Dumfriesshire Politicians Condemn Sabbath Desecration.
During November last there appeared in the daily press a surprising and most welcome statement, extracted from the Dumfriesshire Conservative Party’s magazine, Freedom, condemning political speeches on the Sabbath, and placing on record, timely, serious and wise observations on the moral and spiritual aspects of the present crisis in the affairs of Britain to-day. The statement proceeds:—
“We believe that this period of crisis to the British people is not a material crisis, but is fundamentally a moral and spiritual crisis.
“We believe that until we return to a basis of government and conduct based on Christian doctrine and dogma, nothing but evil lies before us.
“We know that men who desecrate the day set aside for Christian worship and meditation by using it for party political purposes are unfit for any position, high or low, in the State.”
It is a relief to read such a statement, although it is but as one single ray of light of a spiritual nature, in the realm of politics in Scotland to-day. We would rejoice to hear of other political and local organisations throughout the country, following the commendable example of those in Dumfriesshire, by the issuing of similar statements reminding all who have an interest in the civil well-being of their nation, to have primarily in view, the glory of God and the need of spiritual blessing throughout our beloved land.
Sir N. Cayzer and Politics on Sabbath.
Further to this subject, we were gratified to read a letter from Sir Nicholas Cayzer, which appeared in the London Daily Telegraph of 23rd November, 1949, in which he refers to the Conservative Party’s reluctance to make speeches on Sabbath as the right attitude. His letter proceeds:— “It does seem to me, in these hard and difficult times, that there should be one day in the week when political activities cease. That God should have a place in our lives to-day was never more necessary, and surely Sunday should be for all a day of quiet and rest.” Our readers will understand that we are not referring to these statements by politicians for the purpose of political propaganda in support of any party, but because of the moral issues connected therewith. It would be a great matter if Sir Nicholas Cayzer would make his convictions, expressed in his letter, known to as wide a circle of his political friends and acquaintances as possible, influencing them to refrain from and to protest against, all such sinful and God-dishonouring encroachments upon the sanctity of the Lord’s Day. If men, eminent in the business and political world, with sincere moral and spiritual convictions, would raise their voices and lift their pens frequently and judiciously against present-day evils, we believe that many unthinking persons would be influenced to give serious consideration to their views.
Sir Laurence Dunne and Gambling.
Sir Laurence Dunne, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, gave evidence in London on the 17th November, 1949, before the Royal Commission on Betting, Lotteries and Gambling. He made, along with other statements, the following:—”I believe that gambling has assumed proportions which make it a social evil, which is probably still growing. Money and manpower are unproductively locked up, quite apart from moral and ethical considerations. . . It must be to the national benefit to discontinue football pool betting and to close all dog-tracks, whose only excuse for ‘existence is to provide the public, and particularly the poorer classes, with practically infinite opportunities for betting. . . Gambling is a way of filling in time between crimes.” These observations are from a man who is confronted with the pernicious evils of betting and gambling in the Court in which he sits as Magistrate. The Christian must abhor this evil, the business man ought to, and the heads of families indulge in it at the peril of ruining themselves and their children. Some with first-hand knowledge assert that gambling is a worse evil than drunkenness. Our national sins are many, and many of these are heinous sins. “O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity,” (Hosea xiv, 1).