THE following letter sent to the Clerk of Synod appeared in the press. While we are gratified to know that Sir Murdoch and his Lady keep to the good training of their youth, we cannot agree with him on his view that legislation restricting Sabbath pleasure traffic is impracticable. Parliament has the power and
ought to use it in passing legislation that will put a stop to a glaring infringement of God’s law. The Churches, no doubt, have their duty also in the matter, but they have not the same power as the State to deal with this question.—Editor.
Dear Mr. Beaton,—I have received the motion passed by the Free Presbyterian Church Synod against the Traffic Commissioners for the North of Scotland in so far as they have permitted excursions to be run on the Sabbath day. In London here my wife and I keep to the habits of our earlier years as much as we possibly can in regard to the Sabbath, but I am afraid these habits and views are not those of the majority of the population to-day. Why they should have changed is not for me to say, but I cannot but recognise that they have, and that in consequence any effort in the direction of restricting legislatively “Sabbath Pleasure Traffic” is unfortunately in my view impracticable. The only thing that can be done is for the Churches to say emphatically what is the right course for each individual to pursue in this matter and so lead men’s minds to regard the Sabbath day as it ought to be regarded.—Yours sincerely, Murdoch Macdonald.