Spain and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
It was announced in the press that the Spanish Foreign Minister, Senor Castiella, was to visit London during July, at the invitation of the British Government. This was said to be part of N.A.T.O.’s reconsidered policy toward Spain which has been ruled by Dictator General Franco for many years now. And as we know, his policy has been rigidly in line with Vatican requirements involving a great deal of oppression of the Protestant minority in his country. Although there has been little or nothing done about this in Great Britain; there has been, and there is, quite a considerable anti-Spanish feeling in Britain and among our politicians. In view of the possibility of Spain being invited to join N.A.T.O., which the United States desires, we were relieved to read that our Foreign Minister, Mr Selwyn Lloyd, was to speak to the Spanish Foreign Mission on the situation of the Protestants in Spain, which the press stated had recently caused distress in Britain. It is so much to know that this evil state of affairs has not been entirely forgotten by members of the British Government.
Vice in London.
During a debate in the House of Lords at the beginning of June, Lord Stonham demanded emergency Government action to clean up dens of immorality in London. It was stated that the police were emphatic that there had been no change in the situation with the passing of the Street Offences Act, which was intended to clear the London streets of the open activities of immoral persons. From what this debate revealed, we learn that small clubs for evil purposes have become numerous. For example, Lord Stonham told the House of Lords that the London district of Stepney with its working-class traditions had become a place of shame as it was now a centre of vice. These facts which are now and again made public, testify to a terrible plague of immorality which has spread throughout Britain. We deplore the heinous sin of disregard for the Lord’s Day in our midst but the alarming fact is that transgression of all the Commandments is rife. And fire came down from the Lord out of heaven upon Sodom; and we should tremble.
Bishop Defends the Duke of Edinburgh.
Polo playing on the Lord’s Day by the Duke of Edinburgh was defended by the Bishop of Lichfield, Dr. A. S. Reive, at a Conference at Stafford, on the 1st of June last. The Bishop said that the Royal Family set an example to the nation in regular Church attendance. And that Prince Philip played polo only after discharging this obligation. This is not the only Church of England clergyman who has spoken thus. These blind leaders of the blind have much to answer for unto the Lord. No wonder men run on in sin when their religious advisers encourage them. Yet the Bishops will complain like others of non-church going which they themselves help to bring about, or is it the case that such religious leaders do not care as long as they obtain their salaries and a place for themselves in the Church?
Adolf Eichmann, Persecutor of Jews.
The startling case of the capture of Eichmann who is said to have been largely responsible for the death of literally millions of Jews in Germany, has been given great prominence recently. Jewish agents apprehended him in Argentina and brought him to Israel for trial. It is true as far even as this world is concerned, that some men’s sins find them out. Their particular sins confront and condemn them ere ever they go to eternity and the Judgment seat of Christ. One item in this case which has been made known is that Eichmann fled from Europe to Argentina under a false name and with a displaced person’s identity card which was issued by the refugee section of the Vatican. He managed to get his wife and children with him also. Cases of this kind are not necessary to prove the total depravity of the sons of Adam, but they emphasise the fact and show the Word of God to be absolutely true as to what it declares of the desperate wickedness of man’s heart.
Resumption of Talks on Church Union.
Professor W. S. Tindall opened a debate in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Inter-Church Relations and made known that a Committee of 50 of the Church of Scotland was to resume talks with the Church of England to resolve the issues involved in mutual recognition, although it was revealed that the Church of England never sent a detailed reply to a Deliverance of last year on these questions. We believe the Church of England’s attitude is somewhat similar to the Roman Catholic attitude viz., “submit unreservedly to us.” During this debate which took place the day after the debate on the Sabbath question, a member of Assembly asked Professor Tindall if he could state which churches would be affected if the report on the Christian use of “Sunday” had been adopted on the previous day. Professor Tindall’s reply should be noted in the light of observations in the article in this issue on “The Debate in the General Assembly on the Sabbath Question.” Professor Tindall replied by naming the Free Church of Scotland, which he said, attached very great importance to the observance of “Sunday.” “We are hoping,” he added, “that one day the way will become clear, whereby the Free Church and the Church of Scotland will become one Church.” If these references by Professor Tindall to the Free Church of Scotland are not an expression of merely wishful thinking and superficial talk, then he must have had some ground and authority for speaking of the Free Church as he did. Those who read the article in this issue on the debate upon the Sabbath question will see there that Professor Torrance, of the Church of Scotland also referred to the Free Church. And Professor Tindall’s questioner had Professor Torrance’s observations apparently in mind. Therefore we think that the Free Church of Scotland, by the public utterances of Professor Renwick, Free Church Assembly Moderator, and those of Professors Torrance and Tindall of the Church of Scotland, has been presented to the general public as a denomination which has had some contacts, one way or another, with the Church of Scotland anent union between the two churches. And if these impressions are completely devoid of any reality, then the ecclesiastical air should be cleared.
