Twenty-Nine Thousand Too Many.
According to latest statistics published in the Irish Jesuit Directory and Year Book for 1940 there are 29,000 members of the Jesuit Society in the world to-day. England has 507 Jesuit priests and 145 brothers, and Ireland has 200 and 56 respectively. What a menace to these countries is such a number of these dangerous plotters. Even Roman Catholic countries found them to be such and expelled them but they have full scope in Britain.
Seventy Per Cent. of the World’s Population at War.
The Year 1940 came in with fifteen hundred millions of the earth’s population at war; only six hundred millions are at peace, such as it is, and millions of these may yet be dragged in. The nations at war are Japan, China, Finland, Russia, Germany, France and her Colonies, Great Britain and her Dominions and Colonies. These figures are staggering but when one takes into account the populations of Russia, Germany, France and her Colonies, China and the British Empire they are not so incredible. It is a sad state of things and not without a solemn message that such a condition of things should exist under the boasted triumphs of 20th century civilization.
Danger of Making the Maginot Line our God.
While it is the duty of our rulers to put forth every effort to make our defences as strong as possible there is a danger we should overlook our surest and strongest defence—the Lord Almighty. The God-fearing kings of old when in straits laid their case first of all before the Lord imploring His help and secondly, being men with practical minds, they set about making preparations as if everything depended on their own efforts. Our present danger, as a nation, however, is to leave God out of account and put our trust in the powerful fortifications of the famous Maginot line which, after all, has not been put to the supreme test. Great stress is laid in certain quarters on the powerful tanks possessed by our Allies. All this is to the good but, keeping in view the altered condition of things brought about by mechanization and the mighty armies that now go to war, the words of the Psalmist have still their warning: “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength” (Ps. xxx. 16, 17). May we have grace given us to face the future with this song on our lips: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Ps. xx. 7).
The Calamities in Turkey.
It is a rare occurrence that such calamities as have recently fallen on the Turkish nation has overtaken any part of the world. The devastation caused by the earthquake in Anatolia was followed by intense cold and blizzards and in other parts by floods in which thousands lost their lives and thousands more were rendered homeless. Earthquakes are said, by those who have had the experience, to be one of the most terrifying that men can pass through. One commentator on the Turkish disaster has well said: “Before such a calamity as that which has fallen on the Turkish nation mankind is mute. Floods and famine claim multitudes of victims in China, but these are catastrophies which, given sufficient enterprise, foresight and ingenuity can avert. But against earthquake there is no defence. How awful it is when, in addition to the horror of the quaking earth, the icy blizzard is loosed on the victims.” As we hear of these unspeakably solemn devastations may we give heed to the warning words of the Lord Jesus: “Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye they were sinners above all men that dwell in Jerusalem? I tell ye, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke, xiii. 2-5).
Is this the Way Christ’s Birth Should be Honoured?
—Our readers are well aware that in the best days of Presbyterianism in Scotland Christmas was not observed. Scotland is rapidly changing in this as, also, in other religious matters and following in the train of the religious customs of her more powerful southern neighbour. The observance of Christmas as a religious festival is increasing more and more in our country and religious services on Christmas are quite common in Presbyterian churches. The following quotation is taken from an article in the Radio Times by the Director of religious Broadcasting, the Rev. J. W. Welch, in which one gets an idea of how successfully the devil has contrived things by mixing religion with paganism in modern England: “The Church,” he says, “which has never despised pagan festivals, chose to celebrate the birth of its Founder on December 25, as that was the day of the great pagan mid-winter festival. Traces of that festival still survive, in the use of mistletoe and the burning of the Yule log which defied the darkness of the long winter. The early Christians felt that the birth of Christ was like the return of the sun to a dark world. Small wonder that Christmas Day became a day of thanksgiving, praise, rejoicing, and gaiety, and that the songs and plays written for Christmas should reflect these feelings!” We have no idea what Mr. Welch’s religious beliefs are but we have no hesitation in giving a direct denial to any statement which implies that the true Church of Christ “never despised pagan festivals.” Even though God commanded that the birth of Christ should be remembered, which He did not, would it be seemly to commemorate it with such a medley as “thanksgiving, praise, rejoicing, gaiety, and songs and plays.” Surely this is a sad travesty of what purports to be a religious festival. After all, however, it is a case of reversion to original type and is in keeping with its pagan origin which has never been denied. It is interesting to note that while there were deliveries of letters on Sabbath the day before Christmas in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there was no delivery in Scotland.
Foolish Move by President Roosevelt.
“The news,” says the English Churchman, “that President Roosevelt has appointed a personal representative to confer with the Pope as to the prospect of peace measures, will not surprise those who know how powerful are the influences which Rome has brought to bear in Washington in recent years. An evening London paper sees in the appointment of Mr. Myron Taylor (‘a millionaire friend of Mr. Roosevelt’) to fill the position indicated, the influence of Mr. Kennedy, the Roman Catholic U.S.A. Ambassador to England, and states that ‘on his return home Mr. Kennedy made strong representations to the President on the need of such efforts.’ The Editorial comment of the Roman Catholic Universe is illuminating. It speaks of the significance of the appointment, and adds—’It is curious to recall that in December, 1914, a very similar decision was taken by the British Government, in appointing a British Envoy to the Vatican to attend to British interests there during the war. The appointment was only intended to be temporary, and it arose directly out of problems concerning the treatment and exchange of prisoners and the need for better representation of British policy at the Vatican.’ Up to the present the United States have had no diplomatic representation at the Papal Court. It seems likely that the step now being taken will involve President Roosevelt in the supposed necessity for a permanent arrangement similar to that into which the British Government allowed itself to be led in spite of its own protestations as to the temporary nature of the proceedings in 1914. The lure of the Papacy is too much for the undiscerning simplicity of modern statesmen.”
