THE Synod met this year in the hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on the evenings of 20th and 21st May. The interest taken in these meetings was evidenced by the very large attendance of members and of the general public, the large hall being full on both occasions.
First Sederunt.
At the first sederunt the following members of Synod were present: Southern Presbytery—Revs. N. Cameron and N. Macintyre, ministers, with Mr. Alexander Stewart and Capt. Macleod, elders; Northern Presbytery—Revs. D. Beaton (clerk), E. Macqueen, D. A. Macfarlane, M.A., F. Macleod, D. J. Matheson, ministers, with Messrs. Kenneth Matheson and George Mackenzie, elders; Western Presbytery—Revs. M. Morrison, D. M. Macdonald, James Macleod, M. Gillies, J. MacLachlan (moderator), R. Mackenzie, M.A., D. R. Macdonald and D. Macleod, ministers, with Messrs. J. Macaulay, J. Stewart, Donald Nicolson, Murdo Macaskill and John Macleod, elders. The retiring Moderator preached from the words “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Is. 35, 10.) Sermon being ended, the Synod was constituted by prayer. Thereafter the Roll was called, and the Clerk intimated having received a letter of apology for absence from Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Dornoch. The minutes of last meeting were read and approved of, and Mr. Angus Fraser was appointed officer of court. The retiring Moderator then intimated that his term of office had expired and having thanked the Synod for the forbearance shown towards him, intimated that it fell to the Synod now to appoint his successor. On the motion of Rev. E. Macqueen, seconded by Rev. M. Morrison, the Rev. F. Macleod was appointed Moderator for the ensuing year. Mr. Macleod then took the Chair and thanked the Synod. The following committees were appointed to examine Presbytery records:—Revs. James Macleod and M. Gillies to examine the records of the Northern Presbytery; Revs. N. Cameron and N. Macintyre to examine the records of the Western Presbytery; Revs. D. A. Macfarlane, M.A., and F. Macleod to examine the records of the Southern Presbytery. On the motion of the Clerk it was agreed that the Synod meet as a Committee on Bills and Overtures and as a Business Committee in the hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on Wednesday, the 21st May, 1930, at 11 a.m. The Synod then adjourned to meet again in the same place on Wednesday evening, the 21st May, 1930, at 5 p.m. The meeting was closed with praise and prayer.
Second Sederunt.
The Synod met in terms of adjournment on Wednesday evening, the 21st May, 1930, at 5 p.m., when the Moderator conducted devotional exercises and constituted the Synod. The sederunt was the same as the previous meeting. Intimation of apology for absence from Rev. D. Mackenzie, Kames, was made, and the minutes of last sederunt read and approved.
1. The Synod Clerkship.
The Clerk intimated that the Business Committee had before them a letter from Rev. R. Mackenzie, in which he intimated that he could not see his way to accept the Synod Clerkship at present, but offering, if Mr. Beaton would consent to resume office, to do all in his power to help him with the work. On the motion of Rev. E. Macqueen, seconded by Rev. N. Cameron, it was agreed to ask Mr. Beaton to resume office in view of Mr. Mackenzie’s offer. This Mr. Beaton agreed to.
2. Proposed History of the Free Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Cameron, as Convener of the Committee appointed to draw up a history of the Free Presbyterian Church, made a statement in which he outlined the method he had adopted in approaching the subject, recognising as he did that the history had bearings reaching as far back as 1863. He intimated that progress had been made with the history up to the time of the separation in 1893, and said he was hopeful that the Committee would be able to get the work ready for the press before the end of the year. The Report was adopted.
3. Extracts of Minutes of Synod.
At the request of the Clerk and on the motion of Rev. N. Cameron, seconded by Rev. J. Macleod, the Synod gave the following ruling in the matter of giving extract minutes of Synod to parties; namely, that no extract minutes of meetings of Synod be given to parties until such minutes or extract minutes have been previously approved by the Synod.
