MARGARET Thatcher's address to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1988, derisively dubbed "The Sermon on the Mound", is being recalled.
In "Moderator: Thatcher's 'sermon' not possible today" (The Herald, May 18), it is stated that her speech caused "controversy among some over its theological justification for capitalism and the market economy", and it is the case that much adverse comment followed, including interpretations that were not supported by the facts. Myths and inaccurate accounts have circulated. Her story that the Good Samaritan was able to help because he had money, and her statement "There is no such thing as society" have been claimed were uttered at the Mound, but these assertions are false. Both were said elsewhere.
I reported the address for this newspaper and still have my notes taken as she spoke. I thought at the time it was not what one expected from a Prime Minister, who would normally have spoken on current matters and indicated policy. Mrs Thatcher's speech was more of a personal statement. She told how she regarded her faith as a Christian and discussed her belief in the relevance of Christianity to public policy. The text, which was issued afterwards, was not well-constructed or skilfully put together. It did not have a passage that could be quoted as representing the theme, and would be "the story". The subject, if any, was personal responsibility. The quotation used by some media outlets was: "It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong but love of money for its own sake."
Despite the surrounding political tension and distaste in Scotland for the Government's economic policies, the Assembly gave Mrs Thatcher a respectful hearing. A few ministers objected when she was invited to speak, but only six had their dissent recorded in the minutes. The Moderator, Professor James Whyte, handed Mrs Thatcher church reports on poverty, housing, and a fair social benefit system. It was expected that her address would produce reaction in debates later that week, but nothing materialised then. Nine months passed before Prof Whyte criticised Mrs Thatcher and her Government in a speech to a presbytery in February 1989.
Mrs Thatcher's visit to the Assembly and her attendance at the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden are mentioned by Ian W Thomson (Letters, May 18) as misguided efforts to enhance her popularity. I would say that she would have been wiser to have avoided both events. But when she was in the Lord High Commissioner's party and had made known her desire to speak, the Assembly organisers could hardly have acted otherwise.
Christopher Reekie,
12 Orchard Drive, Edinburgh.
YOUR report on the Church of Scotland ("Kirk risks disappearing in 30 years", The Herald, May 21) confirms a 20 per cent loss of membership in the last six years. Coupled with the fact that there does not appear to be many new entrants this will inevitably result in congregational closures long before the guesstimated date of 2048.
Whilst noting a 10-year rescue plan is being mooted I would suggest that a much smaller time scale of perhaps four or five years is adopted, otherwise many congregations will be bereft of office bearers far less attendees in 10 years time.
I am confident that the Church of Scotland will still be operating in 30 years and more, but only if the reality of its present fragile state is addressed and changes implemented without further delay.
Allan C Steele,
22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.
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