J. P. Struthers (1851-1915) and pastor of Greenock RP Church, was one of the most famous ministers in Scotland. He’s best known for his children’s magazine, ‘The Morning Watch’, which had a monthly circulation of 11,000, with another 2,000 annual volumes printed at the end of each year!
A regular feature in the magazine was the satirical ‘Reasons for not going to church’. Struthers’ wife Annie, who illustrated The Morning Watch, explained: ‘These reasons were not just whimsical imaginings. Most of them were listened to by my husband, while friends told him of others, and he thought a little sarcastic humour might open the eyes of such “Reasoners” to see the inconsistency of their own conduct.
“Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” Prov. 26:5.
Over the next few months, we will be reproducing some of these ‘Reasons’ in a series surely as relevant today as it was a century ago!
For more info about J. P. Struthers, visit JPStruthers.com
