FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19375, 10 January 1925, Page 7

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LSTTEE TO OVERSEAS SCOTS. Written forth* Otego Dally Tisemv. Br Roans? S. Azratrau BDCtfBDIIGTr, November 28. Fnv* an our Cay a and full of woe, according to the Praimlst, Hut If ym are to believe Captain Walter BUlotL who as a doctor and Under-Secretary for Scottish Health ought to know, they are becoming appreciably less few. Tha baby born today has a prospect of 10 or IB years more of life than Ms grandfather had. On the other hand, the clergymen of all denominations have been lifting up tbclr voices to assure ns that w« ore going from bad to vorue, and axe likely to become worse still. 'Jhp Toting ilcn'S Guild of the Church of Scotland met In annual candiure at Aberdeen, have been deploring in a rather self-righteous tone, the shortcomings of their own generation, but It Is noteworthy that they have declined co-operation with other organisations ct the snsao sort such as the TALC-A. tCho Scottish Church Society, which consists of ministers of n ritualistic bent, has been spools* In the enrao key, and at tha same time declining to countenance any modification of Hie Westminster ■ Confession of Faith, white admitting that it contains much that Is repugnant to the modern mind. It does not Deem to occur to them that compulsory subscription to that document may have something to do with tho fact that in the last 20 years tho number of mon entering the ministry has declined by more than half, with the result that supply Is far short of demand. MOEH HOPETCTi VUSWfI. Dr Inch, the Moderator of tbs United Free Church, however, does not share those gloomy estimates. Speaking at the formation of on Edinburgh Evangelistic Union, which Is to engago in aggressive mission work by a joint effort on tho part of all tho churches, ho expressed the view that tho tldo of religious enthusiasm which has been on tho ebb for some years Is now about to turn, and that there are etgus of reviving Interest among tho younger men. That thought may have been suggested to Mm by tha fact that he had on tha platform with him Mr Eric S. Liddell, the Olympic runner and international football player, who, now that he has completed his university career, has boon speaking nt a series of evangelistic meetings. .Uo Is not yet ns brilliant on the platform as on tbo track, but those who have hoard him have been charmed by his modesty and sincerity. Wo have also had cheering words from Hr .Q. K. Chesterton, who has been speaking this week to tbo Edinburgh students, and cosurlng them In his rollicking way that tho world is getting better and not worse. XOUNQ MODERATORS. On looking up tho reference books 1 find that my melancholy reflections last week on the flight of time induced by tho nomination of Drs White and Harvey to tho modor-atonal chair* of the General Assemblies wore perhaps a little exaggerated. These two gonUomou are still in tho early fifths*. mmT they will bo tiie youngest occupants of their offices within recent memory. _ They will also bo among tho best looking. , Tho two have this further link in common, that they began their ministerial careers in tho Dam. barton Presbytery of their respective Churches. BANFF’S PARISH MINISTER. There i* an antidote to the posaimsha to which I alluded oarlior in tho sermon which the Rev, Ur W. S. Bruco preached in laying down his office as parish minister of Banfa after over SI years’ service. 1J« is almost the last survivor of those who were nominated by by patrons boforo tho days of popular election—in his case tho late Eon of Sou.fi eld. Ur Bruce has always kept pace with tho times, and lus hearers could expect from him a progressive theology illuminated by knowledge of science and literature. Uuring his pastorate Dr Bruco married 1007 couples, and in only two cases had marriage bean a failure. His baptisms numbered 1665, and tho communicants admitted 2600. Another well-known parish minister who has resigned i* Dr King Howison, of Rothesay, lie, too, was in a statistical vein in acknowledging a municipal presentation. He reckons that be has preached 2000 sermons, paid 60,000 visits, written 60,000 letters, and printed seven volumes of his works, u-ith throe more still to come. JUDICIAL REFORM. Mr Hugh Macmillan, who until tho other day combined meimbcrsbip °f a Socialist Government cud tho (tarlton Club, to tho complete satisfaction of both, has been unburdening his mind to an Aberdeen audience about a matter on which ho fools stronglv—tho need for reforming our judicial system. The disquieting decrease in tho amount of business which now comes before the Court of Session he attributes to tho fact that it is working under a code which has not been revised for 60 yearn. Justice is slow and expensive, and commercial moo, rather than incur tbo -delay and uncertainty, prefer to settle their differences themsolvog or through an arbitrator. Tho result