Letters to Christian Soldiers.
In this issue we print the first of these letters from one Christian soldier to another. The writer does not wish his identity to be made known, but we are sure these letters will be read not only by those for whom they are intended but by most of our readers. The writer served in the Seaforths during the last War and like so many had his own miraculous escapes. The Christian soldier has his religion severely tested in the Army, but where the root of the matter is it will come through the ordeal to the glory of Him who gave the needed grace for the day of trial. Hundreds of our lads will have to face the fire of merciless and mocking criticism by men who have no fear of God before their eyes; men to whom foul language and blasphemy is considered quite in keeping with a soldier’s life. All such experiences will be a trying test to many who have faced such an ordeal for the first time. May grace be given to them to stand faithfully by the truth as set forth in the Scriptures. We are sure the Lord’s people are remembering our young men in their dangers and temptations at a throne of grace and let them be encouraged at the thought that the Lord’s people are praying for them continually in public and in private.
Prof. Karl Barth.
No theologian has been more cried up than Prof. Barth in modern times. Our suspicions of his orthodoxy were first aroused by the class of religious press that was engaged in this work and after a careful reading of his works translated into English we were confirmed in our suspicions especially in his attitude to the Bible. Knowing as we did these views we have more than once warned our readers against swallowing his teaching as if it was the purest Calvinism. He has been hailed in certain quarters as the Calvin of the 20th century but what of Calvinism is in his writings will be found as well stated, if not better, in the writings of the great Reformer himself so that admirers of Calvinism may find all they need there as far as a clear statement of Calvinism is concerned. The following quotation from the Bible League Quarterly (January-March) gives an idea of his attitude to the Scriptures: “In his book, The Word of God and the Word of Man, a sufficient ground for our warning is afforded in the author’s statement: ‘The Bible is the literary monument of an ancient racial religion, and of a Hellenistic cultus religion of the Near East. A human document like any other, it can lay no prior dogmatic claim to special attention and consideration. It is clear that intelligent and fruitful of the Bible begins when the judgment as to its human, its historical and psychological character has been made and put to us.’ To say the least in regard to these astounding words, they show that Barth has not yet been brought to the condition and position of the man described by the Lord in Isaiah, lxvi. 2: ‘To this man will I look, to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word.’ And with regard to his theorisings it is written: ‘To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them’ (Isaiah, viii. 20).” Let our readers, especially young men in training colleges and universities, in reading in the religious press laudatory articles on Barth and The Theology of Orisis be not misled by them. A theology that rests not on an infallible Bible is built on sand.
The Blind Leading the Blind.
We do not know whether many of our readers see the British Weekly or not but whether they do or not does not matter for the purpose we have in view in writing this note. This widely circulated religious weekly has as one of its features a Correspondence Column presided over by Prof. Findlay and if one wishes to get an idea of how far some modern theologians have drifted from the old moorings they have only to read Prof. Findlay’s answers to his correspondents. Recently in answer to one of these correspondents he writes: “To assert that every statement in the Bible is literally and absolutely true is to put Moses on a level with Jesus.” Surely Prof. Findlay failed to remember our Lord’s words: “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me; but if ye believe not his writing, how shall ye believe my words?” (John, v. 46, 47).
Death of Mr. Brider.
We regret to announce the death of Mr. Brider, Bristol, who was doing such useful work in sending sound literature to the troops. During and since the last War small parcels of the Free Presbyterian Magazine were sent for distribution to Mr. Brider and time and again he sent letters of appreciation. For some time Mr. Brider was carrying on his work under a serious handicap owing to failing health. Now the Lord has pleased to remove him from his work here below—a work which he carried on with consecrated devotion.
Entertaining the Men of the Armed Forces.
There are many reasons why those who are facing dangers on our behalf should receive the best entertainment that can be given them. But we do not include within the compass of “best entertainment,” dances, the insanities of the music hall, theatrical performances and the displays of the cinema. These are poor entertainment for men who may soon be standing before the Judge of the whole earth. We would seek to take occasion also to utter an emphatic protest against the heartless levity which has taken possession of quite a number of the actors and artistes in the theatrical and cinema world in commandeering the Lord’s Day for their entertainments. How empty will all these appear when entertainers and entertained appear before God. May wisdom be given to the men of the Fighting Forces to seek after more lasting pleasures than the frothy and fleeting pleasures the world is offering them. We wish our defenders well and may they seek those pleasures that are at God’s right hand for evermore.
Sermons of Rev. Jonathan Rankin Anderson.
Will friends having M.S. volumes of Mr. Anderson’s sermons kindly loan same (with a view to publication) to Mr. H. B. Pitt, 4 Clarendon Road, Trowbridge, Wilts.