Major obstacles on Lord's Day

Observance Society.

A rally in Stornoway Town Hall was also told that those who flouted

God's law by providing food and drink would not prosper.

Mr Archie Hanna, Scottish secretary of the society, said that four

members of the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister, were

anti-Sabbatarians. Christians were being exploited for refusing to work

on Sundays.

The argument was that there should therefore be no legislation

covering the Lord's Day. He said that sub-cultures were now being used

to change the main culture because we now lived in a multi-faith

society.

There were moves to introduce Sunday horse racing in Scotland and a

campaign to allow off-sales to open on Sundays.

Branch chairman the Rev. Alex Murdo Macleod, of Kinloch, told the

audience of 500 that those who had caused most offence by desecrating

the Sabbath -- apart from the threatened Sunday ferry services -- were

those who provided food and drink.

Mr Donald Mackay, who retired after 25 years as secretary of the

branch, said in his report that a restaurant which had opened in

Stornoway on a Sunday caused great concern because ''a little stone can

cause an avalanche''.

He added: ''We now have Sunday bus tours on the island. The companies

have been written to but with little result. Concern for the Lord's Day

is being eroded little by little.''

The main speaker at the rally, Principal Emeritus Clement Graham, of

the Free Church College, spoke on the Lord's Day in the context of the

Gospel of Grace.

He said: ''Today we talk of package deals. No one part can be taken on

its own, it is all or nothing. We sometimes lose our focus on eternity.

However, he that can contemplate eternity with a tranquil heart need

fear nothing in time.''

* Mr Abarok Ali opened his Indian Tandoori Restaurant in Stornoway for

the second consecutive Sunday but said only a few tables had been

reserved. He said he would continue to serve food on the Sabbath, citing

demand from both islanders and tourists.