ESTABLISHED CHURCH.
THIS Assembly was opened on the 19th May with the usual ceremonial. The Lord High Commissioner was Lord Kinnaird, the same nobleman as occupied the position last year. The retiring Moderator (Dr. Mitford Mitchell) preached in St. Giles’ Cathedral from Isaiah xxi. 12: “Watchman, what of the night?”—a very appropriate text if the treatment of it was sufficiently sound and discerning of the backsliding state of the times, but there is ground to conclude it was not so. Dr. Mitchell thinks we are living in times of spiritual enlightenment and progress.
On the fourth day of this Assembly Dr. Norman Macleod tabled the report of the Special Committee appointed to consider overtures in Co-operation and Re-union with the Churches. He concluded his speech on the report by making a deliverance, in which the Assembly requested the other Presbyterian Churches to confer with them on the present ecclesiastical situation in Scotland, and recommended all their ministers, office-bearers, and members to cultivate fellowship and co-operation with other evangelical Churches. The deliverance was carried by a large majority. It was also agreed to transmit the deliverance to the official representatives of the United Free Church and the Free Church, whose supreme courts were then in session.
Professor Herkless, St. Andrews, moved the appointment of a Committee to report to next Assembly on the position of ministers in regard to the celebration of marriages with a deceased wife’s sister under the new Act of Parliament. He admitted that such marriages were clearly against the Confession of Faith. Professor Cooper saw no necessity for any Committee, as the matter was already settled for the Church by the Confession. Let our readers note that Dr. Cooper, though he takes up a sound attitude on some points, is still a strong Ritualist of dangerous tendencies. He has no favour for the Protestant witness we are next to mention.
On Saturday, 23rd May, Rev. Jacob Primmer, Dunfermline, presented two petitions to the Assembly complaining against the decisions of the Edinburgh Presbytery and Synod of Lothian refusing to allow him to appeal to a higher judicatory, and against the judgment of the same courts dismissing his complaint re Popish innovations in St. Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh. The Procurator said that he thought Mr. Primmer’s complaint was exhausted at last assembly, and he therefore moved the appeal be dismissed. The motion was agreed to. Mr. Primmer said he would bring up the whole matter again before the Edinburgh Presbytery.
On the 26th, the subject of the Formula of Subscription to the Confession of Faith was taken up. Several Presbytery overtures of a diverse character on this matter were before the Assembly. Dr. Scott moved that the Assembly should receive the overtures and remit them and the whole subject dealt with to a Committee for consideration, with instructions to report their conclusions to the next General Assembly. Rev. A. Warr, Rosneath, moved that the Assembly, taking into consideration the fact that the Presbyteries by a majority had rejected the proposed Formula sent down by last Assembly, and realising the difficulties in framing a Formula satisfactory to the Church at large, deem it inexpedient to proceed further in the matter. Mr. John Gavin, Edinburgh (elder), said that if they adopted a new Formula they were taking the first step towards Disestablishment. On a vote between the motions of Dr. Scott and Mr. Warr, the former was carried by 237 votes to 103.
Rev. G. Marjoribanks, in presenting the report on Psalmody and Hymns, laid on the table a copy of the complete Church Hymnary (without music) published at one penny, and also a selection of Psalms and Paraphrases, which had been prepared in conjunction with the Praise Committee of the United Free Church, for use in schools, at same price. Professor Cooper and Lord Haddo objected to the proposal to publish a mere selection of the Psalms. Lord Haddo said he hoped they would not live to see the Psalms, whether in the prose or metrical version, shortened. The press report does not indicate that their objections were accepted. Progress was reported regarding the preparation of a Gaelic Hymn Book.
A petition was presented from members and adherents of the Mission Church at Kyleakin, on the subject of instrumental music in worship. A lady presented a harmonium to the congregation, which was used for about eight weeks when the Kirk-Session had it removed. A small commission, consisting of the Moderator and Dr. Macleod, was appointed to visit the congregation and to report to the Synod of Glenelg.
A vigorous discussion took place in this Assembly on the subject of the individual cup at the Communion. The majority of a Committee that had been appointed before in regard to the matter were in favour of giving liberty to congregations to do as they saw fit, but a minority dissented. We were pleased to observe that a number of prominent ministers spoke, one after another, in strong disapproval of this shocking modern innovation which interferes with the essential nature of the Sacrament. It appears that twenty or more parishes have already made this change without consulting the Assembly—an irregular proceeding that was condemned even by those who were for giving liberty. Rev. G. Anderson, Renfrew, moved that the Committee be discharged, and his motion was supported by 100 votes; but another motion in favour of remitting the matter again to the Committee for further consideration was carried by the narrow majority of seventeen.
