman’s Magazine.” A lawyer by profession and a southerner, he is 61 years old. He is an expert in colonial affairs, having lived for many years in Algeria and Indo-China. He is shrewd, calculating and eloquent, and has had a long political career. He was a deputy from Nimes, the town of his birth, in 1893, minister in 1902, senator in 1910, Premier in 1913, and President of the Senate in 1923. He is a descendant of the Huguenots. We trust his Protestantism is of a more virile type than that of so many British Statesmen.
Church Union in Canada.
According to a Reuter’s cable, dated 7th August, an official manifesto issued by the Presbyterian Church Association, representing the parties who are opposed to Church Union, declares that the Presbyterian Church of Canada will continue as a separate entity in carrying on missionary and other cognate activities, despite legislative union between the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational Churches, which comes into effect in June next. The statement says:—”Plans are being perfected for a meeting of our General Assembly in June for the preservation of the work of the Presbyterian Church.”
Sermons by the late Rev. Alexander Macleod, Rogart.
In our next issue we hope to print the first of three sermons of this noted servant of Christ, whose labours were so signally blessed in Uig, Lewis, and whose ministrations were so highly appreciated by the Lord’s people. These sermons were taken down by Mr David Ross, elder, Evelix, one of the noted “Men” of Sutherland, and were placed at our disposal by Mr Malcolm Fraser, The Mound. The other two sermons will appear in successive issues of the Magazine.
Sabbath Papers.
According to Mr Alexander Maclaren, General Secretary, of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, nearly 30 million newspapers are distributed in Great Britain and Ireland every Sabbath, and only 20 million each weekday.—Bulwark.