Sport on Sabbath for Inverness Rejected.
The recent protest by our Northern Presbytery to Inverness Town Council against proposals for Sports etc., on the Lord’s Day was successful in arousing right-minded public opinion against this evil move. And on 25th January, the Town Council rejected the proposals as follows—By 12 votes to 6 the Council rejected proposals for putting greens and tennis courts on Sabbath; for provision for football and other sports; and for a Youth Social Club on Sabbath evenings. And by 11 votes to 6 the council disapproved of the proposal to open a cinema on Sabbath during the Winter months. This is a great relief to all lovers of the Lord’s Day. But the enemies will not remain inactive and need to be watched, especially those in public positions. Rev. George Elliot of Ness Bank Church, Inverness, read a compromising memorandum from the Church of Scotland, Inverness Presbytery before the Town Council, which included the statement, “The Presbytery was not against youngsters kicking a ball about a park on Sunday.” This sort of statement undermines the value of any other worthwhile observations.
The Birch for Certain Offenders.
At the end of last year, Lord Parker, the Lord Chief Justice of England, told a meeting of Magistrates in London, that he was in favour of bringing back corporal punishment in certain cases of crime. He asked : ” What harm can there be, in general, in the cane or birch?” As Lord Parker suggested—” A short sentence and corporal punishment.” We support these suggestions at a time when crimes such as robbery and theft are being accompanied by most brutal and violent attacks on law abiding citizens, women as well as men. Such criminals should be made to feel the birch. The powers that be are ordained of God and are to bear the sword (literally at times) for the punishment of evil doers, as well as for the praise of them that do well.
Opposition to R.C. Church in Malta.
The people of Malta are predominantly Roman Catholic as to religion, but many of them are supporters of Mr. Mintoff, the Labour leader, as to politics. It was reported at the beginning of February that tension continued between the Church authorities and Mintoff’s party. Boards on R.C. Churches displaying posters condemning Communistic activities in Italy were torn down, and supporters of Mr. Mintoff are said now to walk out of Churches when sermons refer to Politics. Where are the “obedient sons of the Church” in Malta? Where is the claim of the Roman Church to be the bulwark against communism, when that Church is the main Church in Malta and Italy? Communism seems to be thriving where Romish priests and their Church predominate; that is, where there is no Roman Catholic Dictator in power like Franco in Spain.
The Prime Minister and South Africa.
At the end of his tour in Africa, Mr. MacMillan, our Prime Minister, visited South Africa, the Government of which is criticised all over the World for its evil principle of apartheid, the complete separation of all coloured people from the whites in that land. Mr. MacMillan addressed the members of the South African Parliament in Cape Town before leaving for home at the beginning of February. His speech revealed that he had chosen his words carefully but with set purpose for he certainly condemned in dignified terms the racial policy of those who comprised the majority of his audience. He of-course spoke on behalf of the British Government and people which was greatly needed to “clear the air” in South Africa as to where Britain really stood in this matter. He received no applause from his audience during his speech. He would be prepared for that. After he left the shores of South Africa for Britain, then his critics began to speak out; but not before he received a most friendly and enthusiastic send off by a large crowd of the white population of Cape Town.
Anti-Semitic Activities.
At the beginning of the year a deplorable outbreak of Anti-Jewish activities occurred in parts of West Germany, and incidents of a like nature took place in Britain and other Countries. But it was this attitude to Jews arising in Germany which shocked many people throughout the World, as the slaughter of millions of Jews by the followers of Hitler came to mind. Whatever the Jews may be religiously, morally and as to business activities in those Countries where many of them reside, it is pagan and unchristian in the extreme to entertain, encourage and manifest hatred to God’s ancient people, now living in unbelief with regard to their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Indeed God brought terrible judgments and much destruction and shame upon the Germans during and by the end of the last War, and we have no doubt but much of this was the manifestation of the divine wrath against the persecutors of the Jews. After the recent incidents, Mr. R. A. Butler, the Home Secretary, sent a letter to the Council of the Anglo-Jewish Association in which he stated: “Her Majesty’s Government very much deplore this outbreak of offensive behaviour which cannot be too strongly condemned . . . I shall continue to watch the situation carefully and I am quite sure that the police will do everything in their power to deal effectively with any breaches of the law.” Great Britain since the capture of Jerusalem at the end of 1917, by General Allenby, has been favourably disposed towards the Jews and their return to and establishment in Palestine as a Nation. Despite the great and severe trials they have passed through even in modern times, it appears that Scripture is being fulfilled in the present existence of the Nation of Israel. God’s eyes are upon the Jews. The time will come when by the Spirit they will look upon Him whom they have pierced and mourn for Him. That will be a wonderful day for the World.