— Church Notes.
Communions.
January—Fifth Sabbath, Inverness. February—First Sabbath, Dingwall; third, Stornoway; fourth, North Uist. March—First Sabbath, Ullapool; second, Ness and Portree; third, Finsbay; fourth, Kinlochbervie, North Tolsta. April—First Sabbath, Stoer, Achmore, Portmalong and Fort William; third, Greenock and London, fourth, Glasgow and Wick. May—First Sabbath, Kames and Oban; second, Scourie; third, Edinburgh and Broadford. June—First Sabbath, Tarbert, Applecross, Coigach; second,
Shieldaig; third, Lochcarron, Glendale, Helmsdale, Dornoch and Uig; fourth, Gairloch and Inverness. July—First Sabbath, Lairg, Raasay and Beauly; second, Staffin, Tomatin and Tain; third, Halkirk, Rogart, Flashadder and Daviot; fourth, Achmore, Bracadale, North Uist and Plockton. August—First Sabbath, Dingwall and Vancouver (Canada); second, Portree and Stratherrick; third, Bonar, Finsbay and Laide; fourth, Vatten, Thurso and Stornoway. September—First Sabbath, Ullapool and Breasclete; second, Strathy; third, Tarbert and Stoer; fourth, Applecross. October—First Sabbath, Tolsta and Lochcarron; second, Gairloch and Ness; fourth, Greenock, Lochinver; fifth, Wick. November—First Sabbath, Oban and Raasay; second, Glasgow and Halkirk; third, Edinburgh, Dornoch and Uig. December—First Sabbath, London.
Resignation of the General Treasurer.
At its meeting in May, the Synod regretfully gave authority to accept the resignation of Mr John Grant as General Treasurer of the Church. This resignation is to take effect from 30th September, 1960.
The Synod also appointed a new General Treasurer in the person of Mr W. D. Fraser, 34 Duneearn Street, Glasgow. Mr Fraser’s appointment will commence from 1st October, 1960.
This brief notice is inserted for the information of our friends overseas principally. A fuller notice will appear in the September issue of this Magazine. (DV)
Donald MacLean, Convener, Finance Committee
Induction of the Rev. Donald MacLean at Glasgow.
In connection with this Induction, the Rev. D. Campbell, Interim-Moderator, constituted the Southern Presbytery in the Vestry of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on Tuesday, the 14th day of June, 1960, at 6.30 p.m., and at 7 p.m., the Induction Service began in the Church, in which a congregation estimated at fully 700 people was assembled.
The Rev. James MacLeod, Greenock, Senior minister of the Presbytery, then conducted public worship, preaching an appropriate sermon, his text being Luke, Chapter 10, verses 1-3. “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The Harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.”
Public worship being ended, the Clerk then read a narrative of the steps taken relative to the Call with a view to filling up the vacancy. He then read out the Questions usually put to ministers on such an occasion, and, the Rev Donald MacLean having satisfactorily answered the Questions, the Clerk then read out the Formula which was then signed by Mr MacLean in the presence of the Congregation.
The Rev James MacLeod did then after solemn prayer, suitably induct and admit Mr MacLean to the pastoral charge of St. Jude’s Congregation, giving him the right hand of fellowship, in which he was followed by other members of the Court, including the Rev William MacLean, Ness, who was associated with the Presbytery.
The newly-inducted minister was then suitably and solemnly addressed by the Rev James MacLeod, who stressed the need of application to the Bible and Prayer.
The Congregation was then addressed in suitable terms by the Rev J. P. MacQueen and the Rev William MacLean, on the invitation of the Interim-Moderator, expressed his pleasure in connection with the settlement now effected.
Mr MacLean was ordained and inducted to the pastoral charge of Portree, Skye, on 22nd December, 1948, and now comes back in the Providence of God to be minister of that Congregation in which he was brought up from infancy and for many years following under the ministry of the late Rev Neil Cameron, and to the Presbytery by which he was received as a student studying for the ministry, and by which he was licensed to preach the Gospel on 29th June, 1948.
His brethren in the Southern Presbytery and his many friends in the South welcome Mr MacLean among them. May his ministry be greatly owned of the Lord in the conversion of sinners and in the building up of the Lord’s people in their most holy faith.
Malcolm Macsween, Clerk of the Southern Presbytery
— Acknowledgement of Donations.
Mr J. Grant, 4 Millburn Road, Inverness, General Treasurer, acknowledges with grateful thanks the following:—
Sustentation Fund.—Mrs Smith and family, Golspie, £8.
