Unusual Marriage Procedure
In September a young man and woman were married in a dance hall in Glasgow, by Rev. A. Kenny, Dumbarton, according to the full Church of Scotland ceremony. After the ceremony the minister joined in a dance with those present. Two hours later the same couple were married again in St. Constantine’s Roman Catholic Church, Govan. After their “second” wedding a reception was held. If one or both of the parties belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, we know which marriage ceremony was valid from the Roman Catholic point of view: the ceremony in the Roman Catholic Church, which disregarded completely the first ceremony and the unwise conduct of Mr Kenny, under the circumstances. And dancing ministers, of course, assist powerfully in eliminating any distinction between the Church and the out and out world. What a solemn account some men will have to give at the day of judgment, relative to their profession and office in the visible Christian Church!
South African Prime Minister condemned by Clergymen
A group of clergymen calling themselves “The obedience to God group” have come out into the open in South Africa against the country’s apartheid policy. They have declared this policy “a false faith truly hostile to Christian belief.” It is averred that the Dutch Reformed Churches in South Africa regard apartheid as explicitly sanctioned by the Bible. The above group of clergymen state that Prime Minister John Vorster has warned churchmen to “keep politics out of the pulpit” and warned that their cloth would not protect them. The clergymen observe that the Prime Minister “was dangerously near to what Hitler tried to do with German Christians in the 1930’s.” The above group of clergymen issued a document expressing their views and state: “Not one of the critics of the document has been able to say where it deviates from Scripture.” And so the extreme policy of apartheid appears to continue to be a fruitful source of serious controversy, when men and nations so greatly need peace. The doctrines and practices embodied in the Gospel of Christ alone can bring peace on earth.
Relief Workers in Nigeria Discouraged
Information emanating from the New York Times, gives an unfortunate picture of the discouragements met with by many who have willingly sought to help in relief work in Nigeria and as known to be so essential on account of the war between the Federal Government and Biafra. This is what the report says: “There is a growing band of international relief workers in Federal Nigeria asking themselves why they came. Some came from half-way round the world to find their humanitarian motives questioned by suspicious Nigerians, their good intentions disbelieved and open resentment voiced at their attempts to break through Government regulations so that they can help prevent thousands more from dying of starvation.” We believe the efforts from this part of the world to send food and medicines to Nigeria and Biafra to thousands of suffering human beings, including large numbers of children, have been undertaken with a sincere desire to alleviate and prevent great suffering and preserve life. It is grievous indeed that there should be any opposition to such goodwill; but it has been revealed that such opposition has existed. This does not, in our view, commend the attitude of Africans in Nigeria to their fellow Africans needing help and succour. The war itself in Nigeria involves African against African. The Biafrans wished to separate from under the Federal Government; but their fellow Africans are in the process by war of destroying every effort by the Biafrans to set up a separate State. And our present Government, which denied supplies to the South African Government, for defensive purposes against external enemies, have been supplying arms to the Federal Government of Nigeria to wage this distressing war against their fellow Africans. In the light of all this, our present Government are doing everything they can against the Rhodesian Government; short of taking up arms against them. They are for the Africans in Rhodesia and against the Africans in Biafra. It all makes difficult matter for thought. And after supplying arms to the Federal Government of Nigeria, we understand that the British Government are to offer a large loan of money to the Nigerian Government for restoration work throughout their land. And in this connection it may be asked — can we in Britain afford this at the present time and will it be appreciated? Even for the intelligent Christian today, it is difficult to arrive at dogmatic opinions upon whites against Africans, Whites against Whites in South Africa, and Africans against Africans in Nigeria. Truly we need the clear light of the Word of God to guide us in these as in other matters. As to racialism, it would not be out of place for those in Britain who affect moral indignation at the least discrimination against coloured people, and for those coloured persons who complain, to organise a campaign against the caste system in India and the place the cow gets over the human being in that country. A goodly number of God’s people are not led by emotionalism, but by the teaching of the Word of God and the practice which is according to godliness and a practical outlook, when considering the merits of matters which call for serious thought.