The Synod resumed its sittings at 6.30 p.m., according to terms of adjournment. The Sederunt was opened with devotional exercises, conducted by the Moderator, the Rev. D. Macfarlane.
The roll was called, and there were present: From the Western Presbytery—Revs. Alex. Macrae, N. Macintyre, D. Graham, A. Sutherland, C.F.; with Messrs. John Macdonald, F. Macdonald, and A. Mackenzie, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Revs. J. R. Mackay, D. Macfarlane, D. Beaton, D. A. Macfarlane, ministers; with Messrs. C. Maclean and M. Urquhart, elders. From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. N. Cameron, J. S. Sinclair, E. Macqueen, and A. Mackay; with Messrs. D. Fraser and M. Campbell, elders. The Minutes of previous sederunts were held over till next Meeting of Synod.
(9) FOREIGN MISSION REPORT.
Rev. Neil Cameron, as Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee, read an interesting letter from the Rev. John B. Radasi, Free Presbyterian Missionary, Matabeleland, giving a report of his work during the past year. Mr. Radasi’s letter was published in last number of Magazine.
Mr. Cameron, after reading Rev. Mr. Radasi’s report, made the following remarks:—”We desire, in the first place, to draw the attention of the Synod to the continued proof the report contains of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit among our people in Matabeleland. This is a real cause of thankfulness to the Lord. To think that the Lord has used our weak Church as an instrument to carry the Gospel to our poor, black brothers and sisters in Africa, and that He, of His infinite mercy, has made its message effectual in the bringing so many of them already from darkness to light and from the kingdom of Satan to Himself, should fill our hearts with joy. It should also arouse all our praying people to wrestle with the Lord that He would make that vast wilderness a garden of Eden.
“We have confidence in Mr. Radasi as a man who has been taught of the Lord and is faithful to the F.P. Church. He is also a man possessed of prudence, patience, and courage. These qualifications are of great value in a missionary to the heathen. To our own knowledge they have been put to the test since he went there, with the result that he has overcome many difficulties. The longer we know him the more we are convinced that he is both a man and a Christian.
“In the second place, you will have noticed the difficulties with which he and his office-bearers and people have had to contend. They have had a famine in that part of Africa, and consequently the elders, and many of the able-bodied men had to go to the War. They had to do this to support themselves and their families. This has caused that Mr. Radasi has to go as often as he can to preach on week days to the stations, where the elders used to hold services on Sabbath and week days. The amount of labour this involves is great; for he has to teach in the school at Selukwe, to preach there on the Sabbath, and to superintend other three schools. I know that I am expressing the mind of the Synod when I convey to Mr. Radasi and his elders, and all our people there, the deepest sympathy of the Church at home with them in their trials, and that we will not forget them in our prayers to the God of providence and of grace.
“In the third place, the report mentions the case of a young lad that Mr. Radasi wishes to be sent to Lovedale to school. It seems the health of the boy who was sent there during two sessions has become so impaired that it has been decided that he should not proceed further with his education. He is now teaching in one of the side schools. I am of the opinion that the Synod should grant Mr. Radasi’s request, to send this other boy to Lovedale, and that we should urge him to send a young godly man home to be educated for the work of the ministry there, provided that he has got one that he can with confidence send. I would also appeal to our praying people at home, that they would ask the Lord to raise up a young man in our Church who would be moved by the Holy Ghost to go to South Africa. If the Church could send one there from Scotland, it would in the providence of God both enlarge and strengthen the Mission.
“It is also an encouragement that very considerable numbers of children and young men have been taught to read the Bible in Kafir. We have derived this information from the large number of Bibles sent. It seems that these poor Matabele covet earnestly to be put in possession of the Bible, and to be able to read it. The most of them leave school when they pass as being able to read God’s Word. This is their M.A. degree. The Book, which is so despised by the learned, wise, and mighty men of Great Britain, has become a treasure to the poor Africans. This bespeaks assuredly that the Lord intends to bless them by the knowledge of salvation; for He says:—’It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.’ Consequently, we may expect a rich harvest to follow.
“In the fourth place, we would point out to the Synod that in Africa as well as at home the price to be paid for the necessaries of life has gone up enormously. On this account I would lay before the Synod Mr. Radasi’s need of having his salary increased. I would suggest that during the present strain £20 should be added to his present salary, and that £10 of that advance should be continued after food, etc., will return to their normal prices. We submit this proposal to your serious consideration.
“In the last place, the Report urges the Synod to have the Kafir Psalms printed. But, as this business has been all along left between Rev. J. R. Mackay and Principal Henderson, of Lovedale, we will leave it to Mr. Mackay to report how that matter has been dealt with. We will be much obliged to Mr. Mackay by augmenting this report on that part of the business.”
