THE Northern Presbytery met within the Free Presbyterian Church, Inverness, on Wednesday evening, the 8th day of January, at 7 p.m., for the purpose of Inducting Rev. A. F. Mackay, M.A., Applecross, to the pastoral charge of Inverness Congregation, which had been vacant since 1938. The Call to Mr. Mackay was unanimous; and a large gathering of people assembled within the Church for the service. Many friends came from other Congregations.
The Rev. John Tallach, from the Church’s Mission in South Africa, being a member of the Presbytery, was appointed to preach, and delivered
*The above is the fuller account of Mr. Mackay’s Induction promised in an earlier issue.
—Editor.
a most appropriate sermon from, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God” (Romans i. 1).
The sermon being ended, the Rev. F. MacLeod, Dornoch, Clerk of the Court, read a brief narrative of the proceedings leading up to the Induction. Thereafter, Rev. W. Grant, Halkirk, Moderator, called upon the Rev. A. F. Mackay to stand, and put to him the questions appointed to be asked of ministers on their induction. Mr. Mackay, having returned satisfactory answers to the same, was requested to sign the Formula in presence of the Congregation. After engaging in prayer, the Moderator formally inducted and admitted the Rev. A. F. Mackay to the pastoral charge of Inverness Congregation in the name of the Presbytery and by authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. The Moderator having given him the right hand of fellowship, the other members of Presbytery also did so, including Rev. D. R. MacDonald, Harris, of the Outer Isles Presbytery, who had been associated with the Presbytery at the beginning of the Meeting.
The Rev. D. A. Macfarlane, M.A., Dingwall, now addressed the newly-inducted Pastor in suitable terms, and Rev. R. R. Sinclair, Wick, addressed the Congregation.
The Moderator concluded the service by giving out the last three verses of Psalm lxxii. to sing: “His name for ever shall endure,” etc., and thereafter pronounced the Benediction.
The Congregation had an opportunity of shaking hands with their new Pastor as they left the Church. The Presbytery and lovers of the Cause of Christ throughout the Free Presbyterian Church wish for them and their Pastor, times of the Gospel with the power of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, that Zion’s children would be made joyful in their King and others made willing to come penitently and in faith to His blessed feet.—Finlay MacLeod, Presbytery Clerk.