The Wrong Road.—We cull the following from The Christian (London):—”A speaker before the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland reminded his hearers of the duty they owe to present-day youth; and what he urged upon Scottish Churchmen is equally applicable to Christians of all denominations in England. He estimated that of the 920 societies with 39,000 members in their particular communion, the great majority were purely cultural or recreational or both. That is to say, in Scotland as well as in England the Churches are going forward steadily on the wrong road. They are—wilfully or mistakenly—endeavouring to compete with the world on the world’s own ground. They fancy that what is ‘wrong’ with religion is that it has been kept on a too austere plane, and that the worldling will embrace the tenets of Christianity more readily if the Churches come down to the worldling’s chosen level, imitate the worldling’s standards of conduct, and speak the worldling’s language. As a fact, the worldling is not more than momentarily impressed by such implied or actual condescension to his own standards. He quickly despises what he cannot reverence. The Church must recover the courage of its own convictions; and this now means that, in some places, those who profess and call themselves Christians must first decide whether they, any longer,
have positive convictions themselves, and, if so, what exactly those convictions are. It is not only a betrayal of Christ, it is also foolish as a practical policy, to seek to drag the gospel at the cart-tail of the world’s procession.”
Failure of the Economic Conference.—We live in an age of conferences—sometimes they are useful—sometimes they have been dismal failures. This is true of the Economic Conference which was proclaimed with a sounding of trumpets that boded ill for really useful work. Journalist vied with journalist in describing beforehand the tremendous significance of this wonderful gathering. Sixty-six nations were present and represented millions of the human race. Britain’s King opened the proceedings and the Prime Minister presided. Terrible things, we were told, were to happen if the Conference failed. Well, the Conference has failed and we are just in the same troubled waters as we were in before. We have been carefully watching the press and it would be amusing were it not so serious in comparing what these gentlemen of swift flowing pens said before the Conference and what they said after its failure to see the efforts they made to cover their retreat. Our rowers have brought us into deep waters, and yet they will persist with covenants, leagues, conferences and other devices that only proclaim too plainly the utter futility to deliver out of the distress God has brought upon the whole world for our sins and folly. Like Israel of old though sorely smitten we will not turn to Him that has smitten.
Magazine Free Distribution Fund.—”A Constant and Gratefully Appreciative Reader” of the Magazine has sent us a letter on the above subject, an extract of which is herewith given:—”While I fully appreciate the undeniable fact stated in your Magazine Report in the July issue that ‘the trade depression is affecting even the finances of the Magazine,’ I, nevertheless, feel convinced that the fact that the contributions to the Free Distribution Fund amounted only to £28 17s. 2d. for the last Magazine year, manifests a clear lack of appreciation of the edifying evangelical quality of the Magazine, and a consequent lack of self-denial and self-sacrifice. In these days of
blatant atheism, evolution, and infidelity in the realms of science and philosophy, of Karl Marxian socialism and Communism in the domain of politics, and of Modernism, Romanism, and milk-and-water Arminianism in the religious sphere, it is a matter of deep thankfulness to God that such a religious periodical as the Free Presbyterian Magazine, with its unambiguous, robust and vigorous evangelical Calvinism is wending its way, as revealed by the subscription lists, to various parts of the five continents. While also well aware that ‘not many noble and mighty’ financially are found among the members and adherents of the F.P. Church, I feel quite persuaded that there are still left among them individuals who would not need to deem it a great display of self-denial to contribute a little more in one sum annually than the total amount donated to the Free Distribution Fund for the past year. For a number of years past I have regularly ordered six copies monthly, and when articles and other matters of more than mere denominational interest appeared I generally doubled that order. It is my constant practice to send these copies to different friends at home and abroad, and I personally know of no better method of strengthening, particularly morally and spiritually, the bond of affection that should characterise family relationships, even when separated by oceans and continents. I am by no means wealthy, but I unhesitatingly confess that I never found reason to grudge this little self-denying expenditure in connection with a noble cause. It is, therefore, quite easily conceivable that a little self-denying practical effort on the part of your readers would not only double but at least treble the circulation of the Magazine.”