Vatican Bans Transitional Church.
“The Vatican has rejected a plan for a ‘Transitional Church’ to be recognised by the Holy See, and which might have involved the secession to Rome of many Anglo-Catholic clergy and laity from the Church of England.
“The decision, though charitably made ‘for the good of the Universal Church,’ has killed the hopes of Anglicans who have long worked for corporate, or even partial, reunion with the Roman Catholic Church. Rome has made it clear that no ‘concessions,’ such as the plan suggested, can be made.
“The plan, originally drawn up in the United States, was taken to Rome in January by Rev. Frederic Davis, curate at St. Francis, Oxhey, Herts.
“There it was discussed with Fr. Charles Boyer, the Jesuit scholar, president of the Unitas Association. He acted as intermediary with the Vatican, which after six months has indicated it is unacceptable. The plan contemplated:
Recognition or ratification by Rome of Orders (hitherto declared invalid) of Anglican clergy who joined the “Transitional Church.”
In certain cases, a married priesthood.
An “English Rite,” with at least part of the Mass in English. Evensong and Benediction in English. “It was recognised that the difficulties were formidable. Those accepting the ‘concessions’ would have to ‘go into the wilderness.’ Clergy would be relinquishing their livings and, with their congregations, their churches. “But the sponsors argued that the ‘Transitional Church,’ recognised by Rome, would act as a bridge and would, in the long run, facilitate the conversion of England to the Roman Faith. It is likely that this view was not taken by the Roman hierarchy in Britain.
“Fr. Davis has resigned his curacy and is joining the Roman Catholic Church. The Anglo-Catholic monthly newspaper ‘The Dome,’ which he founded in January last year, and which had a circulation of about 5,000, is being wound up.”
This article appeared in the “Daily Telegraph” of Saturday, 8th August, 1959, by a Special Correspondent. It reveals a state of religion in The Church of England of which we are aware.
The Pope and the Sabbath.
The London newspaper “Press,” largely Jesuitically controlled, with a very few honourable exceptions, and ardent in popularizing whatever the Pope says or does, reported that on 2nd April, 1960, he spoke out firmly and fervently for “Sunday” sport, when he addressed 53 international sports writers in Rome. The Pope said: “Tremendous crowds find healthy relaxation in sports every Sunday. Many of them I have observed with pleasure succeed in including diversions on a Lord’s Day without neglecting their religious duty.” This “duty,” no doubt, is attendance at early morning mass, and then papal licence to spend the rest of God’s Holy Day in indulging, without restraint, all the evil propensities of fallen human nature and the carnal mind. In a sport-and-pleasure-mad generation, on Sabbath and week-day, the Pope must at all costs be popular with the godless multitudes of the neo-pagan world, inside and outside his own cursed system of iniquity, which John Calvin properly described as “the masterpiece of the devil.” All who know and believe the Pope, as occupant of the Vatican pontifical throne, to be the Scriptural Anti-Christ, doomed, in God’s good time and way, to utter destruction, expect nothing else of “the man of sin and son of perdition” than ardent advocacy of the popularizing of Heaven—provoking Sabbath desecration, in apt accordance with this satanic caricature of Christianity. Let all true Christians pray day and night for the Scripturally-predicted destruction of this mystery of iniquity. All the prayers they can muster will be needed if Senator Kennedy, the Romanist, becomes the next President of the U.S.A., which calamity may the Lord forbid. The U.S.A. would then join in the negotiations between the Vatican and the Kremlin, and, then, as a triple power, dictate politics and religion, with the Modernist-Communist World Council of Churches, to the whole world. This may yet prove the great persecuting united body, before the dawning of the glorious millennium.—J. P. MacQueen.
Vicar Joins the Roman Catholic Church.
Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Soden, vicar until recently of Guestwick, Norfolk, resigned his living in the Church of England to join the Roman Catholic Church. But in doing so he said: “I have made no secret of the fact that I have honestly believed myself to be a Catholic priest during the 30 years that I have ministered . . . at the altars of the Established Church . . .” Here is a case of lack of honesty and of positive deceitfulness, all these years, which should not be a recommendation for entry into any religious organisation. But no doubt the Rev. Soden sought to sow the seed of Popery during his sojourn in the Church of England without let or hindrance. A sorry commentary on the Government and discipline of that Church, to which some Scottish Presbyterian leaders endeavoured to link up their people.
Glasgow Magistrates and Disgraceful Film.
At the beginning of last March, the Glasgow Magistrates asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to set up a body similar to the British Board of Film Censors to control television programmes. Their action followed a recent showing of sex and horror films. Especially strong objection was taken by Bailie J. F. Reilly to the showing of the play, “China Doll,” on a Sabbath evening on Independent Television. He said it was disgraceful that a play of the above type, which portrayed sex in a vicious manner, should be broadcast into the homes of the people throughout the country. “The performance,” he said, “disgusted him.” Another Bailie, Mr Howard Gordon, said, “The play was grossly immoral, and left nothing to the imagination.” Now these serious words were uttered by men apparently accustomed to view films and plays, having no religious scruples on that account. But seemingly the play they objected to was so bad and wicked that they were forced to make public protestation against it. Truly the powers that be in our nation today are allowing evil men actuated by Satan himself, to have all the liberty they desire to pollute the minds and morals of the general public. This state of affairs is appalling.
Sabbath Golf at Brora.
We publish the following from “The Northern Times,” of 29th April, 1960:—
The Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland have described Brora Golf Club’s decision to have Sabbath play on their links as “deplorable” and “retrograde.” In a letter addressed to the club’s secretary they state that at their meeting in Inverness on April 12 last they “learned with regret and sorrow that the Brora Golf Club have decided to delete from the club’s constitution the rule prohibiting play on the Brora golf course on Sabbath. This deplorable decision has been made on the expressed pretext of improving the financial position of the golf club. “The presbytery wish respectfully to inform the Brora Golf Club that this decision cannot be justified on financial or any other grounds, but constitutes a grave and defiant breach of the Divine Command, ‘Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.’ “We regard the decision as particularly regrettable since no play is permitted on any golf course in the county, on the Lord’s Day, and by taking this step a precedent is being made which other golf clubs will not be slow to follow. “The flood gates of Sabbath desecration have in recent years been cast open by many public bodies in the north, and this move at Brora in the same direction will encourage greater inroads on the sanctity of the Sabbath, and is, besides, a further departure from the scriptural observance of the Sabbath Day which distinguished the religious life of the Highlands in the past. “We believe from press reports that the decision is not yet final and irrevocable, and we therefore take this opportunity most solemnly to appeal to the members of the management committee of the Brora Golf Club to consider again, in the light of God’s Holy Word, the whole question of Sabbath golf. “The Lord’s heavy displeasure is everywhere expressed in His Word against every form of Sabbath desecration, and we accordingly call upon the Brora Golf Club to reverse this retrograde decision, and accord to the Sabbath its rightful place as indicated and preserved in the original rules of the Brora Golf Club’s constitution.”
The letter was signed by the Rev. A. F. Mackay, clerk to the Presbytery.
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” In like manner we should love our neighbour, and desire for him all those good things both for the body and for the soul that we desire for ourselves. This is what our Lord Himself teaches us. “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, even so do unto them.” (Extracted).