Communions.
April—First Sabbath, Portnalong and Breaselete; second, Lochgilphead; third, Greenock; fourth, Glasgow; fifth, Wick. May—First Sabbath, Kames and Oban; second, Seourie and Dumbarton; third, Edinburgh and Broadford. South African Mission.—The following are the dates of the Communions:—Last Sabbath of March, June, September, and December. Note.—Notice of any additions to, or alterations of, the above dates of Communions should be sent to the Editor.
London Communion Services.
The services in connection with the administration of the Lord’s Supper in the London Congregation on Sabbath, 9th April, have been arranged as follows:—Thursday, 6th April, at 7 p.m. (English). Friday, 7th April, 3.30 p.m. (Gaelic) and 7 p.m. (Fellowship Meeting). Saturday, 8th April, 3.30 p.m. (English) and 6.30 p.m. (Gaelic). Sabbath, 9th April, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (English), 3.45 p.m. (Gaelic). Monday, 10th April, 3.30 p.m. (Gaelic) and 7 p.m. (English). These services are held in Eccleston Hall, Eccleston Street, Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, S.W.1. The Rev. Neil MacIntyre, Edinburgh, and Rev. D. Beaton, Oban, are expected (D.V.) to assist on this occasion. Services are held regularly every Sabbath in the above Hall at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (English, and 3.45 p.m. (Gaelic). A weekly prayer-meeting is held on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Resolution re the Apostolic Delegate from the Vatican.
The Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland met at Dingwall on Tuesday, the 28th day of February, 1939, and, inter alia, the replies to the above resolution were read. The following is the Foreign Secretary’s reply:—. . . “As you point out, the appointment of an Apostolic Delegate is a purely ecclesiastical matter with which His Majesty’s Government have no direct concern, and in fact the Apostolic Delegate in this country will be an ecclesiastical official who will enjoy no diplomatic status of any kind. His right of access to the Foreign Office will be neither greater nor less than, but the same as, that of any other private person in this country.”
Presbytery’s Comment:—We are grateful for this reply to our resolution, which appears to give a satisfactory explanation of the status of the Apostolic Delegate. In these circumstances we expect His Majesty’s Government to see to it that any endeavour to foist a Papal Nuncio on this country will be resisted. Let us bear in mind that our legislators will be brought to account sooner or later if they tamper with the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement.
Protest re Latest Concessions to Romanism.
As authorised by the Southern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, we hereby, in the name of the Presbytery, enter our strong protest against recent actions on the part of our rulers which we hold to have been in breach of the Protestant constitution of this realm and prejudicial to the nation’s well-being, spiritually and otherwise. We refer in particular to (1) the representation of His Majesty, the King, and of His Majesty’s Government at a service held in connection with the late Pope’s death; (2) the appointment of an official representative of His Majesty to attend the present Pope’s coronation; (3) the sending by His Majesty of a congratulatory telegram to the Pope; and (4) at an earlier date, the visit by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary to the Vatican.
In expressing our grief on account of these latest concessions to Romanism and our anxiety in view of the possible consequences of them, we would respectfully remind our rulers that one principal object of the Protestant Constitution is to safeguard the nation’s interest in Him who, contrary to popish pretensions, is the alone Head of His Church and Prince of the kings of the earth, in whose hands ultimately the reins of universal destiny are held. We claim it must be acknowledged that maintenance of a right relationship to God—that which thoroughgoing Protestantism contemplates—besides being an elementary obligation, is the most essential condition of national security and prosperity and the very first line of national defence. At a time such as the present, therefore, when the merciful interposition of Divine providence on our behalf is so much needed and so urgently sought by us, it is specially discouraging to us to think that the requirements of this relationship should appear to be publicly and systematically disregarded in high places in favour of exchanging courtesies with the See of Rome. We would most earnestly appeal to our rulers to withhold from all actions such as those specifically referred to which would minister to this discomfiting impression and occasion in our minds a fear that our Protestant constitution is being effectively undermined and the main bulwark of our safety and liberty imperilled.
We take occasion here to record our gratitude for assurances which we understand have been given by prominent statesmen to another Presbytery of our Church to the effect that the recent appointment of a Papal delegate to this country is definitely of a non-political kind and that the report circulated by Roman Catholics as to his having official status and access to the Foreign Office is unfounded.
We conclude by assuring our rulers of our heartfelt sympathy with them in view of the heavy burden of responsibility which the present critical situation imposes and the amount of anxiety and care it must cause them. We pray that God, for the sake of His Son Jesus Christ, would richly endow them with the gift of His Holy Spirit to uphold them and to direct their counsels toward the advancement of His own glory and the good of this nation and of the world.
Notice to Magazine Subscribers.
Subscribers are respectfully reminded that their subscriptions for 1939-40 are now due and Mr. John Grant, 4 Millburn Road, Inverness, will feel obliged by an early remittance. The annual subscription is 4s. post free. Subscribers are requested to read the instructions on p. ii. of the cover of the Magazine and to state whether they are new or former subscribers when sending their subscriptions.
Notice to Congregational Treasurers.
Congregational Treasurers are reminded that copies of their financial statements, duly audited, are to be sent to the Clerks of Presbyteries under whose jurisdiction their congregations are.
Notice to Clerks of Kirk-Sessions and Deacons’ Courts.
Clerks of Sessions and of Deacon’s Courts are hereby reminded that their records, with Communion Rolls, are to be sent for examination to the Clerks of Presbyteries under whose jurisdiction their congregations are, not later than the end of April. Sufficient to cover return postage should be included.
Young People’s Magazine.
This Magazine, beginning with the May number, will be issued at the beginning of the month as formerly.