As previously intimated in the Magazine, the Synod of the Church met on Tuesday, the 23rd day of May, in Inverness. The retiring Moderator, Rev. Malcolm MacSween, M.A., preached on Tuesday evening, from Isaiah xxviii, 16, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone . . .” Rev. John A. MacDonald, Applecross, was appointed the new Moderator for the ensuing year. The Synod met daily to deal with the varied business connected with the Cause of the Lord Jesus Christ among us as a Church; and ended its meetings on Friday evening. There were few absentees among members of Synod, and all the ministers in this country were present. There was reason for gratitude to the Most High for the Gospel and brotherly spirit which prevailed throughout. The Proceedings of Synod will be issued as formerly, and we trust more timely than in the past.
Free Presbyterian homes in Inverness were once more opened to members of Synod, where much kindness and warm hospitality was enjoyed. All this is indeed an effect of the Gospel, which still prevails in all congregations of the Free Presbyterian Church, and serves in its own way to sustain and preserve the friendship of lovers of the Truth among us, who ordinarily meet one another but seldom. “Given to hospitality,” is indeed an apostolic requirement for the furtherance of Gospel fellowship.
We are of the opinion that the brethren, in meeting one another on such an occasion, do feel in measure cause for thankfulness to the Lord and reason for taking courage. To meet those who have obviously the stamp of grace and of the fear of God upon them, and who cleave to Christ’s Truth and Cause, is surely reason enough to the most discouraged believer in a dark and evil day, to seek grace to bless God that there is still a remnant according to the election of grace, in our midst, and to be encouraged in soul thereby. Seeing the brethren at Appii forum had this blessed effect upon Paul: “Whom, when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage,” (Acts xxviii, 15).
Reference was made at the Synod to the portion of the Word of God which appears on the cover of the Free Presbyterian Magazine, viz., “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth,” (Ps. lx, 4). It was emphasised that these words are pregnant with meaning, as to what our obligations are to the Lord and as to what our testimony and witness is, as a Church. And truly, in this backsliding and compromising day in Scotland, when an out and out stand on the side of pure Scriptural doctrine and practice is becoming the burden of few, then may the Kingly Saviour strengthen His people, by the power of His holy Spirit, to hold fast that which they have, that no man take their crown.
And after all is said and done, there ever remains with each one of us as we continue in our allotted spheres of activity in the divine providence, the solemn counsel of the Lord Jesus, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation,” (Mark xiv, 38).