Communions.—Gairloch, 2nd Sabbath of month; Farr, Sutherlandshire, on 3rd; Wick, on 4th; Oban, on 1st Sabbath of November.
Correspondence between Rev. W. Mackinnon and Rev. D. Beaton.—Since our last issue, the reply of Rev. D. Beaton, Moderator of F.P. Synod, to Rev. W. Mackinnon, Free Church, Gairloch, has appeared in the Northern Chronicle of August 29th. The subject of controversy was explained in last Magazine. In this second letter, Mr. Beaton discusses more fully the Free Church’s handling of the case of Professor Alexander, the author of the book “Demonic Possession,” to which much reference has been made already in these pages. Mr. Beaton shows in a very convincing manner that the Free Church proved itself disloyal to Holy Scripture in the way it dealt with Professor Alexander and his book. Among other things, he says:—”The book was published in February, 1902, and in April of that year, the Free Church Monthly has a short notice of it, but without a word of condemnation. . . . Furthermore we are informed on the very best authority that an author, well-known as a writer against the higher critics, wrote a letter to the editor of the Free Church Monthly, but it never saw the light.” This took place shortly before Dr. Alexander was appointed as a teacher in the Free Church. Again, Mr. Beaton states: “If Mr. Mackinnon consults the Acts of the Church of Scotland, he will find one to this effect:—’The Assembly ordains that Presbyteries and Synods, in admitting persons to the ministry be accurate in their trials, according to the order prescribed in this Church . . . that they lay hands suddenly on no man, nor be partaker of other men’s sins.'” I think Mr. Mackinnon will admit that those who admitted Dr. Alexander would have done well to read this Act of 1652. Another statement of mine denied by Mr. Mackinnon is that “the
withdrawal of a book from circulation and withdrawal from erroneous opinions are not quite the same.” What about the withdrawal of Dr. Dods’ St. Giles sermon? Did the Constitutional party regard this as a withdrawal of his erroneous opinions?”
All we shall add to this is that, while Professor Alexander declared his belief in December last in the infallibility of the Scriptures, he made no distinct or explicit disavowal of his former erroneous opinions, which was the particularly essential thing in any confession such as he made. It is necessary in order to be a Free Churchman of the right stamp, to disown error as well as profess truth. Anything short of this will not do; and this is what neither the Free Church nor Professor Alexander has done in the present important case touching the fundamental doctrine of Holy Scripture.
The Theological Classes.—The classes will open (d.v.) on Tuesday, 20th October, at Wick, under the tuition of the Rev. D. Beaton. The subjects dealt with will be Church History and New Testament Greek. The prayers of the Lord’s people are solicited, both for tutor and students. Theological study without the unction of the Holy Spirit is, after all, poor equipment for the work of the ministry.
The late Angus Macnaughton, Fort-William.—We regret to record the death of this godly man, which took place on Sabbath, the 19th August. He was one who passed through many spiritual trials during his wilderness journey, but he had a comfortable death-bed, and his surviving friends feel assured that he has entered upon his everlasting rest. Much sympathy is felt for his widow in her great bereavement, and also for the adherents of our Church at Fort-William, who have sustained a great loss. We hope to have a fuller notice in some future issue.
Return of Canadian Deputy.—We have much pleasure in stating that the Rev. Ewen Macqueen has safely returned to the home country after spending a couple of months in our mission field in Canada. Mr. Macqueen enjoyed his work very much, notwithstanding the arduous character of his labours and the somewhat changeable state of his health. He feels greatly attached to the friends in Canada. He was accompanied by Mr. Samuel Fraser, Glasgow, who has also returned in safety and comfort to his friends. We shall look forward with much interest to Mr. Macqueen’s report at the meeting of Synod in Glasgow on the Tuesday after the 2nd Sabbath of November.
Obituary Notice.—On 30th April last, St. Jude’s Congregation, Glasgow, lost one of its office-bearers in the person of Donald MacKenzie. He was born about sixty years ago, in Applecross, of God-fearing parents, his father being John MacKenzie, a master mariner well known for his piety. When only two years old, the subject of this notice had the misfortune
to lose his father by death, his mother also dying seven years later. Thus, left an orphan at nine years of age, he and an only sister were taken into the charge of his uncle, the late Duncan MacKenzie, Dunvegan, Skye, with whom he passed several years.
After serving his apprenticeship as a joiner in Inverness, he migrated to Glasgow about 1871. Here he attended the ministrations of the late Rev. Evan Gordon in Duke Street Free Gaelic Church, when he was ordained a Deacon. During the Declaratory Act controversy, he was a close observer of all that passed, and in 1893 was among the first who left the Free Church in Glasgow. He was mainly instrumental in securing the use, first, of the Blythswood Halls, and latterly of St. Jude’s Church, for the Congregation, and took an intense interest in its welfare, attending most conscientiously to the duties of his office until prevented by failing health.
In August last, he had to go under medical treatment for an internal malady, and although every skill available was brought to bear on his case, he gradually grew worse, and during the last three months was completely confined to bed. For a long time his suffering was intense, but was very patiently borne. Some months before his death, he was in great darkness through unbelief; but, before the end came, it pleased God to give him the victory, and his end was peace. M.