Rev. D. Beaton said that he had much pleasure in submitting the following motion in adoption of the report:—”The Synod accepts the report on the Foreign Mission, now presented to the Synod by Rev. N. Cameron, and expresses its gratitude to God for the measure of success He has vouchsafed to this Mission. The Synod decides that the young lad referred to in the report be sent to Lovedale, and holds itself responsible for his support while at school there. The Synod expresses its sympathy with our Mission people in the trying circumstances with which they, with others in these days of tribulation, find themselves confronted. The Synod further agrees that Mr. Radasi’s salary be increased to the extent of £20 during the famine.”
Mr. A. Mackenzie, elder, Stornoway, seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
Rev. J. R. Mackay gave a brief statement re the Psalms in Kafr, and explained that, as far as information was to hand, Lovedale had not yet issued any more Psalms in Kafr metre beyond the twenty which were already in book form. The revision of the translation by the Rev. J. K. Bokwe had not been completed; and besides, owing to the War, paper was scarce and dear. Circumstances such as these were militating against progress in completing and issuing the whole book. It would no doubt, however, be a matter of great satisfaction and thankfulness when the complete Book of Psalms, in satisfactory Kafr metre, would be issued from the press and sent to Matabeleland.
Rev. E. Macqueen moved that the Synod recommend their people in Matabeleland to be as contented as possible with the booklet of twenty Psalms in metre, until circumstances will allow the whole book to be completed and circulated—a result which the Synod earnestly hope will be realised at not too distant a date. Mr. D. Fraser, elder, seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
The Clerk called the attention of the Court to the fact that nothing had been given out of the “Jewish and Foreign Mission Fund” to Jewish purposes for several years, and that on the last occasion something had been given, it was in the form of a donation to the Trinitarian Bible Society for the circulation of the Scriptures among the Jews. He moved that the Synod send a donation of £20 to the Trinitarian Bible Society for the same object. The motion was seconded by the Rev. E. Macqueen, and agreed to.
(10) CANADIAN MISSION DEPUTY’S REPORT.
Rev. D. Beaton, as Deputy to Canada for last year, delivered his report. Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that the Synod tender its best thanks to Mr. Beaton for his excellent report, which he was sure all had listened to with great interest, and order the report to be published. Rev. Neil Cameron seconded the motion with a few commendatory remarks. The motion was agreed to.
(11) REPORTS BY OFFICIAL CHAPLAINS.
Rev. E. Macqueen, Kames, who acted as an Official Chaplain to the Forces for a year, concluding with the end of November, 1916, gave a brief account of his work, principally in France, with its duties and difficulties. He made allusion to the difficulties he had in connection with the mode of worship. The great majority of those he came in contact with, were accustomed to uninspired hymns. At first, he had nothing but the Psalms in worship, but owing to the circumstances, latterly there was a hymn or two used, chosen by the Commanding Officer. The Chaplain who firmly adhered to “the old paths,” had many difficulties to meet. At the same time he felt the deepest interest in the spiritual welfare of the brave soldiers, and expressed the fervent hope that the Lord would bless His Word to the salvation of their souls.
Rev. Andrew Sutherland, C.F., who has been engaged as a Chaplain to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Ripon in England, gave some account of his work in preaching and visiting. He also made reference to the difficulties he had to face as to the mode of worship, where the vast proportion of the soldiers had been accustomed to the hymns. For several weeks he had chosen Psalms only out of the book of praise in use, but owing to diminishing congregations, complaints that had come from the men, and the urgent arguments of the Senior Chaplain, who pointed out that he would greatly lessen his usefulness by not using some of the hymns, he felt it his duty in the extraordinary circumstances in which he was placed to comply—taking care at the same time to select a few of the most Scriptural hymns. Such a step he would never have dreamt of taking, or in any way have felt justified in taking, if the circumstances had not been altogether out of the ordinary. He felt deeply attached to the soldiers, to hundreds of whom from Sabbath to Sabbath he had endeavoured to preach the whole counsel of God. If the Synod considered it right to disapprove of his mode of conducting things, he would resign and give up the work. At the same time, he would feel it a sore wrench to part with the boys among whom he had laboured, and whose spiritual and eternal interests he had sought.
Rev. D. Beaton rose and submitted the following motion. His remarks indicated that it was in no unsympathetic spirit with the difficulties of the Chaplains, or the needs of the soldiers, that he made the motion:—
“This Synod wishes it to be clearly understood that it objects to any of its ministers acting as chaplains, unless they are permitted to conduct the worship according to the public testimony of this Church.”
The motion was seconded by the Rev. Alexander Macrae, and agreed to.
(12) COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FREE CHURCH RE THE REMOVAL OF OBSTACLES, AND UNION.
In last month’s brief report, there was an account of this communication, and of two motions on the subject that were submitted to the Synod. We do not think it necessary to repeat in this place what was then reported, especially as elsewhere in the present number, the speeches of the movers and seconders (with the motions) are given in considerable detail. The results are also briefly stated. Should it be considered necessary, a brief outline of some of the other speeches made by members on the occasion may be given (D.V.) in the next number. Meantime, we have no notes to work upon.
The Synod adjourned about 12 midnight to meet again (D.V.) next morning at 10.30. The sederunt was closed with praise in the concluding verses of the 122nd Psalm, and prayer.