THE Half-yearly Meeting of Synod was held in the Hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on Tuesday the 15th day of November. The retiring Moderator, Rev. Alexander Macrae, Portree, conducted public worship at 11 a.m., and preached from Revelation ii. 4-5: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” After public worship was ended, the Moderator constituted the Synod with prayer. In the absence of the Rev. J. S. Sinclair, Clerk, the Rev. Neil Cameron moved that the Rev. J. R. Mackay be appointed as Interim-Clerk. The motion was agreed to. Rev. J. R. Mackay thanked the Synod for asking him to fill this office pro tem., and promised that, with Divine help, he would, to the best of his ability, fulfil the duties of it. The roll was then called. There were present: From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s, and John Robertson, Greenock, ministers; with Messrs. John M’Lachlan, Kames, and Duncan Crawford, Oban, elders. From the Western Presbytery—Revs. Alexander Macrae, Portree, Donald Graham, Shieldaig, Duncan Mackenzie, Gairloch, and Andrew Sutherland, Ullapool, ministers; with Messrs. Neil MacKinnon, Portree, and John Macdonald, Gairloch, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Rev. John R. Mackay, Inverness, minister. Mr. Angus Fraser was appointed officer of Court.
The minutes of last meeting of Synod were read and approved of. Thereupon, Rev. Alexander Macrae intimated that the time for which he had been appointed Moderator had now expired, that he thanked the Synod for their kindness in his appointment and during his occupancy of the office, and that now he demitted office. The Interim-Clerk moved, Rev. Neil Cameron seconded, and it became the unanimous finding of the Synod that the Rev. Donald Graham be appointed Moderator of the Synod for the
ensuing year. Mr. Graham, in accepting office, thanked the Synod for conferring this honour upon him, and expressed his feeling of unfitness for adequately fulfilling the duties of the office, but having regard to the grace of the Head of the Church and the forbearance of his brethren, he promised to fulfil the duties of his office to the best of his ability.
The Interim-Clerk moved that the Rev. A. Macrae be asked to publish in the December number of the Magazine his sermon to which the Court had just listened with pleasure. The motion was seconded by Rev. Neil Cameron. Mr. Macrae, in reply, said that he had not his sermon yet in manuscript, and that he was afraid he might not have it ready for December, but that he would contribute it as soon as it was in his power.
Rev. Duncan Mackenzie moved, and Rev. Alexander Macrae seconded, that the Synod meet as a Committee on Bills and Overtures at the Rev. Mr. Cameron’s Manse at 4 p.m.
The Synod adjourned to meet again (God willing) in the Hall of St. Jude’s Church at half-past six in the evening. The meeting was closed with prayer.
The Synod resumed its sitting, according to terms of adjournment, at 6.30 p.m. It was opened with devotional exercises conducted by the Rev. Donald Graham, Moderator. There were present: From the Western Presbytery—Revs. A. Macrae, D. Graham, D. Mackenzie, and A. Sutherland, ministers; with Messrs. N. Mackinnon and J. Macdonald, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Rev. J. R. Mackay, minister. From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron and J. S. Sinclair (Clerk), ministers; with Messrs. J. M’Lachlan, D. Crawford, and J. Auld, elders. There were apologies for absence from the Revs. D. Beaton, Wick, and M. Morrison, Glendale, and Mr. Angus Clunas, elder and Treasurer, Inverness.
The minutes of the former sederunt were read and approved of.
The Clerk read the Report of the Committee on Bills and Overtures as to the order of business, which was adopted. The order was as follows: (1) Report of Committee on Bills and Overtures; (2) Reports of Business ordered by last Synod; (3) Half-yearly Financial Statement; (4) Report of Supply at Summer Fishing Stations; (5) Foreign Mission Report; (6) Canadian Mission Report; (7) Protest against the Change made in the King’s Protestant Declaration; (8) Shops’ Bill before Parliament, and Sabbath Observance; (9) An Application for Admission to the Ministry of the Church; (10) Remits from Presbyteries; and (11) Any Competent Business.
The second subject on the paper was “Reports of Business ordered by last Meeting of Synod.” The Clerk read the letter of thanks which His Majesty King George V. was graciously pleased to send in reply to the loyal Address forwarded in July. The letter has already been published in the Magazine.
The Clerk also reported that he had written Mr. Wilson Fox,
of the British South Africa Company, London, on the subject of the purchase of a farm of about 3000 acres in Rhodesia in connection with our Mission there, and had received the following reply:—”2 LONDON WALL BUILDINGS, E.C., LONDON, 15th October, 1910.—DEAR SIR,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, addressed to Mr. Wilson Fox. As all questions relating to the sale of land are dealt with in Rhodesia, I am sending a copy of your letter to the Company’s Representative at Bulawayo by this week’s mail. He will, no doubt, communicate with Mr. Radasi, and make a recommendation to the Board. On receipt of his reply I will communicate with you again.—Yours faithfully, E. H. SMITH WRIGHT, Acting Assistant Secretary.”
