Rev. J. R. Mackay having called Rev. Neil Cameron to occupy, meanwhile, the Moderator’s Chair, gave in, on behalf of Mr. Beaton and himself, the yearly Theological Report. He explained that during the past winter session we had three students studying Theology, viz., Mr. Andrew Sutherland, a student of the first year in theology, who studied New Testament Greek and Church History at Wick, and Messrs. Donald MacLeod and Murdo Morrison, students of the third, that is, the last, year of our Theological Course, who studied Old Testament Hebrew and Systematic Theology at Inverness. Mr. Beaton had reported as follows:—
Report of work done during Session 1907-8 in the Classes of Biblical Criticism and Church History.
In the Biblical Criticism Class we read the Gospel according to Matthew, translating the same, and noting any points of linguistic or grammatical interest. In the exegetical part of our work the Epistle to the Hebrews was read, and lectures were given on the authorship, date, and destination of the Epistle. As a preparatory study to this great Epistle, works dealing with the typology and ritual of the Mosaic economy were recommended and read. The elaborate system through which, by types and shadows, the good things yet to come were foreshadowed, is beautifully set forth in the Epistle to the Hebrews, and its unfolding of the spiritual meaning lying behind the types gives a significance to the Mosaic economy, and a call to the serious student of the Word of God to search the Scriptures, so that they too—like the disciples on the way to Emmaus, when their understandings were opened—began to see new beauties in these Old Testament Scriptures as the Prophet, mighty in word and deed, beginning at Moses, expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things that were written concerning Himself. In the subject of Textual Criticism we read Burgon’s Traditional Text and Miller’s Guide to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament. The school represented by Dean Burgon, Scrivener, and Miller, has not yet come to its own, but there are not wanting signs that scholars are not altogether satisfied with the predominant school of Wescott and Hort. But whether the tide is turning or not, the text underlying the Revised translation of the New Testament, and which is the outcome of the principles advocated by this school, is a sufficient warning to us to steer clear of a system of textual criticism that would rob us of many passages of the New Testament Scriptures.
During the session we also devoted some attention to the geography of Palestine, more especially as having reference to New Testament times. The subject is intensely interesting, and in view of the many references in the New Testament to the towns, rivers, lakes, etc., of Palestine, it is well nigh a necessity that the student of theology should be familiar with the geography and history of the land whose fame has gone to the ends of the earth because of the mighty works that were done within its borders. In laying stress on such an equipment I am not forgetful that, after all, these matters belong to the outer court of equipment for the great office of those who are ambassadors for Christ, but still, as handmaidens in the service of the Redeemer, they may be useful to those, part of whose work it is to expound the Scriptures to their fellow-men.
In the class of Church History we read Mitchell’s History of the Westminster Assembly. The period covered by this excellent work is of the deepest importance to students of Church history, taking us back as it does to the formation of the Confession and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. In Scottish Church History we confined our attention to the period from the introduction of Christianity to the Restoration in 1660. In dealing with the subject of Church polity we read MacPherson’s Presbyterianism. We also dealt with the main outlines of procedure in Church Courts, more especially as having reference to the Deacons’ Court, Kirk-Session and Presbytery, and also with the procedure in cases of discipline. We had as our guide on this line of study Sir Henry Moncrieff’s Practice.
In conclusion, I have to report that Mr. Sutherland did his work in a highly commendable manner, showing diligent application to his studies, and taking a high percentage in the written examinations. I have also to acknowledge his kindness in ungrudgingly supplying the pulpit for me often during the session. In presenting this report to the Synod, I trust it is no mock humility on my part when I crave the prayers of my brethren in the ministry and the Lord’s people throughout our Church that He would abundantly bless us as teachers and students. The attainment of knowledge, even in theology, is apt to leave us dried and withered, unless ‘the dew’ descends from heaven.”
