“Scotland’s Loss and America’s Gain.”—Such is the sub-heading of an article on Professor Moffatt, which appeared recently in the “Scots Observer” (Glasgow). After all the mischief done by his dangerous teaching we have no regrets that he has left Scotland, unless it be that America will have added to its Modernist ranks one that has never been ashamed to champion the cause of the unbelieving criticism of the Bible. Even such an advanced theologian as Dr Dods felt that Moffatt’s teaching went too far; and since that date Dr Moffatt has consistently moved forward in the wrong direction. If we had the sub-editing of the article in the “Scots Observer” the heading would have been, “Scotland’s Gain and America’s Loss.”
Another Step in the Wrong Direction.—The “Glasgow Herald” recently contained a paragraph reporting that the praise at the forenoon and evening services in Union United Free Church, Glasgow, was led by the new Princes’ Toronto Band. Prior to and following the evening service a short programme of sacred music was rendered by the band. At the close of his sermon the minister, the Rev. T. Struthers Symington, expressed thanks to the band for their contribution to the services. No doubt these services will yet be common in Presbyterian Churches, and General Booth’s followers may have to resort to more sensational methods to outbid the duped Presbyterians who are so sheepishly following the music. Such services are contrary to New Testament worship.
Bad News.—A paragraph in one of the dailies chronicles the fact that the London and North Eastern Railway Company have made a departure from railway custom in Scotland by instituting a comprehensive scheme of running special excursion trains at cheap fares on the Sabbath. Excursions were run from Edinburgh to Garelochhead, Arrochar, Tarbert, Ardlui, and Berwick-on-Tweed on the first Sabbath of May. The trains, it is reported, were well patronised, and the Waverley Station had a busy aspect. These services are to be maintained to the end of September, and coaches and steamers are also to be employed for the excursionists. The London Midland and Scottish Railway is also to begin running excursion trains on the Sabbath, with restaurant car facilities, in June to Oban and the English Lake District. The Scottish Companies before the amalgamation were not what we would like them to have been in the matter of Sabbath trains, but it is evident that the amalgamated companies are out to make money at all costs, and while in the Highlands we have been spared the running of Sabbath trains, it is not because the companies have any respect for the Lord’s Day, but simply because the Post Office grant for the mail trains, for economic reasons, was withdrawn, and we may rest assured that whenever it will pay to run excursion trains northwards they will be run. It becomes all those who value the Fourth Commandment and believe in its binding obligation that they would do all in their power to strengthen the hands of those who are seeking to have the Sabbath retained as a day hallowed to the Lord.
Useful Pamphlets.—The series of articles which appeared in the “Churchman’s Magazine” by Dr Salmon on “The Popes of the Nineteenth Century” have been reprinted by the Protestant Truth Society, 3 St Paul’s Church-yard, London, E.C. 4 (price 4d). Dr Salmon gives in a short compass quite a lot of interesting information about these Popes. The Sovereign Grace Union (98 Camberwell Grove, London, S.E. 5) publish a little booklet by that noted minister of Christ, Joseph Irons, under the title, “Beware of Men” (price 1½d, post free), in which he warns his readers against different classes of men whose conduct and teaching is not in keeping with Scripture.
Superstition in the Highlands.—The following paragraph appeared in a recent issue of the “Northern Chronicle” (Inverness):—”Large crowds from Inverness and district visited the Wishing, or as it is more familiarly known, ‘Clootie’ Well at Culloden on Sabbath. The greater number travelled to the Well by charabanes, but others utilised motor cycles and push bicycles, and not a few walked the four miles from town. The usual custom of dropping a coin in the Well after partaking the waters and expressing a wish was largely followed, and at the end of the day a sum of about £21—£17 in silver and £4 in coppers—was recovered from the Well. The money will be divided between the Northern Infirmary and the Highland Orphanage.” It is deplorable that such gross superstition should exist in the Highlands, and it is all the more disgraceful that it should show itself on the Lord’s Day.
Growth of Roman Catholicism in Scotland.—At a Roman Catholic demonstration held in Glasgow one of the speakers is reported as saying that while there were only 70,000 Roman Catholics in Scotland in 1827, there are now 600,000. No doubt a careful scrutiny of these figures might reveal a wide divergence from the true figures, and that when set over against the losses the Church of Rome has had in Scotland, that while the increase is disconcerting to Protestants, that it is far from satisfactory to Roman Catholic statisticians. The influx of Roman Catholic Irish who are ousting our Protestant population largely accounts for this great increase.