Toadying to the Pope.—The Pope seems to be kept busier than he ought to be by visits of British politicians. What special reason have Prime Ministers, Deputy-Prime Ministers, etc., to visit the Pope, who, to say the least of it, was not altogether above board in his attitude during the War.
The Churchman’s Magazine has an excellent Open Letter to the Prime Minister on his visit to the Pope in which he makes a few telling criticisms.
Modernism in the Baptist Union of Scotland.—It is well known that Modernism holds large sway in the Baptist Union of England. It is many years ago (1887) since C. H. Spurgeon seceded from that Union because of its down-grade to unbelief. There were only some seven found to make their protest against the Union’s action in cutting off the great preacher. Things have gone apace in the down-grade since then.
The Rev. John Shearer, M.A., ex-President of the Baptist Union of Scotland, has written a pamphlet entitled “Modernism,” which shows sad departure from the faith in the Baptist Union of Scotland also. It appears that many young Baptist ministers have recently turned over to the Church of Scotland. A Commission of Enquiry was appointed to investigate the cause of these secessions, and its report has been published. Mr. Shearer characterises this report in forthright terms as “a sheer evasion of facts.” He affirms that it is not the higher pay in the “big Kirk” which is the root cause, but rather “it is because the Baptist Theological College is deeply imbued with German Rationalism, and has imparted it to its students that these young men have left us.”
Protest Over P.M.’s Visit Pope.—The Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland at its meeting in Dingwall, on the 12th inst., issued an emphatic protest against the action of the Rt. Hon. W. S. Churchill, M.P., Prime Minister, in paying a visit recently to the Pope.
This Presbytery points out that such action is flagrantly in constitutional opposition to the spirit of the Bill of Rights, and for practical purposes to the terms and provisions of the above-mentioned Bill in virtue of his being the head of the Government and, as such, an outstanding representative both of His Majesty and of His Majesty’s Government.
We profoundly deplore that one in such an exalted position would countenance a system and the head of a system which down the ages to the present day has proved beyond dubiety to be the spiritual, civil and ethical foe of the religious and civil rights and liberties of nations and individuals.
Bearing in mind that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is Prince of the Kings of the earth, we humbly and earnestly pray that the Lord may sustain and guide our Prime Minister in his various responsibilities and we most earnestly hope that no occasion will be taken by him or by those in authority to countenance the Vatican henceforth.