PRÉSBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EAST AUSTRALIA.—REV. W. SCOTT’S BRUSHGROVE-GRAFTON CONGREGATION.
THE two following Reports are taken from The Clarence and Richmond Examiner of Saturday, 26th October, 1907:—
COMMUNION SERVICES.
A quiet but impressive Communion Service was observed at Woodford Dale on Sabbath last. The occasion opened with a Solemn Fast on the Thursday previous, when suitable services were held at both Woodford Dale and Brushgrove. In the prayers, humiliation and confession of sin before God predominated. Public sins on the part of the State and locally were deplored, notably the extent to which sacred things were profaned, and the absence of any fear of God, seen in such Sabbath desecration, profaning of the Divine name and ordinances, as well as neglect of Divine worship. Error and iniquity in consequence, were coming in as a flood. The suffering in the district was noticed; but we had merited the Divine displeasure, and that a fruitful land should be turned into barrenness. A spirit of repentance, national and local, was earnestly besought, with a return to that righteousness which exalteth a nation. The texts of the sermons at both diets were in accord—in the morning, Psalm cxxx. 3, “If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” etc.; evening, Rev. ii. 6, “Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” On the Friday devotional exercises were conducted in the evening. A preparation service was held on the Saturday, in view of so near an approach unto God, the subject being Song of Solomon, ii. 1, “I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys: as the lily among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”
On Communion Sabbath the interest reaches a climax, as seen in the greater concourse of people and the solemn stillness pervading the assembly. This was so on Sabbath last at Woodford Dale. The pastor, Rev. W. Scott, officiated, and preached the “action sermon” from John i. 29, “John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” The great fact of Christ’s death as a satisfaction to Divine justice, its vicarious nature, and its significance to them, were considered, as about to be shown forth by them in the Lord’s Supper. In thereafter “fencing” the table, the minister showed, from the Word of God, who were invited to come to the King’s table, and who were debarred, concluding with encouraging appeals to tender consciences. During praise, the table was then reverently filled up by intending communicants. The Scripture warrant having been read from 1 Corinthians, 11th chapter, and thanks given in prayer, the sacred symbols of the Redeemer’s dying love were passed round and partaken of amidst deepest solemnity; the table addresses being from Isaiah liii. 6, “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all,” and (after communicating) Psalm xxiii. 6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,” etc. The minister, on returning to the pulpit, addressed the non-communicants present, of whom there was a large number, from the words in John i. 37, “And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.” This was followed by praise and the benediction. Again at night Mr. Scott preached to a large congregation from Ruth i. 16, “Entreat me not to leave or to return from following after thee: for whether thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Next day, at a thanksgiving service, the concluding discourse was on the text in Numbers x. 29, “We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you.”
Special thanks were offered for the rain that morning. The weather throughout the solemnity was every way suitable. There can be no disputing the simple grandeur of ancient Presbyterianism at a “Sacrament.” The preparatory services lend a peculiar sacredness to the high ordinance; and such is the devoutness and attention of the worshippers that a solemn awe seems to affect even the children. The praise was well led by Mr. Stewart M’Lachlan, Ulmarra, and the Church building had been thoroughly cleaned and renovated for the occasion.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.
The Annual Meeting of the Congregation was held in Brushgrove Church on Thursday. Devotional exercises were conducted by the pastor, Rev. W. Scott, who presided.
A minute of the previous meeting having been read, Mr. Archibald M’Donald, of Grafton, the general treasurer, read the financial statement for the year, as duly audited. The total income was shown to be slightly over £200, including a small balance which had been brought forward. After reading the abstract he had prepared, Mr. M’Donald pointed out that the amount raised entirely represented the voluntary offerings of the people. This, they held, was the only scriptural method. They did not, therefore, resort to any extraneous means, or appeals to outsiders. They had reason for encouragement, he said, in the increased support from Woodford Dale and Brushgrove, according to the abstract. This applied to more than the past year—the last three years having shown a steady advance. In Grafton, on the other hand, they had suffered from the removal of loyal contributors. They had been able, however, to pay more than the ordinary stipend as a mark of sympathy with their pastor under distress. And still they had a small credit balance. The Foreign Mission collection had amounted to fully £11, and this had been devoted to the Kaffir Mission of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, under the Rev. John B. Radasi. On the whole, he thought they had cause for thankfulness to the Head of the Church for the provision that had been made for them in the interest of His cause. They wished to do more, and to augment the minister’s stipend; and he hoped that, by the Divine blessing, this might yet be realised.
