Communists and Glasgow Schools
Some time ago it was reported that the Education Department of Glasgow Corporation were investigating the distribution of leaflets in schools in the east end of the city. These leaflets bore the imprint of the Young Communist League and called for the abolition of religious instruction, the setting up of political courses in schools and the placing of pupils on a level with teachers in a joint committee to control them. It is to be hoped that the Education Department will expose and prevent such evil action on the part of those who are avowed enemies of God and human liberty. It is amazing that in this country where such freedom for the individual still obtains, that the evil and brutal oppression of Communism as practised in Eastern Europe, has not ‘opened the eyes’ of Communists in Britain. Of course this is an ideology embraced by those who disown belief in God and scorn the religion of the Bible. God alone can open the eyes of the blind. Of course heresy in the Church can lead to atheism and atheism to Communism. Much evil has its rise in a backsliding Church.
Unsatisfactory Statements on Penal Reform
During a debate in the House of Lords on Penal Reform, Lord Foot (Lib.) declared that he agreed that a society which is prepared to sentence people to 30 years imprisonment, that a sentence of that kind is an absolute horror, that it is a moral outrage and a declaration of society’s intellectual bankruptcy in the field of penology. What about the horror of brutal murders and life-long injury inflicted on innocent victims of callous criminals? Another speaker in the debate, Lord Soper (Lab.), a Methodist minister, said “I am heartily opposed to capital punishment, but I am even more opposed to very long-term prison sentences.” He said that such sentences were an admission of failure. We would ask — failure in what respect? Dr Soper failed in the debate, as far as reported, to supply procedure and punishment consistent with his own unbiblical thinking. It is disappointing to discover that in all the political parties in both Houses of Parliament, there are strong elements against capital punishment. Our land, and Scotland very much included, is being defiled increasingly by the sin of murder. A return to capital punishment is called for.
United Free Church and Church Union
The United Free Church of Scotland, formed in 1900, and a large section of which joined The Church of Scotland in 1929, has been considering the question of union with other churches in Scotland. At the recent General Assembly of the said Church, approval was given in a general way to some principles for a basis of union among Scottish Churches. But one truly wise decision was taken during the discussion on union. They rejected the view put forward in the document that differences in teaching were an insufficient reason for remaining separate. Whatever the doctrinal standards of the U.F. Church may be today, the principle that differences in teaching do constitute reasons for Churches keeping separate, is a reasonable principle. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” But the most of Churches today ignore the true basis for true, spiritual union as between Churches, even the inspired Word of God and the doctrine thereof. The cause of ecclesiastical divisions in Scotland in the past and present, was and is the departure of men from belief in and adherence to the doctrines of Holy Scripture.
Welcome Views on Religious Education
A report issued in July, by The Scottish Schoolmasters’ Association, on religious education, made most agreeable reading to us. The report stated that the teaching of religious education should not be separated from moral education in Scottish schools. The report proceeds:— Biblical and Christian teaching of a high standard will inculcate principles of morality more effectively than could be done by any other method. The report also rightly observes, that religious education has been seriously under-valued by education authorities and administrators, and parents and teachers. The effects of this could be traced in the declining moral standards of many young people. We trust this Teachers’ Association will keep in the forefront of their activities what they have expressed so well in this report. As we know, there is a steady propaganda by Humanists in Scotland and England to eliminate religious education in the Christian faith, from our schools.