Communions
January—Fifth Sabbath, Inverness. February—First Sabbath, Dingwall; third, Stornoway; fourth, North Uist, Kyle of Lochalsh. March—First Sabbath, Ullapool; second, Ness, Portree and Tarbert; third, Finsbay, Lochinver; fourth, Kinlochbervie and North Tolsta. April—First Sabbath, Breasclete, Portnalong and Fort-William; second, Gisborne, N.Z.; third, London and Greenock; fourth, Glasgow, Wick. May—First Sabbath, Kames and Oban; second, Scourie; third, Edinburgh and Broadford. June—First Sabbath, Applecross; 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; second, Portree and Stratherrick; third, Bonar, Finsbay and Laide; fourth, Thurso, Vatten; fifth, Stornoway. September—First Sabbath, Ullapool, Breasclete; second, Strathy; third, Tarbert, Stoer and Vancouver (Canada); fourth, Applecross. October—First Sabbath, Tolsta, Lochcarron, Fort-William; second, Gairloch and Ness; fourth, Gisborne, N.Z., Greenock; Lochinver; fifth, Wick. November—First Sabbath, Oban and Raasay; second, Glasgow and Halkirk; third, Edinburgh, Dornoch, Staffin and Uig. December—First Sabbath, London.
London Communion Services
The services will be as follows (p.v.):—Thursday, 2nd December, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Friday, 3rd December, 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. (Fellowship Meeting); Saturday, 4th December, 2.30 p.m. (Gaelic), 3.30 p.m. (English) and 6.30 p.m. (Prayer Meeting); Sabbath, 5th December, 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.; Monday, 6th December, 7 p.m. The week-day services will be held in the Bridewell Hall, London City Mission, Eccleston Place, S.W.1, and the Sabbath services in St. Michael’s Hall (opposite Victoria Coach Station), Eccleston Place. Rev. Alex. Murray, M.A., Applecross, and Rev. D. M. Macleod, Stornoway, are expected to assist at the Communion (p.v.).
To All Congregational Treasurers
As it is intended (p.v.) to close the Books for the year ending 31st December, 1965, on 7th January, 1966, the Finance Committee requests all Congregational Treasurers to send in 1965 Funds by that date to the General Treasurer and/or the Publications Treasurer.
Tribute to the late Mr Duncan MacRae, Elder, Lochcarron
The Western Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland met at Kyle of Lochalsh this 31st day of August, 1965, would place on record the loss sustained by the sudden removal by death on 17th March of Mr Duncan MacRae, Elder, Lochcarron, who had on several occasions represented the Lochcarron Kirk Session in this Court.
Mr MacRae’s maternal grandfather, Sandy Ross, Ullapool, was well known as a lay-preacher in the early days of the Free Presbyterian Church, and so Duncan was brought up among the traditions of godliness. This itself can never be sufficient but, in due time, and while still in early life, the subject of this tribute was brought to know himself as a lost sinner and, then, to receive that salvation from sin which alone may be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. In public exercises Mr MacRae made it known that he possessed a sound experimental knowledge of this salvation.
Our late brother’s public witness was not to be long—eleven years as a Member, and almost seven as an Elder—when at the age of 38 years, by the agency of a tree falling during a storm upon his car, as he travelled on the public highway a few miles from his own house, his life was at an end. This event must appear as solemn and mysterious, and something to be observed by all, as, more especially, in his own congregation. Assuredly, it is the voice of the Great King who may do with His own creatures whatsoever He may please and who is at the same time, “just in all his ways, holy in his works all” (Psalm cxlv: 17). For those who knew him best, there is the remembrance of a peculiar sweetness as attached to their last opportunities of fellowship with Mr MacRae and he himself gave remarkable evidence to his wife that it was his expectation that his body would soon be laid in the grave. He is now laid to rest in the Church-yard of Lochcarron there to await the resurrection morn.
To his sorrowing like-minded widow, as to the two little children, the Presbytery would extend its sincere sympathy and commend them to the grace of Him who is “the widow’s stay” and “the orphan’s help” (Psalm cxlvi: 9).
ALEC MURRAY,
31st August, 1965.
Clerk of Presbytery pro. tempore.