IT is refreshing to consider the mighty works of God done in Germany, by His servant Luther, now that there is a danger of Germany leading Europe back to the Middle Ages. It was by means of theological learning that the authority of Scripture was set up above that of the Pope, and the Church. Today the supreme authority of the Bible, as the inspired Word of God, is denied, and the door has thus been opened for the Bishop of Rome to re-enter his ancient domain, as lord of the consciences of all men. Antichrist has so far been healed of his wound, and regained his temporal power that our Prime Minister has visited him, and a pseudo-apostolic delegate has been appointed by the Pope for Britain. Our Foreign Office is staffed by many who owe primary allegiance to Rome, and this is abundantly evidenced by the pro-Fascist bias of our foreign policy. Lord Halifax is an Anglo-Catholic, and not to be trusted by Protestants. His mission to Rome last month with the Premier is like Saul’s visit to the witch of Endor. It is to be hoped that they have not succumbed to the sorcery and enchantments of the Vatican. A united Europe, under the presidency of the Man of Sin, may be regarded by some as a solution of our present difficulties, foreseen even by worldly-minded politicians. The British Protestant Constitution is being flagrantly violated by this communion with the Papal See. The fact that the Envoy to the Vatican was not withdrawn, although appointed only temporarily by Sir Edward Grey, for the duration of the War, is proof that there are traitors and enemies of our religion and liberties, in high office in this country. The naval salute to the Pope and his nuncios was decreed without consulting the law officers of the Crown, although a breach of the Constitution. The Revolution Settlement of 1690 has been infringed by the Papal delegate’s arrival in Britain. So that all the blood of the Covenanters was shed for nothing as far as this generation is concerned. Democracy, thanks to the lieges of the Pope in the Foreign Office, has been driven from the Continent, and with it the churches of the Reformation. Baptist churches have been closed in Roumania. Prague, where John Huss was martyred, is now virtually under the control of Berlin. We know the tender mercies dealt out to Protestants in Berlin such as Niemoeller, and lately to the Jews, God’s ancient people.
The Foreign Office is unconcerned about the slaughter of British seamen, so long as Franco is winning his holy war for the Church of Rome, and driving democratic government from Spain. As a result of Sudetenland being handed over to Hitler, the Reformed churches, such as the Czech Brethren, are in the greatest danger of extinction. In Germany the Evangelicals have been persecuted by imprisonment for some time. Fifty Protestant pastors were offered freedom from imprisonment, on condition that they abandoned the country. In our own country the Reformed religion is in the gravest danger. In Canterbury Cathedral the Archbishop of Canterbury was lately blessing a cradle representing the Nativity, thus dragging the people of Imperial Britain to the feet of Rome’s gods. It is no wonder the Supreme Pontiff lately spoke at the English College at Rome of “dear England,” and expressed the hope that the spirit of Rome, imbibed in the eternal city, at the graves of the apostles, would be carried to their country by those present at the college, and that England would soon return to the Church. The Romanised Prayer-book, used widely in defiance of the House of Commons, and having the mass concealed in it, is preparing the way. Candles are in hundreds of churches instead of preaching.
In Scotland superintendents are advocated as a veiled form of episcopacy. Sermons longer than fifteen minutes are asserted by one church leader to be too long. Bishop Latimer used to say that when the devil comes into a church “up go candles and down goes preaching.” The Antichristian festival of Christmas was observed last year more than ever in Presbyterian churches. Christmas treats in schools, presided over by ministers, are accustoming the young generation to idolatrous practices, that our forefathers abhorred. In Elgin there was a Nativity play performed by the children. In Tarbert Father Christmas was piped in, and acting was indulged in, after the minister had opened the proceedings with prayer and the 100th psalm. Vain songs were also sung. So it was a ludicrous mixture of religion and the world. Parents should teach their children that there is no such person as Father Christmas, if they care for their souls. It is only an idolatrous fiction. The R.C. Lord Provost of Glasgow was busy sending seasonal greetings to cities and towns throughout the Empire, popularising Christmas as a great festival. If the recipients had any Protestant principle, they would not acknowledge him, after his arrogant attempt to change the centuries-old custom, of the magistrates “kirking” in Glasgow Cathedral. He invited them to follow him to an R.C. Cathedral. The Glasgow Councillors showed more spirit than the Oban Town Council. The fact that air raid precautions lectures were delivered on Sabbath was due to Mr. Dollan and his party. The Papists have thus the second city of the Empire well under control. The apostolic delegate will see to it that even greater advances are made by Popery. The Press took a rest for Christmas. This honour they deny to the Lord’s Day. The one is a human commandment, the other is divine. The Papal Church teaches for doctrines the commandments of men, like the Pharisees. Even in places as far removed from Canterbury as Stornoway, shops are closed in honour of this pagan festival, which was unheard of until a year or two ago. In St. Columba’s, Stornoway, Christmas carols were sung, and in all the Churches except two, Christmas services were held. The Christmas tree again appeared in Glasgow Cathedral. The Dean of St. Paul’s, London, who last year initiated a crib in the National Cathedral of the Reformed religion, now wants to change the Thirty-nine Articles, which is the Protestant constitution of the Church of England.
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. The American Presbyterian Churches are also drifting to antichristianity, with white, surpliced choirs, and spectacular performances at Christmas. The mystery of iniquity works by small and subtle changes in doctrine, worship, discipline and government, until in course of time, men’s souls are dragged at the chariot wheels of Babylon’s gods. A minister lately in teaching children told them to wait for a moment, and they would see Jesus. So he appeared in a little from a vestry with a gorgeously decorated representation of the Saviour, which he wanted them to worship. One can imagine the effect this sudden appearance would have on little children. Cardinal Newman was of the opinion that the Englishman could not be won by direct means to Romanism. It was consequently proposed by him that training schools should be set up where propagandists for the R.C. faith could be trained as journalists, and others to qualify for our civil and diplomatic services. The result is official contact with the Vatican, and that no protests are received by our so called free and independent Press, which is largely pro-Fascist.
Father Pietro Tacchi-Venturi is said to be behind Mussolini. Cardinal Goma, Primate of Spain, declared publicly that Franco does not take a step without consulting and obeying him. Dr. Goebbels in Germany is a neurotic, unscrupulously perfervid servant of the Pope. His method of propaganda is to make a press and a broadcast campaign against a country, using virulent, abusive language, thus creating an excuse for intervention on behalf of a supposedly oppressed minority. De Valera seems to be meditating similar action in regard to Ulster. Thus the carved work of the Reformation is being endangered in every part of the world, and “the vicegerent of Christ” is bidding for world dominion once more through Fascism. If he is successful, which God forbid, he will discard his sheep’s clothing, and bleating accents, for a tiger-like ferocity against all witnesses for truth. The witnesses are today prophesying in sackcloth. When the harlot of Babylon regains her universal power, she will be drunk once more with the blood of the saints, this time being the last, before her final overthrow and complete destruction, when the Lord shall consume Antichrist by the breath of His mouth. The stand taken by our Church for the infallibility of God’s Word has been vindicated by subsequent apostasy, until last November, prayers were offered for the dead in St. Giles. D. J. Macaskill.