Britain’s Serious Economic Plight
That Britain is in the midst of a serious economic situation has been evident for many months. Following upon the industrial unrest of last winter and, aided by rising world prices, the rate of inflation has been steadily increasing while the value of the pound sterling has been steadily declining. In speeches recently politicians have indicated the serious dangers which lie ahead if inflation is not contained. The Home Secretary, Mr Roy Jenkins, stated that the country is now facing “an economic crisis without precedent”, and warned that unless the inflation menace was faced up to by the nation that anti-democratic forces would soon be at work. His warning of anti-democratic forces at work seems to be confirmed by a recently published report on the action of militant left-wing students at Essex University in disrupting the University’s administration. According to the Report an estimated £32,000 of damage was caused as well, and the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Albert Sloman, had to face many forms of harassment including shouted abuse and threats, late night telephone calls, night raids on his house, threatening letters etc. That leading academics should be exposed to such abuse shows how threatening the present situation really is. The very same ingredients — weak government, roaring inflation, lawlessness and indiscipline — which allowed Hitler to take power in Nazi Germany in 1933, are present in Britain today. Our danger is very real indeed.
Let us never forget, however, that the Lord is able to put right all Britain’s ills — the One who said to the children of Israel of old, “I am he that healeth thee.”
The Protestant Succession to the Throne
Speculation that the Prince of Wales may marry a Roman Catholic has been much in evidence in the Press in recent times. Whatever substance there is in these rumours, it is clear that any such proposal would be viewed with disfavour and with great disquiet by loyal Protestant subjects of the Queen. It is to be hoped that these reports will prove to be groundless, the product only of wishful thinking on the part of Roman Catholics who would dearly desire to see a Roman Catholic monarch on the Throne. However that may be, it is desirable that it should be made plain to the Princes of the realm that such alliances with Roman Catholic families cannot be tolerated apart from relinquishing their right to the Throne. Both England and Scotland suffered sufficiently at the hands of Roman Catholic Kings and Queens, such as the Stuarts and others, never to wish to have a Roman Catholic monarch again. It was not without good reason that the nation saw fit to enact legislation in order to secure the Protestant Succession in all time coming. We hope that in the event of one of the Princes marrying a Roman Catholic no attempt will be made, or if made countenanced, to allow that Prince to retain his right to the Throne. May the Lord in His great mercy prevent any attempt to alter the legislation preserving the Protestant Succession, which is an effectual bar to a Roman Catholic ever ascending the British Throne.
Advice to Divinity Students
In June, Rev. Andrew Heron, Moderator of Glasgow Presbytery of the Church of Scotland, gave good advice to 10 divinity students who were being licensed to preach. He warned them first of the danger of preaching a political kind of gospel and said that ordinary folk were deaved with politics on the media and came to the Kirk to hear the Word of God. It is your duty, he went on to say, to see that they hear the Word of God — and in its purity. We hope the licentiates take the advice. A return to the preaching of the pure Word of God in the Church of Scotland would be a hopeful step indeed. If it had not been departed from in other days, Scotland would not now be in such a low moral and spiritual condition.
Roman Catholic Members of Parliament
As a General Election is expected in the Autumn the following list of Roman Catholic Members of Parliament may be helpful to readers as a warning who not to vote for. The list appeared some time ago in the Churchman’s Magazine.
Ancram, M. (Con.), Berwick and Lothians; Biggs-Davison, J.A. (Con.), Epping Forest; Buchanan, R. (Lab.), Glasgow, Springburn; Cox, T.M. (Lab.) Wandsworth Tooting; Delargy, H.J. (Lab.), Thurrock; Dempsey, J. (Lab.) Coatbridge and Airdrie; Duffy, A.E.P. (Lab.), Sheffield, Attercliffe; Dunn, J.A. (Lab.), Liverpool, Kirkdale; Fell, A. (Con.), Yarmouth; Fitt, G. (SDLP), Belfast West; Fraser, H.C.P.J. (Con.), Stafford and Stone; Hamilton, J. (Lab.), Bothwell; Hayhoe, B.J. (Con.), Hounslow, Brentford and Isleworth; James, D.P. (Con.), Dorset North; Kitson, T.P.G. (Con.), Richmond, Yorks.; McBride, N. (Lab.), Swansea East; McCormick, I. (SN), Argyle; McElhone, F. (Lab.), Glasgow, Queen’s Park; McGuire, M.T. (Lab.), Ince; McNamara, J.K. (Lab.), Kingston-upon-Hull Central; Mahon, S. (Lab.), Bootle; Mellish, R.J. (Lab.), Southwark, Bermondsey; O’Halloran, M. (Lab.), Islington North; O’Malley, B.K. (Lab.), Rotherham; Parry, R. (Lab), Liverpool, Scotland Exchange; Pendry, I. (Lab.), Stalybridge and Hyde; Price, D.E.C. (Con.), Eastleigh; Rawlinson, Sir P.A.G. (Con.), Epsom and Ewell; Rossie, H.A.L. (Con.), Harringey, Hornsey; St John-Stevas, N.A.F. (Con.), Chelmsford; Snape, P.C. (Lab.), West Bromwich East; Stallard, A.W. (Lab.), Camden, St Pancras North; Tierney, S. (Lab.), Birmingham Yardley; Tugendhat, C.S. (Con.), City of London and Westminster South; Wall, P.H.B. (Con.), Haltenprice; Williams, Mrs S.V.T.B. (Lab.), Hertford and Stevenage. Also Cohen, S. (Lab.), Leeds, South-East.