THE Schaff-Herzog Encyclopaedia contains the following notice from the pen of the Rev. D. Beaton, Wick:—
Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.—In 1892 a Declaratory Act was passed by the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. Strong opposition had been offered to this measure by the constitutionalist party, and hopes were entertained that this dissatisfaction would lead to its repeal. But these hopes were doomed to disappointment. At the following Assembly (1893) a protest was entered against the Act. This action was a virtual denial of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, and the result was that two ministers were deprived of their churches and manses. These were subsequently joined by a number of students who were dissatisfied with the advanced teaching from the professorial chairs of the Free Church. In August, 1893, Donald MacFarlane and Donald Macdonald, ministers, with Alexander MacFarlane, elder, met at Portree, Isle of Skye, and constituted themselves a Presbytery under the name of the Free Church Presbytery of Scotland. (“Free Church” was afterwards abandoned for “Free Presbyterian,” to avoid legal complications.) At this meeting a Deed of Separation was drawn up, with reasons. These were that the Free Church (1) had passed resolutions having as their object the abandonment of the national recognition of religion; (2) it had sanctioned the use of uninspired hymns and instrumental music in divine worship; (3) it tolerated office-bearers who did not hold the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith, especially in regard to the entire perfection of Holy Scripture; (4) by passing the Declaratory Act of 1892 it destroyed the integrity of the Confession, as understood by the Disruption fathers; and (5) the majority of her office-bearers had become Voluntaries. While renouncing the jurisdiction of the Free Church of 1893, the signatories solemnly promised to abide by the Constitution and Standards of the Free Church as settled in 1843. Briefly stated, it may be said that the Free Presbyterian Church stands for the doctrine of the infallibility of Holy Scripture, the national recognition of religion, purity of worship (the exclusive use of the Psalms without the aid of instrumental music), and, generally speaking, for the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith. The Church’s office-bearers subscribe to the Free Church documents of 1843 and the Deed of Separation referred to above. There are three Presbyteries; the Supreme Court being the Synod, which meets twice a year—in July in Inverness and in November in Glasgow. The congregations and preaching stations number seventy. These are supplied by thirteen ordained ministers, with the help of students and lay missionaries and catechists. The Church’s sphere of labour is confined chiefly to the Highlands, though there are congregations in Edinburgh, Glasgow (two), and London. There is a Colonial Mission in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada, with an ordained missionary; and a Foreign Mission station near Bembesi, Matebeleland, presided over by an ordained native missionary. The students of the Church are expected to undergo a four-years’ university course and a four-years’ theological course. The Rev. John R. Mackay, M.A., Inverness, and the Rev. D. Beaton, Wick, act as theological tutors. The ministry are entirely dependent upon the voluntary contributions of the people for support; the ministerial salary being £140 ($700) per annum.