THE Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church met at Inverness on Tuesday, 6th July. The proceedings were opened at 12 noon with a religious service, conducted by the Rev. Alexander Macrae, Kames, moderator, who preached from Heb. iii. 5, 6. At the end of this service it was resolved that the moderator should in future be appointed for a twelvemonth, and accordingly Mr. Macrae was elected for another half-year. A committee was appointed to consider the order of the business, and the Synod adjourned to meet again in the evening at 6 o’clock. At this sederunt, Rev. J. S. Sinclair, Glasgow, gave in a deliverance on Sabbath observance, prepared with the assistance of the Rev. Neil Cameron, according to the instructions of Synod at last meeting. Rev. J. R. Mackay moved its adoption, and that it be printed in the Magazine. It was also agreed to send copies to the Prime Minister and the leader of the House of Commons. Rev. Roderick Mackenzie reported on the theological training of the students. He said that the Committee had entrusted the training of divinity students for last winter to Rev. J. R. Mackay, Gairloch, and Rev. John Macleod, probationer, and the result had proved very satisfactory. Mr. Mackay gave an interesting account of the past session at Gairloch, and said that the work had been heartily and successfully carried through by the students. The Synod then formally appointed Rev. Messrs. Mackay and Macleod as theological teachers or professors, the former to teach Hebrew and Systematic Theology, and the latter, New Testament Exegesis and Church History. Mr. Dugald Cameron, student, was appointed to preach to the fishermen at Fraserburgh and Peterhead for seven weeks. The annual financial statement was read. The clerk intimated that he had received from a friend a donation of £70, to be equally divided between the Students’ Aid Fund and the Sustentation Fund. The circulation of the Magazine was reported to be about 2,200 per month, subscribers were exhorted to be punctual in their payments, and an appeal was made for the co-operation of all interested in the Magazine in the way of contributions. A discussion also took place on the subject of “Our Church Principles,” and it was agreed that the ministers of the Church should preach one Sabbath a year on this important subject. The Synod adjourned, to meet next day at 10 o’clock a.m.
The Synod met on Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. The case of the Rev. Allan Mackenzie, Inverness, and his congregation, which has been before the Northern Presbytery for some time, was then taken up. Parties were called to the bar. Mr. Mackenzie appeared in support of an appeal from the finding of the Northern Presbytery, at a meeting held in Strathcarron on 17th November, 1896, anent the Committee of his congregation. He also supported an appeal from the finding of the Northern Presbytery, at a meeting held in Inverness on the 24th February, 1897, anent a petition from members and adherents of his congregation for the election of office-bearers and the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. After Mr. Mackenzie addressed the Synod in support of these appeals, the Rev. J. R. Mackay, Gairloch, and the Rev. D. Macfarlane, Raasay, appeared in defence of the action of the Northern Presbytery. After Mr. Mackenzie was heard again in reply, the Rev. Neil Cameron, Glasgow, rose and addressed the Synod. He concluded by moving the following as the finding of the Synod on the case:—
First.—The Synod, having heard parties at the bar, find: (1) that the Northern Presbytery have fully justified their procedure in respect of their having deemed it inadvisable to sanction the election of office-bearers in the divided state of the congregation; (2) that the said Presbytery acted wisely and Scripturally in expressing their agreement with the elders that the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper should not be administered until a better state of feeling prevail in the congregation. The Synod therefore dismiss the Rev. Allan Mackenzie’s appeal on this count.
Secondly.—The Synod having considered the whole circumstances of the case instruct the session that, instead of carrying on financial affairs as at present by means of a Congregational Committee, they at their first meeting constitute themselves into a Deacon’s Court, and that, until a better state of things prevail in the congregation that would justify the election of office-bearers, they ask four or five members in full communion to assist them unofficially in financial matters.
Thirdly.—The Synod deplore the injudicious conduct of the Rev. Allan Mackenzie in having widened this painful disagreement; (1) by rushing to the public prints, and that while the matters in dispute were under the consideration of the Courts of the Church, instead of showing a meek and peaceable spirit which the servants of Christ should cultivate and cherish; (2) by making public statements regarding the character of office-bearers and members of Committee which the Synod cannot pass by without strong disapproval. They therefore exhort Mr. Mackenzie in the future to do everything in his power to secure harmony in the congregation and to pursue the things that make for peace.
Mr. Murdoch Macdonald, elder, Glasgow, seconded the motion, and the above became the finding of the Synod.
Mr. Mackenzie protested against this finding. The protest was accepted, and the Rev. Messrs. Cameron and Sinclair were appointed as a Committee to frame replies, and bring them up at next meeting. The sederunt lasted for four hours.
The Synod adjourned to meet again in Glasgow, on Tuesday, the 16th November.