THEY have already banned drinking, public transport and housework on a Sunday, and now Hallowe’en has fallen foul of the Wee Frees.

Members of the Free Church of Scotland have been told they should not allow their children to go out guising this year because Hallowe’en falls on the Sabbath. If they insist on dressing up as goblins and ghouls to visit friends and neighbours, they should do so next Saturday — a day early.

It is the first time the Free Church has publicly expressed an opinion on Sunday guising, prompted by moves in America, where two cities in the “Bible belt” have officially moved Hallowe’en forward.

“Sunday is kept for the worship of God and being with your family,” said the Rev Alex MacDonald, moderator designate of the 2005 general assembly.

“We have never expressed any kind of official view on Hallowe’en, but we would be very concerned about any kind of serious witchcraft, and certainly that seems to exist, although it has a low profile.

“Of course, there is no great harm in children guising, but we would rather not see it on a Sunday, and we would not be encouraging children to participate.”

It appears Hallowe’en could be one issue which unites three rival factions within the Free Church movement in Scotland.

There are the Free Presbyterians, nicknamed the Wee Wee Frees, who oppose all Sunday work, as do the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). Both split from the marginally less strict Free Church, also known as the Wee Frees. The strictest churchmen also disapprove of watching television, reading novels or hanging out washing on the Sabbath.

The Humanist Society of Scotland accused the church of using religious dogma to spoil innocent fun.

“How do they think these things up?” said Ivan Middleton, the society’s secretary. “They must be very sad people.

“Life is for enjoyment, and this is part of our cultural heritage. There is no reason why children should not be able to go out guising, no matter what day of the week it is.

“Maybe this could lead to another split. There could be the Free Church and the Halowe’en-Free Church.”

However, MacDonald, 55, minister of Buccleuch and Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh, believes the original Free Church is showing signs of modernisation.

The married father of three added: “Generally speaking, members of the Free Church are not as strict about certain things as they were in the past.

“Of course they still view Sunday as a different day, a day, as Jesus said, on which to do good, such as visiting people in hospital, but there may have been a slight movement in terms of not laying down rules and regulations.

“Now the emphasis is more on the positives — you worship God, you spend time with your family and do good by visiting people who may need help.”

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