A Commendable Strike.—The recent strike of the Scottish fisherwomen at Yarmouth was a move in the right direction. It has been the custom that the English fishing boats went to sea on the Sabbath, while the Scottish boats remained in harbour. This was to the disadvantage of the Scottish herring fleet financially. The fisher girls refused to handle fish from the boats that went to sea on Sabbath and were successful in their protest. If the working classes would only unite they could soon break the tyranny of commercialism, which in its hectic rush to make money is gradually but surely filching the God-given rights of this day from the labouring man. Men, with a conscience, are finding it harder and harder to remain at work at which they may have been employed for a considerable part of their working days, through the lawless commandeering of the Sabbath. It
is an intolerable tyranny and our sympathies go out to the working classes, who are being gradually drawn into the great machine of Commercialism to make money at all costs, and in this process, who are losing the rest of this hallowed day as God’s own gift to them.
Words Fitly Spoken.—The Rev. Thomas Houghton in the Gospel Magazine for November makes the following commendable remarks on Sabbath observance: “In view of the increasing volume of Sabbath desecration, ought not real Christians to beware themselves of any looseness in Sabbath observance? Are ministers setting a good example to others by travelling in trains and buses on the Lord’s Day? Are Churches doing right in arranging for preachers to occupy their pulpits by travelling by train on the Lord’s Day? Is it really necessary? Can nothing be done by really wise arrangement to avoid this method of securing preachers. Sabbath desecration is one of many national sins of which God takes note. ‘Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so; and what will ye do in the end thereof?’ (Jer. v. 29-31).”
Barefaced Impudence.—This is the characterisation of an outstanding authority on Bible archaeology in reference to a short review in the Expository Times of Caiger’s Old Testament and Modern Discovery in which the reviewer boldly asserts that “the most serious attacks on the historicity of the Bible narrative are coming to-day from the archaeologist.” The Rev. T. Christie Innes whose book—Thrilling Voices of the Past—was recently favourably reviewed in the Magazine, submitted the above criticism to a well-known Director of excavations and an author of some of the chief books on Biblical Archaeology and this is what he says: “The statement is absolutely false and bare-faced
impudence . . . . Archaeology has established the accuracy of the Old Testament narrative in such a wonderful way that this voice crying in the wilderness might almost be disregarded. But so many are so ignorant and so willing to believe anything even apparently subversive of the truth of our Religion that I think it should be publicly contradicted” (Quoted by Rev. T. Christie Innes in an article by him which appeared in the November issue of the Churchman’s Magazine).
Bohemia.—In our short article in last issue on Bohemia we remarked that we had not at the time of writing an up-to-date account of Protestantism in Czechoslovakia. The following information will, so far, supply information on the present religious condition of this unfortunate State:—”The spirit of Huss,” says Mr. John Bond in the Churchman’s Magazine, “descended to Masaryk, founder and first President of the Czechoslovakian Republic, who was President from 1918 to 1935, and died only last year. He led the nation in opposing the tyranny of the Hapsburgs and the Papacy. He was a fearless Protestant and wrote: ‘Religion can be experienced not only in churches, but in the factory and on the field, in the stable and in the parlour, just as Christ taught us this by His example.’ He gave the Church of Rome full liberty but no monopolies. After the Great War a wave of anti-papal feeling swept over the Czechs. They claimed freedom from the Roman Curia, the abolition of clerical celibacy and for public worship the use of the tongue of the people. Fully 600 priests joined in this demand and accordingly a big “away-from-Rome” movement took place in 1920 and a Czechoslovakian National Church was formed which today numbers over one million members. Though the National Church is not Protestant yet it affords another striking object lesson to the fact that all peoples struggling for freedom must inevitably fight the bondage of Rome. Alas! the new National Church in its revolt from Rome has swayed over very largely to Modernism. There is, however, a real Evangelical
movement in the country represented by the Restored Hussite Church consisting of a union of Lutheran and Calvinistic Evangelicals, and in that Church the Word of God holds its rightful place.
A Strange Movement.—In the November issue of the Original Secession Magazine, Principal Davidson gives an explanation of the functioning of the Inter-Church Relations Committee appointed by the O.S. Synod to explore the possibilities of a closer relationship with the Church of Scotland. Principal Davidson points out that the Secession Fathers pledged themselves to return to “the first free and reforming General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.” The above Committee, it seems, has received quite a warm welcome from the Inter-Church Relations Committee of the Church of Scotland. To anyone acquainted with the history of the O.S. Church it seems passing strange that there should be even a tentative movement such as the above. Every Seceder must know that the Secession Fathers had not such a Church as the present Church of Scotland in view when they pledged themselves to return to “the first free and reforming General Assembly,” and we will be greatly mistaken if loyal Seceders will see anything but a betrayal of their principles in such a movement as the above.
Probable Papal Ambassador at Washington.—Mr. Kennedy, the U.S.A. Ambassador to Britain is not hiding his Roman Catholic light under a bushel. It would appear, under his engineering hand, that an American Cardinal is going to Rome to discuss the question of direct U.S. representation with the Vatican. The activities of the Church of Rome to get a place not only at the Court of Roman Catholic nations, but also of Protestant, is one of the ominous signs of the times. While she is certainly losing ground among some of the European nations she is making a strong and regrettable bid for power among Protestant nations such as Great Britain and the United States.
The Tragedy of the Jews in Germany.—The civilized world has been shocked by the cruel and savage treatment meted out to the Jews in Germany. Truly wrath has come upon this people to the uttermost, but while God has permitted nations to persecute them He has punished these nations in turn. If they, in their day of calamity, would only turn their eyes to the Messiah whom their fathers crucified and invoked God’s curse to come on them and their children, what a great day it would be for the Gentile nations.
Mr. Brider’s Mission to the Forces.—We have received the Annual Report of this praiseworthy Mission. In a personal Note Mr. Brider says: “As friends of the mission know I do not possess any private means, nor do I take anything from the mission fund, but am entirely dependent upon the Lord for the personal support of myself and wife. I am an invalid confined to the house, the sight of the remaining eye being very dim, but the Lord enables me to continue the work for His Majesty’s Forces. It has been a year of much weakness, yet by His strength a busy one. To all the friends who have assisted me financially I give my most grateful thanks, knowing that the Lord will bless them. May God bless the men and boys of the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force.” Mr. Brider is carrying on this work in much bodily weakness and we extend to him our sympathy. We are sure that those interested in the Forces will, according to their ability, give a helping hand in the good work carried on by Mr. Brider. His address is 21 Firfield Street, Totterdown, Bristol, 4.