Rev. J. R. Mackay, as Convener of the Committee (consisting of Revs. D. Macfarlane, N. Cameron, and himself) appointed to revise a paper on Reformation Attainments, adopted by last Synod, and to issue the same as a Synod Declaration, briefly reported that the Committee had carried out the Synod’s instructions, and had published the document in the August number of the Magazine, with the title, “A Declaration anent Reformation Attainments and the Church’s Relation thereto, by the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.” It was agreed to embody the same in the records of the Synod.
SUSTENTATION FUND.
Rev. J. R. Mackay submitted the Half-yearly Statement and read abstracts of the finances of the Church from 31st March to 15th November, 1910, which had been forwarded by the Treasurer. He moved “that the Synod adopt the said Report, express thankfulness to the Most High for the bountifulness of His providence in this regard, and direct the Treasurer to pay ministers and missionaries at the usual rate, as submitted by him in his communication to the Synod.” Mr. Mackay was glad to say that the Sustentation Fund was in a better way at this term than had been the case for some time past. In illustration of the ways in which the Lord had been moving the hearts of sympathisers to contribute liberally towards this Fund during the last few months, he instanced the cases of two persons in different walks of life—the one, Mr. Alex. Ross, of Liverpool and China, who had given the large sum of £100; and the other, a fisherman known to him, who had resolved, on casting a few nets one night, to give one-half of that night’s catch to the Sustentation Fund, with the result that the Fund was profited to the amount of £3. He reckoned that though ministers and missionaries were paid, at this term, at the usual rates for some years past, the Fund should still have a small surplus to credit. It ought to be the prayer of the Court that those who supported the Church schemes might not in any sense be losers thereby.
Mr. Crawford, Oban, seconded the motion, and in the course
of his speech, expressed the hope that the people would not slack their energies in contributing to the Fund, but would continue to grow in interest and liberality. It gave him special pleasure to hear of the donation of Mr. Alexander Ross, a personal friend for thirty-four years, for he believed that Mr. Ross’s interest in the welfare of the Church—though he was at some distance from its activities—was due to his real love for Reformation doctrines and principles. Mr. Neil Mackinnon, Portree, recommended that a deputation should be sent out, which might be the means of stirring up the people in many places to greater liberality. He was glad to observe that their own congregation had done better this year than ever before. Rev. Neil Cameron said that he believed all in St. Jude’s were doing their best towards the Sustentation Fund, but that he had every hope that when they would get clear of the burden of their Church Building Fund, they would do much more. Mr. Mackay’s motion was unanimously agreed to. It was also decided to instruct the Clerk to communicate the Synod’s thanks to Mr. Ross for his donation.
SUPPLY OF SUMMER FISHING STATIONS.
Rev. D. Mackenzie, Gairloch, reported that he had been at Fraserburgh from the middle of July to the middle of August, and had held services in a Hall on four Sabbaths. The services were pretty well attended. The average attendance was from 150 to 170. He also visited, with Mrs. Mackenzie, the fisher girls in their “barracks,” and conducted worship and held meetings. He felt that there were many temptations to looseness of life before these workers during the season, and that the Church should do more than it was doing to look after their spiritual interests. The fishing season lasted for three months, and we only sent a man for four Sabbaths. The other Churches had all advantages at their disposal, and sent supply for the whole time. He concluded by moving that the Committee take up the matter. Rev. Mr. Macrae, Convener, said that they were very willing to do anything that they could, but that it was a season when the ministers were all very much occupied. Rev. Neil Cameron suggested that a lay missionary might be sent for three months, during which time he could also visit Peterhead, the neighbouring fishing station. The matter was remitted to the Committee.
FOREIGN MISSION REPORT.
