Ulster Today
Captain Terence O’Neill, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, recently visited Prime Minister Harold Wilson in London. This meeting followed upon public demonstrations and disturbances in Ulster. These disturbances have been originated by Roman Catholics, Republicans from the Irish Republic and some Communist agitators. The British Government indicated that they might consider making some enquiries into the cause of these events. But the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, while in London, gave a stern warning against any interference in Ulster. They would look after their own affairs. True Protestants in England, Scotland and Wales, with any knowledge of the history of how Ulster retained her allegiance to the British Protestant Throne and Constitution, must support Northern Ireland against any and every attempt to undermine her separate status in relation to the Irish Republic in the South. Whatever local grievances exist among Roman Catholics in Ulster, these, one may be sure, are being exaggerated to induce a prejudice on every hand against Protestants and Protestantism. It is a known fact that Roman Catholics have been encouraged from Southern Ireland to move North into Ulster. And the aim has been to capture Ulster one day for the Roman Church. The South is priest-ridden. And what did the Republic of Ireland do for Britain faced with a German invasion in the last war? Nothing! The Germans found friendship there. For Ulster to be weakened by her enemies and false friends, and back-bench Labour M.P.s at Westminster, is an evil and deplorable work. Let any reader read the Life of Sir Edward Carson, later Lord Carson, and they will discover the noble stand which that great man made to keep Ulster and the people thereof united to Britain and the British Throne based on a Protestant Constitution. The present trouble in Ulster is part of a hidden scheme to separate Ulster from Britain and the British Throne. May God prevent these Jesuitical schemes succeeding now or in the future.
Trouble related to Communion Cards
In a Church of Scotland congregation, at Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire, the custom of sending out communion cards to members before the communion Sabbath was recently observed as usual. But the minister, Rev. Robert C. Alston, who was formerly in Golspie, Sutherland, did not send cards to members who had not been to the church for a long time. However much we disagree with some aspects of the procedure in The Church of Scotland as to the admittance of men and women to the Lord’s Supper, we certainly agree with the Rev. R. C. Alston, as to his action, as minister of a congregation, in withholding cards from some who had been absenting themselves from the public worship of God for a long time. This situation has arisen in a few other Church of Scotland congregations where ministers thought it time to act against absent members in a similar manner. Of course, from our point of view, those who are permitted in a judgment of charity to partake of the Lord’s Supper, are such as have given evidence of being truly converted persons and bear the fruits of a life of faith upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, when men and women who profess to be Christian believers absent themselves from the House of God and the public worship of God for prolonged periods, without any valid reason, such expose themselves to the criticism that they are mere professors of religion and not genuine Christians, and in a Church where Scriptural discipline is exercised, such will be dealt with by their Kirk Session for conduct inconsistent with their profession and Church membership. In the aforesaid case Rev. R. C. Alston withheld communion cards from some and that was his form of discipline immediately before the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The report of this case states: “That some people were upset at not being sent a card; and things went from bad to worse.” The minister left the congregation and some elders resigned and it was said that most of the members wholeheartedly supported Mr Alston. The defaulters were “upset”. This reveals the spiritual ignorance of such. Worldly, careless, indifferent, non-church going professing Christians are such, with others, who bring Christianity into disrepute. Truly, as we hold, the Lord’s Table is for God-fearing persons, whose life and conversation manifest that they are genuine followers of Christ Jesus. If Churches would debar others, they might expect to have fewer people, yet more expectation of a spiritual state of affairs in their midst.
Unbelievers in Pulpits
Rev. John MacNicol, founder of the National Association on Drug Addiction, speaking at a meeting of the Protestant Alliance, in London, declared that the pulpits were filled with unbelievers. He said: “It is time we had a 1662 ejection of modernists. It is these men who are going to cause the downfall of this country.” He interviewed 100 students who were preparing for a life’s work of preaching and 52 of them did not believe in the virgin birth of Christ, while 35 did not believe in a future judgment. Unbelievers in pulpits all over the country, have for years now been contributing to the religious and moral downfall of our nation. Dark as things are, many agree fully with Mr MacNicol’s observations. But sad to say, the most of the people love to have it so.
A Fictitious Speech
Some time ago there appeared in the English Churchman, the report of a speech by the Archbishop of Canterbury which indicated a great change of mind toward the word of the truth of the gospel, and as to the need the nation had of this gospel. Only one sentence in the report hinted that the reported speech was only what the writer wished the Archbishop had said. The Editor of the English Churchman has written us to say that the article was fictitious and not a factual report. He regretted any misunderstanding this has caused. It was published during his absence from the editorial chair. We, on our part, consider the writer of the fictitious speech to be blameworthy in not making it crystal clear what his intentions were.