The following is the Address to His Majesty, King Edward, adopted at last Synod, and forwarded in due course. The accompanying reply was received on 14th September.
ADDRESS.
To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.
We, the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, beg respectfully to tender to your Majesty our cordial congratulations on your Majesty’s accession to the throne of this kingdom.
We desire to join with the rest of your Majesty’s loyal subjects in expressing our deep sorrow at the death of your Majesty’s illustrious mother and predecessor, Queen Victoria, and our profound sympathy with your Majesty and the other members of the Royal Family in the great loss you have thereby sustained.
We would invoke the blessing of Almighty God on your Majesty’s person and reign, and would give expression to our earnest hope that among other blessings our national Protestantism may be maintained, as heretofore, inviolate.
It is our prayer that your Majesty may receive divine strength and guidance for the discharge of the weighty responsibilities of your exalted position.
JAMES S. SINCLAIR,
Moderator.
REPLY.
SCOTTISH OFFICE,
WHITEHALL, 13th September, 1901.
SIR,—I am commanded by the King to convey to the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland His Majesty’s thanks for the expressions of sympathy with the Royal Family on the occasion of the lamented death of Her late Majesty, Queen Victoria, and for the loyal and dutiful assurances on the occasion of His Majesty’s accession to the throne contained in their Address, which I have had the honour to lay before His Majesty.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH.
The Moderator of the
Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland,
Glasgow.