The Moderator (Rev. John Macdonald, Rosskeen) delivered a sound address at the opening of this Assembly. He called attention to some of the causes of the Lord’s wrath at the present time—the worship of the idol of German Higher Criticism, the desecration of the Lord’s day, the apathy with respect to the maintenance of Protestantism, and the pursuit of pleasure, intemperance, and luxury.
The Assembly received a deputation from the Glasgow Town Council with regard to the Belgian refugees, when a statement was made regarding the work done by the Council in finding homes for the refugees. Speakers, in thanking the deputation for their addresses, called attention to the Protestants of Belgium and the special obligations to render them help. It was pointed out that it was from Antwerp in Belgium that William Tyndale issued his memorable translation of the New Testament in the English language.
On Thursday afternoon, the 20th May, a joint prayer-meeting of representatives of the Established, United Free, and Free Church Assemblies was held in the United Free Assembly Hall, the object being “to offer prayer to the Most High in connection with the national crisis.” Among those present from the Free Church were the Revs. John Macdonald, moderator; Finlay Macrae, Plockton; Principal MacCulloch, Alexander Stewart, Edinburgh; John Macleod, Inverness; Angus Mackay, Kingussie; Professor Kennedy Cameron, and Mr. Archibald MacNeill. The meeting was presided over by Dr. Paul, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Established Church. Prayers were offered by Dr. Reith of the U.F. Church, the Free Church Moderator, and Professor Nicol of the Established Church.
During the meeting it was agreed to send a united letter to the Scottish regiments at the front, and a message of loyalty and sympathy to the king. When the letter was agreed upon, the first verse of the National Anthem was sung. The rest of the praise consisted in three psalms without instrumental music.
Note.—The Editor of the F.C. Record in a note on “The United Service” evidently considers, along with his colleagues, that they were fully justified in taking part in the joint-prayer-meeting on the ground that “the whole service was conducted in accordance with the Scriptural simplicity for which the Free Church bears testimony,” which we understand to mean, the Psalms only in worship. He overlooks the fact that the National Anthem is not a Psalm or an inspired song, and yet part of it was sung. Further, we would expect the Free Church to bear testimony for the Divine Authorship of Holy Scripture, and in doing so, not to have direct religious fellowship with those who have set at nought that authorship by rationalistic criticism. Besides, there was no special necessity for such co-operation as is in the present case. The Free Church could have held a prayer-meeting in their own Assembly Hall. Personally, we regard the business as a lowering of testimony for truth, quite in harmony, we regret to say, with previous actions of Free Church leaders.
Rev. Angus Mackay, Kingussie, submitted an excellent report on Religion and Morals and Public Questions in which such subjects as Attendance on Sabbath Services, Family Worship, Temperance, and Literature, were handled, and the duties of national humiliation and national repentance urged.
The subject of the “Lochranza Church Window” was again before this Assembly. This is a stained glass window with a picture of Christ, gifted by a lady in memory of her husband. Rev. S. L. Orr submitted the Report from the Glasgow Presbytery on the subject in which it was stated that the lady was willing to have some changes made upon the window, but not to have it removed. The congregation were also opposed to its removal. Mr. Robert Reid, elder, moved that the Assembly appoint two of its members to bring the matter to a finish under legal instructions, and that in the event of opposition from the members in Lochranza, the Assembly ordain that pulpit supply to the congregation be discontinued till they came to a better mind. He remarked that the minister who was originally responsible for this window, had since then left the United Free Church, along with his wife, and had gone to the Church of Rome. Mr. Rounfell Brown, elder, moved that the Assembly thank the lady donor for her consideration, and remit to the Presbytery to see the changes made. The motion was seconded by Mr. Orr. Rev. R. MacCowan, Kiltarlity, moved that the Assembly remit back the case to the Presbytery to take all competent steps to have the window removed as speedily as possible. Mr. MacCowan’s motion was carried by a majority. Principal MacCulloch protested against the decision.
He said that the Presbytery had not one jot of right to put a finger upon the Lochranza Church, which belonged to the congregation.
Note.—We remark that if the Free Church has no right to touch the Lochranza window, she is under obligation to withdraw her services from a place of worship defiled with an idolatrous figure. It says very little for the faithfulness of those who can make compromises with idolatry.
In the Foreign Mission Report by Rev. Alexander Dewar, reference is made to the translation of the Psalms into metrical Kaffir, promoted by the Free Presbyterian Church, but no mention is made of the F.P. Church as having anything to do with it. Is this a deliberate omission?
The Moderator closed this Assembly with an address on the distinctive characteristics of the Free Church.