THE half-yearly meeting of Synod was held in St. Jude’s Church Hall, Glasgow, on Tuesday, November 10th, at 12 noon. The retiring moderator, Rev. John Robertson, preached on Matthew ix. 38, and after service constituted the Synod with prayer. In resigning office, Mr. Robertson thanked the Synod for the honour that they had done him in appointing him to the office, and intimated that it now lay with the brethren to appoint his successor. Mr. Stewart, minister at Edinburgh, was accordingly appointed, accepted office, took the chair, thanked the Synod for his appointment, and expressed his hope that he might be enabled to fulfil all the duties that fell to be performed by him in execution of the trust he had been confided with. It was agreed upon that the whole Synod should sit as a committee to prepare business for the second sederunt, and the Court adjourned to meet in the evening at 6 P.M.
On resuming at that hour the Synod’s proceedings were opened with devotional exercises, conducted by the Moderator, and then the business was taken up in accordance with the recommendation of the Business Committee. Accordingly the subject of the Church’s attitude towards any possible educational change that might take place in the country was discussed. This matter came up in connection with a communication from Dr. Theodore Marshall, of the Established Church, which intimated that the various branches of the Reformed Church in Scotland were asked to consult together in order to arrange for the extension of religious education in public and secondary schools throughout the country in the event of any opportunity being offered to secure this by the introduction of a Government measure or otherwise that might alter the present educational settlement of Scotland. The Clerk briefly indicated what had been done in this matter. As we were requested to appoint a delegate or delegates to represent our position before the 1st of October, the clerks of presbyteries were consulted, and an interim appointment of Mr. Stewart, of Edinburgh, to act as delegate was made, with instructions to watch proceedings and report. No meeting of the committee had hitherto taken place, and approving of the course hitherto taken the Synod appointed the Southern Presbytery to act as a committee to watch over this matter. The instructions given them were to the effect that all that could be done should be done that no detriment of “use and wont” might occur, and that if possible that it should be amended, particularly that all efforts to make the reading of the Scriptures a regular school subject should be assisted, and that every opposition should be offered to the placing of denominational schools—Episcopalian or Roman Catholic—on the rates or to further countenance being given them.
A reply was then submitted that had been received from one of the secretaries of the National Bible Society of Scotland to the effect that though for the convenience of friends and subscribers copies of the Revised English Version were kept in stock, yet no grants were made in favour of its circulation, and its sale was not pushed by the society. Before it was decided that any grant should be made in aid of the society’s funds it was decided to inquire as to the attitude taken up by the directors towards the circulation under the auspices of the Society of Romish or other corrupt versions.
A report was given in by Rev. Mr. Mackay, of Inverness, as to the course of study pursued by himself as tutor in theology. He spoke highly of the diligence and willingness of the students, and he received the Synod’s thanks for his report. A suggestion made by him in the course of his remarks was adopted by the Synod to the effect that each student should be required to communicate with the presbytery in whose bounds he lived and satisfy them annually as to his progress and diligence, and thereafter before beginning another session should produce a certificate of their satisfaction from the clerk of presbytery. It was agreed upon that Mr. Radasi should, in view of his prospective departure to the mission field, take a summer course of Church history with Mr. Beaton at Wick next year. And the Clerk was asked to communicate with the Bible societies in order to discover if it was possible to have metrical psalters in the language in which Mr. Radasi was likely to pursue his work.
In view of the present state of opinion on theological matters in Scotland, a resolution was brought before the Synod bearing on the Synod’s attitude towards the Scriptures and subscription of creeds. It was moved by Rev. N. Cameron, seconded by Rev. John R. Mackay, unanimously adopted, and runs as follows:— “This Church, viewing with alarm (1) the infidel and rationalistic teaching promulgated from theological colleges, pulpits and the press concerning the inspiration and infallibility of the Old and New Testaments with its soul-ruining effects, and (2) the degrading and immoral manner in which the most solemn vows made by office-bearers at their ordination into office are violated in Presbyterian churches, and the great reproach thereby cast upon the name of Christ and upon all virtuous and honourable men, resolve to appoint a committee to formulate a deliverance on the above two subjects in order to its being submitted to the Synod in July, and if found satisfactory accepted by the Synod as its finding re the above important matters.”
