Church Information

MEETINGS OF PRESBYTERY (D.V.)
NORTHERN: At Dingwall on Tuesday, 23rd February, 1999, at 2.00 pm.
SOUTHERN: At Glasgow on Tuesday, 17th November at 3pm.
WESTERN: At Laide, on Tuesday, 9th February, 1999, at 6.00 pm.
SKYE: At Portree on Tuesday, 2nd February, 1999, at 11.00 am.
OUTER ISLES: At Stornoway on Tuesday, 8th December, at 1.00 pm.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: At Auckland on Friday, 29th January 1999, at 2.30 pm.
ZIMBABWE: At Bulawayo on Tuesday, 9th March 1999, at 11.00 am.

INDUCTION OF THE REV. HUGH M. CARTWRIGHT, M.A.
THE Southern Presbytery met at the Free Presbyterian Church, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, on the evening of Friday 2 October, 1998, for the purpose of inducting the Rev. Hugh M. Cartwright to the pastoral charge of the Edinburgh congregation. The charge had been vacant since the death of the late Rev. D. B. MacLeod in January 1995. The Call was unanimous, and the large representative gathering of Church people from different places expressed the widespread support of the evening's proceedings. The Presbytery was pleased to have associated with it five ministers from outside its bounds: Revs. D. M. Boyd, G. G. Hutton, N. M. Ross, J. R. Tallach and B. Whear.

The Moderator, Rev. D. MacLean, conducted public worship, preaching from Ephesians 3:8, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." It was shown how the saints of God are set apart by divine grace in the electing love of the Father, the redeeming love of the Son, and the regenerating love of the Holy Spirit. Mr MacLean then went on to mention how Paul had been given special ministerial grace in order to be a preacher. Finally, it was said that the riches of Christ are so great that they can never be searched out. In particular, we were directed to the unsearchable riches of Christ's Person and His mediatorial offices as Prophet, Priest and King.

Public worship being ended, the Clerk pro tem read a brief narrative of the steps taken that led to the Call. The Moderator then addressed to Mr Cartwright the questions appointed to be put to ministers on their induction to a pastoral charge, and he having returned satisfactory answers to the same, proceeded to sign the Formula in the presence of the congregation. After solemn prayer to God, the Moderator, in the name of the Presbytery, then formally inducted Mr Cartwright as minister to the pastoral charge of the Edinburgh congregation, and gave him the right hand of fellowship. The brethren of the Presbytery welcomed him in like manner.

Thereafter Mr Cartwright was suitably addressed by the Moderator from the words in 1 Timothy 4:15,16, "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself, and them that hear thee." The congregation was exhorted by the Clerk pro tem, who spoke on 2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

The Moderator read letters of good wishes from Revs. F. MacDonald, D. A. Ross, D. J. MacDonald and J. Van Dorp, the latter on behalf of the Australia and New Zealand Presbytery. Also conveyed were the good wishes of Rev. A. McPherson, the Clerk of the Presbytery, who was unable to attend because of illness. Thereafter the Clerks of the Northern and Skye Presbyteries, Revs. D. M. Boyd and J. R. Tallach, spoke in suitable terms. On being presented with gifts from the Edinburgh congregation, both Revs. H. Cartwright and D. MacLean (as the Interim Moderator during the vacancy) spoke a few words of thanks. After the singing of the final Psalm and the benediction, the whole congregation were given the opportunity to shake hands with Mr Cartwright at the door of the church. A large number then proceeded to a local hall where refreshments had been kindly arranged by the Edinburgh congregation.

The occasion was an encouragement to all, and the Lord's presence has been interpreted by many as a token for good concerning the ministry that has now begun in Scotland's capital city. The Southern Presbytery is delighted to have Mr Cartwright among them, and looks to the Head of the Church to richly bless his labours in Edinburgh and throughout the denomination.
Keith Watkins, Clerk pro tem of the Southern Presbytery

MINISTERIAL ANNIVERSARY - REV. J. VAN DORP, NEW ZEALAND
ON Friday evening, 28 August, the people of the Gisborne congregation and other friends gathered to remember the goodness of the Lord in sparing to them in the ministry for 25 years the Rev. Johannes van Dorp.

Mr and Mrs van Dorp were welcomed to the gathering by Mr Peter Vermeulen, one of the elders, who mentioned the lovingkindness of the Lord in keeping Mr van Dorp, giving him recovery from two heart attacks, and enabling him to care not only for the Gisborne congregation but also to supply the Auckland and Wellington congregations from time to time.

After singing Psalm 134 and prayer, Mr and Mrs van Dorp were presented with gifts on behalf of the congregation by Mr Ken MacPherson, elder, Mrs Molly van Dorp, and Mrs Colleen Vermeulen. The company then partook of a sumptuous meal provided by the ladies of the congregation.

Afterward, Mr Jacob Geuze, another elder, addressed Mr and Mrs van Dorp, and Mr van Dorp replied on behalf of his wife and himself. He acknowledged the goodness of God to them, thanked the congregation for their kindness, spoke of his call to the ministry and his induction to the pastorate, and recalled some memories of the late Rev William MacLean, Grafton, who was the previous minister of Gisborne, and the late Rev Donald Malcolm MacLeod, Auckland.

Mr van Dorp was ordained and inducted in August 1973 by the newly formed Presbytery of Australia and New Zealand, at its second meeting, Mr MacLean being the Moderator, and Mr MacLeod the Clerk.

The occasion was concluded with family worship, conducted by Mr van Dorp.
- D. Vermeulen

THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE - Preliminary Notice
The annual Theological Conference will be held in St. Jude's Free Presbyterian Church, Glasgow, on Tuesday, 1st and Wednesday, 2nd December, D.V. The following papers will be read:
1. Princeton Theology The Scottish Connection
Rev. J. MacLeod, Stornoway
2. A Reformed Exposition of the Book of Revelation
Rev. D. M. Boyd, Inverness
3. The Place of the Sacraments in Worship
Rev. K. Watkins, London
4. Stevenson on "The Offices of Christ"
Rev. J. R. Tallach, Raasay
5. The Puritans on Prayer
Rev. R. MacLeod, North Harris
The last named paper will be read on Wednesday evening in public, at 7 pm. Would each minister please ascertain the approximate number in his congregation, and in any congregation of which he is interim moderator, of those who wish to attend, and send these to Dr D. R. MacSween, Clerk of the Training of the Ministry Committee, 28 Borden Road, Glasgow, G12 1QX, as soon as possible, to facilitate the arranging of catering. It is planned to provide tea on Tuesday evening, and lunch and tea on Wednesday.
Rev. D. J. MacDonald, Convener Training of the Ministry Committee

PUBLICATIONS FUND
THE Special Collection, on behalf of the Publications Fund was formerly, taken during the month of November, but, as was intimated in the August edition of The Free Presbyterian Magazine, the Synod decided that this collection would be discontinued for the time being. Accordingly, no Publications Fund Collection will be made this month but the Fund remains open to receive contributions and to meet the cost of publishing sound reformed titles as occasion arises.
R. A. Campbell, General Treasurer

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