THE Half-yearly Meeting of Synod was held in the Hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on Tuesday the 14th day of November. The retiring Moderator, Rev. Donald Graham, Shieldaig, conducted public worship at eleven a.m., and preached from Revelation ii. 17: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” After public worship was ended the Moderator constituted the Synod with prayer. The roll was then called. There were present: From the Western Presbytery—Revs. Neil Macintyre, Stornoway, Donald Graham, Shieldaig (Moderator), Duncan Mackenzie, Gairloch, and Murdo Morrison, Glendale, ministers; with Messrs. John Macdonald, Gairloch, and George Ross, Lochbroom, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Revs. John R. Mackay, Inverness, and Donald Beaton, Wick, ministers. From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s, and J. S. Sinclair, John Knox’s (Clerk), ministers; with Mr. Angus Fraser, St. Jude’s, elder. The Clerk intimated apologies for absence from Revs. A. Macrae, Portree, N. Matheson, Hal-kirk, and A. Sutherland, Ullapool. Rev. Neil Cameron said he was sorry to state that the absence of the Rev. John Robertson, Greenock, was due to an accident sustained in leaving the car at Greenock on the previous Friday evening. He was glad, however, to inform the Court that Mr. Robertson was progressing favourably. The Clerk moved, and Rev. J. R. Mackay seconded, that the Synod express their sincere sympathy with Mr. Robertson in his affliction, and hope that he may be soon restored to his wonted health and usefulness. The motion was cordially agreed to, and the Clerk was instructed to communicate the same to Mr. Robertson. The commissions of Messrs. Angus Fraser and Benjamin Dawson, as representative elders from the Kirk-Sessions of St. Jude’s and Kames respectively, were received and sustained. Mr. Samuel Fraser was appointed officer of Court.
The Minutes of last meeting of Synod were read and approved of. At this stage the Rev. Donald Graham intimated that the term of his moderatorship had now expired. He thanked the Synod for the great kindness and forbearance they had shown him during his term of office, and said that it now lay with the Court to appoint his successor. Rev. Neil Cameron moved, and Rev. Murdo Morrison seconded, that the Rev. Duncan Mackenzie, Gairloch, be appointed Moderator for the ensuing year. The motion was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Mackenzie expressed his willingness to accept office, and was welcomed by the retiring Moderator. On taking the Chair, Mr. Mackenzie thanked the Synod very sincerely for the high honour they had conferred upon him, and trusted he would receive grace for the discharge of his important duties.
Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that the members of Synod meet in Committee at the Rev. Mr. Cameron’s manse at four p.m. The motion was seconded by the Rev. Neil Cameron, and agreed to.
The Synod adjourned, to meet again (God willing) in the evening at half-past six o’clock. The meeting was closed with prayer.
Second Sederunt.—The Synod resumed its sitting, according to terms of adjournment, at 6.30 p.m. The meeting was opened with devotional exercises, conducted by the Rev. Duncan Mackenzie, Moderator. The members present were the same as at the first Sederunt, with the addition of Messrs. Benjamin Dawson, Kames, and John Auld, John Knox’s, elders. The Clerk read a wire received from Mr. Duncan Crawford, elder, Oban, expressing regret for inability to attend. 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) Canadian Mission Report; (5) Foreign Mission Report; (6) Petition from Australia; (7) Report of Supply at Summer Fishing Stations; (8) Theological Report; (9) Remits from Presbyteries; and (10) Any Competent Business.
The second subject on the paper was “Reports of Business ordered by last Synod.” The Clerk read the Address drawn up by Committee and forwarded to His Majesty King George V., with the reply received from Lord Pentland, both of which have already appeared in the Magazine. He also read the resolution drawn up with reference to the Sabbath-trading clauses in the Shops Bill, copies of which were forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary. This resolution was published in our September issue, and need not be reprinted.
