General Assemblies.—The General Assemblies of the Established, United Free, and Free Churches met at Edinburgh on 22nd May, and we hope to make reference to some of their proceedings, as has been our wont in past years, in next issue of the Magazine. Meantime it may be noted that the prospective Union between the two larger Churches was brought a stage nearer consummation. The opposition in the United Free Church has considerably lessened—the vote against Union this year being only 53. Both Assemblies adjourned, to meet again on 21st November, when an Overture will be sent down by the Assemblies under the Barrier Act to the Presbyteries of the respective Churches, with a view of having the Union consummated next year.
Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain.—During the recent frenzy of betting that annually seizes multitudes in these islands and in the Empire at the Derby event, we were somewhat taken aback to read in one of the dailies that the person who drew the favourite horse in one of the sweepstakes makes this acknowledgment :—” We both [i.e., he and his wife] thank our Lord for our good fortune.” We cannot say how long the gratitude continued, but it is likely to have ended the following day when it was made known that the favourite was not the winner. Our main reason for drawing attention to this mixing of the Lord’s name with betting is that we have noticed of late a decided tendency on the part of otherwise estimable people to introduce and make use of the Lord’s name in connection with some pet scheme or project of their own, which as far as can be seen has neither His sanction nor approval. It used to be said that some people were too ready to father on the devil what they should have acknowledged as their own shortcomings, but this is not nearly so serious as when we attribute to the Lord what is of a questionable nature simply because it pleases and suits us. To attribute to the Lord imaginary success in betting may suit a certain type of mind, but we should think neither the avowedly worldly or the avowedly religious will regard this otherwise than taking the Lord’s name in vain. The false idea that betting is quite justifiable on Derby Day is immoral, and a master policy of the devil to popularise betting.