The Assembly was closed with an address by the Moderator (Dr. Theodore Marshall), in which he touched favourably on the various movements in the Established Church for a new Formula and for co-operation with other Presbyterian Churches.
UNITED FREE CHURCH.
There was very little that transpired at this Assembly of special interest. On the fourth day the Disestablishment debate took place. Dr. A. Taylor Innes moved the adoption of the deliverance on the report of the Church and State Committee. His motion was to the effect that the General Assembly approve generally of the report and declare anew that the Disestablishment and Disendowment of the State Church in Scotland is necessary in the interests both of Church and State, and enjoin the Committee to watch over the subject, and take steps in line with former deliverances of the Assembly. There were two motions that opposed action in Church courts on the subject, but Dr. Taylor Innes’s motion was carried by 380 to 167 for a motion by Rev. Dr. D. M. Ross, Glasgow.
Rev. J. B. Thomson, Greenock, convener of a Committee on Praise, complained of the comparative ignoring of the Psalms in worship and of the dominant influence of organists in Church praise. On the subject of Home Mission Work, Rev. W. M. Clow, Glasgow, gave some deserved criticism to the methods of the Rev. John M’Neill, charging him with indulgence in too many jests, provoking laughter, and not preaching enough the central doctrines of Christianity. M’Neill replied in his own fashion.
On Thursday, the 21st May, this Assembly considered the deliverance sent from the Established Church in favour of Co-operation and Re-union. Dr. Henderson, Crieff, in a motion which expressed much appreciation of this deliverance, advocated the appointment of a Committee to consider the proposals of the Established Church and to report. His motion was adopted. Dr. Henderson also moved that the Assembly appoint a Committee to consider the whole subject on the celebration of marriage with a deceased wife’s sister and to report the Church’s attitude thereto.
On the last day of Assembly, intimation was given of the sudden death of Dr. Hutton of Paisley, which event took place at his hotel. He had spoken on more than one occasion during the Assembly’s sittings. Dr. Hutton, who was over 80 years of age, was one of the chief leaders of the former United Presbyterian Church, and a strong advocate of Disestablishment. He carried his ideas of separation between Church and State to a great extreme, supporting, for example, the view that the State should only provide secular education in the schools, to the exclusion of the Bible. He got credit for much sincerity and rugged honesty, but if he was sincere in his Voluntary propaganda, he was sincere in a very bad cause.
This Assembly was closed by the Moderator, Dr. Laws of Livingstonia, with an address, urging, among other things, union of the Churches in Missionary effort. Dr. Laws made very frequent reference in his address to the Holy Spirit and the need of his influences—a most important and much-forgotten aspect of truth in the present day. But how can any Church warrantably expect the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that deals irreverently, in the person of her accredited teachers, with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, and that despises the infallible teaching of the Spirit on matters of doctrine and worship as given in that word, the Holy Scriptures? The Spirit is grieved by such serious departures from the faith as characterise the U.F. and other Churches which conform to the modern spirit of false progress, and no real blessing can be looked for on their agencies at home or abroad. Repentance and reformation must come first.
FREE CHURCH.
This Assembly was opened with a sermon by the Rev. Murdo MacKenzie, Inverness, retiring Moderator; and thereafter the new Moderator, Rev. William M’Kinnon, Gairloch, delivered an address on “The Religious Outlook in Scotland,” in which he touched on various forms of religious declension that did not speak well for the future. In the evening the usual Moderator’s Reception was held in the Central Hall, Tollcross, and was very largely attended. After tea, the Moderator took the Chair in the large hall, and one of the chief speakers was Sir Kenneth MacKenzie of Gairloch, Bart., who, among other things, enlarged upon lines of work in which all the Churches, he thought, could co-operate.
THE LEITH CASE.
The chief matter of general interest before the Assembly was what is known as “the Leith case,” which has been already noticed in these pages.