4. Ontario Kirk-Session and Congregation.
Communications relative to the Synod’s decision last year in the case of the Ontario Kirk-Session, both from the Kirk-Session and congregation were read. Mr. Cameron thereupon rose and made the following motion which was seconded by Rev. James Macleod and unanimously agreed to:—
“The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland passed repeatedly resolutions against Sabbath profanation. At its meeting in the month of May last year it re-affirmed a resolution previously passed. A perusal of the ‘Acts of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland’ from 1638 to 1843 will show that this resolution was in strict conformity with the gist and spirit of the many resolutions passed by the eminent divines of that period who understood well their duty towards their Confession of Faith, the Practice of the Church, and the Word of God anent Sabbath profanation. The Free Presbyterian Church adhered and still adheres to the faithful and godly example of these men as regards Sabbath profanation as the records of her Kirk-Sessions, Presbyteries and Synod will prove. The Rev. William Matheson, Chesley, Ontario, Canada, knew well that the Free Presbyterian Church refused Church privileges—Baptism and the Lord’s Supper—to all, without any respect of persons, who travelled by trains or street cars to Church or otherwise on the Lord’s day, thereby profaning the Sabbath for mercenary purposes by using the vehicles of such men, corporations, or companies on that holy day—or any who worked on the Sabbath, excepting works of necessity and mercy. But, notwithstanding Mr. Matheson knew all these facts he opposed the said resolution of the Synod for years. He vowed, when he was licensed, by answering the following question in the affirmative—“Do you promise that you shall subject yourself to the several judicatories of this Church?” that he would act otherwise. Instead of this, he and the elders forming the Kirk-Session of the groups of people adhering to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Ontario, Canada, passed a resolution to the effect that they would not be subject to the resolution of this Synod re Sabbath profanation, and made known to the Church in Scotland that that was to be their deliberate attitude. At the meeting of Synod in May, 1929, it was decided, after serious consideration, that the said Kirk-Session had till the 30th day of August, 1929, to reconsider their decision, and that they should be notified that unless they would fall into line with the Synod’s resolution on or before that date, and also notify the Clerk of Synod of the same, they would then cease to be considered as a Session connected with the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Before the 30th of August they re-affirmed their former decision and notified the Synod Clerk of this. Consequently the Synod’s decision became final by the defiant attitude of the Session, which, in these circumstances, no true and faithful Church could tolerate. But, seeing the people who adhered to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Ontario were not included in the Synod’s decision concerning the Kirk-Session last year, this Synod resolve that the people be given till the 30th August, 1930, to decide for themselves whether they will adhere to this Synod or follow the defiant attitude of the Kirk-Session. If the Clerk of Synod will not have received their decision, or that of any number of them, by the above date, all, or any, who will adhere to the Kirk-Session, will then by their own action, cease to be considered adherents in Ontario of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.”
In speaking to the motion Mr. Cameron said that there was a considerable number of Acts of Assembly of the Church of Scotland which bore directly upon Sabbath observance and some even went the length of evoking the civil power to enforce it. The action of the Free Presbyterian Church was not an innovation but was in strict accord with the attitude taken up by the Church of Scotland in her best days. He referred to the laxity prevailing in other Churches on this point and how these Churches would receive with open arms those who refused to submit to our discipline in the matter. The extract minute of Mr. Cameron’s motion was read and unanimously approved by a show of hands. At this stage a letter from Messrs. T. S. H. Burns & Son, Solicitors, Dingwall, bearing on the case of Rev. William Matheson, was read, when Rev. James Macleod made the following motion, namely, “that in view of the fact that the Rev. William Matheson has refused to subject himself to the judicatories of this Church and that he has given his case into the hands of the civil law, this Court take no further steps in the matter.” The Rev. E. Macqueen seconded, and in doing so commented on the statement in Messrs. Burns’ letter as to Mr. Matheson’s feeling hurt on account of the Synod’s action. He appeared, he remarked, to have no word of the hurt which his action had inflicted on the Church. The motion was carried unanimously. The Rev. N. Cameron further moved as follows: “that after the 30th August coming the Clerk be instructed to remove from the records of this Church the Kirk-Session of Ontario as the real sequel of the resolution passed by them on the 19th June, 1928, and re-affirmed by them on the 29th September, 1929, and all who will adhere to them.” This motion was seconded by the Rev. D. A. Macfarlane, M.A., and unanimously agreed to. On the motion of Rev. M. Gillies, seconded by Rev. M. Morrison, it was agreed that a committee consisting of Revs. N. Cameron, N. MacIntyre, D. Beaton and R. Mackenzie be appointed to watch developments in this case in the interests of the Church.
