Modern Theology and Modernism.—Dr. McConnachie, Dundee, as an ardent disciple of Professor Barth, whose Theology of Crisis is causing the Modernists some perturbation of mind,
has been carrying the war into the enemy’s camp in articles which have appeared from time to time in the Scots Observer. The Theology of Crisis, while laying much needed emphasis on certain doctrines of the Reformed faith, is sadly lacking in certain truths which would strengthen its witness against Modernism. The disciples of this phase of theological thought are zealous advocates of their faith, and if the new teaching would only go still farther and take up the Calvinistic position of the Reformed Churches, as set forth in the greatest of the Calvinistic symbols, the Westminster Confession of Faith, there are still some in Scotland who would rejoice. In an article which appeared in the Scots Observer (21st January) Dr. McConnachie writes: “I do not say that modern theology has adopted all the doctrines of modernism, but I do say that the underlying assumptions and pre-suppositions of much of our modern theology are at one with these principles of modernism. Therefore I hold that this modern theology of ours is not true to the fundamental teaching of the New Testament and of the Reformers. We need a new and truer theology that will lay the supreme emphasis not on man but on God: not on man’s religion but on God’s divine Revelation.” Dr. McConnachie will find many “stony ground” hearers among his brethren in the Church of Scotland, if not open hostility. Still, if the religion of Scotland is to be revived, it will require more than the message of Professor Barth to do so.
Sabbath Observance Meeting in Inverness.—Under the auspices of the Lord’s Day Observance Association of Scotland a large gathering met in the Free North Church, Inverness, on 21st January. The meeting was presided over by Rev. Ewen Macqueen, and resolutions were moved protesting against Sabbath cinemas (moved by Colonel Rose of Kilravock) and the “Floating Sunday” (moved by Rev. W. C. Fisher, Baptist minister, Inverness). The Rev. Stewart Mechie, Crown Church, Inverness, moved that copies of the resolution against the “Sunday Entertainment Act” be sent to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and the Northern Members of Parliament, and that copies of the second resolution be sent to Sir Eric Drummond, the General
Secretary of the League of Nations, Geneva; to the Foreign Secretary, Lord Cecil of Chetwood; to the Secretary of the League of Nations Union, London; and to the representative of the Church of Scotland on the League of Nations Union, Edinburgh.
“A Nicht Wi’ Burns.”—Burns worship has been steadily making strides in Scotland as the worship of God has been declining, but we were not quite prepared for a paragraph that caught our eye in a Glasgow evening paper. It announced that “A nicht wi’ Burns” in song and recitation was the form taken by the Pleasant Sunday Evening Concert of the Glasgow Temperance Crusaders in St. Andrew’s Hall on Sabbath, 24th January. Mr. E. Rosslyn Mitchell (of Prayer Book speech fame) paid a tribute to the poet in ‘The Immortal Memory.’ The St. George’s Vocal Octette gave selections from part songs by Burns.” It looks like when one reads these doings that God is delivering many of the Scottish people over to the desires of their own hearts.
Resignation of Sir William Jowitt.—It gives us pleasure to chronicle this resignation. It will be remembered that it was Sir William, as a law officer of the Crown, who unashamedly stated in Parliament that he had winked at the glaring breach of the law of the land in allowing cinemas in London to be open on Sabbath. Sir William, as if not content with this neglect of Heaven’s law, bent all his energies to get a bill through legalising the opening of these places of amusement on the Lord’s Day, but his efforts were in vain, as this piece of legislation went into well-deserved oblivion amidst the crash of the Socialist Government. At last election Sir William was believed of his Parliamentary power by the vote of the people, and despite all efforts to get a seat for him and the Prime Minister’s desire to retain his services, he has meantime to retire from Parliamentary life. Sir Herbert Samuel, who sponsored the temporary bill to shield the Sabbath breakers in London, might do well to take heed, as his turn may come soon. “Those that honour God He
will honour, and they that despise Him will lightly be esteemed” (I. Sam. ii. 30).
Links with Dr. Livingstone.—One can scarcely realise that there are still living some who had intercourse with the great South African missionary. Two natives, at anyrate, are still to the fore, Lazarus Rankaine (aged 105) and Matthew Wellington, now living at Mombasa (aged 89). The latter is the last survivor of that noble band that carried Livingstone’s body from Chitambo’s village to the coast. Rankaine’s association with Livingstone goes further back. He was one of Mary Moffat’s (afterwards Mrs. Livingstone) pupils, and was a camp boy on the fateful morning when Dr. Livingstone had the encounter with the lion. Rankaine, in order to escape the lion, jumped into the camp fire and was severely burnt on his hand and arm—the scars of which are with him to this day. He was with Livingstone when he discovered the Victoria Falls.
Prayers for the Dead.—Dr. Charles Warr in the prayer offered at the Stone of Remembrance last Armistice Day showed all too plainly his own position. Dr. Norman Maclean, St. Cuthbert’s, in the first of a series of sermons on “The Blessed Dead” gives utterance to certain sentiments which clearly indicate where he stands also. We have only a short newspaper report before us, but take it for granted that it correctly states the preacher’s views. According to this report, Dr. Maclean is reported as saying that the dead passed into a state which the Bible called Paradise, but this was not Heaven. When our Lord said to the dying thief, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, did He not mean Heaven? Another strange statement made by the preacher was: “It took aeons for the earth to become solid for the feet of man. It took aeons for man to develop and grow until he saw the difference between right and wrong. . . . There was nothing in death that would prepare a great sinner instantly to crash into the centre of Glory.” Certainly not in death, but there was in God reconciled through Christ. In dealing with the objection that prayers for the dead had been abused, Dr. Maclean brushed it aside as so much cant. The
liveliness of Dr. Maclean’s Celtic imagination needs a severe curb to keep it within the bounds of truth. There was a day, even in the Church of Scotland, when Drs. Warr and Maclean would be brought to book for their views, but in these days of broad-minded charity, the seed of which was liberally sown in the Scottish Churches by the enemy, the wonder will be if the Church Courts take notice of the matter.