(12) Rev. E. Macqueen moved, and Mr. F. Macdonald seconded, that it be a recognised rule that all our missionaries, while serving from home, get their rooms free from the congregations in which they are supplying. The motion was agreed to.
In reference to the subject of Psalmody, Mr. Mackay expressed his regret that they had failed to get a competent person to visit congregations and to give training in Psalm-singing as they had hoped. At one time he had hoped that Mr. Alexander Mackenzie, Stornoway, would have taken up this work. This arrangement, however, fell through, and he (Mr. Mackay) was so occupied with teaching and other labours that he found it impossible to do more in the matter. At the same time he had to say that several congregations in the Church took up the matter on their own account, and he was satisfied that as a result, congregational singing had improved in several congregations throughout the Church.
At this stage, and in accordance with a resolution come to at
the meeting of the Committee on Bills and Overtures, Rev. Ewen Macqueen rose and moved that the Synod send a message of deepest sympathy to their fellow-Protestants in Ireland, in view of the Home Rule scheme presently before Parliament. Mr. Macqueen gave a summary of critical points in the situation, and showed the dangers of oppression to which Protestants in Ireland were exposed. Mr. Alexander Gray seconded the motion, which was supported by the Revs. D. Macfarlane and J. R. Mackay, and unanimously agreed to. Mr. Mackay further moved that a Committee, consisting of the Moderator and Clerk, be appointed to draw up a suitable resolution, and that copies of it be sent to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Prime Minister, Mr. Bonar Law, and Sir Edward Carson. The motion was seconded by Mr. A. Fraser, and agreed to.
The Clerk introduced the subject of the National Insurance Act, and reported what had been done by the Southern Presbytery in response to a request to join with the members of other Churches in forming what was known as the Highlands and Islands Approved Society. The Presbytery did not commit themselves to the approval of the Act; but only as desirous to help the people in the Highlands and Islands to get the most favourable advantage possible out of the Act, they had agreed to appoint two representatives to act on the Society, subject to the Synod’s approval. After some deliberation, the Synod decided that, while leaving individuals free to act as they think best in the matter, they, as a Synod, take nothing to do with the administration of the Insurance Act.
Rev. J. R. Mackay said that he had been thinking for some time that one Meeting of Synod a year, at a time when members were not so much engaged at Communions, might be sufficient, and that the travelling expenses of all members might be paid out of the Organisation Fund. He begged to move that the whole subject be remitted to the three Presbyteries to deliberate upon and to report to next Meeting of Synod. Rev. D. Macfarlane seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
The Clerk moved that the Synod adjourn to meet again (God willing) in St. Jude’s Hall, Glasgow, at eleven a.m., on the Tuesday after the second Sabbath of November. The motion was agreed to.
The meeting was closed at 11.30 p.m. with singing the last three verses of the hundred and twenty-second Psalm, and prayer.
Every Affliction a Nail.—Worldly success and human favour are apt to draw aside the mind even of a renewed person from Him, the centre of blessedness: it is wise, it is gracious on Him to drop wormwood on the nipple of earthly comfort, and thereby attach us simply to himself. Every affliction is a nail intended to crucify us to the world and hasten the death of that man of sin, that degenerate lust, which is so deeply entrenched in every human heart.—Toplady.