Dear Mr Patterson,
We are deeply disturbed by the report of the proposal by Caledonian MacBrayne to introduce a “Sunday ferry service between Uig and Lochmaddy.” Caledonian MacBrayne must know very well how offensive their proposals will be to many people on the Islands and elsewhere. We ask the company: why should the demands of tourism, which a company spokesman said is the reason for the proposal, have consideration over the wishes of the people of the Western Isles, and why should the observance of the Sabbath and the consequent unspoiled peace be impaired for the sake of pleasure seeking tourists and profit seeking hoteliers? Must every corner of our land be robbed of its Sabbaths? Permit us to remind Caledonian MacBrayne once more of the requirement laid down in the Fourth Commandment, “Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. . . .” While God makes every provision for works of necessity and mercy on the Sabbath, He does at the same time indicate His great displeasure at the breaking of the Sabbath. We plead with you to make God’s Word your final standard for operating your ferries and not the wishes of tourists and hoteliers. We respectfully remind you of the answer to the question: “How is the sabbath to be sanctified?” “The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’s worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.”
We are also very concerned that pressures will be put on employees to work on the Lord’s Day. We have heard of some instances of such pressure despite assurances by employers that the employee had complete freedom in the matter.
Yours sincerely, Donald A. Ross, Clerk, Sabbath Observance Committee.
Induction at South Harris
The ordination and induction of Rev. Kenneth MacLeod M.A. to the South Harris Congregation is to take place at Leverburgh Church on 8th September at 7.30 p.m. (D.V.)
Acknowledgment of Donations
The General Treasurer, Room 7, Seafield House, Seafield Road, Inverness, IV1 1SJ, acknowledges the following donations with sincere thanks:—
Sustentation Fund: Anon., £1000.
Foreign Mission Fund: Anon., Canada, \$100.00 for famine relief.
Trinitarian Bible Society: Anon., Greenock, £40; per Strath, Skye, Congregational Treasurer, £30.
Blythswood: per Strath, Skye, Congregational Treasurer, £30.
China Peace Clinic: per Strath, Skye, Congregational Treasurer, £30.
The Treasurers of the following Congregations wish to acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:—
Achmore: Anon., Breasclete, £5 towards April Communion Expenses; Anon., £50 in collection plate towards Church Repairs.
Dundee: Kyle Friends, £5 for Sabbath School Expenses, per Rev. D. C. M.
Flashadder: Anon., £20 for Church Building Fund, per Rev. D. Nicolson.
Fort William: Mrs B., Psalm 46, £10 for Magazines Fund; £4 (envelope in Plate); Friend, Caol, £10; Anon., £50, both for Sustentation Fund.
Glendale: Friend of the Cause, £40, where most needed, per Rev. D. Nicolson.
Laide: Mrs McK., Glasgow, £10; Dr MacL., £50, both per Rev. D. A. Ross for Congr. Funds.
Portree: Anon., £10; Anon., £5, both for Italian Mission; Anon., £20 for Foreign Mission; Anon., £10 for Peace Clinic, Hong Kong; Anon., £22 for Outreach Fund; I. M., £10 for T.B.S. (all by envelopes in plate).
Raasay: Anon., £30, envelope in plate, for Sustentation Fund; Donation for Tapes, £14 per Mrs Tallach.
South Harris: Friends, Geocrab, £30 for Sustentation Fund, per D. MacKenzie; Friend, Northton, £15 for Congr. Fund, per A. MacCuish; Friend, Glasgow, £10 for New Church at Leverburgh, per D. MacKenzie.
Uig: In memory of a loving family, J. M. L., £300 for Church Funds, per M. M.: Anon., £10; £10; £10; £20; £10, all by envelopes in plate, all for Communion Expenses; D. W., £20; L. M., £10, both for Communion Expenses, and by envelopes in plate.
Vatten: A. M. L., £15 for Car Fund.