Sabbath Bill Fails
That inveterate enemy of the Lord’s Day, the Labour M.P. for Dagenham, Mr John Parker has once more had to admit defeat in his bid to change the laws governing the Sabbath. In a free vote in the Commons in March his “Sunday Entertainments Bill” was rejected by the slender margin of 3, there being 113 for the Bill and 116 against. Not one Cabinet Minister supported the Bill, and as the Scottish Secretary, Mr Gordon Campbell and the Welsh Minister of State, Mr David Gibson-Watt, voted against it, both of whom would have a large say in deciding what backing any Private Member’s Bill might expect from the Government, it looks as though the move to change still further the law on the Sabbath is as good as dead for the rest of the life of this Parliament. Mr J. Parker claimed that 62% of the youth of Wales and 82% of the rest of the Country, as well as the major sports associations were in favour of the Bill, and stated that he expected that the Bill would appeal to the “new generation of M.P.s”, it was not anti-religious, but simply allowed people the right to choose for themselves how to spend the Sabbath. These strange arguments, however, found no support from fellow-Labour M.P., Mr R. Lewis, member for Carlisle, who said in opposing the Bill, “If we pass on to the next generation a de-Christianised Sunday, they will pass on a de-Christianised Britain”. In these well chosen words, the whole crux of the Sabbath controversy is pointedly and truthfully expressed, for nothing short of the Christian future of Britain is at stake in the ceaseless attacks being made upon the Lord’s Day. Only the reverent observance of the Lord’s Day will keep our country strong, and it is gratifying to see that the steady erosion of this priceless divine blessing has received a salutary check.
Sabbath Lawlessness
A peculiar development regarding the Lord’s Day has recently occurred at Inverness, which provides a striking illustration of the lengths to which public authorities will go to get rid of time-honoured laws which in the past have served as safe-guards for the hallowed observance of the Sabbath, if these are considered to stand in the way of what is regarded as modern progress. In April of last year, the Inverness Town Council amended their own Bye-laws so as to permit organised games to be played in the town on the Sabbath. This step came as the culmination of a whole series of actions over the past few years by the Corporation in granting to various organisations permission to open cinemas for Sabbath shows, parks and fields for Sabbath golf, bowling and cricket, and in the consistent failure to enforce their own Bye-laws in this respect. When a petition was received from a public house in the town for organised football, with the view of forming a football league, to be allowed on Sabbath in the town, the Council decided to amend their own Bye-laws, which were enacted in September 1951, particularly Bye-Law 27 which stated: “No person shall play at any games in any park on the Sabbath”, and granted permission for the opening of town parks on Sabbath afternoons, “if demand so warranted”. Having done so, it was only then that the Town Council applied to the Secretary of State for Scotland for confirmation of the change. A signed petition of Protest from rate-payers in the town which was organised by the local L.D.O.S. was forwarded to the Scottish Secretary. In defence of their action, the Council advanced well-worn arguments, such as the prevailing Sabbath desecration through the country; Sabbath sport had already become a reality in the town and was here to stay; only a minority of the rate-payers disapproved — a highly questionable statement; the old fashioned Sabbath was out of place in the modern world and must go, etc. On 18th September, however, the Scottish Development Department gave their answer, they refused to conform the amendment of Bye-law 27. This was an unexpected set-back to the Corporation’s schemes, but to the resourceful magistrates, it was regarded as only temporary. The Bye-laws were adjusted by the Council and an advertisement appeared in the local press, that the Bye-Laws were open to public inspection. A close examination showed that Bye-Law 27 had virtually been dropped. This playing fast and loose with the Lord’s Day brings little credit to the Town Council of Inverness. The Council has cast open the flood-gates to allow the tide of Sabbath desecration to flow unchecked through the town. The Lord, however, is not mocked, and will yet visit His displeasure upon the enemies of His Holy Day.