When the October issue of the Free Presbyterian Magazine came out the Notes and Comments under the heading “Unscriptural evangelical activities” made reference to Rev. David Paterson of the Free Church, Perth. Since the publication of that article Rev. David Paterson has written to the Magazine Committee pointing out that he left the Free Presbyterian Church as a member in full communion without any ground of censure against him known to the Kirk Session of Inverness and with the best wishes of the minister of the congregation. He left to go to another part of the world. When he returned to Scotland he joined the Free Church of Scotland and duly entered the ministry of that Church. He felt aggrieved at the nature of the comments made about him in the article referred to. His position is that as a minister of the Free Church of Scotland he is against the use of uninspired hymns and instrumental music in the public worship of God, but if persons who are organising meetings outside his Church invite him to preach he considers that he is not only free to go but, if he is able to go, that he should take up the invitation and preach the Gospel as a minister would preach in his own Church. Mr Paterson accepts that on this point he is differing from the views of others, but this is his considered opinion, which he believes is properly based on Scripture.
On the other hand, Rev. Donald Maclean in the article referred to was pointing out that in his view Rev. David Paterson by attending on such an occasion as that described in the article was acting inconsistently. Mr Maclean takes the view that as a minister sworn to defend purity of worship Mr Paterson was wrong to take part in such an occasion as described in the article where a full musical programme was to form part of the event. Mr Maclean considered that in going to such an occasion Mr Paterson, who had been a communicant in the Free Presbyterian Church, had in this particular respect slidden back from the position in which he had been as a member in the Free Presbyterian Church.
In view of the fact that the words used in the article may be regarded as having a wider significance the Magazine Committee, the editor of the magazine and Rev. Donald Maclean as the writer of the article desire to make it clear that there was no intention on their part to cast any reflection on any other aspect of Mr Paterson’s conduct and character, and in so far as the words used might be thought to carry any further reflection on Mr Paterson than has been explained above, they are withdrawn and their publication is regretted.
Alex. Murray,
Clerk to the Magazine Committee