“Professor Kennedy Cameron submitted the report of the Special Committee appointed by the November Commission to visit the Leith congregation, and enquire into certain alleged irregularities in worship in that congregation. The report bore that the allegations were found on investigation to be well-founded; that the communion table in the church was decorated with flowers on a Sabbath in July last, which was not the Communion Sabbath, and that a gathering of the Sabbath School children was held at the close of the evening service, when books or gifts were presented to the children; that hymns were sung at this service. The church furnishings are not such as are usually found in Free Churches, the pulpit, table and organ being arranged in a way common in churches given to a ritualistic service. The table is what is usually known as an ‘altar table,’ and is not so massive as it looks. It occupies the centre of the platform where the pulpit in a Free Church usually stands. Its construction is irreconcilable with the table contemplated in the ‘Directory for Public Worship’—’the table being before decently covered, and so conveniently placed that the communicants may duly sit about it or at it.’ Mr. Watson (the minister) maintained that the pulpit was in its most convenient place with reference to the acoustic properties of the building, and that he would oppose any attempt at its removal. With respect to the organ, its ownership is in process of being determined by the Executive Commission. It is claimed by the U.F. Church, and when their congregation left the building it was by them rendered unplayable. It was put into repair, and was used at a social meeting held in the church on a week night, but had not been used in public praise on the Sabbath day. It was used in the accompaniment of the singing of Psalm 100, at the opening of the meeting referred to. The Committee appointed by the November Commission visited the church and congregation early in March, and were treated with scant courtesy by the minister and some of the office-bearers. The lights were turned out when they were inspecting the church, and they were threatened by the minister (Mr. Watson) with ejectment by the police if they refused to leave the building. As they did so they were hissed by young men who appeared to belong to the congregation. Subsequently, the kirk-session, in a letter to Professor Cameron, dated 19th March, disclaimed responsibility for this. The Committee held an interview with six office-bearers, one member, and two former office-bearers of the church, on 23rd April last, and from them received corroboration of these facts; and information as to how the treatment of the Committee had come about.
“Professor Bannatyne moved the following deliverance:—’The General Assembly receive the report and reappoint the Committee. The Assembly are satisfied that the furniture and appointments in the Elder Memorial Church at Leith, as existing when that building was allocated by the Executive Commission under the Churches (Scotland) Act, 1905, are, in some respects, quite unsuitable for use by a Free Church congregation. The Assembly therefore ordain—(1) the removal of the organ and of the so-called altar communion table, and (2) the rearrangement of the remaining furniture and appointments under the direction, and to the entire satisfaction of the Committee, which is directed to report its diligence to the November diet (and, if necessary, subsequent diets) of the Commission of Assembly. The congregation and the minister, office-bearers and courts thereof are enjoined to obtemper the directions of the Committee, subject, if need be, to review by the Commission of Assembly. As to the allegation that, on certain occasions, instrumental music was used in public praise, and that the table in the church was decorated with flowers, the General Assembly find it established that both of these irregularities took place, but that the flowers were so used at a distribution of prizes to children and not at a communion service. The General Assembly express their disapproval of instrumental music being used, as in this case, in public praise, holding such praise to be an express violation of the law of the Church, explicitly declared by the General Assembly of 1905, regulating public worship. The Assembly also highly disapprove in the matter of prizes and floral decorations referred to of a public display of that kind being mixed up with the stated worship of the sanctuary, and condemn it as inconsistent with the seemly observance of the Lord’s day. There remain certain questions of conduct in relation to these irregularities, and to the treatment accorded to the Committee, all of which seem ex facie to concern one or more or all of the Rev. James Watson, minister; Mr. J. S. Shearer, session clerk; and Mr. J. Hay Thorburn, and Mr. J. Pursell, elders of the Leith congregation. The Assembly think it right to adjourn consideration of these topics till the evening diet of Thursday (order of the day at nine o’clock), when these individuals, and the kirk-session and deacon’s court, will be heard if they so desire.’
“Principal M’Culloch moved as an amendment:—’The Assembly receive the report of the Committee, and deeply realising the importance of the matters entrusted to it by the Assembly’s Commission, profoundly regret that the results of their diligence have not so far proved satisfactory; the Assembly do not reappoint the Committee, but they enjoin the Presbytery of Edinburgh to give due attention to any complaints or information regarding departure from the allowed practice in public worship within their bounds, and in the event of such being submitted to them, to take what steps according to the law of the Church may be necessary for securing uniformity of worship in the congregations. As regards the articles of furniture referred to by the Committee, the Assembly refrain from coming to a finding until the decision of the Executive Commission, regarding such furniture, be announced. The Assembly in the meantime inhibit the congregation from using instruments of music in the public worship of the church.'”
When the vote was taken, twelve voted for Principal M’Culloch’s amendment, and about fifty for the deliverance. Principal M’Culloch dissented from the finding.
THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SECRETARY.