The Committee to draw up a resolution against the Papal Marriage Law, called Ne Temere, was reappointed. It consisted of the Revs. J. R. Mackay, Neil Cameron, J. S. Sinclair, and D. Beaton. Mr. Cameron was appointed Convener. A Committee, consisting of the Moderator and Revs. J. R. Mackay and Neil Cameron, with Mr. Mackay as Convener, was appointed to consider papers received from a new Lord’s Day Alliance of Scotland.
Rev. J. R. Mackay, as Convener of a Committee appointed by the Synod in July to dispose of an application from a West Coast Missionary for services in connection with this Church, reported on the negotiations which had been carried on by this Committee and the missionary referred to, with the result that the Synod, on the motion of the Rev. D. Beaton, seconded by Mr. A. Fraser, re-appointed this Committee, with full powers.
PETITION AGAINST RUNNING TRAINS ON SABBATH.
In connection with a resolution arrived at by the Synod in July anent a Petition to His Majesty King George V., to the House of Lords, and to the House of Commons, on the subject of running of trains on the Sabbath day, Rev. J. R. Mackay reminded the Synod that although his name had been mentioned in this connection, a Committee had not been appointed, and on that account all he could do was to submit a form of Petition to be sent to the King, and that if the Synod approved of it substantially, the same Petition could be forwarded to the two Houses of Parliament. On the motion of the Rev. Neil Cameron, seconded by Mr. B. Dawson, the Synod, with only slight alterations, adopted this form of Petition to the King. It is as follows:—
“TO HIS MAJESTY, GEORGE V., KING OF ALL THE BRITONS, EMPEROR OF INDIA.
May it please your Majesty,
The humble Petition of the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, sheweth:
That your humble Petitioners are deeply grieved on account of the extent to which desecration of the Lord’s Day prevails in this country; that the running of Mail Trains on the said day is an aggravated instance of such desecration, and a matter on account of which the national responsibility is very direct; that your Petitioners would beg that your Majesty might bring your Majesty’s great authority and influence to bear upon this evil so as to bring it to an end; that your Petitioners would venture to urge the following reasons for such a course:—
(a) That the Word of God does not permit works, save those of necessity and of mercy, to be wrought on the Lord’s Day; (b) that the running of Mail Trains, or of other Trains, cannot be excused on the ground of either necessity or mercy; (c) that it is a fact that all the hard-working nations of the world are finding a rest of one day in seven to be a physical necessity; (d) that the railwaymen of this country, who already demand double pay for service rendered on the Sabbath, are agitating for a complete rest from service one day in every seven; (e) that it would be regrettable if, when they shall have realised the object of this agitation, that rest should not be of a distinctively Christian nature, a resting upon the First Day of the week, and in accordance with the true import of the Fourth Commandment.
May it therefore please your Excellent Majesty to take these premises into consideration and to exercise your great authority and influence to bring the evil complained of to an end. And your Petitioners will ever pray.”
THE IMPROVEMENT OF CONGREGATIONAL SINGING.
On this subject Rev. J. R. Mackay reported that, as instructed by the Synod in July, he had sent to all the congregations of the Church the following three questions: (1) Have instructions in Psalm-singing been given at any time in your congregation? (2) Is there any in your own congregation capable of conducting a class having for its object the improvement of congregational singing? (3) Would you wish the Synod to send to your congregation one to conduct such a class as is referred to in Question 2? Forty-two congregations sent in replies to those questions. Eleven answered Question 1 in the affirmative, although in the case of two or three of these, arrangements for the end now referred to had been made only quite recently. Thirty-one indicated that no training had been given within their bounds since 1893. Fifteen, in reply to Question 2, indicated that there was a person capable of conducting a singing-class within the congregation replying. Twenty-seven replied that there was none such with them. In answer to Question 3, twenty congregations expressed a wish that the Synod might arrange to send among them one capable of giving training in Psalm-singing, although some of these indicated that their request was subject to the provision that the arrangement, if carried out, should not mean much additional congregational expense. Twenty-two congregations, either because they were already suited, or because the people could only with great difficulty be able to gather together so frequently as tuition of this kind required, answered Question 3 in the negative.