is that the _ staff Of judges is too large for the work it has to do and the members of tho bar cannot find enough briefs to provide a living. Tho latter conditions affords a strong incentive for reform, and if Mr Macmillan, now that ho has -withdrawn from his Scottish practice and ha® no personal interest, places himself at the head of the movement, ho will not lack support. THE DUNDEE BY-ELECTION. At one time, I believe, tho Unionists and tho Liberals in Dundee were disposed to allow Mr Tom Johnston, tho Socialist, a walk-over, rather than undertake another strenuous contest. That idea having boon vetoed from headquarters, tho two parties have gone to the opposite extreme o-nd nominated a candidate each—Mir F. W. Wallace fot tho Unionists and Mr K. D. Simon, of Manchester, for the Liberals. That is equivalent to making tho Socialist a present of the seat. It would hav Q been more sensible if they had agreed on some moderate, like Sir Charlcg Barrio, who is a local man and keen to return to the House of Commons. PROSPEROUS FISHERMEN. The herring fleet has returned from Yarmouth to (ha north-east coast at tho close of the most successful season on record. Tho 200 craft from tho Buckie district earned about £350,000, tho drifters averaging £1250 each, and the motor boats £BSO. One drifter had £?400 for eight _ weeks’ work. Tiro Peterhead drifters, 107 in number, took about £.160,000, one vessel having £2700. Even allowing for tbo increase in ■working expenses, these figures represent handsome earnings, and the herring industry, which lias been bard hit during tho last few years, haa been rescued from threatened bankruptcy. The revival of tho export trade to tho Continent has meant a good season for tho curors, ond also for tha hundreds of girls who go from the western islands to do tho packing. This will be a more cheerful winter for tho north-east coast. MR D. M. M. MILLIGAN’S DEATH. I strongly suspect that the death of Mr D. M. M. Milligan, tho loader of tho legal profession in Aberdeen, was hastened by the financial a-nxicties in which ho was involved during tho last few years. Ho was a director of a London insurance company which came to grief through tho crimes of Bevan, who was sent to penal servitude, and ho was one of tho defendants in a civil law -suit which followed, 'that Mr Milligan deserved any persona! blame was never suspected or suggested. On tho contrary, tho exposure of tho fraud was duo mainly to his firm and prompt action the moment ho had reason to believe that things wore going wrong. But even innocent association with a concern which involved many persona in. serious loss was a blow to a man of his high standard of honour. Ho was concerned with tho management of many largo estates in tho north-east of Scotland, and engaged in many important litigations. His leisure was devoted to philanthropic institutions, notably tho Sick Childrens’ Hospital, of which ho was secretary and treasurer for 30 years. His elder brother, like his father before him, is a divinity professor, and his other brothers occupy distinguished places in the Church, law, and medicine. GLASGOW COUNTRY HOUSE CLUB. Tho country house club, which is a familiar and successful institution on the other side of the Atlantic, is to bo tried in Scotland. A syndicate of Glasgow men has bought tho mansion house of Garnkirk from Sir Alexander Sproft, and proposes to form a golf course, tennis courts, etc. Tho place has the doubtful advantage of being within six miles of tho centre of the city, but that means that it is disagreeably near the coal and iron districts._ Tho_ well-to-do Glasgow man prefers, in his leisure moments, to got away from tho srnoko and tho smell which mean money, and to seek tho fresh air of tho lower reaches ot tho Firth of Clyde. As a rule ho has o house of his own there, and ho will require strong attractions to make him turn his face eastwards. If he wants golf ho can. got it to perfection on. tho Ayrshire*

I am doubtful, therefore, whedheo* thsMsnte*prize will bo a oommerotal nteoeeb DUNDEE'S WHITE SLEPHAMtR Belmont Castle, formerly tho fcaaMene# of Sir Henry CamphsU-Bannonnan, we* parehaaod by th« late Sir James Cried, and mx his dwrih pros on ted by his irfstar to tho Corporation of Dundee. That body, fog tho last fire years, has been upending £IOOO annually on Its, upkeep, while trying to make np its mind - ' what to do with it, To tern it into a, holiday homo would entail the raising of £25,000 by Way of endowment, and a project of converting tbo ground# hfto « golf course has boon abandoned aa too expensive, and Dot attractive enough to a ,community which has tho seaside link# within easier roach for that game. The corporation has now floaiAoi to attempt to let tha house and grounds, Tha mansion 1* beontffiilly situated in ■ tbo valley of Strathmore, ethont equally distent from Dundee, Perth, and Forfar, bat except to * wealthy man it Is of little use. SCOTTISH OSVtCS OFFICIAL RffiTTREa, PnbEo