Inverness and The Sabbath.
The People’s Journal, a weekly paper which circulates in the North, in its issue of 31st October, 1959, filled practically the whole of its front page with the views of several young people resident in the town of Inverness, on the Sabbath. The main heading to the page was “They ‘Dread’ the Sabbath.” This is a reference to the attitude of those referred to as “teenagers,” who are reported as dreading the Sabbath because they say there is nothing to do but walk the streets. One youth of 17 years is quoted as saying “Inverness is badly in need of brightening up on a Sunday for young folk . . . I am all in favour of a Sunday cinema in Town. I see no harm in it. It isn’t any worse than people going golfing . . . on a Sunday.” From reported interviews with six young people there wasn’t one word of commendation of the Sabbath Day as God’s holy day. Of course these young people were but a small selection of a town with a population of 28,000. Yet it does appear that the young people today in most cases do not know what the Fourth Commandment means or what it requires. The fathers and mothers and grandparents of today’s young generation have a heavy responsibility in having set an evil example before their offspring. And the trend of the whole article from the journalistic point of view seemed to us to be propaganda against Sabbath observance of a Scriptural kind. We have gone far on the way to complete abolition of the Lord’s Day, as to public recognition of the same. Men will yet dread the punishment which the Lord of the Sabbath will meet out to impenitent Sabbath-breakers.
Ecclesiastical Caution in Public Utterances.
In September last two new bishops were appointed in Canterbury Cathedral and were advised to be cautious when speaking for publication as follows: “Beware of the world that may be downright hostile to the Church.” The rest of the advice given by Archdeacon Anthony J. Moorcam was by way of warning against the press misrepresenting what might be said without previous reflection. The Archdeacon ended by saying, “It is no part of a bishop’s office to air his own personal opinions or prejudices.” The advice in certain respects may be good, but one feels that there is behind it a weak desire for over caution to be observed by men undertaking public leadership in the professed Christian Church. The press criticised the Archdeacon, and The News Chronicle, on 30th September, stated “… A Christian Church too afraid to answer questions betrays its own tradition. One of its purposes is to answer the greatest question of all. It should not be scared of minor ones.” We must assert here that leaders in the Christian Church, who fear God and who know what they believe and profess as to the faith of the gospel, should certainly exercise wisdom in their utterances which may be made public; but they should on no account be afraid to speak out the truth on Religion and morals as occasion demands, and what ever the reactions may be among the irreligious world. Paul, the great Apostle, was not afraid to speak forth words of truth and soberness. He let the world know where he stood as a servant of Christ. The Church must be fearless in its public witness for righteousness and against all manner of wickedness.
President Eisenhower to Visit Pope.
At the time of writing it has just been announced that President Eisenhower is to make a tour of nine countries in Europe and Asia in December, including a call at Rome. Whilst at Rome, it has been stated, he is to visit the Pope. Albeit the good intentions of the President in undertaking such an arduous journey, his contact with the Pope will, in our opinion, not be for the benefit of the President himself or the peace of Nations. Such visits by Heads of States only bolster up the Vatican in its false and arrogant claim for the Pope, that he weilds not only spiritual, but temporal power over Kings, and Nations.
Christmas.
Last year at this time we wrote an opening article exposing the observance of Christmas, as it is called, as unwarranted by Scripture and Popish in practice. In recent times there has arisen in the minds of quite a number of the general public, who have no serious views on the side of Reformation and Protestant principles, to look upon the observance of Christmas as a time when big business firms turn it to their financial advantage, and push their wares for sale even months before the end of December. On the other hand, those who even go to Christmas Services, in the majority of cases follow up with dances, concerts, the theatre, cardplaying, and a round of unholy amusement. What we need as a Nation is not unwarranted festivals about the birth of Christ, but a return to the Word of God and the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of lost sinners, all the year round. Where are the most of Christmas observers during the fifty-two Sabbaths in the year? Worshiping God, through Jesus Christ? Certainly not! They are living like pagans, while a small minority wend their way to the House of God to hear of Christ’s birth, and death and resurrection.
