The Churches’ Commission.—It would appear that the work of the Churches’ Commissioners is now nearing an end. In a statement made by Mr. Stuart Fraser, W.S., to the U.F. Commission of General Assembly, he said that he had great satisfaction in intimating that the accounting for revenue between the two Churches, which in May last he said was in progress, had now been completed, and the balance due by the Free Church to the United Free Church ascertained. Agents received on 6th August a letter from the Secretary to the Commission informing them that the balance due by the Free Church, and finally ascertained, had been brought out at £50,733. This sum had in part been made over to them already, and once it had been paid in full then there would have been restored to the United Free Church all the property which was transferred to the Free Church in 1904, except in so far as it went to the Free Church. The total amount of property which was made over by the General Trustees and other Trustees to the Free Church in 1904 was £1,017,000. Since then the Free Church collected income down to Wednesday last amounting to £116,000, making in all a sum of principal and interest to be accounted for by the Free Church of £1,133,000. Out of that the total allocation to the Free Church of capital sums, disbursements allowed to them, and expenses down to 31st December of last year, amounted to £577,000, leaving to be paid back to the United Free Church £555,000. Over £401,000 was made back in the year 1907, and this last year there had been made back a further sum of £124,000, or together, £525,000, leaving a balance of £30,000 still to be accounted for.
Thomas Scott the Commentator.—The Rev. A. C. Downer, D.D., has written a Memoir entitled Thomas Scott the Commentator, and it has just been published by Mr. Charles J. Thynne, 6 Great Queen Street, W.C. (price 3s. net). Scott was one of the Evangelical leaders during the great Evangelical Revival of the eighteenth century; but he is best of all known as the author of The Force of Truth, and, above all, by his Commentary on the Bible, which has had an immense circulation. It is written from the Calvinistic point of view, but Dr. Downer is careful to point out that Scott, in this work and in his sermons, urged the necessity of good works in the converted Christian with more energy than was usual at that time amongst those holding Calvinistic views of Scriptural truth. This caused his real position to be misunderstood by some of those who heard him preach.—Protestant Observer.
Free Presbyterian Services in London.—See page 288. The hour of Gaelic service mentioned should be 3.30 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. For benefit of attenders at week-day services, we point out that the Hall is near the Victoria Station.
Acknowledgments. — Rev. Neil Cameron acknowledges, gratefully, £1 from “A Friend” for St. Jude’s Building Fund; 5/- for same object, and 5/- for Rev. J. B. Radasi, from “Carrbridge”; £2 from “Two Friends” for clothing for Mr. Radasi’s people; 5/-, per J. Macdonald, from “Lady Friend” for same purpose; 5/- for Kaffir Bibles. Mr. A. Clunas, general treasurer, 18 Ardconnel Terrace, Inverness, acknowledges, with thanks, the following donations:—For Sustentation Fund: £1 from “Friend,” Ross-shire; £2 1s. 1d. from Mr. Don. Macdonald, Roseland, Nelson Co., Virginia, U.S.A.; and 15 dollars (£3 os. 8d.) from “Canadian Friends.” For Foreign Mission: 3 dollars each (£1 4s. 3d.) from Mrs. M’Millan, Ailsa Craig, Ontario, and “Reader of Magazine,” Detroit, U.S.A., per Rev. D. Macleod. Mr. Clunas also acknowledges, with thanks, £1 from Mrs. Knowles, Hedgefield, on behalf of the Building Fund of the Free Presbyterian Church, Inverness; also 2/6 from Mr. M’Beath, Drummond, and 2/6 from “Friend” towards same object.
Several articles, including obituary sketches, are held over till next issue.