Aged and Infirm Ministers and Widows and Orphans’ Fund.—Mrs Smith and family, Golspie, £4.
Foreign Mission.—Miss C. MacArthur, Bath Street, Glasgow, £1; Rev E. F. Vergunst, Ede, Holland (ten guilders), 18/7; Well-wisher, for defending the Faith, Glasgow postmark, £20.
Organisation Fund.—Well-wisher for defending the Faith, Glasgow postmark, £20.
Publication Fund.—A. P., Portree, £2; Well-wisher, for defending the Faith, Glasgow postmark, £20.
Trinitarian Bible Society.—A. P., Portree, £2.
Home of Rest Fund.—Anon, Vancouver, per Rev D. M. Macdonald, Edinburgh (\$20), £7.3.4d.; Mrs Ross, Badcall, Scourie, £1.
Legacy Fund.—Received from the Estate of the late James MacIver, Drumindarroch House, Strath, Gairloch, the sum of £500, bequeathed to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, per George Ross and Noble, Solicitors, Inverness.
The following list sent in for publication.
Bayhead (N. Uist) Manse Repair Fund.—Mr A. Macdonald, Treasurer acknowledges with sincere thanks £5 from Mrs Johnson, Edinburgh, and £3 from M. MacAskill, Inverness, both per Rev A. Morrison.
Broadford Congregational Funds.—Mr John MacLean, Treasurer, acknowledges with sincere thanks £4, for Sustentation Fund.
Dingwall Church Building Fund.—Mr D. Matheson, Treasurer, acknowledges with sincere thanks, Friend, Rogart, per Rev Mr MacFarlane, £5; C.M., £10; Small envelope Prayer Meeting, £5; Mrs Newington, Laxdale, further 10/- per Rev Mr MacFarlane; A Wayfarer, per H. C. F., £5.
Fort William Manse Building Fund.—Mr J. Matheson, Treasurer acknowledges with sincere thanks, Friend, Glendale, £2; Friend, Glendale, £1, per Mr A. Colquhoun.
Glasgow, St. Judes Manse Fund.—The Treasurer acknowledges with thanks the following: M. Nicolson, Portree, 10/-; “Surplus,” Glasgow, £3; John Gillies, Kuwait, £5; Alex. Furgie, Redding, Falkirk, £5.
Glendale Church Repairs Fund.—Mr A. Maclean, Treasurer, acknowledges with sincere thanks, Friend, Glendale, £1; Friend, Dunvegan, £1, for new vestry, both per Rev J. C.; £2 in envelope in plate for Sustentation Fund.
Greenock Congregational Funds.—Mr A. Y. Cameron, Treasurer, acknowledges with grateful thanks, £1, from a Gairloch Free Presbyterian for Sustentation Fund, also £1, from an Edinburgh friend, per Rev J. MacL.
Halkirk Congregation.—Rev W. Grant, gratefully acknowledges £5, for Church Funds from Mrs D. Sinclair, Harrowgate. “Children’s Pennies,” for T.B.S. (Calder School), £1.11.8d.
Laig Congregation.—Rev D. M. MacLeod, acknowledges with grateful thanks Laig Sustentation Fund £2.10/- from a Friend.
Bonar-Bridge.—Home Mission Fund, £2.10/- from a Friend. Rev. D. M. Macleod also acknowledges £5, from M. Gillies, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, towards Prizes for Reformation Essay.
London Church Building Fund.—Rev J. P. MacQueen, acknowledges with sincere thanks, £3 from Mr and Mrs John MacPhail, Glasgow; £1, from a Gairloch F.P.; £1, from D. MacKenzie, North Tolsta; Ten dollars from F.P. Friend in U.S.A. (£3.10/-)
Oban Congregational Funds.—Mr John Martin, Treasurer, acknowledges with grateful thanks, £5, from Mr J. Fraser, per Rev M. MacSween.
Portree Congregation Church Hall Fund.—The Treasurer acknowledges with grateful thanks, the sum of £2 10/-, from A. Raasay Friend, per Rev D. MacLean.
Tain Congregation.—The Treasurer acknowledges with sincere thanks £5, from Mr R. Godber, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Uig, Lewis Congregation.—The Treasurer acknowledges with grateful thanks £1, for Congregational Funds, £1 from Mrs MacKenzie, Sussex, per D. M.
St. Judes’ South African Clothing Fund.—The Committee acknowledges with thanks, contributions amounting to £22.11.8d., also £1 from Miss C. Meighan and 15/- from Interested, Edinburgh.
St. Judes, Glasgow.—The Treasurer acknowledges with grateful thanks, Aged and Infirm Ministers’ etc. Fund, “Tenth,” Glasgow, £25; Congregational Funds, “Friend,” Stornoway, per Rev W. Maclean, £5.