Strathpeffer Convention.
The detailed account of the recent Strathpeffer Convention for 1959, in the “Ross-shire Journal” for 9th October, 1959, makes it clear that there were about twenty-eight Church of Scotland ministers taking part, and about fourteen Free Church ministers. Rev. Duncan Leitch of the Free Church, Dingwall, occupied the chair, while “Mrs. Matheson presided at the organ with talent and taste,” despite the fact that recent articles in the “Free Church Monthly Record” claimed that the Free Church of Scotland was an exclusively psalm-singing church, with no instrumental musical accompaniment. Where is consistency and what about ordination vows? At the Communion service a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland officiated, and was assisted by a minister of the Church of Scotland, and a minister of the Free Church, a deacon of the Baptist Church, and a leader of the Plymouth Brethren. This was described as “a testimony to the unity of Christian believers.”—the temple of Christian brotherhood—while in truth it is blatant disregard, on the part of the participants, of the Scriptural teaching of the Westminster Confession of Faith. As Modernism denies the eternal Sonship of Christ, His Virgin-birth, and physical resurrection, would not the Church of Scotland ministers present have been better employed endeavoring to cleanse their lamentably back-slidden church of the Heaven-provoking leaven of infidel Modernism, while conscientious consistency should have been sufficient to make the Free Church ministers conspicuous by their absence?
—J. P. MacQueen.
Literary Notices.
Banner of Truth Books—Price concessions re Historical Theology by William Cunningham, 2 volumes, 1270 pages, 30/-; and The Church of Christ by James Bannerman, 2 volumes of 600 pages, 30/-; are as follows:—The publishers in a pamphlet state that a discount of £1 will be given to those who subscribe for the 4 volumes, before 1st February, 1960. On the other hand a discount of 10/- will be given on orders for either of the two sets. Postage is extra. The address is Banner of Truth Trust, 78b Chiltern Street, London, W.1. Principal Cunningham and Professor Bannerman were theologians of the Disruption period. Cunningham died in 1861, and Bannerman in 1868. Both served the Cause of Christ in the Free Church of Scotland after the Disruption of 1843, in the New College, Edinburgh.
“Diary and Sermons of the late Rev. Alex. MacLeod, Rogart, (formerly of Uig, Lewis”).
The sponsors of the Westminster Standard Publications in Gisborne have added to the list of their publications a re-print of the “Diary and sermons of the Rev. Alex. MacLeod with brief memoir by the Rev. D. Beaton, Wick.” The first edition was issued in 1925. This present edition with artistic cover, and large clear print, has a Foreword by the Rev. Wm. MacLean, Deputy to Australia and New Zealand, and two appendices—Appendix I containing a brief outline of ecclesiastical events in the parish of Uig since the days of Mr. MacLeod: Appendix II—The Establishment Principle.
The contents are:—Brief Memoir; Diary; Sermon I (I Tim. iv. 16); Sermon II (John iii. 16); Sermon III (Psalm lv. 22); Sermon IV (Genesis xxii. 14); Appendix I; Appendix II. There is also a list of the Westminster Standard tracts (re-prints). These are listed in the September issue of the Free Presbyterian Magazine, except No. 1 —“I Love the Lord’s Day” by Rev. R. M. McCheyne (price 2d.)—an excellent four-page tract.
These Westminster Standard publications—a labour of love by young men, members in full communion in our Gisborne congregation are worthy of translation and circulation in all languages and lands. Instead of calendars and cards for New Year, let us give to our friends at home and abroad copies of this artistically produced book—“The Diary and Sermons of the Rev. Alex. MacLeod.” It would expedite circulation if congregations would arrange for supplies. Copies may not arrive in this country until about New Year. Obtainable from: Mr. John Grant, 4 Millburn Road, Inverness. Mr. Andrew Tallach, 12 Woodlands Drive, Glasgow. Westminster Standard, 183 Rutene Road, Gisborne, N.Z. Price 2/- post free—Wm. MacLean.