A Year of Calamities.
Within our borders as a nation during the past year conspicuous, afflictive and sad events have again and again startled the public mind, if not the national conscience, and we deem it proper to recall to our readers some of these public calamities to substantiate our view that dark dispensations have been frequent during 1952. Our late King George the Sixth died at the outset of the year; a great hurricane swept over the Northern Counties of Scotland during the spring and caused widespread havoc and loss, especially to the farming community; precious lives were lost and much property destroyed by unexpected and overwhelming floods in the South of England; foot-and-mouth disease for quite a while attacked herds of cattle in many parts of the country, involving the slaughter of thousands of animals and the loss of much needed food; at Farnborough, in September, the plane of John Derry, the test pilot, exploded before a great concourse of people and at least 38 people lost their lives; and then in October 112 people were killed in a railway disaster at Harrow. These solemn dispensations in the providence of God provide matter for serious thought. God is speaking to us as a country by these events. “Hear ye the rod and who hath appointed it.”
Minister appointed Bard of the Gaelic Mod.
The annual Mod of An Comunn Gaidhealach took place in Rothesay, Kyles of Bute, at the beginning of October. The Gaelic Society concerned exists professedly for the preservation of the Gaelic language and local branches exist in towns and villages all over the West and North of Scotland, as also in the large cities of the South, where large numbers of Gaelic-speaking persons reside. We understand that the normal activities of this organisation concern Gaelic songs, poetry, folklore, dramatic plays, etc. In other words, it is a purely worldly society catering to the vanity of the human heart and the inordinate love of entertainment and pleasure of the age, in its efforts to preserve and recommend the Gaelic language. Concerts and dances are part of the winter’s round of activities within this society. No one who truly feared God and walked by faith in the steps of Moses, who forsook the pleasures of sin, could, in our opinion, be a member of An Comunn Gaidhealach. The man or woman who is “born again” has been called by the Word of God to come out from the midst of the fellowship of this irreligious and vain world as to the practices thereof, and to be separate. Yet we read in the press that a Church of Scotland minister, Rev. Colin Norman MacKenzie, M.A., minister at Bowmore, South Uist, was crowned Bard of the annual Mod referred to. Mr. MacKenzie is, of course, in a free country and can accept such worldly honours at his will. But he must not expect many Christian people in the Highlands to have any respect for him as a professed minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God says, “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” And finally, the Apostle Paul had his heart and eye set upon another crown—a crown of righteousness which the Lord was to give him. Let ministers of the Gospel be followers of Christ and the Apostle.
Free Church Minister conducts Gaelic Mod Service.
According to practice the Gaelic Mod at Rothesay in October was brought to a close with a religious service in Gaelic. It was reported in the Buteman and the Rothesay Express of 3rd October, 1952, that this service was to be held in the Church of Scotland, High Kirk, and to be conducted by Rev. Hugh MacKinnon, minister of the Free Church in Rothesay, who is a native of Skye. He was to preach the sermon also. The service was to be broadcast on the Lord’s Day, the 12th October. Two comments will suffice on this. Firstly, Rev. Mr. MacKinnon of the Free Church of Scotland, in consenting to hold this service, had the official backing of his own Church Assembly of last May, which rejected an overture directed against this sort of practice by Free Church ministers. Secondly, we wonder what kind of blessing could be asked for on behalf of such a vain gathering as the annual Mod—by a Free Church minister, whose Church makes such a loud profession of adherence to the doctrine and practice of the Church of the Reformation in Scotland. The fact is that Free Church ministers to-day, especially in the South of Scotland, can do pretty much as they like, within certain limits, as far as collaboration with other Churches is concerned, without let or hindrance.
Irresponsible Commendation of Idolatrous Painting.
