BY the time this issue of the Magazine is in the hands of most of our readers, another year with its sorrows, tragedies, blasted hopes and disappointments on the one hand, and its joys, unanticipated blessings, mercies and favours received on the other hand, will have passed beyond the hope of recall. Another milestone has been passed, and this is fitted to fill the mind of many with the thought that for them there are not many more to pass, and of all, that they are nearer the end of the journey than they ever were before. It is a time when the prayer should be on the lips of all: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” The past year to some of our readers has brought sorrow—their circumstances are not so promising as they were—death has entered the family circle, and there are vacant places—ill-health may have stricken down some dear one and the future is overcast with a funereal pall. To all such we extend our heartfelt sympathy, for though many of our readers are unknown to us, yet we feel an interest in them and their welfare. To those who are of the household of faith we can without any fear bring them the cheering message that all their sorrows and afflictions are part of the “all things that work together for good to them who love God, who are the called according to His purpose.” Looking at things as they see them, they are ready to say with Jacob: “All these things are against me.” But it is not so. Even now all these things so forbidding in their outward appearance are working together for the good of God’s people, and as for the future these light afflictions are working out for them “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” “For which cause,” the Apostle says, “we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
Happy people whose sorrows and tribulations in time are working for their good with the prospect on entering eternity “of a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” To those who are still strangers of God’s loving kindness in Christ affliction may be sent their way at times to turn their thoughts away from the swift flowing but shallow streams of earthly pleasures and joys to that deep flowing river of God’s pleasures out of which many a perishing sinner drank to his and her everlasting comfort. If such be the purpose God has in sending these afflictions, though the heart may be almost broken under them, there will be no regrets at the end of the day. For we have no doubt that the Psalmist will be joined by a goodly number in saying: “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I kept thy word. . . . It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Ps. cxix. 67, 71).
At such a time it is becoming that notice should be taken of the state of things in the State and in the Church. In reference to the former there is a decided breaking of the thick clouds that hung over us for years, though we cannot tell the moment when even thicker clouds may gather. It is pleasing to read that unemployment is decreasing and that our foreign relations with the great Powers are more friendly than they have been for some time. The signing of the Locarno Pact has been received with great rejoicing, and our Foreign Secretary has had heaped upon him praise for his statesmanship from all quarters for his part in bringing about this Agreement. But with the ruthless setting aside of treaties when it suited the covenant breakers before our mind’s eye of which we had more than is agreeable to think of in recent years, it is well that the exuberance of our joy should be tempered with a subdued sanity of outlook on international problems. We must not forget that unless the Lord the city keep, the watchmen watch in vain. The watchmen have their duty to perform, but over and above them there is One to whom our eyes ought to be directed. There is one dark, ominous cloud looming in the distance, however, that it is well we should not forget about and pray to God that it might pass away. We refer to the threat made by the Miners’ Federation to hold up the country. No one who knows the nature of a miner’s work, with the great risks involved, will grudge to them a competent wage to keep themselves and their families, but in this matter the whole country is to be held at ransom to bring the coal owners to grant what the miners are asking. The Government is making preparations to meet this threat, and if the clash comes, as at present it looks like, then it may be much more serious than was anticipated by men even of a strongly pessimistic mind. As citizens it is our duty to call upon God that such a calamity would be averted. We have the encouragement that the last time the Miners’ Federation threatened the country with a like calamity God robbed the hand that was to strike of its power, and He can as easily do the same again.
In the Church we cannot say that things are improving—at least as far as the Church in general is concerned. In England the Anglo-Catholics are pressing their Romish doctrines with great persistency. The Modernists both in the Church of England and among the Non-conformists are occupying strongly entrenched positions, and the whole outlook is far from hopeful to those who love the doctrines taught in the Bible. In Scotland the movement for Union of the Established and United Free Church is moving steadily onwards. The Presbyteries and Kirksessions are at present giving their opinions, and it is surprising how much opposition is being offered, in view of the skilfully engineered plans of the Unionists and the glowing speeches made by them on the floor of the General Assemblies and from public platforms. The great Scottish dailies—such as the “Glasgow Herald” and the “Scotsman”—are active propagandists for Union. This is somewhat ominous, especially when the “Scotsman” is hitched on to the Union chariot. As Principal Rainy said on one occasion: “There must be something wrong somewhere.” As we purpose to return to this subject of the Union of the two Churches in later issues and at greater length, we refrain from saying anything further, except to express wonder that a work which is loudly proclaimed to be the work of God should be received with such cold indifference by those most immediately concerned.
In regard to our own Church the past year has seen not a few breaches made in the ranks of those who were a strength and support to the congregations where they acted as office-bearers. The Lord has been kind and good to us in many ways, and it is the least we can do, in view of manifold mercies received, to make acknowledgment of the same. It has been generally noticed that during last year there has been a very noticeable increase at our Communion gatherings, and the hearers have shown a deepened interest in the preaching. What purpose the Lord may have in this is known to Himself alone, but may it be the forerunner of rich blessings from heaven.