Betting on the Increase
A Government White Paper published on the 4th of January revealed that throughout the nation there has been more betting than ever. It is expected that the figure £762 million thrown away in betting during 1961, will be surpassed when the amount for 1962 is known. The present Government by legislation have brought about a great increase in betting shops and the spread of bingo gambling even in small villages throughout the country. Betting shops have increased from just over 8,000 to over 13,000 in number. No doubt thousands of men and women who never spent their money on gambling before do so now because it is made easy for them. All this is increasing the activity of the sin of covetousness in the minds of a greatly increased number of men and women, all lusting after a large amount of cash for the expenditure of a small amount without any worthy labour. In other words, the gambling fever with inevitable loss of morality, a proper appreciation of values and in many cases the where-with-all to buy the necessities of life, is now gripping the minds of multitudes more than ever. In our opinion this is a plague and a curse upon the nation welcomed by our rulers and by the people. Yet there are no millions parted with to send Bibles throughout the world by those involved. Lovers of sensual pleasures more than lovers of God abound.
Scottish Statue of Virgin Mary in Belgium
An article appeared in “The Scotsman,” on 28th December, 1962, by a Michael Lake, giving a history of a wooden image of Mary and the child Jesus in her right arm. It astounded us that such a special article was published in “The Scotsman,” because it was full of obvious and undiluted superstition and idolatry which even children unaffected by Romish teaching might well even laugh at. The writer says the image, which he names, is “quite lovely.” It is related that it was carved in Scotland during the eleventh century and was installed in Aberdeen “where she was chiefly famous for her powers of granting the wishes of the citizens.” Those who drank the water of the fountain around her, the writer states, “were reputedly smitten and died.” He further states in his ludicrous article that after John Knox died, that Lord William Lange, a loyal Romanist, hid the image (Lake’s words are “Our Lady”). She was rescued from the Protestants and after a varied career, described by Mr Lake, the image came to rest in Brussels, Belgium. There, he says, she stands, gilded, painted, crowned and honoured daily. But what crowns Mr Lake’s observations on this Romish idol is the following: “Six years ago it was found she was besieged by worms. She was tipped upside down and flooded with petrol, from which she recovered again.” After that last statement Mr Lake has the affrontery and ignorance to state: “She is considered by some to be one of the strongest links between Scotland and Belgium.” Our last comment is that we are astounded that the Editor of “The Scotsman” ever permitted such utter nonsense to appear in his reputable paper.
Widespread Effects of Immorality
In a report by the World Health Organisation, made public on the 27th December last, it is stated that a well-known form of venereal disease is raging throughout the world and cannot be controlled. And the disease has been increasing rapidly, particularly among teenagers; and the Report states that there is no longer any vaccine which can cure or control this disease. There are other revealing details in their Report which we would not refer to here. But what a revelation the medical profession herewith gives as to what is clearly the terrible effect of sin, transgression of the divine law and licentious living by young and old! The Word of God stands true: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption.” Surely it is time the pulpits of this professed Christian nation should expound the doctrine of sin in its dark colours and consequences. Where does Professor Carstairs of Edinburgh stand in the light of those terrible facts when he sought in a Reith Lecture to emphasise charity over against chastity?
Church of Scotland Ministers Attend Roman Catholic Service
When Roman Catholic Archbishop Gray opened a new R.C. Church at Craigmillar, Edinburgh, recently, Rev. W. Reid, of Bristo-Craigmillar, and Rev. David Millar of Richmond-Craigmillar, both Church of Scotland ministers, attended. They accepted “with the greatest pleasure” the invitation sent to them by Franciscan Friars, and at the service watched the first Service of the Mass, the blasphemous Mass, in this new Church. What faith and what doctrine, what Christian practice those Church of Scotland ministers preach to their professed Protestant congregations, we know not. They certainly will have great difficulty in instructing their people on the benefits of the Reformation in Scotland; from whence descended the Reformed and Presbyterian Church in Scotland. But it does seem clear to us that the majority of Church of Scotland members just don’t care what their ministers do. Others, we believe, are greatly perturbed.