Rev. Neil Cameron, as Convener of the Foreign Mission, read a long and interesting letter from the Rev. John B. Radasi, which is printed elsewhere, and which gives an account of progress at the Mission up to date. Mr. Cameron said that there were many reasons for thankfulness on looking back upon the past history of the Mission. It was marvellous how much had been accomplished through weak instruments. Mr. Radasi had courageously gone to Matabeleland alone, and to every appearance not a few had been
brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ through his instrumentality. Many Bibles had been distributed among the natives. The sons of the chief men in the neighbourhood were attending his school. The knowledge of the saving doctrines of God’s Word was being spread abroad in that dark region. They could not omit to notice also the way in which the minds of the British representatives in Rhodesia had been disposed to take a very favourable view of Mr. Radasi’s work. None of these things happened by chance. A sparrow could not fall to the ground without the hand of the Most High. Mr. Cameron concluded by making reference to the disrepair of the huts, mentioned in Mr. Radasi’s letter, and moved as follows: “That the ordinary church-door collections of our South African Mission shall be used, as hitherto, for maintaining the buildings of the Mission, and that any extra expense necessarily incurred for the purpose be paid by the Church at home.” Mr. Neil M’Kinnon seconded the motion, which was supported by the Rev. J. R. Mackay and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. Mackay spoke on the subject of the employment of Mr. David N’Tuli still further in the work of the Mission, and he suggested that Mr. N’Tuli might be sent as a missionary to the Mashonas, who were on the north-east of Southern Rhodesia, and had not been evangelised before. He also suggested that the missionary might get a salary of £60. Mr. Mackay briefly alluded to the fact that the work of the translation of the Psalms into metrical Kaffir was now proceeding in real earnest, and said that it was very interesting to think that the Free Presbyterian Church should be the means of sending the Psalms in this form to the natives of South Africa. Rev. Neil Cameron spoke in favour of the employment of Mr. David N’Tuli as a missionary to the Mashonas. It was moved by the Rev. A. Macrae, and seconded by the Rev. D. Mackenzie, that Mr. Mackay’s suggestions with regard to the employment of Mr. N’Tuli be adopted. The motion was unanimously agreed to.
CANADIAN MISSION REPORT.
Rev. J. R. Mackay (in the absence of the Rev. E. Macqueen, Convener of the Canadian Mission Committee) read the report which had been received by the Clerk from the Rev. Donald Macleod, deputy for last summer. The report is printed elsewhere in this Magazine. Rev. Alexander Macrae moved that the Synod thank Mr. Macleod for his services and his excellent report, which they had listened to with pleasure. He remarked that they were sorry to hear of the death of so many worthy friends. Rev. Neil Cameron seconded the motion. He referred to the kindness of Mr. Macleod in going out on this occasion, and to the pang of sorrow which they felt—especially former deputies—at the sad news of the death of several godly friends in Canada, whom they had met there. The motion was cordially agreed to.
Rev. Neil Cameron moved that, according to request, the people in Winnipeg be authorised to build a place of worship. Rev. Mr. Mackay supported the motion, which was seconded and unanimously agreed to. It was also remitted to the Canadian Mission Committee to see to the carrying out of the recommendation in the report that a deputy be sent to Canada early next year.
PROTEST AGAINST CHANGE MADE IN KING’S PROTESTANT DECLARATION.
This was the seventh item of business. The Clerk moved that the Synod record its deep sorrow and alarm at the removal of the old Protestant Declaration and at the adoption of a new one which only required that the King should declare himself “a faithful Protestant.” In the old Declaration, the Clerk pointed out, the taking of it on Jesuitical principles of Equivocation, Mental Reservation, and Popish Dispensation, was expressly excluded and condemned, but that no such statement occurred in the new Declaration. A door was thus left open for making the Declaration perfectly useless as a Protestant safeguard. Rev. A. Macrae moved, and Rev. J. R. Mackay seconded, that the Clerk and Rev. N. Cameron be appointed to draw up a Protest to be recorded, and to send a copy to the Prime Minister. Rev. N. Cameron spoke in favour of such a Protest, and said that the only hope now in Parliament was the formation of an independent Protestant party, if such could be got. No confidence of a Protestant kind could be placed in Mr. Asquith or Mr. Balfour, the leaders of the two great political parties. The motion was unanimously agreed to.
THE SHOPS’ BILL AND SABBATH OBSERVANCE.
Rev. Duncan Mackenzie moved that the Synod take immediate steps to protest against the increased inroads on the rest and sacredness of the Lord’s Day, which would be the result of the passing of the new Shops’ Bill (No. 2). Mr. Duncan Crawford seconded the motion. He said that the whole secret of the matter of Sabbath desecration in this connection was the lust for money. If those men who worked on the Sabbath would get no money for doing so, there would be a strike on at once. The motion was agreed to, and a Committee was appointed, consisting of the Clerk, Rev. N. Cameron, and Rev. A. Macrae, to draw up a resolution against the terms of the Bill which affected the observance of the Lord’s Day.
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH.
The ninth item was an application for admission from the Rev. Walter Scott, late of Australia. Rev. Neil Cameron stated that he had received a letter from Mr. Scott, in which he intimated his desire to become a minister of the Church and his willingness to
accept the constitution, taken along with the “Declaration anent Reformation Attainments and the Church’s Relation thereto,” recently issued by the Synod. Rev. J. R. Mackay, in making a motion, said that ever since he knew Mr. Scott, he (Mr. Mackay) had a desire that Mr. Scott would join the ministry of the Church. Mr. Scott had a profound admiration for the men and work of the Second Reformation period in the history of the Scottish Church, and they shared with him in that esteem. They had recently asserted in a historic way their admiration of the First and Second Reforms in the Declaration that had been adopted at last Synod. Mr. Mackay said that he would not enlarge further, as the whole matter of Mr. Scott’s admission had been already discussed in Committee in private, but that he would conclude by moving as follows:—”The Synod took into consideration an application from Rev. Walter Scott, lately of Brushgrove, Australia, and now resident in Edinburgh, craving to be received as a minister of this Church. After deliberation, the Synod, believing Mr. Scott to be a true minister of the Gospel, agree to receive him on condition that he accepts the constitution of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, as set forth in her subordinate standards, that he answers simpliciter the questions put to ministers of the Free Presbyterian Church at their ordination, and that he signs in the same manner the Formula of the said Church.”
