Fools at their Folly while the Empire is Shaking.—We can understand men indulging in healthy humour to soften the keenness of the edge of the many hardships which they are called upon to endure but to indulge in the idiotic song-singing which for a season had the Seigfried Ione as its theme reveals a type of mind in these dreadful times as deplorable. The Lord’s Day is not considered without bounds for these who entertain (?) the armed forces of the Crown if we are to believe what a writer in one of the London dailies says. “Every ‘Sunday’ evening,” he says, “at church time there is put on the air a costly broadcast which is an insult to British intelligence. The type of humour consists of a vulgar exchange of abuse. . . . We must be a nation of lunatics to permit such a waste of money for such a sordid show.” The attitude of mind which led Nero to fiddling while Rome was burning unfortunately did not cease with Nero.
A Busy Day.—The following letter appeared recently in the English Churchman in which attention is called to the increasing abuse of the Sabbath: “God gave the day for rest and worship, otherwise work would have been carried on for seven days a week. It was never meant for pleasure nor for unnecessary work. To-day everything involving work is done. Children are evacuated and parents go to see them by special trains on that day. Numbers of people are admitted to and dismissed from hospitals on ‘Sundays,’ and soldiers often return from leave. Most important broadcasts are given on that day (our Statesmen being the chief offenders in the matter). There are also ‘Sunday’ inspection of troops, British Legion displays, etc. It is not necessary to refer to the amount of pleasure, in cinemas, etc., all these involving more or less work. This is an entire misconception of the day. It was given for mankind to have time to think of the greater life hereafter which is eternal and to be spent in the presence of the Author of all life. The need of it is emphasised again and again in the Bible. If people cannot spend one day with God, how can they hope to spend eternity with Him? Let us apply this question to ourselves individually. Whatever others may do, may those who read these lines thank God for the day, and remember as far as they can to keep it holy. It is the only Commandment which has the word ‘Remember’ in it.”
Moving Onwards.—In the Woman’s Guild page of Life and Work: The Record of the Church of Scotland (March) there is an item to the following effect: “The season of Lent is to devout souls throughout Christendom a special opportunity for self-examination, penitence, prayer and sacrifice. As our thoughts dwell day by day on the lonely vigil of our Lord we feel anew our utter unworthiness and dedicate our lives afresh to Him.” Christmas, then Easter and Lent and where is the Church of Scotland going to draw the line. It shows the modern drift towards Episcopacy when such a paragraph gets a place in the official organ of the Church.
The New Archbishop of Canterbury.—The appointment to this high dignity is not only of interest to the Church of England in particular but to the country in general. Dr. Lang, the former Archbishop, had a Presbyterian up-bringing but he shed his Presbyterianism very effectually and was a strong help to the ritualistic party in the Church of England. Dr. Temple, the newly-appointed Archbishop, is a man of outstanding gifts. He is an advocate for reformation in the Church of England but unfortunately it is not the kind of reformation that produced men who were willing to die for their faith. He has never shown any sympathy with the Evangelical position. His theological attitude as evidenced in the extraordinary report of the Archbishops’ Commission on Doctrine and which was reviewed in our pages is thoroughly modernistic.
Not Before Time.—Horse racing, dog racing and boxing exhibitions are to be restricted. Cinemas, theatres, etc., are exempted. Why the Government moves at a snail’s pace in regard to these matters is one of the mysteries of the restrictions imposed on the nation in matters that affect the nation more vitally than the pleasure-minded section of the community. It is to be hoped that the Government will take their courage in both hands and restrict opportunities for drinking. Are the vested interests too strong for them?
Some Points Worth Noting.—The Universe (Roman Catholic weekly) informs its readers that Mr. Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia, is a Roman Catholic and that his, War Minister, Mr. Forde, belongs to the same persuasion. The Churchman’s Magazine calls attention to the fact that Mr. Robert William Foote, a Papist, has been appointed Joint Director-General of the B.B.C. In last issue it was recorded that Sir Cecil Graves, another R.C., had been appointed Director-General of the same Corporation. The B.B.C. was bad enough in many respects before but if history repeats itself the new appointments will not make for its improvement from a religious stand-point. In connection with the foregoing it is also to be noted that Mr. Eric St. John Bamford, a Roman Catholic, has been appointed Deputy Director-General to the Ministry of Information. Rome is a past mistress in the policy of infiltration which works such havoc in the military sphere.
Learning the Hard Way.—We have been a pleasure-loving people, dishonouring God’s day, picnicking and bathing. Now the seashores are barred—no picnicking, no bathing. We have preferred motor travel to church going—Now there is a shortage of motor fuel. We have ignored the ringing of church bells calling us to worship—Now the bells cannot ring except to warn of invasion. We have left the churches half empty, when they should have been filled with worshippers—Now they are in ruins. We would not listen to the Way of Peace—Now we are forced to listen to the Way of War. The money we would not give to the Lord’s work—Now is taken from us in taxes and higher prices. The service we refused to give to God—Now is conscripted for the country. Lives we refused to live under God’s control—Now are under the nation’s control. Nights we would not spend “Watching Unto Prayer”—Now we spend in anxious Air Raid Precautions. The evils of modernism we would not fight—Now—see what Germany, the seat of this teaching, has produced.—Evangelical Christendom.