The Southern Presbytery of our Church have already published a protest in this magazine against the purchase by Glasgow Corporation of a painting of Christ on the cross by the modern painter, Salvador Dali. And in the August issue of Life and Work, the Church of Scotland magazine, there appeared an article by Merricks Arnett, a Glasgow minister, commending this unscriptural and obnoxious production, in extraordinary terms. He says, “There is no doubt of the welcome which the large Roman Catholic population of Glasgow will give to this painting.” Well, if this be so, the article in question reveals the utter lack of a protestant spirit in the writer, and in the direction of Life and Work, the magazine of a professed Protestant Church. The article asserts that “Dali has produced . . . a simple symbol which may be of service to the whole Christian Church.” What service, we ask, can possibly be rendered to the Christian Church by an idolatrous painting hanging in the Glasgow Art Gallery? The very suggestion is ludicrous to the true Christian and enough to make one laugh if the matter was not so deplorable. Merrick Arnott relates to his Church of Scotland readers that this modern crucifixion “. . . is without horror, nails, wounds and blood. It makes no crude assault upon our emotions to draw tears.” And repeats this observation later thus: “. . . it became clear that it was to be a crucifix without ugliness, blood or horror.” The writer continues —“It is the figure of Christ glorified yet without wound-prints.” Then, strangely enough, the writer quotes, “For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold. But with the precious blood of Christ,” etc. (I Peter i, v. 18). This scripture, he says, comes to mind, and how contradictory the very mention of the “blood of Christ,” appears to be to those statements which revel in extolling a Christ without wounds and a cross without nails or blood. Apart from consideration of the offending picture itself, it seems that Merricks Arnott welcomes the thought of Christ without wounds or blood. Yes, bloodless theology! There are those who have no place for the sacrificial nature of Christ’s death at Calvary. They are at heart enemies of the true Cross of Christ and of the truth. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. The way of redemption from one’s sins and the wrath of God through the crucified Saviour as set forth in the Scriptures—and not by paint on a sheet of canvas—is not the substance of preaching to-day in many pulpits. This blasphemous painting so highly commended by the Church of Scotland writer cost £8,200; but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is infinitely precious and there are unsearchable riches of grace in His sufferings, blood and death.
Rutherford Drive.
At a meeting of the Edinburgh Town Council Committee of Works recently a proposal was made to give the name of Claverhouse Drive to one of the new streets in the Inch district of the city, when Councillor Horne strongly objected, remarking, “That name makes my blood boil: it is bitterly remembered by any Scot who knows his history.” He suggested that the name Rutherford should be used instead. This was agreed to, and in connection with it the following note was sent to the Edinburgh Evening News:—
I write to express my appreciation of Councillor Horne’s commendable action in getting the name of Samuel Rutherford substituted for that of Claverhouse for one of the new streets in the city. His fellow councillors showed their good sense in accepting his suggestion.
The worthy councillor has the good wishes of many citizens in his courageous opposition to what is wrong and out of place. Samuel Rutherford was one of the saintliest men Scotland has produced, and was a fearless champion of civil and religious freedom. His name shall be honoured in Scotland as long as there are people in it who value true religion and the glorious Gospel of Christ. Claverhouse was a brutal persecutor of the Covenants.
The following incident exhibits the real character of Claverhouse in a lurid light. It proves that he was a coward at heart when he shot dead a defenceless and innocent christian and not the hero some would make him out to be. It might be said also that he was a blasphemous time-server who met his fate at the battle of Killiecrankie and went to his account.
That excellent historian, Dr. McCrie, says:—The case of John Brown, the carrier, whom Claverhouse shot before his own door and in the presence of his wife, is too well known to be more than adverted to. “Go to your prayers immediately,” cried Claverhouse. “Then you must die!” Poor Brown prayed, then kissed his wife and children. “God bless you all,” he said. “May all purchased and promised blessings be multiplied.” “No more,” vociferated Claverhouse. “You six there,” counting six soldiers, “shoot him instantly.” The men, hardened as they were, had been so much affected by Brown’s prayer, that they hesitated to obey the order, upon which Claverhouse, drawing his pistol, shot him dead with his own hand. “What thinkest thou of thy husband now, woman?” fiercely demanded the ruffian. “I ever thought much good of him,” sobbed the poor widow, “and now more than ever.” “Wretch,” said Claverhouse, “it were but just to lay thee beside him.” “If you were permitted I doubt not but your cruelty would go far,” cried the poor woman, “but how will you answer for this morning’s work?”
“To man I can be answerable,” said the remorseless Claverhouse, “and as for God I will take him into my own hands.” He then marched away, leaving the poor widow with her husband’s mangled corpse! She set the children on the ground; she gathered up the scattered brains and, covering his body with her plaid, she sat down and wept over him.—D. M. MACD.