In regard to the work done at Inverness, Mr. Mackay reported that they took up work early in November and, with a brief break towards the end of January and the beginning of February, carried on this work until about the middle of April. They met four days a week, and generally for two and a-half hours each day. In Hebrew: To begin with, a written examination, having for its subjects the whole of Dr. Davidson’s Introductory Grammar and the Book of Ruth in Hebrew, was held. These subjects had been prescribed as summer work, and in them, he was pleased to say, our students acquitted themselves creditably. During the session the following portions of the Hebrew Bible were read:—(a) the first seven chapters of Genesis; (b) the whole of the Prophecy of Micah, consisting of seven chapters; (c) the first seven chapters of Isaiah; (d) the first seven Psalms; and (e)—in order that our students might have an introduction into the study of Aramaic—a small portion of Daniel. He would not take up the time of the Synod in indicating in detail what was attempted by way of introduction and exegesis in connection with these several portions of God’s Word. In Systematic Theology: Dogmatics in the strict sense occupied our time during this concluding session. On three days of the week he endeavoured, from his own view-point, to give a course of lectures embracing a brief but completed system of Dogmatics, save that the question of the Sacraments was so far omitted. The important subject of the Sacraments was, however, studied throughout the session, on Fridays. On that day we read Turretine’s De Sacramentis. He considered it a very important part of the theological equipment of our students that they were at this stage led to make the acquaintance of Turretine at first hand. As a rule, examinations were held on the work done in Old Testament Hebrew as the several portions of the Hebrew Bible, referred to already, were gone through. Two examinations were held in Systematic Theology. In all these papers a high percentage was gained. Messrs. MacLeod and Morrison were, for diligence and obedience, all that could be wished.
Mr. Mackay afterwards read the following report of the Committee appointed by the three Presbyteries of this Church to examine Divinity Students, viz., Rev. Neil Cameron, Rev. Alex. Macrae, and Rev. Donald Beaton (Convener):—
The Committee appointed the following Examiners for the different Subjects: I.—EXAMINERS: Hebrew—Rev. A. Macrae; Theology—Rev. N. MacIntyre; Church History—Rev. N. Cameron; New Testament Greek—Rev. Jas. S. Sinclair. II.—SUBJECTS: (1) Hebrew—Book of Micah, Translation and Exegesis, also Questions on Grammar; (2) Theology—Hodge’s Outlines, Anthropology, and Turretine’s Caption De Sacramentis; (3) Church History—Mitchell’s Westminster Assembly and Hetherington’s Church History of Scotland, vol. I; (4) New Testament Greek—Epistle to the Hebrews, Exegesis, Questions on Introduction, etc.; Miller’s Guide to Textual Criticism of New Testament.
Mr. Andrew Sutherland sat for his first Theological Examination in the subjects of Church History and New Testament Greëk. In the former he obtained 70 and 71, and in the latter, 77 per cent.
Rev. J. S. Sinclair moved that the Synod receive the Reports of the Theological Classes tendered by Mr. Mackay, and express their sincere thanks to the Revs. J. R. Mackay and D. Beaton for their efficient services as tutors. He remarked that considering the qualifications of their theological teachers, they did not need to envy any College in Scotland. Rev. Neil Cameron, in seconding the motion, said that it was a very great matter that they had every confidence that their students were being taught sound doctrine and sound principles in accordance with God’s Word, when there was so much error being disseminated in the present day. The motion was very cordially adopted.
The next subject on the paper was the “London Mission,” and the Rev. Neil Cameron gave some account of the recent beginning of this Mission and of the encouraging attendances that were given when he visited London at the end of March, so that he felt encouraged to intimate that there would be regular services. The Mission was attended by a number of young people from the Highlands. There were good attendances when the Rev. Mr. Macqueen visited it at the end of April, and the latest reports from the members of Committee and students officiating there bore that the attendance was well maintained. The supply had been up till now regulated by members of the Southern Presbytery, and it lay with the Synod to say whether they approved of what had been done. Rev. D. Macfarlane moved that the Synod approve of the steps that had been taken in connection with the London Mission, and that the matter of supply be left to the care of the Southern Presbytery. He expressed his earnest wishes that the Mission might go on and prosper. The clerk stated that the services were attended by young people of various denominations besides their own. The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Rev. Neil Cameron also gave a brief report of what had recently been accomplished in connection with the Canadian Mission. The Committee had arranged with Mr. Donald Macleod, Divinity Student, to go out for a year as an ordained missionary, and on the first day of June Mr. Macleod was licensed to preach, and ordained to the office of the ministry at Glasgow by the Southern Presbytery. He left Scotland on the 6th June, and arrived safely at his destination, where he was now engaged in work. Letters that have been received from him report encouraging attendances at the services.