man fn tho way of visiting Deo* don on official borineea will bo soepv to hear that they will uo longer fas welcomed at tho entrance to the Scottish ( Office by the burly fin-ore end genial smut of Jot James W. Ugjj, tho principal attendant there. Ho hoe retired under tho agalumt, He is a Banffshire man, and was formerly in tho service cl the Dnko of Gordon, the first Scottish SoOTotery. Mr Ogg has served under every holder of tho office since, and wore ho not a model af dieoration ho could toll some Interesting stories of his various chiefs, most of thorn, by the way, still enrriring. He has a rare memory for faces, and » shrewd instinct which enables him to distinguish between the pallor with logliunato business and the fussy person who merely want# to Waste official time, ■ THE CmmCH AND BIRTH CONTROL. TO TUB ESBOX. Bib* —The letters appearing in your hwno of Wednesday momiritf on th© aboro subject are altogether mirioiding and contrary to tho true facto of tho case. _ ‘ Eeclceia” asks what tho Ghuroh is to do in regard to the evil of too largo families. Seeing the lack of achievement attending the Church's 2000 years of effort to solve social problems one "would th»nk our churchmen would welcome a new raggestion, bat no; unceasing hostility except in isolated cases, has boon tho Oh inch’s attitude in the matter of birth control. Tho Church's opportunities fox directing social Improvement ore not limited by any nmns, exactly tho rovorso being the case, ond jt is not unusual to road of this or tliat prominent churchman commenting on the wide (i) influence of fbo Church on social matters. On tho other hand, if tho contention of this writer wore correct regarding the Churches having only an hour or «o a week to get in touch with the people, one is loft wondering what it does the rest of tho timo. “Eccicsia” says the Gospel of Christ is sufficient to remedy these social evils, “if received.” That is just tho trouble, and indication# do _ not point to a very bright future in thi* respect. Certainly tboso who ‘‘recurved* 1 the message wore and ore few to number compared to those whom it does not affect, 'then, again, in what way will the Gospel of Christ when received put bread in the mouths and clothes on the backs of a large family? As one writer lias put it forcibly, but truly, “It is o hard thing for a men with a largo family to be left to tho mercy of the Almighty God.” I would also correct your correspondent where ho speaks of the tasks assigned to tho Church by the critics. Tlie tusks were undertaken by tbo Church itself, not assigned by anyone, and es facts stand to-day we find ample room for caustic comment in tbo abject failure of tho Church to accomplish its object, excuses for which its supporters are vainly endeavouring to make convincing. 11 ore over, critics do not offer caustic criticism without offers of help. After repeated attempts to interest tho Oh arch in the groat birth control movement and ns many refusals from it to associate itself with such an “immoral” movement, those favouring it have been compelled to proceed alone. It is the shortsighted, bigoted attitude of tho Church in attacking inis movement whenever opportunity offers which calls forth the caustic comment spoken of by your correspondent Tbo second correspondent, “Citizen,” say# birth control is ‘‘unnatural and therefore harmful.” This is quaint reasoning, because &9 per cant, oi tbo things wo eat ond the conditions we live under to-day axe “unnatural.” but they ore certainly not harmful on that account The “infinite barm to (ho mothers” is pure nonsense and cannot ,bo proven. Now Zealand may be, and probably is capable of holding 20 or 30 millions (providing other countries have not followed our example and populated, because with such a population wo should then bo forced to import foodstuffs as Great Britain does now). Birth control does not mean a diminishing population or even a stationary one, only a much less rapid increase, and-cer-tainly would spell anything but ruin for the country were it officially sanctioned and encouraged. From an extensive knowledge of (ho difficulties attending tho raising of Targe families today, and after making a. close study of tho results of birth control in those countries where it has been tried, I have no hesitation in saying that the intelligent limitation of offspring is tho best method of irnproring our race and of solving the many problems—moral, hygieniq, and economic—which afflict us to-day.—l am, etc,, E. W. F. OTAGO A. AND P. SHOW. TO THK EDITOB. See, —As Mr Robertson only goto farther away from the point at issue—namely, the merits or otherwise of two competing Friesian heifers at tho Otago A. and P. Show, I see no use in prolonging tibia correspondence. As to his desire for information re owners leading their own stock into the show ring, lot mo refer him. to tho secretary of the Otago A. and P. Society.—l am etc., Thos. M'Mix.e.am. Green Island Bush, January 7.