5. Theological Committee’s Report.
Rev. E. Macqueen, Convener of the Theological Committee, gave in this report in which he stated that the Church had at present four students preparing for the ministry, two of whom were now ready to enter upon their divinity course. “The Lord,” he stated, “keeps us always going but always lowly without cause to boast.” The adoption of the report was moved by Rev. D. R. Macdonald, seconded by Mr. Donald Nicolson, and unanimously agreed to.
6. Financial Statement.
The Financial Statement which will appear later in the pages of the magazine was read by the Treasurer, Mr. John Grant, Inverness. Rev. N. Cameron, in moving the adoption of the statement, said that there were now 37 years since the Free Presbyterian Church separated from others in order to conserve God’s word and the Confession of Faith in their integrity. Then the Church had not a penny of funds. Although men prophesied that the Church would come to nothing in a few years for want of funds, the position was now that our financial transactions ran to a figure beyond £20,000. While acknowledging our own unprofitableness, he proceeded, we have good cause to see God’s hand in putting it in the heart of our people to contribute so liberally, and to thank Him for His providence. Mr. Cameron concluded by thanking the Treasurer and Auditors for their services. The motion for adoption was seconded by Mr. M. MacAskill and unanimously agreed to. The Rev. D. M. Macdonald thereupon moved, and Mr. Kenneth Matheson seconded, that a Colonial Mission’s Fund be set up. It was explained that the object of this Fund was to give an opportunity to friends at home and abroad to contribute towards the expenses of Church Deputies sent to America and Australia. The motion was unanimously agreed to. The Synod further agreed, on the motion of Mr. Kenneth Matheson, seconded by Rev. N. Macintyre, to appoint a Committee consisting of the Clerks of Presbytery to investigate the question of missionaries’ salaries with a view to making, any additions to these salaries which necessitous circumstances may appear to them to require, and to authorise the Treasurer to pay such additions on receiving intimation from the Committee.
7. Canadian Mission Committee’s Report.
The Rev. N. Macintyre, Convener of the Canadian Mission Committee, gave in this report. He explained that his report was necessarily brief this year on account of the fact that an independent report was to be given in at a later stage by Rev. F. Macleod, deputy to the Canadian Mission stations. The report, which appears in this issue of the magazine, was formally adopted on the motion of the Rev. James Macleod, seconded by the Rev. Donald Macleod. Mr. Macintyre now tendered his resignation of the Convenership of the Canadian Mission Committee. He said that he had been feeling the strain of the work of the Committee somewhat especially in view of recent happenings. The Rev. Mr. Morrison, while regretting that Mr. Macintyre felt the necessity of resigning, moved that the Synod accept the resignation and thank Mr. Macintyre for his services. Rev. D. Beaton seconded. Both Mr. Morrison and Mr. Beaton referred to the tact and efficiency with which Mr. Macintyre had performed his duties as Convener of this Committee. Having thus demitted office as Convener, Mr. Macintyre drew attention to the unsatisfactory position of the Committee as at present constituted having regard to the fact that the members were so far separated from one another that it was impossible for them to meet as often as the nature of the business transacted required. He accordingly moved that in future the Canadian Committee be composed of the ministerial members of the Northern Presbytery with Mr. Macqueen as Convener. This was seconded by the Rev. D. M. Macdonald and agreed to. The Rev. F. Macleod (Moderator) having left the Chair, which was taken in the interval by the Rev. J. Maclachlan (ex-Moderator), read an interesting report of his deputyship to our mission stations in Canada. The report, which will appear later in the magazine, was formally adopted on the motion of Rev. James Macleod, seconded by Rev. D. Macleod. In connection with a reference by Mr. Macleod to Sabbath School picnics held at Winnipeg, Mr. Cameron moved “that this Synod express strong disapproval of the action of certain individuals holding Sabbath School picnics in connection with the Church, and warn them that unless these are discontinued, those responsible for holding them will be brought under discipline.” This motion was seconded by Mr. J. Macleod and agreed to.
