Spread of Romanism in Scotland.—Dr White, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, with whose ecclesiastical policy we have no sympathy, has spoken out in regard to the spread of Romanism in Scotland in a manner in which we fully agree with him. In a speech made at Dumbarton, he said:—”There had, however, been in the West a large increase in the Roman Catholic community, due mainly to immigration over a lengthy period. Rome now menaces Scotland as at no other time since the Reformation. A century ago Roman Catholics were 1 in 30.
To-day there were 1 in 8. In Glasgow the proportion was 1 in 4 or 5, and in Dumbarton, he was told, they were 1 in 3. Indeed they had to face the fact that at the present rate of increase owing to immigration and those born of Irish parents in Scotland it was only a question of time until the Roman Catholic element would be the strongest in the West of Scotland. This numerical increase of the Roman Church was due to the unregulated immigration that prevailed. There was little likelihood of Romanism making proselytes amongst educated Scotsmen, who loved liberty. The Reformed Faith and the Presbyterian government of the Church of Scotland were too strong in the hearts of true Scotsmen and too well suited to the genius of the race to be overthrown by any alien force. But the fact remained that the Roman Catholics were patiently working to secure a grip on every department of the nation’s life. They could not remain inactive when this attack was being made, nor could they remain silent when so many critical statements with regard to their Church and Faith were being made.”
Great Increase in the Circulation of the Bible.—At the 69th annual meeting of the National Bible Society of Scotland it was reported that whereas two years ago the circulation was 2,849,914, the circulation for 1929 was 5,363,810. The chief fields of expansion had been China, South America, Central America, and the West India Islands. The work of the Society involved an expenditure of £45,746.
Ignorance of the Bible in Scotland.—At the above meeting Principal Rait, of Glasgow University, in moving a resolution, said among other things, that he had been very much impressed with the growing unfamiliarity with the Scriptures which was to be found among the people of Scotland. “In Scotland especially,” he said, “they deplored that ignorance of the Bible, because it meant that the younger generation had cut itself adrift from the history of the country, one of the supreme influences which in the past three centuries had made Scotland what it was. The mothers of to-day were not teaching the Bible as they had been taught it.” It is a pity that such a thing should be true of what was once called Bible-loving Scotland.
Commemorating the Signing of the National Covenant.—The signing of the National Covenant in 1638 is
an event that should never be forgotten by Scotsmen. The Church of Scotland has travelled far from the attainments of the Second Reformation, but still it claims a connection with those days of fierce struggle for civil and religious liberties. This was evidenced by a commemorative service held in Greyfriars’ Kirk, Edinburgh, at which the devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. Dr Drummond, and an address on “The Kernel of the Covenant” was given by Lord Sands at the morning service. In the evening the Rev. R. M. Knox, Moderator-Designate of the Free Church Assembly, conducted the service. Lord Sands made it quite clear that the Covenanters’ stand for Presbyterianism against Episcopacy did not meet with his approval. Lord Sands, as our readers are aware, is under the possession of the spirit of Lausanne. Their objections to certain Romish customs, such as the observance of the Christian year, prayer at the grave, communion to the sick, etc., did not meet with his approval. One sometimes wonders why such men should attend and be asked to speak at such commemorations. Lord Sands, if he had been living in 1638, would have been, to use the significant phrase of the times, on “the lee side of the dyke” while the storm was raging.
Organ in the Metropolitan Tabernacle.—In January the place of worship made famous over the English-speaking world saw an organ installed and dedicated. One wonders what would have been the feelings of the great Baptist preacher if he had been told that such an instrument would have a place in the Tabernacle. His antipathy to instrumental music is well known, and in his own facetious way he used to say that he wished all instrumentalists were taken home to heaven.
The Blasphemy Bill Withdrawn.—Our forecast of the fate of the Blasphemy Bill was happily realised by its withdrawal on the Solicitor-General (Sir J. B. Melville) bringing forward an amendment. In connection with a similar matter we would ask our readers to get into touch with their M.P.’s in reference to a measure promoted by Commander Southby, M.P. (Epsom) to prohibit certain kinds of objectionable teaching given to the young in Communist “Sunday” Schools.
Floods in France.—Southern France was visited with extraordinary floods when, according to some accounts, over 800 lives were lost. A number of villages
were practically wiped out. It is said that 10,000 are rendered homeless through the devastation. Gallant and heroic efforts were made by Senegalese troops on the work of rescue. One report describes the terror-stricken look in the faces of the women and children who were rescued, and adds that the men were cursing their fate. It is a sad story, and proves again that hardened sinners in the face of danger find it easier to curse than to pray. Would that the words of the prophet would be fulfilled—”For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants will learn righteousness.”