Rev. Neil Cameron seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to.
REMITS FROM PRESBYTERIES.
The Western Presbytery sent a remit, consisting of a petition from the Congregation of Applecross craving extra supply in the winter months. The petition was in the first instance addressed to Rev. Neil Macintyre, Clerk of the Western Presbytery, and runs as follows:—
“MY DEAR SIR,—I have been approached by our congregation to write you, as Clerk of the Western Presbytery, to bring our case before the Synod Meeting at Glasgow in November first. They are all aware of the inability of our missionary, Mr. William Macbeath, to attend on us during the winter season. He is very often not particularly well, and is failing very much, which we sadly regret. We therefore wish our case to be brought up before the Synod and considered, and I learn from the congregation that if they got Mr. Murdo Mackay, Strathy, or Mr. Duncan Campbell, Portree, they would be greatly pleased, and would do their best to meet financial needs, and would also pay his board and lodgings and return fare. Of course, anybody that would come would require to be here for at least three months. In name of the congregation, I hope that none of you will once think that we are losing faith in, or have anything against, our own Mr. William Macbeath, but on the contrary, we love and respect him more and more every day, and sadly regret his inability to attend on us
during bad weather. We therefore hope you will do your best to send us one of the above named during winter, or any other one you would please, who would keep everything in order.—In name of the congregation, I remain, yours sincerely,
MURDO GILLANDERS.”
The Court received the petition, but in the course of discussion, it transpired that there was difficulty in securing the services of Mr. M. Mackay or Mr. D. Campbell for Applecross in the winter months. At length it was unanimously agreed to ask Mr. John Macdonald, Gairloch, to supply the congregation for the month of January. Mr. Macdonald, who was present, indicated his consent to go.
Rev. A. Macrae brought up the matter of the transference of Mr. Alexander Mackay, missionary, Beauly, to Staffin, Skye, in room of the late worthy Mr. Peter Macleod. Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that the Synod grant this request, as Beauly could be easily supplied by divinity students from Inverness in the winter and spring months. The motion was seconded by the Rev. Neil Cameron, and agreed to.
COMPETENT BUSINESS.
At this point, the Rev. John R. Mackay rose and said :—
“Moderator and Brethren,—I should like before the meeting closes to make a short reference to the debate which took place in the Synod in July last in connection with Mr. Cameron’s paper on “Reformation Attainments.” At that time I, very reluctantly, contravened Mr. Cameron’s account of what it was that the Synod in Committee in July, 1909, proposed to do in this connection. I wish now to say that I did not then realise, as I now do, that Mr. Cameron’s view of the matter was that, it was an understood thing that the Synod’s business was to do what it could to vindicate the character and work of the leading men in the First and Second Reforms in this country, and not to take up the question of the Covenants and our relation to them at all. I did not then realise, as I now do, that Mr. Cameron, from first to last in this respect, spoke and acted in perfect consistence with his own understanding of the matter in hand. I wish further to say that, if I had fully realised Mr. Cameron’s view-point, I would have taken some other way of stating how I myself regarded the injunction laid upon us by the Synod in Committee in July, 1909, than by appearing to contradict my friend Mr. Cameron.”
Rev. Neil Cameron said in reply :—”Moderator and Brethren,—I desire to thank my friend, Mr. Mackay, very sincerely, for the explanatory statement which he has now made, explaining the cause why he had contradicted me last July, and also for the explicit manner in which he has vindicated my conduct on that occasion. I did not then understand that the other members of this Synod had understood the injunction laid upon us by the Synod’s Committee in July, 1909, in a different way from me;
had I understood that, I would not have said that “it was a slander to say that our Synod had taken in hand to consider its relation to the Covenants.” In view of the statement now made by Mr. Mackay regarding that matter as it was understood by the rest of my brethren in the Synod, I now withdraw that statement. I beg also to thank Mr. Mackay for removing so explicitly this misunderstanding, as my whole desire is for peace, and may the Lord grant that His peace may continue always with us as a Church!”
The Synod adjourned to meet again (God willing) in the Free Presbyterian Church, Inverness, on Tuesday after the first Sabbath of July, 1911, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon.
The meeting was closed with singing the last three verses of Psalm 122nd and prayer.