8. Report of Examiners of Presbytery Records.
The Committees appointed to examine Presbytery records reported through their conveners as to having found these records in good order.
9. Magazine Report.
The Rev. D. Beaton reported that the circulation and the finance of the magazine were being well sustained. This, he added, notwithstanding all the blows it gets from without. The Report was formally adopted.
10. Report of Fishing Stations’ Committee.
The Rev. M. Gillies, Convener, gave in this report, which was adopted on the motion of Rev. J. Maclachlan, seconded by Mr. Kenneth Matheson. The report will appear elsewhere in the magazine.
11. Standing Church Committees.
The Rev. R. Mackenzie moved, the Rev. E. Macqueen seconded, and it was unanimously agreed to, that the Standing Church Committees be re-appointed for the ensuing year with the exception of the Foreign Missions’ Committee, whose membership shall consist of Revs. N. Cameron and N. Macintyre, with the Presbytery Elders for the time being of the Glasgow and Edinburgh Congregations, Mr. Cameron to act as Convener, and the Canadian Mission Committee which had already been reconstituted.
12. Church Collections.
It was agreed on the motion of Rev. D. J. Matheson, seconded by Mr. M. Macaskill, that the Church Collections be appointed in the same order as last year.
13. Foreign Missions’ Committee Report.
The Rev. N. Cameron, Convener of the Jewish and Foreign Missions’ Committee read interesting reports from Rev. J. Tallach, and Rev. R. Macdonald, M.B., Ch.B. These reports appear in this Magazine. In supplementary remarks Mr. Cameron referred to the question of water supply in our mission in South Africa. This question, he said, had engaged his attention since the occasion of his visit to South Africa. On account of certain circumstances which had recently been brought to their notice the Committee had authorised the sinking of a new well within the mission ground and the provision of a pump to replace the old-fashioned windlass which gave a lot of trouble. Mr. Macqueen moved, and Capt. Macleod seconded, the adoption of the Report, which was agreed to. On the motion of Rev. R. Mackenzie, seconded by Rev. M. Gillies, the Synod approved the action of the Foreign Missions’ Committee in connection with the improvement of the water supply, and further agreed, on the motion of Rev. N. Cameron, seconded by Rev. M. Morrison, to authorise the payment of £47 as wages to the three new native teachers referred to in the Report. The Rev. R. Mackenzie, then read the report of his deputyship to Australia and South Africa. The Report, which will appear in a later issue, was formally approved, on the motion of Rev. E. Macqueen, seconded by Mr. J. Stewart. On the recommendation of Mr. Mackenzie, it was agreed that the Treasurer be authorised to pay Paul Hlaso, Teacher, Ingwenya, £10 yearly in respect of his services as interpreter. With regard to Palestine, Mr. Cameron intimated that he had not yet received the Rev. D. Urquhart’s report, but stated that he would have it inserted in the magazine as soon after it arrived as possible.
