Good Friday and Easter Services.—Scotland is following hard in the wake of her southern neighbour in her religious practices and observances. Our forefathers cast out of the Church the observance of the church festivals such as Christmas and Easter but of late years through the influence of some in the Church of Scotland there has been a landslide in the growing observance of these so-called holy days. Only recently a paragraph appeared in the press intimating that the Greenock Presbytery of the Church of Scotland had recommended that Good Friday services be held in churches within the Presbytery. As for Easter services we may take it for granted that they will be common in many Presbyterian Churches. If there is a widely prevalent desire to commemorate the Resurrection of Christ there are 52 Sabbaths in the year in which it may be done without resorting to man-made holy days with an atmosphere of Popery about them.
The Football Pool Gambling.—Gambling is one of the great curses of the day. Men are in a hurry to get rich and when the love of money masters them they are ensnared in many evils as cases in the civil courts reveal. One of the most popular forms of this vice is that known as the Football Pools. An attempt has been made by the English football authorities to stamp it out. Their action hit at vested interests and a popular vice and there was a mighty hue and cry raised against the Football League. A general idea of the extent of the pool business may be gathered from the Postmaster General’s statement that during the months of September, October and November, 1935, in 7 large cities (Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield) close on 70 million postal packages were posted. It is to be hoped our young people will in no way countenance this form of gambling.
A Bad Beginning.—King Edward has made a bad beginning as far as his attitude to Sabbath observance is concerned. This is the first time as far as we are aware that the occupant of the British throne has addressed his subjects throughout his dominions on the Lord’s Day. It is regrettable that our King should have used God’s holy day for this purpose. Neither necessity nor mercy can be urged as pleas for the choice of the day for such a purpose. We sincerely trust that it is not a straw showing the way the wind is blowing.
Certain Movements in connection with Sabbath Observance.—Glasgow Corporation by a vote of 47 to 30 votes has decided to approach the Sheriff to have one of their bye-laws altered so that golf may be played on the Sabbath in the public parks. One of the lady councillors who opposed the motion said that she was convinced if there was any demand for “Sunday” golf it came from the non-Scottish and non-Protestant section of the inhabitants. After the vote the Town Clerk intimated that he would make an amendment of the bye-law in accordance with the finding of the Corporation and that he would submit a draft of it to next meeting. And, if approved, application then would be made to the sheriff-courts for confirmation of the law as altered. At the time of writing no decision has been announced by the sheriffs. In the House of Commons a Bill was introduced by Mr. Loftus, who, we understand is a Roman Catholic, for restricting Sabbath trading. The meshes in his net are far too wide as they let through Sabbath breakers of all classes especially those who have behind them strong vested interests such as the publishers of “Sunday” papers, etc. The ruling principle of the Bill is to strike a balance between the reasonable needs of the people and the reasonable desire of the great bulk of those engaged in the distributive trade to enjoy Sabbath rest and recreation. God’s rights and God’s commandment, of course, are not recognised, but despite what men may do God will not have His authority unrecognised.
A New Idol.—The idol in question is the Queen Mary. Men are losing their heads over this great leviathan of the deep. She personifies man’s skill and power and has become an object of wonder and admiration. Never before has there been launched from any of the world-renowned shipbuilding yards of Britain a ship to equal her in size and magnificence of equipment. Thousands are flocking to get a sight of the great ship every Sabbath Day. On Sabbath, the 15th of March, it was computed that almost 400,000 people went to see the giant liner and it is anticipated that one million people will be present to get a sight of her as she is manoeuvred down the river by the powerful tugs requisitioned for that purpose. It is in keeping with the idolatry that prompts this sight-seeing that the Lord’s Day should be trampled underfoot by the sight-seers on pleasure bent. When will the day come for Glasgow and the surrounding towns when God’s mighty works in grace will attract the thousands as the “Queen Mary” is attracting them to-day? Wonderful though she is as a monument of man’s skill and achievements yet how small shall she appear when resting on the bosom of the ocean whose waters God has measured in the hollow of His hand. Some of our readers may remember the proud boasting indulged in when the “Titanic” set out on her tragic voyage. Here was a ship, it was proudly announced, that would never sink beneath the Atlantic waters. But she never reached the further shore—contact with an iceberg shattered man’s hopes and dispelled the delusions of a mad dream.