Mr. Mackay suggested the following as the Synod’s finding, in view of the above report:—The Synod, having heard the report on the subject of congregational training in Psalm-singing, resolves, (1) To express its satisfaction at learning that in so many of the congregations of this Church the subject of Psalm-singing is already being attended to; (2) In respect of congregations having persons capable of conducting singing-classes, but where training in Psalm-singing has not been attended to within recent years, the Synod would urge the desirability of classes, under the superintendence of Kirk-Sessions, being set on foot with a view to improve congregational singing; (3) In response to the expressed wish of so many congregations of this Church to have facilities given them with a view to the improving of congregational singing, the Synod appoint a Committee—to be afterwards nominated by the Synod itself—so as, if possible, to secure the services of a capable person, who should conduct singing-classes in the several congregations in the order advised by the Committee—the salary of the conductor of singing-classes to be not more than 25/- per week, together with travelling expenses and free board, and that this expense should be borne partly by the congregations visited and partly by the Organisation Fund.
Rev. Neil Cameron moved that Mr. Mackay’s suggestion be adopted as the finding of the Synod, and he submitted the following names as the members of the Committee now referred to:—Revs. J. R. Mackay, Neil Macintyre, and D. Beaton; with Mr. Mackay as Convener. The motion was adopted.
FINANCIAL REPORT.
The next item of business was the Treasurer’s Half-yearly Report. Rev. J. R. Mackay submitted that, in view of the fact that the Synod formally adopts the Treasurer’s Report only once a year, namely, in July, all that was necessary at this time was that the Synod should instruct the Treasurer to pay the salaries of ministers and missionaries at the usual rate, and should record their acknowledgment of the Lord’s goodness in making provision so favourably for the Church’s needs. He moved accordingly.
Rev. Neil Cameron seconded the motion. He said that some predicted in 1893 that two years would bring this Church to an end. The wish was no doubt father to the thought. There were, however, a few men of faith at the beginning of it, who looked not at the things which were seen and temporal, but at the things which were unseen and eternal, and the Lord acknowledged their faith so that the Church was upheld in a measure of stability and comfort to this day. Their people did not suffer loss by liberality to the cause of truth. The motion was cordially adopted.
CANADIAN MISSION REPORT.
The Rev. Neil Macintyre, the Synod’s deputy to the Canadian Mission for last summer, now rose and delivered his report, which was listened to with great interest and appreciation. The report is printed elsewhere in our pages. The Clerk moved that the Synod tender its most cordial thanks to Mr. Macintyre for his services in Canada, and for the very interesting report to which the members and others had the privilege of listening. The motion was seconded by Mr. A. Fraser, and unanimously agreed to.
Some matters that arose out of the report were next taken up. Rev. Neil Cameron moved that the Synod approve of the procedure adopted by Mr. Macintyre at Winnipeg in the matter of admitting persons to the privilege of the Communion, and give it to be understood that while this Church does not hold close communion, none are to be admitted to the privilege mentioned but such as are known as God-fearing persons by a majority of those responsible for admission. The motion was seconded by the Rev. D. Graham, and unanimously agreed to.
Rev. Neil Macintyre now laid upon the table the call to the Rev. Donald Beaton, Wick, from the congregation in Ontario, to which he had referred in his report. He said that he had been intrusted to convey this call, which was signed by 105 members and adherents, and to plead the case of the friends in Ontario before the Synod. He then gave a brief resumé of the history of the connection of the Ontario Mission with the Free Presbyterian Church, and spoke of the many difficulties the people had to contend with before and since that connection—ever since the death of the Rev. John Ross, Brucefield. He stated that many things were now done by those outside to draw away their young people to the newer ways in religion, and that it was almost impossible to retain them without a stated pastor being on the spot. Several of the places in connection with the Mission had no regular services at all, and so the people were placed at a great disadvantage. Negotiations were going on at present between the Canada Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Church, and the strong probability was that not a few of the Presbyterian people would refuse to go into that union. These people would no doubt be disposed to join a church conducted on the old principles and lines. Mr. Macintyre assured Mr. Beaton that if he saw his way to accept the call, the friends in Canada were prepared to make him as comfortable as possible in every way, and not to impose any burden on the Church at home.
