Sir Compton MacKenzie and Ireland.
During the agitation and noise by the R.C. priest John Morrison, in South Uist last March over the Government’s intention to set up a Rocket Range in South Uist, Sir Compton MacKenzie, a Roman Catholic, and well-known writer, supported the agitation for an inquiry into the matter. No satisfaction being obtained as to the possibility of the Government abandoning the project, Compton MacKenzie suggested, quite seriously, that the people of South Uist should emigrate from the Western Isles of Scotland to Ireland. He meant, no doubt, Southern Ireland, the Roman Catholic Irish Republic. This suggestion from a man who frequently gives his opinion of public matters, by pen and on the wireless, ought to have known better from the economic and practical facts which are well known, than to suggest the Irish Republic as a place of refuge for the people of South Uist. They would need more than the ministrations of the Irish priests to keep them and their families alive. It is common knowledge that unemployment figures are high, and that new industries are not doing well in the Republic; and that about 50,000 emigrate annually from there, many to Britain and Canada. Yes to Britain, the hated land! Although the R.C. Irish do not object to the work and wages they obtain in Britain. After priest John Morrison said he thought Sir Compton MacKenzie was joking about emigration to Ireland; Sir Compton from his home in Edinburgh said: “… I was perfectly serious with my suggestion.” This fact reveals a serious lack of information and common sense and responsibility on the part of a public man affecting to have the good of the people of South Uist at heart. Even priest John Morrison said on this question: “So many people are leaving Ireland to go to Canada and even Britain.” The moral for the people of South Uist is, never take Sir Compton MacKenzie’s advice without scrutinising it well! And now the people of South Uist have accepted the situation brought about by the establishment of the Rocket Range in their midst.
Minister gives strange answer to Animal lovers.
Speaking at the Annual Meeting of the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in Edinburgh, last April, Rev. Dr. Selby Wright, said that he was sometimes asked by people who have lost their favourite cat or dog if they would see them again after their death. He was reported as answering: “That is a question that is extremely difficult to answer from the point of view of the Church, without being over simple or complicated.” Dr. Wright quoted also a line of an Irish poem, viz., “Would God be wasting a dog like Tim.” When a professed minister of the Church of Scotland speaks like this on such a topic, it reveals the sad and miserable state of such as to their beliefs and lack of understanding in the truths of God’s Word. The people cannot but be deluded who give an ear to such men, who cannot give a clear, Scriptural answer as to the radical differences between human beings and the irrational beast.
Ulster and the Crown.
Recently in the House of Commons Mr. Phillip Bell (Con., Bolton, E.) asked the Under Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations in view of the increasing tension in Ireland, if he would initiate discussions with the Republic of Eire and the Government of Northern Ireland upon the Republic joining the Commonwealth on the basis of the proposals recently made by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Sir David Campbell, Ulster Unionist, Belfast, said; “Is the Minister aware that the great majority of the people of Northern Ireland have a deep sense of loyalty to the Crown, and that no proposals which would take them out of the United Kingdom or transfer their allegiance to a Republic can have the least hope of being accepted.” We record these statements to let our readers see the endeavours being made by Roman Catholics even in the House of Commons to undermine the link between Protestant Ulster and the British Throne. Ulster should have a place in the prayers of the Lord’s people on this side of the Irish Channel.
Africans Prohibited from Worshiping with Europeans.
In the Parliament of the Union of South Africa, at Capetown there was introduced recently a Bill styled the Native Law’s Amendment Bill. When it becomes law and operates, Africans will be prosecuted and punished for attending Church services in areas where white people live, although there be no Church in the area for non-Europeans. The South African Government Minister concerned is reported as having said that he would only use his powers when native Church attendance became a “public nuisance.” Mr. Marais Steyn of the United (Opposition) Party asked the question: “How can the Minister say in a Christian land that the act of Worship can be a nuisance?” To the enlightened Christian mind, guided by the clear principles of the Scriptures and Gospel doctrine, the various laws and procedure adopted by the South African Government in recent times to further apartheid, are truly repugnant. We can state this without losing sight of difficulties which may be present in the Union on the racial question. It has been said that even many supporters of the Nationalist Government of the Union of South Africa, are ashamed of the aforesaid Bill. No doubt many such belong to the Dutch Reformed Church and are familiar with their Bibles; although the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa has been to a great extent behind apartheid. A Dutch Reformed Church convention declared that mixed congregations should be permitted where non-European congregations do not exist. This is indeed a poor, faulty and one-sided declaration from professed Christian men. Do they not read that in the heavenly assembly before the Throne of God and of the Lamb, the redeemed from among all nations shall appear there. Surely fellowship in the Gospel of Christ and divine Worship here by those of different nationalities, is an earnest of the eternal fellowship to be participated in by all the redeemed in glory and it is certain that God will not look with complacency upon the un-Christian actions of the present South African Government whatever plausible arguments they may employ to bolster up their extraordinary policy and practices.
Evolution Protest Movement.
The mind of the rising generation is being poisoned and warped by the evil doctrine of evolution. It is taught at school, college and over the air as though it were an indisputable fact. In reality it is only a theory which many learned scientists discount. It may be defined as “the hypothesis that millions of years ago lifeless matter, acted upon by natural forces, gave origin to one or more minute living organisms, which have since evolved into all living and extinct plants and animals including man.” As generally presented it is wholly opposed to the Biblical doctrine of a special creation, such as is presented in Genesis, and endorsed in all the subsequent Scriptures, besides being incompatible with the truth of the Gospel. It promotes unbelief and moral degeneracy.
The Evolution Protest Movement is scriptural and scientific. It offers 40 pamphlets for 7/6 on every aspect of this error. Evolution, is an invaluable little handbook (96 pages, 1/- post paid), is a mine of information, giving over 200 verdicts from leading men of the world in every branch of science, militating against this evil theory. The minimum subscriptions of 5/- per year entitles members to the news letters and booklets as printed. The Honorary Secretary is: A. G. Tilney, Esq., B.A., Stoke, Hayling Island, Hants. The Reformation Link, March, 1957.
ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
“Nor should it be forgotten, as sufficient forever to silence the advocates for the abolition of capital punishment, that God has not only given an unrepealed command which He might have been pleased to rest on His Own authority and will alone, but He has condescended to give the ground and reason of it; and so long as both the command remains unrepealed, and the reason remains a fact, so long is the proposed abolition of capital punishment a daring insult against the Most High. God has given us the reason why the shedding of man’s blood must be avenged by the murderer’s death—’for in the image of God made He man.'”
Jonah, his Character and Mission (page 225) by Dr. Hugh Martin, D.D.