A committee, consisting of Revs. J. R. Mackay, George MacKay, D. Macfarlane, Neil Cameron (convener), J. Macleod, Messrs. Duncan Crawford, Neil Mackinnon, and John M’Neilage, was appointed to prepare the deliverance. This committee received instructions to meet twice, once at Inverness and once at Glasgow, before next meeting of Synod.
The interim financial report was then presented, which showed the income and expenditure since 31st March last. It was agreed upon that the salaries of the ministers should be at the rate that has been given for the last two half-years, and that the salary of the missionaries should be as usual. The case of the leader of the services at Thurso was remitted to the Northern Presbytery to report on to next meeting of Synod, as application was made for a grant on his behalf. It was ordered that Mr. John Matheson, Tanera, should be recompensed for his services last winter and spring at Lochinver. A letter anent a legacy left by the late Miss Miller, of Oban, for the Free Church of Scotland adhering to Disruption (43) principles was submitted, but in consideration of the unlikeliness of the intentions of the testatrix being directed to the Free Presbyterian Church it was decided to take no steps in the matter. Consideration of the question of how much John Knox’s congregation, Glasgow, should be expected to contribute to the Sustentation Fund in view of congregational necessities, was remitted to the Southern Presbytery with full powers to settle the matter.
The report of the Magazine Committee was submitted by Mr. Stewart, who to do so vacated the chair for a time. This report was received and adopted, and its suggestions were acted on. Accordingly the estimate of cost of production for the year put in by the publisher was accepted. Mr. Angus Fraser and the Clerk were appointed auditors of the magazine accounts, and it was agreed to record that all the ministers were expected to bear their share of the work each year by contributing at least not less than seven pages or so each to the Church magazine.
Rev. John R. Mackay, the Synod’s deputy to its Canadian stations, gave in his report, which is to appear at large in our pages. He received the Synod’s thanks for his labours in the matter, and a committee was appointed, consisting of Revs. N. Macintyre, John R. Mackay, and Neil Cameron, to take steps to secure a delegate for next year, Mr. Macintyre, convener. It was suggested, and the suggestion found favour, that the ministers should be asked to go in the order of their ordination.
Mr. George Mackay then presented his report of his labours in connection with the fishermen in Shetland. Along with Mr. John R. Mackay he was appointed to do what he could to secure that attention be paid to the fishing stations next summer. The Synod voted him £4 for expenses in connection with his work. Mr. Beaton, of Wick, forwarded a report, which was read, of the success he had met with in providing for the supply of Rev. John R. Mackay’s pulpit during his absence, and the statement of accounts given in alike by Mr. J. R. Mackay and Mr. Beaton was accepted. A balance of 4s. 4d. over after all expenses were covered was credited to the Sustentation Fund.
An application was made on behalf of the station at Tain to be sanctioned as a regular charge. A promise was made of £100 per annum towards the Sustentation Fund. It was agreed that Tain should be recognised as a congregation in a position to call a minister, but the recommendation was added that Fearn should be joined to Fearn so as to constitute one charge with it.
It was then decided that certain changes should take place in the location of our missionaries. Mr. John Cameron was transferred from Ullapool to Lochcarron, Mr. John Mackay was transferred from Moy to Ullapool. Mr. Donald Graham during his stay at Inverness was appointed to attend as often as possible to Shieldaig, and Mr. John Macdonald was appointed for some time to the southern district of Applecross.
The Synod agreed to meet again at Inverness on Tuesday after the first Sabbath of July, 1904, at 12 noon. The proceedings were closed with singing and the benediction.