In Deep Waters.
—The Church of Scotland judging from the cry going forth from its Presbyteries appears to be in deep financial waters. One of the loudly trumpeted benefits that was to follow from the Union was a husbanding of financial resources. The result is not in accordance with the prophecies of the ecclesiastics who engineered the Union. The decrease in the Maintenance of the Ministry Fund for the three quarters ending 30th September is £8,974. The enthusiasm for the Union, if one uses a paradox, was somewhat frigid but if it had been known that the Church was to glide into deep financial waters we make bold to say that the reception for the Union proposals would have lost what little appearance of warmth it had.
Be Still and Know that I am God.
—The terrible disaster to the great airship R101 came as a shock to the British people. All that skill could do was done in the construction of the great airship and it was heralded as one of man’s greatest works. The same loud boasting was heard when the “Titanic” was set afloat and now one is a mass of wreckage and the other lying at the depths of the ocean. One of the saddest features of the R101 catastrophe was the loss of so many lives—among them being men of the highest standing. The sympathy of the English speaking world has gone out to those who were so suddenly bereaved.
Dr. Kennedy’s Leper Isle.
—This striking allegory by Dr. Kennedy has been reprinted through the good offices of Mrs. Giles, Abingdon, England. We trust it will have a large sale. The truth is presented in allegorical form in a striking and arresting way. It may be had from the “Courier” Office, Inverness, price 2½d post free.
Sabbath Excursion Trains.
—The London Correspondent of the “Glasgow Herald” recently referred to this subject. He writes: “The various branches of the Sunday Defence League and kindred bodies are still insisting on the Scottish Office authorities taking legislative steps to prevent the running of excursion trains in the North of Scotland. In his latest statement on the matter, Sir Murdoch Macdonald, M.P. for Inverness-shire, recalls that he and others who had formed a deputation to the L.M.S. Railway Company had received ‘a polite but blunt refusal,’ and says that ‘without an alteration of the law it is impossible to prevent these trains from being run.’ ‘I am sorry to say I see no hope of such a measure being carried,’ added Sir Murdoch Macdonald. ‘Even the Secretary of State for Scotland, who is himself a deeply religious man, will not help to bring in legislation for this purpose.’ All the Highland M.P.’s have been bringing to the notice of the Scottish Office the intensity of the feelings of the people, in Skye in particular, in regard to ‘Sunday’ excursions, but they have to accept the decision of the Secretary of State for Scotland that if ‘Sunday’ excursion trains were to be banned in the North by legislative enactment, all ‘Sunday’ travelling in the whole of Scotland would have to become subject to a similar prohibition.” And why not, we ask?
Capitulation of the L.M.S.
—Since our previous note was written the following has appeared in the “Glasgow Herald”:—”I can confirm the report published in ‘The Glasgow Herald’ at the week-end to the effect that the London Midland and Scottish Railway have decided not to run excursions to Skye next summer. Instructions to this effect will probably reach the local railway authorities within the next few days in order that they may readjust their programmes and their schedules. Officials here seem unwilling to enlarge upon the concession, but I gather that it has been made in deference to the Sabbatarian views of those who presented organised opposition to the railway activities.”