THE Half-yearly Meeting of Synod was held in the Hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on Tuesday, the 10th day of November. The retiring Moderator, Rev. John R. Mackay, M.A., Inverness, conducted public worship at eleven in the forenoon, and preached from John iii. 16:—”For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” After public worship was ended, the Moderator constituted the Synod with prayer, and the roll was called. There were present:—From the Northern Presbytery—Revs. John R. Mackay, Inverness, and Ewen Macqueen, Dornoch, ministers. From the Southern Presbytery—Rev. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s, minister; with Mr. Duncan Crawford, Oban, elder. From the Western Presbytery—Revs. Neil Macintyre, Stornoway; Alexander Macrae, Portree; Duncan MacKenzie, Gairloch, ministers; with Messrs. John M’Donald, Gairloch, and Neil M’Kinnon, Portree, elders.
In the absence of the Clerk (Rev. J. S. Sinclair), the Rev. A. Macrae was appointed to act as interim-clerk. Mr. Angus Fraser was appointed officer of Court. The minutes of last meeting were read and approved of.
The Moderator then stated that the term of his office had expired, and thanked the Synod for the kindness and courtesy he had received while he occupied the chair. He added that it now lay with the Synod to appoint his successor. It was moved, seconded, and agreed to, that the Rev. Duncan MacKenzie, Gairloch, be appointed Moderator for the ensuing year. Mr. MacKenzie rose and thanked the Synod for their kindness, but declared his preference that some other member of Court should be appointed to the office. He concluded by moving that the Rev. Neil Cameron be appointed Moderator. The Court pressed Mr. MacKenzie to accept office, but he definitely refused. It was then unanimously agreed to ask the Rev. Neil Cameron to act as Moderator for the ensuing year. Mr. Cameron said that, in view of Mr. MacKenzie’s decided refusal, he would endeavour to undertake the office, and thanked the Synod for the honour they had conferred upon him.
It was agreed that all the members of Synod meet as a Committee on Bills and Overtures at the Manse at 4 p.m.
The Synod adjourned, to meet again (God willing) at 6.30 p.m. The meeting was closed with prayer.
The Synod met in the evening at the hour appointed, and was constituted with devotional exercises by the Rev. Neil Cameron, Moderator. There were present:—From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron (Moderator) and James S. Sinclair, John Knox’s (Clerk), ministers; with Messrs. Neil M’Donald, St. Jude’s; D. Crawford, Oban; and John Auld, John Knox’s, elders. From the Western Presbytery—Revs. A. Macrae, Neil Macintyre, and D. MacKenzie, ministers; with Messrs. John M’Donald and Neil M’Kinnon, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Rev. John R. Mackay, minister. The Clerk reported apologies for absence from the Revs. E. Macqueen, Dornoch; D. Beaton, Wick; and N. Matheson, Halkirk, members of the Northern Presbytery; Rev. John Robertson, Greenock, member of the Southern Presbytery (who was unwell); and Rev. D. Graham, Shieldaig, member of the Southern Presbytery. (After the close of the Synod, the Clerk received an apology for absence from the Rev. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall.) The minutes of the former sederunt were read and approved of.
It was moved, seconded, and unanimously agreed to, that the Rev. J. R. Mackay be requested to give the sermon, which he delivered as retiring Moderator, for publication in the Magazine. Mr. Mackay expressed his willingness to accede to the request. The Clerk submitted the Report of the Committee on Bills and Overtures, as to the order of business, and the Report was adopted. The first thing thereafter was Reports of instructions given to the Clerk and a Committee, on various subjects, by last meeting of Synod. The Clerk reported that he had forwarded the protest against the attendance of the King and Queen, and other high personages, at Mass in a Roman Catholic Chapel in London, to the Secretary of State for Scotland, for presentation to His Majesty King Edward VII., and that he had received a letter stating that the said communication had been laid before His Majesty, but that he “had not been pleased to issue any commands thereon.” The Clerk also reported that he was in correspondence, with a view to getting some Member of Parliament, opposed to the recently passed Deceased Wife’s Sister Act, to table the Synod’s Protest against the same in the House of Commons, and that he expected to get the business carried through at an early date. It was further reported to the Synod, through the Clerk, that the Committee which had been appointed in July to draw up a resolution on Sabbath desecration, to be presented to the King, and also a negative reply to the Glasgow University Council on the subject of doing away with tests “whether doctrinal or ecclesiastical” for theological professors at the Universities, had not been able, through other calls on their time, to accomplish the tasks committed to them. The Synod renewed their instructions to the Committee on these points, with the direction that the Committee would wait some suitable opportunity in the future for forwarding a protest to the King on the subject of Sabbath desecration.
