Strange Proceedings at Westminster Roman Catholic Cathedral.
At the so called Requiem Mass for the late Pope the King was represented by the Duke of Norfolk, a Roman Catholic, and the Government by Lord Halifax, Foreign Secretary, an Anglo-Catholic. Things have come to a fine pass when the King and Government of a Protestant country have representatives at the celebration of the idolatrous sacrifice of the Mass and a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul of a Pope. In keeping with their love for spectacular show the Roman Catholic authorities took occasion to stage another event which shows the insidious policy of penetration characteristic of the papacy in this country. Before the celebration of the mass by the new “Apostolic Delegate” two papal briefs were read in Latin in the hearing of the representatives of the King and the Government. It is not necessary to quote these briefs at length but there is one sentence that appears to us to be a direct assertion and claim of jurisdiction within this realm which challenges the law of the land. The sentence is as follows: “Henceforth, it will be null and void for anyone, no matter what his authority may be, knowingly or unknowingly, to assert otherwise. This brief to hold good, anything to the contrary notwithstanding.” The English Churchman pertinently remarks: “Here we have an unblushing assertion of jurisdiction in this realm of England, based on the historic claims of the papacy which have been too long ignored but which have never been withdrawn.”
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
This is the new name adopted by the Presbyterian Church of America which was made up of those who broke away from the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (Northern Presbyterian Church) and which they characterise as an apostate Church. The fifth General Assembly met at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, in private to receive a report from the Church’s counsel. The Home Missions Committee recommended a discontinuance of the appeal pending in the courts. The adoption of a new name—The Orthodox Presbyterian Church—was finally adopted after a long but friendly discussion. The name seems rather cumbersome but if the Church will live up to its name it may be a power yet in the U.S.A. When it is in its first fervour of zeal it would be well if it would take a firm stand against instrumental music and hymns in divine worship and the observance of Christmas. These were the first accompaniments of backsliding in the Free Church of Scotland against which the Constitutionalists strenuously protested. Surely there are a few in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church who will make an effort to get rid of these. We have a special interest in this Church in view of the stand it made on the side of orthodoxy and would wish it to get rid of everything that hinders its witness for the truth.
Charity going beyond Bounds.
We notice from The Presbyterian Guardian that Prof. Woolley of Westminster Theological Seminary in an article on “The Catholic Church and the Average Citizen” there is the following: “That Church [the Roman Catholic] is full of devout people who are just as anxious to glorify God as are the members of The Presbyterian Church of America. But they are following the wrong course.” If this be true, the Presbyterian Church of America (now the Orthodox Presbyterian Church) needs a shaking up when one of its teachers writes in this fashion. Prof. Woolley has surely gone too far in asserting that the Church of Rome “is full of devout people who are just as anxious to glorify God as are the members of the Presbyterian Church of America.” Again, when Prof. Woolley says that the root of what is wrong with the Church of Rome is that it places men before the eyes of the world, rather than God, he is only touching one aspect, and not the most serious, of this apostasy, that has slain its millions. The pit is much deeper than Prof. Woolley’s words would indicate. We shall await with interest to see if any protest is raised against these statements by members of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church or by any of his professorial brethren in Westminster Theological Seminary.
Some Statistics.
In an informative pamphlet (price 2d.) published by the Protestant Truth Society, 31 Cannon Street, London, E.C.4, the following statistics are given:—Total Roman Catholic Population in Great Britain, 2,361,504; Cardinal, 1; Archbishops and Bishops, 35; Priests, 5,482; Churches and Chapels, 2,465; Elementary Schools, 1,431; Secondary Schools, 537 (the foregoing figures are taken from the Catholic Directory, 1938), Monasteries, 385; Convents, 1,006; Members of Parliament, 26; House of Lords, 46; Privy Councillors (approximately), 13; Prisoners, 5,378 (highest percentage of any denomination). Yet, though the total R.C. population is less than two and a half millions the press of this country, generally speaking, are falling over one another in reporting happenings at the Vatican.
Break-down of the Palestine Proposals.
At the time of writing it is announced that the British proposals for Palestine have had an unfavourable reception from both the Arab and Jewish delegations. The Palestine Conference, as far as can be seen, may be regarded as having ended in failure. The strife in Palestine is unfortunate and what the future has in store no one can tell. International politics are even in a more tangled confusion than national. There are, of course, some gifted fireside statesmen who know on all occasions what should be done and are always vocal enough on such occasions as these, but, notwithstanding their forecasts, God has His own appointed plans for the Jews and their future is neither in the hands of the democratic nations nor in those of the totalitarian states, but in the hands of Him to whom all power in heaven and earth has been given.
The Church and the World.
The John o’ Groat Journal recently had a news item announcing that forty couples attended a social and dance held by Wick Congregational Church Bible Class in the Old Parish Church Hall. Rev. David Sutherland, minister, presided, and dancing was engaged in, it was announced, for some time before supper was served. “The Grand March was led off by Rev. Mr. Sutherland and Miss I. Henderson, followed by Mr. D. Mackenzie and Mrs. Sutherland.” Some of our readers may be aware of the fact that the Wick Congregational cause originated in the revival that took place under the preaching of Mr. James Haldane at the end of the 18th century. The streets of Wick on the Sabbaths prior to Mr. Haldane’s visit, it was said, were a rendezvous of Sabbath loiterers and Sabbath breakers but so marvellous was the effect of Mr. Haldane’s heaven-owned preaching that the streets of Wick were soon cleared of the Sabbath profaners. Among the “Haldane people,” as the Congregationalists were called, there were many of the excellent of the earth. It is saddening to think that a generation has arisen with their minister at their head who are going head-long in the ways of the world. The plague of worldliness is coming in like a flood to the sanctuary in many congregations.
Serious Situation in Europe.
As these lines are being written the democratic nations of the world have received a tremendous shock by the continuance of Hitler’s brazen-faced aggrandisement policy. Unfortunately, we fear that the foreign policy of our own nation is similar to that which led Israel to look to Egypt and Assyria for help rather than to God in the day of their distress and perplexity. Why will our rulers not proclaim a day of National Prayer? We are sure all praying people in the kingdom will be instant in prayer to avert threatened calamities.
Words Addressed to a Queen.
In the olden days those occupying high places had often to listen to speeches that must have sounded strange to royal ears. Here is a short speech delivered to Queen Elizabeth of England by the Speaker of the House of Commons in the 16th century, which certainly did not lack in straight speaking:—”We now assembled, as diligent in our calling, have thought good to move your Majesty, to build a fort to the surety of the realm, to the repulsing of your enemies abroad: which must be set upon firm ground and steadfast, having two gates—one commonly open, the other as a postern, with two watchmen at either of them—one governor, one lieutenant, and no good thing there wanting: the same to be named the fear of God: the governor thereof to be God, Your Majesty the lieutenant, the stones the hearts of your faithful people, the two watchmen at the open gate to be called Knowledge and Virtue, the two at the postern gate to be called Mercy and Truth.”
Football Pools.
Last year the Post Office sold 399,331,000 postal orders, representing £99,903,000. Of that amount, £49,500,000 was estimated as being due to normal sales of business and payment. Of the balance, £50,100,000 was ascribed to football pool demands.
Correction.
We are asked to state that line 14 from top of p. 464 in last issue should read—”We may wail with Jeremiah chang’d the fine gold, dimm’d the gold.”