Communions.
Ullapool (Ross), Stratherrick (Inverness), Farr (Sutherland), and Vatten (Skye), first Sabbath of September; Strathy (Sutherland), Broadford (Skye), and Finsbay (Harris), second; Applecross (Ross), and Tarbert (Harris), third; Laide (Ross), fourth. Lochinver (Sutherland), and John Knox’s, Glasgow (Hall, 2 Carlton Place, South Side), first Sabbath of October.
Reply to the Synod’s Address to the King.
The following reply to our Synod’s Address has been received by the Rev. D. Graham, Moderator:—”Scottish Office, Whitehall, 18th August, 1911,—Sir, I am commanded by the King to thank the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in His own name and in that of Her Majesty Queen Mary, for their loyal and dutiful Address, and for their Congratulations on the occasion of the Coronation of Their Majesties.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
PENTLAND.
The Rev. Donald Graham,
Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland,
Shieldaig, Lochcarron, N.B.”
The Portree Manse.
Since the Rev. A. Macrae was settled over our congregation at Portree, a rented house has served for a manse. Neither Mr. Macrae nor his Deacon’s Court desired, meanwhile, to take any steps to buy a manse. But, about the beginning of last summer, they received notice that the house was to be sold, and that two parties desired to purchase it, at the same time assuring Mr. Macrae that it would not be sold to any other until he had a fair opportunity of purchasing. Mr. Macrae got a practical man to examine the house, and to give an estimate of its value. He also looked over the whole of the unlet houses in the village with the result that he was fully convinced that, should they lose the house, he would have to remove with his family to some other place outside his own congregation. He and the Deacon’s Court made up their mind that, in these circumstances, they were necessitated to do their utmost to secure the house as a manse for the congregation. They then sent in an offer. After some delay an agreement was come to, and the house was purchased for the congregation at £675. They have been successful by their own efforts and the help of some friends to reduce that debt to £550. The manse is a very good and substantial building, and we desire to congratulate the congregation, who have now a very suitable house for their minister and his family to dwell in. But the congregation being for the most part very poor, they will find the debt a heavy burden unless kind friends will come to their help.
Shops’ Bill.
The following resolution has been drawn up by the Synod’s Committee with reference to the Shops’ Bill, and copies have been forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary:—”The Synod would respectfully point out that they regard the present Shops’ Bill as a serious menace to the Scriptural observance of the Lord’s Day. It virtually legalises trading on the sacred day of rest, and gives the sanction of the legislature to Jews to dishonour the name of Christ by opening their shops on the day commemorative of the Resurrection, while it legalises other forms of trading that can lay no claim to be works of necessity and mercy. The ostensible reason advanced for placing this Bill on the statute-book, namely, a check to trading on the Sabbath, is rendered entirely nugatory by the terms of the Bill. This Synod would warn Parliament very seriously that, should they sanction these forms of trading on the Lord’s Day, they will bring guilt on the nation, against which this Synod enters its earnest protest.” Formal acknowledgments of receipt have been received from the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.
Acknowledgments.
The Rev. N. Cameron begs to acknowledge, with thanks, 5/ for Kaffir Psalms; 5/ for St. Jude’s Foreign Missions Collections, and 2/ for College Collection—the two last items from “W. H.” Rev. A. Macrae, Portree, acknowledges, with thanks, P.O. 5/, for Manse Building Fund, post-mark, Edinburgh.