It was agreed, at this point, on the motion of Rev. A. Macrae, that the Synod send a letter of thanks to Mr. Asquith, the Prime Minister, for his intervention in the matter of the procession of “the Host” at the recent Roman Congress in London.
The Clerk read the half-yearly financial report of the various Funds forwarded by Mr. Clunas, Treasurer, Inverness. Mr. Clunas called special attention to a deficit of £264 in the Sustentation Fund (supplemented by the Missionaries’ and Catechists’ Collection) for the payment of ministers and missionaries at Martinmas. A number of places had not, up to date, forwarded their contributions. Notice was also taken that £28 were yet required to clear off the Raasay Church Debt. Rev. J. R. Mackay moved the adoption of the financial report to the following effect:—”The Synod adopt the half-yearly financial report, instruct that the payment of ministers and missionaries be deferred for a fortnight until further contributions come in, and that payments be then made at a proportionally reduced rate, if such reduction be found necessary.” Mr. Mackay pointed out that, as the Sustentation Fund presently stood, ministers could only be paid £45 instead of £70 for the half-year. Mr. John Macdonald, elder, Gairloch, seconded the motion. The motion was also supported by Mr. Duncan Crawford, elder, Oban, who made a vigorous appeal to the congregations of the Church to realise their responsibility in giving in return their “carnal things” for the support of those who ministered to them in the more important “spiritual things.” He said that a comparatively small sum from members and adherents, if universal, would be able to maintain ministers and missionaries at the present rate, and in concluding, he expressed the hope that it would be the last time they would hear of a deficit in the Sustentation Fund. The motion was agreed to.
Rev. A. Macrae said that there was no doubt a lack of organisation in their Church in financial matters, and he moved that the Synod appoint a Sustentation Fund Committee with the following members:—From the Southern Presbytery—Rev. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s, and Mr. Duncan Crawford, elder, Oban; from the Western Presbytery—Rev. Duncan MacKenzie, Gairloch, and Mr. Neil Mackinnon, elder, Portree; and from the Northern Presbytery—Rev. J. R. Mackay, Inverness, and Mr. Angus Clunas, elder and treasurer; with Rev. J. R. Mackay as convener. Rev. Neil Macintyre seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. It was also agreed that two collections be taken for the Missionaries and Catechists during the year—the second on the present occasion to be (d.v.) on the last Sabbath of April.
The Clerk read a Petition in regard to pulpit supply, which he had received from the elders of the Lochbroom Congregation, and which ran as follows:—
“To the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.— We, the Elders of the Free Presbyterian Church Congregation of Lochbroom, respectfully beg to petition the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland for a more regular supply of the services of a student of the Church, especially during the summer months.
“As many of the members of the Synod know, the Parish of Lochbroom is wide and extensive, and the interests of the Congregation cannot well be attended to without a more constant supply. The Congregation, which has been much tried in the past, has had hitherto a very irregular supply, and unweared efforts are being put forth to draw the young, particularly, away to other Churches. Although we hope that they, notwithstanding, will continue loyal in their adherence to the position and testimony of the Free Presbyterian Church, their patience, in the absence of a more regular supply, may be unduly drawn upon.
“The people are unanimous in their desire to have the services of Mr. Andrew Sutherland, student, and we humbly beg the Synod to take our circumstances into their favourable consideration, and to agree that Mr. Sutherland be sent to Lochbroom at the close of the Winter Session.
“We desire to present our humble petition direct to the Supreme Court of the Church.
GEORGE ROSS,
ALEXANDER M’KENZIE,
RODERICK MACLENNAN,
KENNETH MUNRO,
KENNETH M’LEAN,
JOHN M’IVER,
WILLIAM MATHESON,
RODERICK M’LEOD,
KENNETH M’LEOD,
Elders.“
Rev. A. Macrae spoke in favour of the petition.
Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that Mr. A. Sutherland, student, be sent to Ullapool once every three weeks during the Winter Divinity Session at Inverness, and that after the session is past, he be asked to go for two or three months to Lochbroom as a missionary student. Rev. Neil Macintyre seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
On the subject of the Foreign Mission, Rev. J. R. Mackay read a letter that had been received by the Rev. Neil Cameron from the Rev. John B. Radasi, and briefly commented on the progress of the Mission, as there referred to. (The letter is printed elsewhere.) The Clerk moved that the Synod express thankfulness to the Most High at the continued success of the Mission under Rev. John B. Radasi; instruct Mr. Radasi to distribute Bibles to all the scholars under his charge, whatever Church connection they had; and appoint a small Committee to consider the question of sending out a minister to visit the Mission in Rhodesia. The Clerk said that, if the Synod found it possible to send out a minister to visit the Mission, it would greatly encourage Mr. Radasi, and help forward the Mission. Mr. Radasi could act as an interpreter of sermons that might be delivered to the natives. The motion was agreed to, and the Revs. Neil Cameron, J. R. Mackay, and J. S. Sinclair were appointed a Committee.
