Clerk:
Rev. A. F. MacKay, M.A.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth,
The Queen Mother,
Clarence House,
St. James’ Park,
London, S.W.1.
Free Presbyterian Manse,
11 Auldcastle Road,
Inverness.
25th March, 1959.
Madam, May it please your Majesty—
The Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, met at Dingwall on 24th March 1959, have learned with concern and are deeply disturbed by the Press report that, as part of Your Majesty’s contemplated visit to Rome this year, an interview with the Pope at the Vatican has been arranged.
We feel that an appeal against this action on the part of Your Majesty is called for, mainly on the ground that Your Majesty, during this visit, will be regarded in Rome and throughout the world as the
Representative of a Protestant nation, whose reigning sovereign has solemnly undertaken in accordance with the Accession and Coronation Oaths to maintain the Protestant constitution of this country, a position which will certainly be greatly affected by the acknowledgment of the head of the Papal System, involved in Your Majesty’s proposed visit to the Pope.
It will be known to Your Majesty that the pretensions of the Roman Catholic Church in this country aim at the complete subjugation of our beloved land to the papal jurisdiction, from which the Protestant Reformation, under the hand of the Most High, achieved our deliverance, and any action on Your Majesty’s part, such as the Press report indicates, must weaken that position and tend to undermine the glorious liberties, religious and civil, which our people at present enjoy.
In no sense can Your Majesty’s reception by the Pope be regarded as a state visit, as the procedure laid down for visitors to the Pope is religious in many of its aspects and quite inconsistent with the high and responsible station held by Your Majesty in our nation.
We would solemnly represent to Your Majesty that by omitting this call on the Pope at the Vatican from Your Majesty’s official visit to Rome Your Majesty’s action would be thankfully acknowledged by Multitudes of our fellow-Protestants, besides going a long way to consolidate the position and strengthen the witness of the Protestant Church in our beloved land, of which Your Majesty and Your Majesty’s beloved daughter, our highly honoured Queen, are members.
We feel that nothing less than this is required by the Word of God which has brought us our present liberties, the Protestant Constitution of our Church, and the future welfare and greatness of our nation which, since the Reformation, has enjoyed the favour and blessing of heaven.
We have the honour to remain,
Your Majesty’s most humble and devoted servants,
(signed) A. F. MacKay, Clerk.
Opening of Dingwall New Church.
The opening service of the new Free Presbyterian Church, Dingwall, will be held, the Lord willing, on Tuesday, the 12th day of May, 1959, at 7 p.m., Rev. W. Grant, Halkirk, Moderator of Northern Presbytery, will conduct the service (D.V.).
Meeting of Annual Synod.
The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland will, (D.V.) meet on Tuesday, the 19th day of May, 1959, in the Hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, at 6.30 p.m. The Reverend Donald MacLean, Portree, the retiring Moderator, will conduct public worship at the above hour.—Rev. Robert R. Sinclair, Clerk of Synod.