ON Tuesday, the 20th May, the Synod met in the Church at Inverness according to appointment. Divine service was conducted by the retiring Moderator, the Rev. D. J. Macaskill, M.A. Mr. Macaskill preached from Jer. xxxi. 3, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefrom with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” The sermon will (D.V.) appear in a later issue of the Magazine. The Rev. W. MacLean, M.A., Ness, was appointed Moderator for the ensuing year.
As all members of Synod know, the Clerk of Synod occupies a position of first importance to the smooth working of the various meetings and to the correct disposal of the business dealt with. When it became known, shortly before the meeting of Synod was due, that our Clerk, the Rev. R. R. Sinclair, was laid aside by illness, we must confess that in addition to our sorrow for Mr. Sinclair we entertained a considerable feeling of trepidation for the successful carrying out of the Synod business. Mr. Sinclair’s place was taken by the Rev. D. MacLean, Portree. Though new to the work Mr. MacLean proved himself an excellent substitute for Mr. Sinclair and received a justly-merited vote of thanks for his skilful handling of business, some of which was of quite an intricate kind. The Church has reason for deep thankfulness to the Lord of all mercies for the manner in which the business handled was disposed of. Mr. MacLean was ably assisted by the Rev. J. Colquhoun, Glendale.
In the course of the meetings many items of public interest were dealt with. To many people the most outstanding of these were the Foreign Mission Reports and the visit of Mr. Warburton, Chairman of the Trinitarian Bible Society. A full account of these interesting meetings, as well as all other items of a public nature, will appear (D.V.) when the Synod proceedings are published.
The meeting of Synod provides the ministers and elders of the Church with an opportunity to gather together in brotherly fellowship. Certainly there are often matters of a highly controversial nature to be dealt with, and individual opinions often differ. Nevertheless in many respects the meeting is a real tonic. There are fundamental issues in which there is absolute and unquestioned unity—The supremacy of God’s Word; the Glory of Christ; the salvation of the lost; the witness of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland; the absolute necessity of the Holy Spirit in His presence, power and grace. That unity is felt to be very real and deep, binding each to all and all to each. The only drawback is that with so much business to deal with in the shortest possible time, there is not nearly so much time or opportunity for spiritual fellowship as we would wish.
To some of us who are reaching the older ranks of ministers the joy of meeting is now tinctured with the sadness which comes from missing the faces, the handelasp and the wisdom of those of former years who are no longer able to attend. It is a sadness inevitable to the changeable order of things in this world and stands in sharp contrast to the unchangeableness of the Great Master whom we seek to serve. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
The Inverness congregation has again earned the gratitude of the members of Synod, not only for their abundant provision, wonderful in these difficult times, but more also for the spontaneous warmth and sincerity of their welcome. It has left a memory very sweet and pleasant to dwell upon.