Roman Catholic Members of Parliament.—Seventeen Roman Catholics have been returned to the new Parliament, against twenty-four in the last Parliament. There are 12 Conservatives, 3 Labour and 2 Independent. The following are the names of the Conservatives—Sir R. M. Banks, Lord C. Crichton-Stuart, A. Denville, Sir N. G. Doyle, Captain A. Evans, P. J. H. Hannon, Captain A. O. J. Hope, Dr. W. J. O’Donovan, J. Potter, Sir James Reynolds, Hon. J. I. Stourton, Col. J. B. Webb. The 3 Labour are Jack Jones, D. G. Logan, J. Tinker, and the 2 Independents, J. Devlin and C. Healy. Nineteen Roman Catholic candidates were defeated—of whom nine were Members of the last Parliament.—The Reformer.
M.P.’s and the Sabbath Question.—Mr. H. H. Martin, the enthusiastic secretary of the Lord’s Day Observance Society, in a letter to The Christian (3rd December) says that 370 M.P.’s have declared themselves in favour of the British Sabbath and against the opening of the theatres and vaudeville halls. This is so far encouraging and we would be more cheered by the news were it not “British Sabbath” may be a phrase of very indefinite meaning when used by some of these M.P.’s. We shall see how they act when the time of testing comes.
Fighting the World in the Church.—In the Charlotte Chapel Record (Edinburgh) for December, there is a quotation from the Leeds Mercury telling of a fine stand made by the Rev. Herbert Lockyer, formerly Baptist minister at Hawick, now of Leeds Road Baptist Church, Bradford. He accepted the pastorate on the condition that bazaars, operettas, tea parties and concerts in connection with the Church would be abandoned altogether. There was a debt of £400 on the building and this has been wiped out at the very outset without resorting to bazaars, sales of work, or that invention of old wives (of both sexes)—cake and candy sales. When in Hawick Mr. Lockyer wrote an excellent booklet against dancing which we had pleasure in highly recommending in our pages. At the time war broke out between the Free Masons and the Free Presbyterian Church Mr. Lockyer carried the war into the camp in Hawick and we understand caused no inconsiderable stir. At this he need not be surprised for one cannot fire into any citadel where the devil has a good stronghold point blank without getting a broadside in return. The Enemy has the habit of lying low but never when he is hit. We wish Mr. Lockyer God-speed in the formidable task on which he has embarked in seeking to drive the world out of the Church by God’s strength. If the world has laid its death-bringing hand upon the Baptist Churches in England and Scotland, as it has done in the Presbyterian, then Mr. Lockyer has a mighty task before him, but a task which by God’s strength can be accomplished.
The Doctrine of Hell.—No one who realises in some measure the awful meaning of hell will speak rashly of it but
when men take upon themselves, especially professed ministers of Christ, to speak of the doctrine as “wicked and monstrous” as Prof. Dearmer recently did in Westminster Abbey and as the Rev. E. F. Braley did in an article describing it as “Sheer Devil Worship” it is time for those who believe in the Bible teaching to speak out and challenge these false teachers to their face. The latter boldly said: “No one who calls himself a Christian could possibly contemplate singing hymns in glory when the least estimable of his acquaintances was suffering.” Such teaching is a gross insult to the Lord Jesus for never in this world were such solemn words uttered about hell as came from One in whose heart was all the fullness of divine love, pity, and compassion. For such men to set themselves up as having more tender hearts than He had is monstrous effrontery.
John Newton Vindicated.—Professor Dearmer, referred to in the preceding note, said recently in Westminster Abbey that Cowper’s mental breakdown was primarily due to school bullying before he went to Westminster and not to the influence of John Newton or to the Evangelical party of that day as had often been asserted in literary histories. John Newton might well say, as Bunyan said about men in his own time, the Philistines do not understand me. Literary critics never seem to realise their unfitness to judge in matters spiritual and in their ignorance they pass sweeping sentences upon men such as John Newton that have not the slightest foundation. Professor Dearmer has done good service in protesting against the verdict of the literary critics.
Dominicans Returning to Edinburgh.—This Order, expelled with other Orders at the Reformation, is returning again to resume activities in this country. It is announced that the Dominicans have acquired premises in George Square, Edinburgh, with the object of establishing a friary. The newspaper report says a number of friars will take up their residence there and devote their energies to assisting students attending Edinburgh University. No doubt, as opportunity offers, their influence will be brought to bear on schemes that have for their aim the Romanising of the Universities.
Sabbath Desecration at Inverness. — The football enthusiasts of Inverness recently gave an indication of how little they regard God’s law in the reception they gave to the Inverness Citadel Football Club on its return after defeating an Edinburgh Club and bringing the Scottish Football Association’s Qualifying Cup to the Highlands for the first time. A crowd of 1,000 greeted the players at Inverness Station on a Sabbath afternoon and cheer after cheer was given to the victors. The press writer says, “it is expected that the demonstration will bring protests from Sabbatarians but it is pointed out that it was perfectly spontaneous and not in any way organized.” We should think it would; for there are thousands in Inverness to whom such an exhibition must have been a heart-felt grief. As for the pressman’s plea extenuating the disgraceful scene we wonder if he would regard it as an extenuating circumstance if one of a band of thieves made off with his watch because it was done spontaneously and without being organized. What strange ideas some people have!