Induction at Raasay
On Tuesday, the 22nd December 1970, the Western Presbytery met within the Church, Raasay and was constituted with prayer by the Moderator, Rev. John MacDonald. Seven ministers and four elders were present. Rev. John Colquhoun had sent an apology, stating, “… so I cannot attend the Presbytery, much as I would like to go there”. The Church was well filled as the MacBraynes steamer had been chartered from Portree and, in the perfect weather conditions prevailing, 57 persons took the opportunity to cross from Skye.
After the return of the usual Edict, Mr John Maclean who had been Missionary in Raasay for the past years made proclamation three times at the Church door. Rev. Alfred E. W. MacDonald then went to the pulpit and preached an appropriate sermon from Philippians 1:12. “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which have happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” The theme developed was the furtherance of the Gospel and the Apostle’s wonderful zeal to that end.
The Clerk then gave a narrative of the proceedings in the Call, observing that the congregation had been vacant just 5 years and that 13 Members and 82 Adherents had signed. Mr Nicolson then stood and the Moderator put to him the Questions as required to be put to ministers at the time of their Induction. After Mr Nicolson had answered satisfactorily and had further signed the Formula in the presence of the congregation, the Moderator engaged in prayer and, in the name of the Presbytery, and by authority of the Divine Head of the Church, inducted Mr Donald Nicolson, Minister of the Gospel, to the pastoral charge of Raasay Congregation, and gave to him the right hand of fellowship. The newly-inducted minister was then addressed by the Moderator and the congregation was exhorted by the Rev. A. Murray, who had been interim-Moderator during the vacancy. A truly happy occasion came to a close with the singing of the concluding verses of Psalm 69, and the Benediction; and, thereafter, the congregation met their minister at the Church door, and the visitors were suitably entertained by the ladies of the congregation in the adjacent manse.
Raasay has been much favoured in the past history of our Church, as the place where the Rev. Donald Macfarlane was already minister when he made his courageous stand for the continued purity of the visible Church in Scotland and founded the Free Presbyterian Church. For ten years he laboured in these parts and may the ministry now begun be richly blessed by the gracious Lord who is sovereignly distributing gifts to His Church in the earth throughout all generations.
ALEXANDER MURRAY, Clerk of Presbytery.
London Church
We have now to intimate that the property which the London congregation hoped to acquire in Battersea has been withdrawn from the market. The Methodist Church authorities to whom the building and site belonged, have decided to use the premises themselves. Consequently the search for premises for our London congregation will continue and we trust, if that is the Lord’s will, that a suitable place will be provided before long.
Vatican Representation
The following letter was sent on behalf of the Religion and Morals Committee to the Foreign Secretary:
11th December 1970
The Rt. Hon. Sir Alec Douglas Home, M.P.,
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,
Whitehall,
London, S.W.1.
Dear Sir,
This Committee, having taken note of the fact that the Vatican has significantly appointed a Papal Nuncio to the Council of Europe and the Common Market countries, would respectfully enquire as to whether or not Britain will accept the senior diplomatic status of this man, if and when she joins the Six. They would also seek an assurance that the Government has no intention of appointing an Ambassador to the Vatican, or of accrediting a Nuncio to the Court of St. James, as has been hinted in recent newspaper reports.
Having regard to the unique and blasphemous claims of the Pope of Rome to be Christ’s vicar on earth, and to possess spiritual and temporal jurisdiction over rulers and nations, they cannot but view any such recognition of this usurper of Christ’s prerogatives as prejudicial to the secular and religious interests of our country, and it is for this reason that they deem it their duty to express their concern and seek an assurance from you that their fears in regard to this matter are groundless.
On behalf of the Religious and Morals Committee,
I am, etc.
(Sgd.) J. MacLEOD
Reply from Foreign Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1.
22nd December 1970
Dear Mr MacLeod,
Thank you for your letter of 11th December. We have noted your concern over the Vatican’s nomination of Archbishop Cardinale to be Nuncio to the European Communities, in addition to his existing functions as Nuncio to the Belgian Court.
Our application to join the European Communities does not imply, nor would our entry involve any change in our attitude to the Vatican, and the relations of our delegation in Brussels with the Nuncio would be analogous to those of our Embassies in the numerous countries where a Nuncio has diplomatic status, and is often doyen of the Diplomatic Corps.
Press speculation on any change in our attitude is unfounded.
Yours sincerely,
T. C. S. Stitt.
Christmas Stamps
The following letter was sent on behalf of the Religion and Morals Committee to the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications:
11th December, 1970.
The Rt. Hon. Christopher Chataway, M.P.,
St. Martin’s-le-Grand,
London, E.C.1.
Dear Sir,
I write on behalf of the above Committee, to renew our protest over the nativity scene stamps which were issued recently by the Post Office. We deplore the continued use of pictures purporting to represent the Divine Redeemer. Such representations originated in, and are now largely associated with the Roman Catholic Church, and are in our view unscriptural and blasphemous. We would urge you, Sir, to take into account sincerely held convictions of many of Her Majesty’s loyal Protestant subjects and to take the necessary steps to bring about a reversal of Post Office policy in this matter, thus ensuring that any future issues will not bear these offending pictures.
On behalf of the Religious and Morals Committee.
I am, etc.