--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Murdoch, David L. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 9 number: 10 published: 1906-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'David L. Murdoch, "Observations on Religious Conditions in Great Britain," *Improvement Era* 9, no. 10 (August 1906): 799–802.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0910unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0910unse start_page: 799 end_page: 802 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1906-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0910unse publication_year: 1906 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1906, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Observations on Religious Conditions in Great Britain OBSERVATIONS ON RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN. BY DAVID L. MURDOCH. England and Scotland are being racked by an ever-present, never-ending controversy on religious instruction in the schools. This is an inheritance of tradition which is responsible for very much of the division and strife that exist to such a marked extent in the national life. And from which such opprobious epithets as Non-conformist, Dissenter, etc., spring. The present government, not more that six months in existence, with an unparalleled majority of supporters, is already threatened with disaster on account of this vexed question. Mr. Chamberlain says he is perfectly certain that the Education Bill will not pass, and he predicts that there will be an appeal to the country, possibly next spring, when he hopes the Unionists will be returned when they could keep in view this policy of fiscal reform. There is in contemplation a visit of about five hundred practical teachers from England, Ireland, and Scotland to the United States of America and to Canada next winter, to study conditions and systems. The American solution of the religious difficulty will yet have to be adopted. Three very notable events in the religious life of Scotland have just taken place. Annually, in the month of May, a General Assembly of the Established Church of Scotland is held in Edinburgh. In the same month, at the same time of the month, and in the same city, are held General Assemblies of the United Free Church of Scotland, and the Free Church of Scotland, which latter is a small fragment of the Free Church of Scotland that refused to unite with the United Presbyterian Church, a few years ago 800 IMPROVEMENT ERA. and who are now commonly known as the "Wee frees." These assemblies are conducted very much after the order of political bodies. In fact political questions, such as the Education Bill, the question of disestablishment of the church, are equally debated and resolutions passed, etc. The continued disunion, so long existing among the churches of this land, was commented upon and greatly deplored. One speaker declared that it was a scandal and a disgrace that such should exist. The growing tendency towards the desecration of the Sabbath day was another subject that received considerable attention. Motorists, cyclists, etc., came in for severe condemnation at their hands. Professor Walker of Aberdeen referred to Edinburgh as being guilty of the most obtrusive desecration of the Sabbath day. There was a great need, he said, in Edinburgh, just now, for a prophetic voice to vindicate the honor of God, and to cover with satire the habits of the idle rich who were so worn out with doing nothing for six days, that they required recreation on the seventh day. The great indifference manifested by the people towards churches and religious affairs generally, and the positive and distinct dislike of the clergy, have been boldly declared by a large number of correspondents in the weekly Scotsman of late issue: 1. Pew rents are a serious obstacle to many. 2. Their abolishment is being advocated. 3. You cannot attend a service, but some special mission or scheme is being advocated and collection urged. 4. The churches do not welcome the poor, but are more reserved for the rich, respectable and well dressed. 5. There ia a constant demand for revision and simplification of the creeds. The Westminster Confession of Faith is now considered archaic. 6. To constantly attend the churches, seems like remaining forever at the A, B, C, of things. 7. To the overwhelming majority of church goers the Bible is a sealed book. 8. Were Christ to come back today, I fear the greater number of our clerical friends would find themselves treated as the money changers were in the temple of Jerusalem. 9. They (the ministers) cannot realize that we want no more of this vague, rhapsodical eloquence, no more of their long-winded, high-sounding, meaningless phrases. The work of the ministers is a monument of garrulous futility. 10. Again, consider the general misuse and abuse of Bible truth, as set forth in popular theology. From beginning to end of the book, its utterances are smeared over with despicable palaver into irrecognisability. 11. The church virtually teaches that the Bible is not a revelation, but an obscuration. These are a few of the observations of the correspondents. It RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN. 801 would appear that the churches are fast losing hold of the people, that a crisis is at hand, and that this church construction, erected and maintained by man's invention, is about to crumble and fall down upon his head. The first Sunday in July is sat apart by many of the churches in England and Scotland for the ministers to preach a sermon on the observance of Sunday. They say the insults offered to the Holy Day are becoming more aggravated every year. Motoring, cycling, pleasure parties, golfing, Sabbath afternoon entertainments, are at present alarming, and unblushing forms of Sabbath desecration. Continental customs and usuages, and the example of Royalty, are blamed for the woeful lack of respect now shown the Sabbath day in good old Presbyterian Scotland. The Scotch claim that very largely to their proper observance of the Sabbath day, in ages by gone, is attributed their character and honor. The tendency is to break away from all restraint and from the good old customs and manners that made the nation great. The "smart set" are receiving at the hands of Father Vaughn, in London, a severe reprimanding for their ungodliness and wickedness. The following is taken from the diary of one of that class of society: 9 a.m.—Awakened by maid—very tired—head aching as usual, instead of tea, B. and S.—brandy and soda. 10 a. m.—Breakfast in bed. No appetite. 10:30-12:30—Bath, manicurist, dressing. 1 p. m.—Lunch at "Imperial" with Lord and Captain . Husband lunching at club. 2:30 p. m.—Drive to dressmaker's. Drive to hairdresser's, buy two ' 'transformations,'' and set of ' 'Empire curls.'' Have now 45 ' 'transformations.'' 4 p. m.- Motor drive. 5 p. m.—Tea at club. Play bridge for half an hour, lose $25. 6 p. m.—Drive to 's club, where meet Mr. , arrange ascot bets. 6:30—Dress for dinner. 8:30.—Dine at Prince's with party. 10.—Opera. 11.—Reception—cards—lose more money—very cross. 1:30 a. m.—'Home. Husband not home from club. Go to bed cross. Have to be up early for race meeting. This represents her daily round of pleasure; the program only varied by rushes to the continent or differences of pastime, according to the season. While preaching on the streets of Edinburgh, 802 IMPROVEMENT ERA. one Tuesday evening not long ago, one of the local brethren remarked to one of the elders: ''This people don't want the gospel, it's an earthquake they need." 103 Easter Koad, Edinburgh. THE