Communions.—March—First Sabbath, Ullapool; second, Portree and Ness; third, Finsbay and Lochinver; fourth Kinlochbervie; fifth, North Tolsta. April—First Sabbath, Portnalong and Breasclete; second, Fort William and Lochgilphead; third, Greenock: fourth, Glasgow and Wick. 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.
Subscriptions to the Magazines.—As the financial year for the Magazines ends on 31st March, subscriptions are now due, and should be sent to the General Treasurer, Mr. John Grant, Palmerston Villa, Millburn Road, Inverness. The subscriptions are 4/6, post free for the Free Presbyterian Magazine and 3/-, post free for the Young People’s Magazine. The increase over last year is owing to the higher postage.
Notice to Conveners of Standing Committees.—Conveners of the Standing Committees of the Synod are reminded that, by the Synod’s decision, the Reports of their Committees are to be presented to and approved by the respective Committees, and further that the Reports should be in the hands of the Clerk of Synod (Rev. Robert R. Sinclair) not less than one calendar month before the meeting of Synod so that they may be printed and issued with the agenda paper.
An Appeal.—The Uig Congregation have been successful in purchasing a suitable building for worship in Islivig; situated most conveniently to meet the requirements of the people. Hitherto, if it were not for the kindness of the School Management Committee in granting the use of the Breanish and Mangersta School Houses, the Congregation would have been in difficult circumstances in the matter of public worship. They have incurred this new expense in addition to the large sum still to be paid for their Manse, but they are doing their utmost to pay off both debts. They hereby appeal to all friends of the cause to help them in their effort. Contributions will be gratefully acknowledged by Mr. Malcolm MacLennan, Treasurer, Cliff, Uig, or Rev. J. A. Macdonald, F.P. Manse, Uig, Lewis.—Certified as approved by Outer Isles Presbytery, Malcolm Gillies, Clerk.
Congregational Air Raid Precautions.—I recently received a letter from the Ministry of Home Security regarding official guidance as to the procedure to be adopted if an air raid warning is sounded while a service is in progress. The following memoranda has been drawn up by the above Ministry for the guidance of Churches:—(1) Speaking generally, the places
occupied by congregations in churches are unsafe in air raids. In addition to the almost invariable danger from falling glass, churches are usually one-cell buildings offering a high degree of danger from debris and they frequently have indifferent facilities for egress in a crisis. (2) As a general rule, therefore, the continued presence of the congregations in their normal positions after a warning stands to be discouraged, except where local experience shows that warnings are rarely followed by bombing in the neighbourhood. (3) Much depends on the protection obtainable in some part or another of the church, on the remoteness of public shelters likely to be available, and of the homes of the congregation. Each case therefore must be examined on its merits, but it seems that apart from areas proved reasonably safe by experience it will generally be right to discontinue the service on a warning and to make an announcement on the following lines:—(a) if the church possesses fair shelter, e.g., in vaults or in a safe part of the main building to advise the congregation, except those whose homes are near to the church, to proceed to the vaults where worship will be resumed. (b) if the church offers no reasonable protection, and if in particular the danger from flying glass cannot be escaped from, to advise them that the service will not be resumed and that all are advised to make for public shelters or their homes if nearer. If no public shelter is available and home are remote, the service will be continued and the congregation will be well advised to remain where they are, but be ready to take cover under or behind the pews on gunfire being heard. (c) if in any case imminent danger is threatened by gunfire in the absence of a warning, that the congregation should take cover under or behind the pews. This correspondence and memorandum were submitted to the Church Interests Committee of our Church, which decided as follows:—“Publish the memorandum in the Magazine and request Ministers and Missionaries to read it publicly; and also to indicate to their congregations the local arrangements for their particular congregations, suitable to their circumstances.—Robert R. Sinclair, Clerk of Synod. January, 1941.