Evolution on the Film.—Evolutionists are determined to propagate their faith in their theory by every means in their power. They are taking full advantage of the press, and now the cinema is to be used for indoctrinating the minds of its frequenters with the evolutionary theory. Prof. E. W. MacBride, of the Imperial College of Science, in introducing the picture “Evolution,” said that it was a beautiful picture, beautiful in the sense of suggesting on the
screen the most modern scientific outlook on the creation of our planet and the development of life upon it leading up to man. The picture begins by visualising La Place’s theory of the formation of the earth out of a whirling mass of star dust, then shows the cooling process, the formation of the earth crust, the features of the so-called ice-age. The pictures to follow go on to show the so-called progress in animal development through the various species leading up to the ape-Man of Java and the Piltdown, Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon Man, so says the newspaper report. One need not look for anything very sober or uplifting from the cinema, but it requires an extraordinary stretch of imagination to jump over the gaps in the scientific evolutionary chain. The cinema has given active help to the Prince of Darkness already, and this new move is only in keeping with its past history.
A Life of the Lord Jesus by a Jewish Rabbi.—The Rabbi, Dr Klausner, has written a “Life of Jesus,” which is printed in Hebrew and published in Jerusalem. It has now been translated into English. “Immanuel’s Witness” makes the following brief comment with intimation that the book will be more fully dealt with in future issues:—”Here we only note that, while it is far behind the true Christian standpoint, his views approximate to the critical and modern school, drawing their inspiration largely from German sources. The year 1925, however, will mark in the annals of Jewish Missions the revolutionary change of leaders of Jewry in Palestine; it is not too much to say that before the birth of Zionism every one of their schools would have been excommunicated, and a Rabbi, writing a life of our Lord and publishing it in the Holy City would have been stoned to death, and the printing establishment burnt to the very ground.” The book has caused some stir in American Jewish orthodox circles through references made to it by one of the rabbis.
The So-Called Martyr King.—Traffic, says a newspaper report, in Trafalgar Square, London, was held up at noon on Saturday, 30th January, while the procession organised by the Royal Martyr Church Union made its way from St Martin’s-in-the-Fields to the statue of King Charles I., to take part in the commemoration service to the King. The procession was headed by pipers of the Scots Guards. While we are fully aware that the Scots, harassed though they had been by the fickle and treacherous monarch, regarded the deed that followed the impeachment of Charles by the English Parliament as “murder,” yet strong supporters of monarchy as they were they never looked upon Charles as worthy of the martyr’s crown. “The oft-repeated assertion that Charles died a martyr to religion and Episcopacy,” says Dr King Hewison, in his “Covenanters,” “cannot be maintained by anyone cognisant of the unscrupulous stratagems which he used in order to restore himself to absolute power, such as the temporary countenancing of Presbyterianism in Scotland in 1641, and his offer to re-establish Popery in Ireland in 1645” (Vol. II., p. 450, 1). The presence of the pipers of the Scots Guards was against a military order which had been overlooked, as was intimated by the War Secretary in the House of Commons.
The late Rev. William Scott, Edinburgh.—On 1st January 1926, the death took place at his home, 263 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, of the Rev. William Scott, in his 79th year, minister of the Original Secession Church, South Clerk Street, having laboured in that office for 46 years. He was a faithful adherent to the Covenanted Reformation principles which he vindicated by voice and pen, and although invited to minister elsewhere, he stood firm to the position he took up, not considering temporal gain which might arise from any surrender. He was a keen observer of men and the events of the time, and recognised God’s working in mercy and judgment. A man of prayer, of a kind and gentle disposition, seeking at all times the best interests of those he came in contact with, and suffering patiently many diverse trials, he passed away quietly after thrice vehemently declaring his love to his Lord. He died revered and respected. Mr Scott was a brother of the late Rev. Walter Scott, our respected minister at Chesley, Ontario. A. S.