On the motion of Mr. H. Grant, elder, seconded by Mr. A. M’Phee, Coldstream, the report was formally adopted by the meeting, and Mr. M’Donald was cordially thanked for his work as treasurer. Several of those present expressed their satisfaction with the abstract read, but desiderated a greater interest in the affairs of the Church on the part of the congregation generally. It was pointed out that prevailing sickness and other special causes had contributed to the smaller attendances on this occasion. Mr. Angus M’Phee drew attention to the condition of the Brushgrove Church, and, on his suggestion, it was agreed to recommend the re-painting of the building, along with certain other desirable improvements at the manse. He had already received one or two spontaneous subscriptions for the work.
Mr. John M’Leod, Woodford Leigh, proposed that a special collection should be taken for these purposes, and this received unanimous consent. Mr. Grant explained the circumstances of the Woodford Dale Church, and the hope they had of getting it renovated. Mr. N. M’Queen, Lawrence, moved that the existing Committee be re-elected, with the addition of the name of Mr. A. Kidd, and this was carried.
In his concluding remarks, the pastor emphasised the sense of gratitude to God, already expressed, in connection with the honourable maintenance of Divine ordinances in their midst. And he desired there to acknowledge the sympathetic interest manifested towards Mrs. Scott and himself in their domestic trouble. The spontaneity and practical nature of that sympathy they had fully appreciated. He also referred to such efforts as had been permitted to them, other than merely congregational, in the interest of religion and morals. Locally, they had sought to do what they could; and, as regards the foreign field, he had had a letter from the Rev. J. S. Sinclair, Glasgow, testifying to the sense of the Church in Scotland of their interest in their Mission. He had also had communications from several of the home ministers conveying fraternal greetings of the Free Presbyterian Synod there towards themselves in their distinctive position and testimony for past Reformation attainments and purity. Mr. Scott alluded to certain encouraging elements in their congregational life. He longed for more response to the pulpit declarations of the grace of the Saviour; yet he felt cheered by the fact that the week prayer meetings amongst them had so extended. This was a good omen spiritually. They had also other elements of hope manifesting themselves. In the meantime he besought their united loyalty and steadfastness in a time of religious declension. He prayed that they might be as a band of men and women whose hearts God had touched for His name’s glory and the good of His cause.
The meeting was closed by singing the 122nd Psalm, “Pray that Jerusalem may have peace and felicity,” and the benediction was then pronounced.
THE LATE MISS M. M’DONALD, GRAFTON.
In an interesting letter we received from the Rev. Walter Scott at the end of December, he gave a touching account of the last illness and death of a member of his congregation in the person of his sister-in-law, Miss Margaret M’Donald, Grafton. Miss M’Donald, who appears to have been a very excellent person, passed away in autumn, and her death is a loss to the cause of truth in the place where she resided. It seems that under the wintry weather of July in Australia there arose quite an epidemic of troubles in the field where Mr. Scott labours—influenza, pneumonia, and other diseases prevailing to a great extent. Miss M’Donald, who was of a generous and unselfish disposition, was much engaged in helping some of her friends who had taken ill, when she was seized with influenza, which carried her away at the end of a fortnight. Mr. Scott thus writes:—”It went very hard with her; she knew it was to be her end. When conscious, she told Mrs. S. and myself at her bedside not to grieve for her if we did not mean to love her more than Christ. She said she was willing to go, and even desired to depart that she might be with Christ. She was calmly facing death in the intervals of the delirium, and said she had got now more than ever before the conscious joy of her Saviour’s presence. It was an ordeal for us beyond expression; for myself it seemed overpowering to have to minister spiritually at her death-bed so unexpectedly and suddenly, and so soon after a similar experience just seven months previously in the case of another sister, Mrs. N. M’Leod. . . . No one was more generous, thoughtful, and disinterested—always helping others. She was an example in religious duty, and one who desired the sincere milk of the Word, that she might grow thereby. One thing that much impressed us about our late sister’s illness was that, even when apparently unconscious to all else, she was fully there if the Bible was being read, and would very quickly show it by her countenance and stillness. . . . After I had been with her some time, quoting Scriptures and praying, not knowing if she was able to hear or follow, she told a sister-in-law and nurse attending—hours after—how she had appreciated what was read and spoken, saying that I had done more for her thus than she could ever repay. This indicated how she thirsted for the Word. She directed all necessary preparations to be made, saying this would be her last day, even when still we were hopeful of a change. We have felt weakened by such a breach—she was so devoted and zealous. Yet some are taken away from the evil to come, whilst others are left to be the Lord’s remembrancers when the ways of Zion mourn, and few comparatively come to her solemn feasts. And in any case such a solemn providence speaks to survivors—“What I say unto one I say unto all, Watch.”
On the Sabbath after Miss M’Donald’s death Mr. Scott preached on the words in Rev. xiv. 13—“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Miss M’Donald took a deep interest in the cause of the Free Presbyterian Church in Scotland; and we extend our deepest sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Scott and her other relatives in the great loss they have sustained. J. S. S.