The Clerk stated that no report had yet arrived from the Rev. Donald Macleod, missionary, Canada, but that when same would come to hand, it would be published in the Magazine, or as much thereof as would be thought proper.
The next head was “Remits from Presbyteries.” From the Northern Presbytery: The Rev. J. R. Mackay stated that by a very simple circumstance the said Presbytery had become defunct, and that it was requested that the Synod resuscitate the Presbytery. The Synod appointed that the Northern Presbytery should meet to transact business on Monday, the 7th day of December, at 12 noon. There were several remits from the Western Presbytery: (1) The Presbytery desired the Synod to change the date of its first meeting from the 19th February, 1909, at Stornoway, back to 19th November, 1908, at Kyle of Lochalsh. The petition was granted. (2) Rev. Neil Macintyre spoke to a remit in regard to an application from Mr. Kenneth Matheson, Strond, Obbe, Harris, for a commission to preach the gospel “in all our Churches.” In accordance with a decision in Committee, the following motion was unanimously adopted by the Synod:—”The Synod regret that, meantime, they are not able to entertain the application of Mr. Kenneth Matheson.” (3) A petition from the congregation of North Uist to be sanctioned as a regular charge was also submitted. The subject gave rise to some discussion, as the sum promised by the congregation to the Sustentation Fund was considerably under the usual mark. At last, the Rev. J. R. Mackay moved the following motion:—”The Synod, in view of the exceptional circumstances in which the congregation in North Uist is placed, grant the said congregation the liberty of giving a call to any of the ministers to become their pastor, but at the same time the Synod would appeal to the congregation’s sense of honour and duty that in the event of their having a pastor set over them, their contributions to the Sustentation Fund would not fall below £80.” Rev. A. Macrae seconded the motion, and it was unanimously agreed to. (4) The matter of the translation of Mr. Alexander M’Lennan, missionary, Rona, to some other station on the mainland, was remitted back to the Western Presbytery to deal with, on the motion of the Rev. D. MacKenzie, seconded by Mr. Neil M’Kinnon. Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that Mr. Alexander Mackay, Ardineaskin, be appointed as a missionary of the Church with the average salary. Rev. A. Macrae seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The last head was “Any Competent Business.” (1) The first thing taken up was the studies of Mr. Alexander Mackay, student, who was appointed to supply the London Mission during the winter, it being Mr. Mackay’s last session at the Glasgow University. On the motion of the Rev. J. R. Mackay, seconded by the Clerk, it was agreed that Greek and Tutorial Hebrew Classes to be taken by Mr. A. Mackay in London be regarded as equivalent to the same classes taken in Glasgow.
(2) The next matter was preaching supply for our fishing people on the Aberdeenshire coast during the summer season. Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that the Revs. A. Macrae and D. MacKenzie be appointed a Committee to look after supply. The motion was seconded by Mr. Crawford, Oban, and agreed to. On the suggestion of Mr. MacKenzie, Mr. Mackay’s name was also added to the Committee.
(3) Rev. J. R. Mackay, as theological tutor, requested from the Synod the price of the new Herzog’s Encyclopaedia, as useful in theological studies. On the motion of the Rev. A. Macrae, seconded by the Rev. D. MacKenzie, Mr. Mackay’s request was granted.
(4) The Clerk stated that he had a letter from a Mr. C. Vine, London, requesting that liberty might be given to “The Calvinistic Protestant Union” to print in leaflet form the Address to the King re Popish Aggression and the Eucharistic Congress, sent by the Southern Presbytery. The Synod expressed its approval of the publication of the Address by the above Union.
(5) The Clerk suggested that the present was a suitable time when the ministers of the Church might deliver lectures on Popery in their several spheres of labour. The suggestion was favourably entertained by the Synod, and it was also recommended that various aspects of Popery might be taken up by ministers in co-operation with one another, and that these lectures might be published in succession in the Magazine.
The Synod adjourned to meet again (God willing) at Inverness, on Tuesday after the first Sabbath of July, 1909.
The meeting was closed at about 9.30 p.m. with praise and prayer.
The First Question of the Shorter Catechism.—No catechism begins on a higher plane than the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Its opening question, What is the chief end of man? with its answer, Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever—the profound meaning of which, Carlyle said, grew to him ever fuller and richer with the years—sets the learner at once in his right relation to God. Withdrawing his eyes from himself, even from his own salvation, as the chief object of concern, it fixes them on God and His glory, and bids him seek his highest blessedness in Him.—(Dr. Warfield in the Princeton Theological Review.)