Mr. Rounsfell Brown submitted the report of the Official Staff Committee, which exhibited a difference of opinion among the members. Seven out of fifteen who were present carried a motion to the effect “that Mr. J. Hay Thorburn be continued as General Secretary at his present salary.” Five members dissented. Principal M’Culloch moved the adoption of the report, and highly commended the work that Mr. Thorburn had done for the Free Church. Mr. M. Stewart, elder, seconded. Mr. Rounsfell Brown moved an amendment “that the Assembly direct that the office of the General Secretary be abolished on and after 1st August, 1908, and that in respect of his signal services to the Church in the recent crisis in her history, the Finance Committee is hereby authorised to grant Mr. J. Hay Thorburn on his demitting office on 1st August, an honorarium of not less value than £1000, to be fixed otherwise in amount and in nature by the Finance Committee.” After discussion, the vote was taken, when 48 voted for Mr. Brown’s motion, and 15 for Principal M’Culloch’s. The former was therefore declared to be carried.
Next day Mr. Thorburn sent a letter to the Moderator, in which he intimated his resignation of the office of depute-clerk, and of his membership of all the Committees on which he served, and expressed his regret that his official connection with the Church was severed through no fault of his own.
The Leith case came up again on Thursday, the 25th, when a statement was laid before the Assembly by two elders from the Kirk-Session of the Elder Memorial Church. The statement was read by the Clerk. They refused to appear at the bar, and left the house. Mr. Rounsfell Brown then submitted a deliverance by way of censure on the said Kirk-Session to the effect that the Assembly find that a Committee of Commission was publicly insulted when proceeding to the discharge of a duty, and that the offence had been repeated and aggravated by the nature and tone of the statement now submitted. Mr. M’Neilage seconded. Rev. Ewen Macleod, Dornoch, who said it was painful to proceed to extremes and it was good to act leniently, moved that the Assembly give these brethren another opportunity, and to cite them to appear at the bar next forenoon. Rev. Mr. MacKay, Kingussie, seconded. Mr. Brown’s motion was carried by about sixty to nineteen for Mr. Macleod’s amendment.
One of the features of the last day of this Assembly was a personal statement made by Principal M’Culloch in which he declared his intention to retire from the membership of the various Committees of the Church, not on the ground of any failure in health or strength, but on grounds in regard to which he felt that the less explicit he was the better. Professor Bannatyne moved that they ask Principal M’Culloch to reconsider his decision, and a Committee consisting of Professor Bannatyne, Revs. Murdo Mackenzie and Ewen Macleod, waited upon him, with the result that at a later hour he withdrew the intimation, concluding his remarks on the subject with the words that at the same time he was bound to say that it was at the cost of a great deal of self-denial he had come to the resolution which he had indicated.
Professor Bannatyne reported that all the Presbyteries, except that of Caithness (which had sent no return), had approved of the overture abolishing mutual eligibility with other Churches. He moved that the overture be passed into a standing law of the Church. Rev. J. Macdonald, Rosskeen, seconded. Rev. James Henry, Burghead, moved disapproval of the overture, or to except the Irish Presbyterian Church. Rev. S. Lyle Orr seconded. Professor M’Leod, Rev. Angus Mackay, and Mr. John Robertson spoke in support of the overture. Principal M’Culloch said that the overture was not intended to cast any reflection on their much-valued brethren that had come from Ireland. “Where, he said, would the Free Church have been to-day had it not been for the men from Ireland?” When the vote was taken, the overture was carried by a large majority. Several members intimated their dissent from this decision. A resolution proposed by Mr. Rounsfell Brown, and seconded by Mr. M’Neilage, expressive of the high regard of the Assembly for the brethren who have come to the Free Church, and of the Churches from which they have come, was placed on record.
The Assembly was closed, as usual, with an address by the Moderator.
Remarks.
It is good, we think, that Mr. Hay Thorburn has found his way to a back seat in this Church, and that Principal M’Culloch has got a smart shake in his Rainy policy, but the reformation is far from complete for all this. The dissenting element is still alive and will make itself felt. The Irish members who opposed the abolition of mutual eligibility with other Churches or who wanted the Irish Presbyterian Church excepted, revealed (unwittingly, perhaps, but nevertheless truly) how far they are from being proper Free Churchmen, standing for purity. The Irish Presbyterian Church, which we know a good deal about, and that partly from personal acquaintance, is, in our judgment, very little better than the United Free Church. Uninspired hymns and instrumental music in worship are common enough within its borders, while the Higher Criticism is not absent. The great majority, in fact, of the Irish Presbyterian Assembly are in favour of modern innovations and modern progressive ideas, and it says very little indeed for those Irishmen in the Free Church who want mutual eligibility with the Presbyterian Church of Ireland. It shows that their conceptions of Church purity are very far astray, and that they will prove not a help, but a hindrance, to anything like real reform in the present Free Church. And still, they are praised and complimented by the apparently more faithful party, notwithstanding their opposition to right measures. What a medley!