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Home » Publications » Free Presbyterian Magazine » 1927 » October 1927 » Northern Presbytery’s Resolution on Mr Norman Shaw’s Case

Northern Presbytery’s Resolution on Mr Norman Shaw’s Case

THE Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland at its last meeting had under consideration the case of Mr Norman Shaw’s dismissal from the service of the Clyde Lighthouses Trust for refusal to do work on the Sabbath which he felt in his conscience was unnecessary. The Presbytery, after careful consideration of the whole case, desire to express their hearty approval of the stand made by Mr Shaw in witnessing to the claims of the Lord’s commandment. The whole country has witnessed what a man with a conscience fearing God can do, and the utter futility of men armed with a little brief authority to crush it. The claims of God’s commandment, apply equally to employer and employed, and the Fourth Commandment makes express mention of the duty of employers to their servants. The Presbytery would also express its righteous indignation at the unjust, callous, and tyrannical action of the Trustees in dismissing from their service one who had served them faithfully for over ten years for no other reason than that he refused to do work on the Lord’s Day which could and should have been done on a week-day. If any in this case deserved dismissal it was the officials who arranged the test of the wireless on the Sabbath because it suited them, and if the Clyde Lighthouses Trustees were loyal servants of God they would have begun by getting rid of those officials whose plans brought a man who desired to obey God’s law face to face with work which his conscience would not allow him to do, and they would have ended by getting rid of their Chairman and Clerk, both of whom in their correspondence showed a spirit of mean and petty tyranny over a man who, in this matter, was their superior both as a Christian and as a gentleman. The Presbytery rejoice in the testimony raised at this juncture, and while giving due credit to Mr Shaw, it would specially seek to direct attention to Him who gives grace and enables His people to acknowledge Him, and stand firm in times of stress and temptation. The Presbytery expresses the hope that this witness will encourage others faced with similar circumstances to stand firm to their convictions whatever the consequences may be.

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