London Professor Scoffs at Prayer.
Professor Lionel Elvin of the Institute of Education, London University, recently read a paper to the Education Section. He dealt with the question of the average doctor being a man of science; and questioned how far the average patient was scientific about his own illnesses, etc. In the course of his argumentation he stated that praying for the right kind of weather for a good harvest was to be placed alongside the belief in witches as a survival from an earlier age. The professor is evidently an atheist or agnostic, and has no God in his creed, and thus he scoffs at prayer. The Word of God informs us that, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God,” and so there are intellectual fools supervising some avenues of the education of the rising generation in our midst to-day. To imbibe this talk of the scorner, along with the educational instruction is to remain under the power of spiritual darkness with the prospect of outer darkness in Eternity.
Glasgow Doctor on Gambling and Intemperance.
At the annual congress of the Royal Sanitary Association of Scotland held at Dunoon in September, Dr. A. G. Mearns, lecturer in Public Health at Glasgow University, said that intemperance and the gambling fever were cankers which gnawed at the nation’s vitals, and the damage which they did to home and family was incalculable. The doctor’s words are indeed true but are words of serious warning going unheeded throughout the length and breadth of the land. Dr. Mearns further asserted, “The solution to these problems will come only from a change of heart at national level.” We consider that the doctor spoke wisely. The eradication of nation-wide sins, requires that God will pour upon us as a people, the Spirit of grace and supplications and bring His Word to bear upon the consciences and conduct of sinners. Truly we need such a day of power.
Rev. Dr. George MacLeod Continues Romish Propaganda.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rev. Dr. George MacLeod, on his visit to Inverness last October, spoke at a Civic Reception. He said, among other things, that it was nice to have a gathering with other denominations in the town present. “It is a thrust towards unity,” he said. Now let our readers pause and mark well the Word “unity.” Then consider this further statement by the Moderator: “It is tragic that I was unable to meet the Roman Catholic bishop at Edinburgh until I attended the recent Boy Scout Jamboree at Sutton Coldfield.” Such statements are deliberately made and with design by the Moderator. He is endeavouring to inject into the minds of the people of Scotland his personal charitable attitude to the Church of Rome with its Pope, Cardinals and then bishops and lower clergy, plus all its declared policies toward Protestant “heretics.” It is over twenty-five years now since we cast our eyes upon the Iona Community on the Isle of Iona, and were reassured in our opinion that Dr. George MacLeod’s aim there was an aping at Monasticism and Romanism. He is now openly, and in speeches, confirming our opinions formulated long ago, and which were probably considered by some then as the “extreme” Free Presbyterian outlook.
Roman Catholic Publicity on B.B.C. Television Condemned.
The Ayr Presbytery of Rev. Dr. George MacLeod’s Church, supported a motion by Rev. G. A. McCutcheon at its meeting in September, which included the following terms: “That this Presbytery in view of the fact that the basic faith of the nation is the Reformed faith, note with concern the preponderant inclusion of items concerning the Roman Catholic Church in news bulletins and feature programmes of B.B.C. television.” The Rev. Mr. McCutcheon said that people were being sickened by the amount of Roman Catholic publicity on B.B.C. television. We are relieved to read of such an awakening in the Ayr district of the Church of Scotland. It is not before time that ministers in the National Church were speaking out against the menace of Rome. We would like to hear of the said Ayr Presbytery taking their Assembly Moderator to task in no uncertain terms for publicising the R.C. Church. And they would get the support of a large section of the people of Scotland who are discerning the Jesuit in the Assembly Moderator.
Minister’s Peculiar Attitude to Non-Church Going.
The Rev. Ian A. Gray, of St. Andrew’s Church, Perth, spoke at Perth Presbytery recently against a suggestion that the Presbytery should oppose the proposed opening of a Perth cinema on the Lord’s Day. His foolish, childish and distorted reason was that he did not want people to attend his evening service just because every other door was shut to them, etc. Logically, he might agree to refrain from opposing the opening of public houses in Perth on the Lord’s Day if such was proposed, because he did not want people to his service who preferred a visit to the public house to the house of God. What caricatures of ministers of the Gospel some men are to-day! They are not against obvious sin on the one hand, and on the other, they are not for righteousness. Surely the greatest sinners are to be warned against avenues of sin, and to be exhorted to acknowledge and seek God in Christ, in the public means of grace as otherwise! Truly, the poor people of Scotland are plagued and deceived by ministers who are as ignorant, light-headed, and carnal as the most worldly in the land.
Literary Notice.
GLEANINGS OF HIGHLAND HARVEST by Rev. Murdo Campbell, M.A., Free Church Manse, Resolis, Conon, Ross-shire, price per copy, 7/6, to be had from the author at the above address, post free. We received the first edition of this booklet some time ago, and recommended its purchase to old and young readers. We now recommend to readers a new and enlarged edition with stiff covers. There are many more anecdotes and descriptions of the godly of the past in the West and North Highlands in this new edition being printed by our magazine printers, N. Adshead & Son, Ltd. This booklet, like the Ministers and Men in the Far North, does preserve in print, many profitable edifying and entertaining stories of eminent ministers of the gospel of Christ Jesus, and of gracious and pious men and women. It is most suitable to purchase as a gift for a friend, at home or abroad. It is to be ready by the beginning of November (D.V.).