“That they might be one.”—This is one of the most abused texts of Scripture but surely its misinterpretation reached a climax in its application to a series of services conducted in Trinity Church, Glasgow (Rev. H. S. McClelland, B.A., B.D., minister), under the heading of League of Religions
Services. The advertisement announces that “Members of many faiths will worship together on Sunday Evenings; December 29th and January 5th. Speakers representing Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Mohammedanism will take part. Lessons read from sacred books of many faiths . . . The minister will lead the devotions at both services.” Things have come to a fine pass when a Church professing to be Christian allows such services to be conducted under its auspices. We feel it our duty to enter a strong protest against the glaring misuse of the words of the great high priestly Prayer of our Lord in such a connection. It is dishonouring to His Name to say that He ever prayed that His followers and Hindus, Buddhists, Mohammedans, etc., as such, should be one. That is not what He prayed for.
What is a Christian?—This question came to our minds in reading a few comments made by the Rev. Alfred Hall on a remarkable document left behind by Mr. E. M. Gibbs, a noted architect and surveyor, Sheffield, and which was read at his funeral service in the Upper Chapel, Sheffield. Mr. Gibbs was born of Unitarian parents but through reading Darwin and Spencer he became an Agnostic which, as Mr. Spurgeon tellingly pointed out is the Greek form for the Latin ignoramus. He was a worshipper of the Unknown God or as he put it himself—”the infinite and eternal Energy from which all things proceed”—whatever that may mean. Mr. Hall remarked: “I cannot help thinking that Mr. Gibbs was more of a Christian than many who profess themselves such.” Probably Mr. Hall imagines Unitarians to be Christians though they deny the Deity of our Lord. It makes no undue demands on charity to unhesitatingly deny that they have any claim to such a noble designation.
A Meatless and Treeless Christmas.—It seems among many other difficulties Italy suffered owing to her unrighteous war was that of a meatless and treeless Christmas. The Fascist
ban on Christmas trees had the approval of the Vatican organ—Osservatore Romano—which describes the Christmas tree as an “exotic and Protestant fashion.” It seems, according to this organ, that the Christmas tree is “a relic of naturalistic pagan rituals.” “It is with approval,” it adds, “we note the (Fascist) order which definitely abolishes this Nordic usage.” We have no idea how the German Dictator will take this but it would be well for so-called Protestants to bear in mind that the Osservatore Romano is not far off the mark in its description of the origin of the Christmas tree. It does seem strange, however, that the papal authorities made this belated discovery through the application of the Fascist ban. The Church of Rome is substituting the Italian “Christmas Crib” for the Nordic “Christmas Tree” which is as bad notwithstanding the blessing of the Osservatore Romano.
Mr. Brider’s Gospel Mission to the Army, Navy and Air Force.—The Annual Report has been sent us. Mr. Brider is still carrying on his good work in sending religious literature to the Army, Navy and Air Force. We regret he is sorely handicapped through weak health and it is to his credit that he has not given in. A number of our readers in the past have sent contributions for the carrying on of the work and others may wish to send contributions his way. Mr. Brider is entirely dependent on what may be sent him as he has no personal means of support. One thousand parcels have been sent out last year for free distribution to men in garrison towns and naval stations at home and abroad. Mr. Brider’s address is 21 Firfield Street, Totterdown, Bristol.
“Music and Dancing.”—When the Saviour tabernacled among men His words were often misinterpreted—wrested from their meaning—the same injustice is done to Him still. One of the most reprehensible forms of this misinterpretation is the appropriation of His words as a cover to worldly practices and follies. The words quoted above from the most touching
and beautiful of all His parables have been used by professing Christians with a decidedly worldly outlook as a justification for promiscuous dancing. Bishop Ryle’s comment on the words is to the point and gives no countenance to the above interpretation. “Some commentators,” he says, “have carefully dwelt on this expression, and have hinted, not obscurely that it sanctions recreations and amusements from which many Christians think it better to abstain. Stier exclaims, ‘A note for the Pietists!’ Alford says more gravely, ‘Would these festal employments have been mentioned by our Lord on so solemn and blessed an occasion if they really come among those works of the devil which He came into the world to destroy.’ I can see no force in arguments of this kind. There is not the slightest proof that the dancing referred to in this place was at all like the dancing of modern time. There is no proof that it was at night, or that it was a dance of men and women mingled together. Until these things can be proved, such comments on the verse before us are much to be regretted. I am not aware of any Christian objecting to music. Dancing, as it is conducted in modern times, many excellent Christians object to, and I frankly say, I think with good reason” (Expository Thoughts on St. Luke, ii, 193).
Dry Rot in the Churches.—We were recently pulled up in the press for commenting on dry rot in the Church of Scotland but when one of its own elders uses the phrase perhaps it may not be considered so much out of place as coming from us. Near the beginning of last month Mr. William R. Mackay, headmaster of Stemster School, Bower, in a speech before the Caithness Presbytery of the Church of Scotland said some very wise things about prayer-meetings. He asserted that social activities were taking the place of prayer-meetings in their Churches. The abandoning of prayer-meetings was a tragedy and their decay indicated the decay of spiritual life. He further asserted that their congregations had largely lost the sense of prayer. The dry rot of formality had invaded their Churches and the sleeping sickness of spiritual paralysis seemed
to have settled down on their congregations. “In many of their Churches Ichabod might be chalked on their doors.” It is regrettable that Mr. Mackay used the too common phrase yet so unscriptural and dishonouring to the sovereign God—”Give God a chance”—in his speech.