Continued Violence in Ulster
Recently there have been fresh outbreaks of violence and murder in Northern Ireland. The bullet and the bomb have destroyed many innocent lives, bringing sorrow and grief to many hearts and homes. In one instance a terrorist was killed when the bomb he was planting in order to destroy others, went off prematurely. Yet he was buried by the IRA as if he were a great hero who gave his life in a noble cause. Such is the perversity of man. The IRA outrages provoked a backlash from the other side in which more lives were sacrificed. As always, following these outbreaks, the cry goes up as to where it is all to end.
The question which ought to be faced first is, where did it all begin? Over the years there has been a terrible toll of violence and bloodshed. But how did it all come about? The right of the Protestant people of Northern Ireland to retain their independence of Dublin and to continue as an integral part of Britain has never been accepted by Eire. Articles 2 and 3 of the Eire Constitution and the refusal of the Eire Government to change them makes this clear. The problem our Government has to face is not a Northern Ireland problem but it is the problem of Eire. There will be no peace in Northern Ireland while Eire continues to maintain her claim to the whole of Ireland. It should be clear to politicians and everyone else that there will be no peace in Northern Ireland while the harlot of Rome reigns in Southern Ireland. The Church of Rome remains intransigent in her undying enmity to the Protestant Cause in Northern Ireland, and to the Christian principles for which Britain professed to stand. To that cause and these principles the Church of Rome is implacably opposed. Therefore, because the Protestants of Ulster are determined never to surrender to Rome rule, they will continue to suffer at the hands of the vicious IRA murderers who have been nurtured in the bosom of, what they call, “Mother Church”. Certainly the actions of the IRA are perfectly in line with the refined cruelties inflicted by the R.C. Church throughout her history.
It must be obvious then except to the wilfully blind that there is only one satisfactory solution to the situation in Ireland — that is, the conversion of the poor benighted Roman Catholics of Ireland, and their deliverance from the delusion of popery. What abject slaves of popery they have been for so long. Yet the time may not be far away when the Lord will open their eyes to see the true nature of that system to which they have been bound for many generations. If such a violent opponent and oppressor of the Church of God as Saul of Tarsus, could be arrested on the way to Damascus by a revelation of the glory of Christ from heaven, and be turned into the foremost apostle of the Gentiles, may not light — the light of the knowledge of the glory of God — break in upon the Roman Catholics of Ireland through the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, accompanied with the power of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. What a day that would be when, instead of betaking themselves to a priest who is as blind as themselves to confess their sins, they would come to the footstool of mercy and confess at the Throne of grace with brokenness of heart their sin and idolatry, and return to the pure worship of the God of heaven! For that day let us pray.
A National Lottery
Mr Peter Brook, the National Heritage Secretary, has announced with a flourish the intended opening of a National Lottery by the end of 1994 and referred to the high pay-outs that would result from it. “Millions of people”, he declared, “will undoubtedly gain great pleasure from their weekly flutter.” Such is the view of the Government Minister in charge of this project. How is it that he can call evil good? How can he reconcile his conscience to the evil of gambling? His view is that the end justifies the means. The money is to be spent on good causes. His view is that “in the coming years the National Lottery will channel hundreds of millions of pounds into good causes, enriching the quality of our communal life, and at the same time enriching those “lucky” people who will become millionaires.”
The history of gambling is very different from the glowing prospects the Heritage Secretary holds out for it in the future. Gambling has been the cause of grief and sorrow and loss to many. There are no winners in gambling. All are losers. Many have lost their lives through the sudden arrival of those ill-gotten gains, and not only their lives, but their souls as well. For many others who have gained in this illicit way, it has proved “easy come, easy go”, and soon they have landed in greater poverty than before. The Lord will not bless those riches which are wrongly acquired. “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.” Also we read that “wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” It is the Word of the Lord that will be fulfilled and not the word of the Heritage Secretary.
In 1694 State Lotteries were allowed but five years later were abolished as “common and public nuisances” and as having brought “utter ruin and impoverishment” to many families. They were later restored. In 1823 Parliament decreed the end of lotteries in Britain. Earlier, in 1808, a Select Committee of Parliament said: “The foundation of the lottery system is so radically vicious that your Committee feel convinced that under no system of regulations which can be devised will it be possible for Parliament to adopt it as an efficacious source of revenue.” It will be a sad day for Britain, and a further step down the road of moral debasement, if a State Lottery is put into operation at the end of next year. It is sad to think that, as a nation, we are doing our best to cause the Lord to withdraw Himself from our midst altogether.
Mission News
Miss Katie Macaulay is home in Breasclete, Lewis, for a short furlough and we wish her a restful and happy holiday after a strenuous term. It is her intention to be back in Zimbabwe by the end of January (D.V.) for the reopening of the John Tallach School for the new session.
Miss Jessie Coote is in Kenya and expects to spend a month there with our friends Donald and Christine Macdonald and Celia Rennes. Dr Christine has made a good recovery from her attack of malaria. We have not heard if the long-looked-for Registration of the hospital at Sengera has been granted.
An interesting letter has come from Sister Anne Zekveld at Mbuma Hospital, Zimbabwe, telling something of their daily experiences. Anne says how much they appreciate having three State Certified nurses, two male and one female.
‘They are a great help to us in the wards. They have have a two year training period. The female nurse has completed her midwifery training and is a real help in our maternity work. They are all Shona-speaking and for the present need an interpreter, but they will soon pick up Sindebele.
The hospital remains full and our T.B. block is full to overflowing. The increase in T.B. cases is really Aids-related. Patients with Aids have little resistance. Yesterday, one of our patients, a young girl of twenty was taken home by her parents before she completed her treatment. She had been with the Pentecostals for healing, and then to the witch-doctors before coming to the hospital. She has been having severe headaches. Sister Lia had a long talk with her, explaining the nature of her illness, the reason for her headaches, and especially speaking to her of her soul’s need, but the poor girl could think of nothing but her headaches, and her desire to get rid of them. Now her parents will take her back to the witch-doctors who told her that if she did not appease the spirits of her ancestors she would lose her reason. How we need the work of the Holy Spirit! There is so much spiritual darkness around us.
Our monthly meetings at Njena have continued and on the last two occasions we have met in a classroom in the local school. The classroom is now too small as over one hundred adults and children now meet with us. In September the Rev. P. Mzamo accompanied us and held a service, after which a nurse-aid and I held a mini-clinic while the people spoke to the Rev. P. Mzamo. They are very anxious to have regular services on the Lord’s Day, but as the Rev. P. Mzamo said, there are no labourers. He is to speak to the Kirk Session to see if they can arrange a Sabbath service once a month. That would at least be a start. Meantime, we shall continue with our monthly visits D.V. May the Lord Himself bless His Holy Word. May we not forget them in our prayers. What a great need there is for preachers of the Gospel.
We had a minor crisis here with our water supply a few weeks ago. The pump on the borehole was working, but very little water was coming up. A couple of the workmen went to investigate and accidentally let the whole pipeline drop down into the shaft. By this time our reserve tank was almost empty so it caused some consternation. There is very little you can do in a hospital without water. Sister Lia was off that day so we arranged that she go to the nearby community borehole with the ambulance and trailer and all suitable drums, pails and containers. Our radio telephone was not working so we could not even let David Ndlovu know of our predicament. Imagine our surprise and relief when David came driving through the gate that afternoon. He had heard the previous day of our water problem. The pipe had corroded and the water was going back into the borehole before it reached the top. By the next day we had water again. How thankful we should be to the Lord for His goodness.’ J.N.