Sabbath work at Kishorn
The Howard-Doris Consortium which a year ago began preparations for building oil platforms for the North Sea oil industry at Kishorn in Wester Ross is now endeavouring to obtain a relaxation of the conditions imposed on it by the former Ross-shire County Council and Planning Authority. These conditions were imposed to prevent unnecessary Sabbath work. It is regrettable that an attempt should be made to revoke promises which were made to all appearances in sincerity, by Sir John Howard and other members of the Consortium. It has come as a shock to many in the area that these promises are now called in question.
The most solemn matter of all is that it is the law of the Sabbath that is being tampered with. Men in places of authority in the land may conceivably be willing to revoke the conditions imposed on the Howard-Doris Consortium. But there is a Higher Authority, the God of Heaven who has given His law for all men and will never revoke it. Let the Consortium take note of this and abandon their ill-conceived plans.
Two Sons of the Roman Catholic Church
In November two faithful sons of the Church of Rome passed to their eternal account. One of these was Cardinal Heenan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster. Like many of the priests in this country, he was born of Irish parents in Ilford, Essex. When he entered the priesthood he trained with the Jesuits in England and also at the English College, Rome. After serving in the East End of London he became Bishop of Leeds and afterwards Archbishop of Liverpool before finally moving to Westminster. He was an uncompromising supporter of papal dogma and a leading spokesman for the Romanist cause. He died in the faith of the Anti-Christian Church to which he belonged.
The other faithful son of the Roman Catholic Church who passed to his account was General Franco of Spain. For well over 30 years General Franco maintained his dictatorial regime in Spain, supported by the Church of Rome. Until recent times Protestants in that land were subject to severe persecution. The State was the engine of the Church in effecting this persecution. Franco’s confession at the end of his days was: “It has been my constant wish to be a faithful son of the Church in whose bosom I am going to die.” On this ground he hoped that God would graciously receive him into his presence. With what vain hopes do poor deluded Roman Catholics enter the eternal world be they prelates or statesmen or of the common people. How sad this is in view of the Gospel provision for sinners in the Lord Jesus Christ.