The attack on the Sabbath takes many forms, the most formidable one at the present time being the increasing desecration of the Sabbath by the opening of shops on that day. In Scotland there appears to be little to prevent large Supermarkets and other Stores opening their doors on the Sabbath. Even the Highlands of Scotland are not immune now from such attacks on their once-prized Sabbaths. The pagan festival of Christmas at the year’s end is made an excuse for Sabbath shopping. We understand that the centre of the town of Inverness was like a weekday with milling crowds. Men and women could hardly show more contempt for the God of heaven and for the worship of His sanctuary than this and the Lord takes notice of it. His judgments will surely follow.
Further inroads on the Sabbath are likely to follow the giving in of their Report by the Committee of Inquiry appointed to look into the Shops Act of 1950, which applies to England. It is expected that an
attempt will be made before long to bring in a Bill to abolish all trading restrictions on Sabbath. It is to be hoped that any such attempt may be defeated.
Before Britain entered the European Common Market warning was given by many concerned for the Sabbath, that one result of Britain joining would be the introduction of the Continental Sabbath to Britain. What was feared has now practically taken place, and were the loss of the Sabbath the only adverse result of joining the Common Market, the price paid was infinitely too high. It may be many a day before Scotland recovers what she has lost.