The next head was “Remits from Presbyteries.” There were three from the Western Presbytery. The first taken up was in reference to Mr. Donald M’Leod, Broadford, who has been conducting services there for a considerable time, and it was agreed, on the motion of Rev. D. Mackenzie, to pay Mr. Macleod meantime £2, and to fix his salary at £5 per annum. The second was in regard to Mr. James Macleod, Jun., Raasay, and it was agreed to approve of Mr. Macleod’s appointment as a missionary, and to fix his salary at £7 per quarter. The third remit referred to Mr. Alexander M’Lennan, missionary, Rona, who desired, on account of failing health and the heaviness of his work, a change of sphere to the mainland. This was spoken to by the Rev. Neil Cameron, and it was decided to allow the Western Presbytery to keep the matter in view, and to make any necessary arrangements in view of their seeing a suitable opening for Mr. M’Lennan elsewhere.
A remit from the Northern Presbytery requested to know whether it was competent for congregations who had a moderator and session, though they were not regularly sanctioned charges, to send a representative elder to Presbytery and Synod. The Synod ruled that it was competent and that it had been allowed hitherto.
Under “Any Competent Business,” it was agreed that Mr. Murdo Mackay, Strathy Point, who was doing constant work as a missionary, should be appointed as a regular missionary of the Church, and that he should receive a fixed salary. It was decided to forward a protest, in the name of the Synod, as already had been done by the Northern and Southern Presbyteries in their own name, against the attendance of the King and Queen, and other high personages, at Mass in a Roman Catholic Chapel in London at the time of the deaths of the King and Crown Prince of Portugal. Another public matter pertaining to Royalty that the Synod thought should be taken notice of was the King’s practice of Sabbath desecration, and the Rev. D. M’Kenzie moved, and the Rev. D. Graham seconded, that the Moderator (Rev. J. R. Mackay) and Revs. Neil Cameron and J. S. Sinclair should be appointed to draw up a suitable Protest to be sent to the King.
The Clerk read a communication he had received from the Clerk to the Glasgow University General Council on the subject of the Universities and Theological Colleges, enclosing the Report of a Committee which recommends that all the Churches should unite in having one Faculty of Theology at the University, and that the Professors of this Faculty “should not, on their appointment, be subjected to tests, whether doctrinal or ecclesiastical,” He said that at present Theological Professors at the University were Established churchmen, who must sign the Confession of Faith and Formula, but that the new proposal would do away with these tests, and that Unitarians would be equally eligible with Presbyterians for teaching divinity. Rev. D. Macfarlane moved that the same Committee as was appointed on the previous matter anent the King be instructed to draw up a Protest against this proposal in regard to the teaching of theology at the University. The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Rev. D. Mackenzie moved that a Day of Humiliation and Prayer for the moral and religious condition of the country be held at a comparatively early date. The motion was seconded by Mr. F. M’Donald, and it was unanimously agreed that Thursday, the eighth day of October, 1908, be held for the purpose.
The Moderator called attention to the spiritual necessities of our summer fishing people on the Aberdeenshire coast, and it was agreed to leave the matter with the Northern Presbytery to see if anyone could be sent to attend to their interests.
The Synod adjourned, to meet again (God willing) in Glasgow, on Tuesday after the second Sabbath of November, at eleven in the forenoon.
The meeting was closed with singing the last three verses of the seventy-second Psalm, and prayer.