Observance of Christmas.—In an article reprinted in this issue our readers will find stated the attitude of Presbyterian Scotland formerly to this festival. We call the attention of the young of our Church specially to it not that we believe that any of them are ready to fall in with the religious observance of Christmas but they may be ready to follow their companions in indulging in many of the accompaniments observed at this particular date. Even though it could be shown from Scripture and history that this festival was observed from apostolic times in commemoration of the Saviour’s birth are the dancing and frivolity that characterise so many of the functions on 25th December a fit way of remembering an event of such transcendent interest? What a spectacle of mockery must such gatherings be to the angels who announced “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Scotland has been characterised by some foolish, and we say it advisedly, ignorant writers in the press as a benighted land because she so long refused to observe this festival but the facts of history run strongly in face of such a judgment. Her brightest religious days were when her serious minded sons and daughters had nothing to do with such observances and customs as are now becoming common on the 25th of December.
Very Strange.—While the Dornoch case has been attracting the widest attention and pressmen have been busy in the dull season in giving it the widest publicity leading men of the Church of Scotland have also been giving their opinion on dancing. Some of these say they see nothing wrong in it and in view of this we need not think it strange if the following report is true which we cull from one of the dailies:—Mr. Duncan Mackinnon, a Glasgow divinity student, was ordained and inducted at Bressay (Shetland). “The service was followed by social evening and dance.” The flood is pouring in when a dance is held on the night of an ordination. The latter is far too tame for those that must mix worldly pleasure with the things of God. The Roman Catholic priest was present at the social meeting as reported in the Shetland papers—Shetland News and Shetland Times.
“Beginning at Moses.”—This is an interesting pamphlet issued by Mr. William Wileman. It deals with some of the views advanced by the Higher Critics and shows how contrary they are to the statements in Scripture. He says: “I ask why should preachers publicly read from Moffatt’s paraphrase, or Weymouth’s, or the Twentieth Century New Testament, instead of from the Scriptures of Truth. This unwise practice has wrought immense mischief.” We heartily agree with this statement. The pamphlet may be had from the author, 41 Marlborough Road, Wimbledon Park, London, S.W.19. Price, one penny.