14. Report of Committee on Religion and Morals.
This very interesting report, which we publish this month, was given in by Rev. D. M. Macdonald, Convener of the Committee. Its adoption was moved by the Rev. J. Macleod, who referred to the extraordinary contrast there appeared to exist between the religious situations in our mission in South Africa, and at home here as represented by the two reports last read. Mr. George Mackenzie seconded, and the report was formally adopted. The Synod agreed, on the motion of the Rev. D. A. Macfarlane, M.A., seconded by the Rev. E. Macqueen, that the following petition be sent to the Prime Minister, namely:—“that, as according to Press reports, the present Vatican Envoy is under orders for another sphere, this Synod respectfully begs of the Government to allow the appointment of a Vatican Envoy to lapse forthwith.”
15. Remits from Presbyteries.
Western Presbytery.
The subject of a remit from the Western Presbytery recommending increase of salary in the case of two missionaries of the Church was referred to the new Committee set up to deal with missionaries’ salaries. The Rev. D. M. Macdonald, Clerk of the Western Presbytery, reported in terms of last year’s reference, that the Harris congregation had agreed to divide into two distinct charges on the financial basis stipulated—to be known hereafter as the North Harris and South Harris Congregations. On the motion of Rev. James Macleod, seconded by Mr. Kenneth Matheson, the Synod approved of this division, and left it with the Presbytery to fix the bounds of the respective congregations. A communication from a Special Committee of the Free Church on the subject of “Religious Training of Teachers at Provincial Colleges,” requesting the co-operation of a similar Committee of the Free Presbyterian Church. On the motion of Rev. E. Macqueen, seconded by Rev. D. M. Macdonald, it was agreed that the Southern Presbytery be appointed a Committee to look into this matter.
Northern Presbytery.
A remit from the Northern Presbytery craving a ruling of the Synod as to the position of Mr. John Murray, M.A., M.Th., divinity student, was considered. The Rev. N. Cameron, after referring to Mr. Murray’s attitude toward the Synod’s resolution on the Sabbath-travelling question, and his action in going to Princeton Seminary, a seminary which had been abandoned by certain orthodox teachers on grounds of conscience, without the consent of his Presbytery, moved as follows:—“That the Synod give Mr. John Murray till 30th October, 1930, to consider seriously his attitude as in opposition both to the Northern Presbytery, in his having gone to assist in Princeton Seminary without their sanction, and also to the Synod on the question of travelling by hired conveyances to Church on Sabbath, and if he will not withdraw from this opposition by that date that he will no longer be considered as a student of this Church.” This motion was seconded by Rev. N. Macintyre and agreed to. A remit as to the retention of Mr. Hugh Munro’s services as missionary in Beauly, now that a minister had been settled in the Dingwall-Beauly Congregation, was next considered. After discussion, it was agreed on the motion of Rev. E. Macqueen, seconded by Mr. George Mackenzie, that Mr. Munro be left in Beauly provided he supply Daviot every alternate Sabbath.
16. Competent Business.
Under this head, the Rev. N. Macintyre submitted the following motion, which was seconded by Rev. N. Cameron, and unanimously adopted, the Rev. D. M. Macdonald expressly associating himself with it:—”The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland view with much alarm the decision recently given by the House of Lords in the case known as the “Bonnybridge Case,” and would earnestly appeal with other Christian denominations to the Government to have the Education Act of 1918 and particularly Clause 18 of the said Act repealed or amended so that in future the rights of Protestant ratepayers be conserved. The above-mentioned decision is bound to encourage the unscrupulous and aggressive Church of Rome in future to erect buildings irrespective of the sanction of the Education Authority then functioning and have the same buildings transferred to the Authority with the demand that the whole expense be defrayed by Protestant ratepayers. The Synod would therefore respectfully but most earnestly appeal to our Protestant Government to have the above Act rectified at the earliest possible date so as to avoid confusion and trouble in the future.” On the motion of Rev. N. Macintyre, seconded by the Rev. James Macleod, it was agreed that during the rest of the sederunt the Synod sit in private. Thereupon the Moderator conducted devotional exercises and dismissed the members of the public present. At the close of the private meeting the Synod adjourned to meet again (D.V.) at Inverness, on the 19th day of May, 1931, at 6.30 p.m.