Official Episcopal Church Practice
We who keep aloof from the present-day Church Unity activities, are sometimes charged with a lack of the Spirit of Christ and Christian charity. Yet, there are times when those, apparently full
of zeal for Church unity, reveal their true attitude to others outwith their own communion; and measured by their own public utterances and willingness to confer with representatives of other churches, reveal a good measure of hypocrisy. This seems to be a fair estimate of the official attitude of the Aberdeen and Orkney Provincial Synod of the Episcopalian Church. It has been reported that many members of this church favoured relaxation of the existing laws in the light of the Ecumenical movement and wished to admit to communion any member of other churches who had been baptised as Christians. The Synod decided not to relax the existing rules which bar members of other churches from taking Communion in the Episcopalian church. They restated their normal rule that none shall be admitted to Communion until such time as he be Confirmed or is ready for Confirmation in the Episcopal church. This ceremony of confirmation is of course carried out by a bishop. Many members in the Episcopalian church are, it is reported, resenting this refusal to relax the rules. In our view, they are so displeased by virtue of the fact that they have heard from their bishops and clergy in recent years, so much talk about the desirability of church unity. This latest incident exposes to view the hollowness and hypocrisy of the abundant talk about Christian charity and unity. It must, after all, be unity under the rule and hands of bishops. How other non-Episcopal churches do not see this is hard to understand. It would save them a lot of time and talk at conferences.
Christmas Controversy
The celebration of what is called Christmas Day as a religious festival has no authority in Scripture and the date, 25th December, for its celebration, is an arbitrary date fixed centuries ago. It seems that this date which frequently falls upon a weekday, annoys some who otherwise profess an interest in Christmas. A change in the time of celebrating Christmas is desired by a number of Members of Parliament, who have tabled a House of Commons motion calling for the date to be permanently fixed on the Lord’s Day nearest to December 25th. One reason given for seeking to confine Christmas to a Sabbath is that when it falls upon a weekday, this causes widespread upheaval of normal living arrangements. The one comment we would make is, that this move is in line with a great deal of the modern Christianity which would confine all professed religious observances to one day in seven, the Sabbath Day. One would think by all the fuss that is made about Christmas and professedly the birth of Christ, that one weekday in the whole year would surely not be too much for such to devote to this purpose. But no! The religion of today grudges the least time from worldly activities to be devoted to any religious exer-
cises. The Scottish Reformers did away with the festivals of Christmas and Easter. They did not forget the incarnation and death and resurrection of the Son of God in their doctrine and preaching, on weekday and Sabbath, throughout the year. The birth of Christ is a continual source of comfort to believers, along with His atoning death on the cross and His glorious resurrection.
Jews Persecuted in Russia
In a letter to the press, a Jew, resident in this country maintains that Jews in Russia are being persecuted by the State there. He states that synagogues are being closed down and no new ones opened. The Jews are not allowed to train ministers of religion, print prayer books or to bake unleavened bread for the Passover. He avers they are also being put out of work and denied civil rights. We accept this account as a true report. The Russians are pro-Arab in the Israeli-Arab conflict in the Middle East. And what can be expected but just this type of activity toward Russian Jews, when other Communists desirous of a more liberal mode of life are crushed. The poor Jews are still, in some parts of the world, since Hitler’s day, a tried and troubled people. We of course cannot forget that their fathers cried before Pilate, with regard to the crucifying of the Son of God: “His blood be on us, and on our children.” But one day they, as a people, will be brought to look upon their Messiah whom they pierced and to mourn over their sin, in the sovereign grace of God.