At this stage Mr. Beaton was asked to give some indication of his mind in regard to the call, and on rising, he said he found himself in a very difficult position. He had listened with the deepest interest to the report given to the Synod by Mr. Macintyre, awakening, as it did, memories of persons and places which would always have a cherished place in his mind. The case of our people in Ontario could not be more feelingly, forcibly, and convincingly put than it had been by Mr. Macintyre, and he had to confess that his pleading, directed as it was specially to himself, had deeply moved him. In coming to a decision there were a few facts which he thought it right to lay before the Synod. This call came to him as one of the surprises of his life. He was the very last of all the deputies sent to Canada, and this was said in no spirit of mock self-depreciation, who could have expected such an honour. The first intimation of the call came from Mr. Macintyre, after it had been signed at East Williams, and his (Mr. Beaton’s) first inclination was to write asking the friends in Ontario not to proceed any further. But on second thoughts, as this might appear disrespectful, he allowed the call to proceed. Between this date and the actual presentation of the call, an occasion arose, as some of his brethren were aware, when an opportunity was given of seriously considering whether he should continue in his present charge or not. After prayerful consideration, he came to the conclusion that it was his duty to remain. The reasons that led to this decision held good still, and influenced his attitude to this call from Canada. Besides these reasons, he felt that he was severely handicapped in having but a meagre acquaintance with Gaelic, which might be considered good enough by charitably-minded persons, but was scarcely sufficient as a vehicle for communicating his thoughts with anything like freedom in that language. Then he felt that he had neither the physical energy nor vigour to conduct the services over such a large area as the Mission in Ontario. And, in view of these considerations, he felt that it was his duty, alike in the interests of our Church in Ontario and his present congregation, not to accept the call. At the same time he would like to say, especially to the friends in Canada, that he did so with a full sense of the honour they had conferred upon him, and the deepest sympathy with them in their isolated position. It was not with an unfeeling heart he made his decision known to the Synod. The short time he had spent in Canada was a period to which he could look back with the pleasantest recollections, and, should it be the Lord’s will, he would like to see Canada again, and renew the acquaintance with many of the Lord’s people whom he was privileged to meet during his sojourn there.
Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that after the statement they had heard from Mr. Beaton, the Synod, while feeling the deepest sympathy for their dear friends in Canada, accept Mr. Beaton’s decision, and instruct the Clerk to communicate the same to them. Rev. Neil Cameron, in seconding the motion, said that they had the fullest sympathy with their Canadian friends in their necessities, and earnestly desired that they should have a minister, while they must accept Mr. Beaton’s decision. The motion was agreed to. The Rev. Neil Macintyre, as the Canadian representative, said that he felt that he had no alternative but to acquiesce in the decision come to.
Rev. Neil Macintyre moved that the trustees on the estate of the late Mr. Alexander Mackenzie, Lucknow, receive power to add to their number any competent person outside the Session. He said that most of the surviving elders were getting up in years and not so able as formerly to attend to business. The motion was seconded by Mr. George Ross, and agreed to.
Rev. Neil Macintyre also moved that the congregation of Winnipeg in Manitoba, and the people adhering to the Free Presbyterian cause in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., be regarded as separate Missions in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The motion was seconded by Mr. A. Fraser, and agreed to. It was also agreed that Mr. Daniel Clark and Mr. Hugh Scott, elders, Ontario, be appointed as assessors, along with Mr. Lachlan A. Ross, elder, Winnipeg, to form a Session in Winnipeg.
Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that the Synod instruct the Canadian Mission Committee to arrange as soon as convenient a minister to go as deputy next summer. The motion was agreed to.
FOREIGN MISSION REPORT.
Rev. Neil Cameron, as Convener of the Foreign Mission, read a letter from the Rev. John B. Radasi, which gives an account of general progress up to date, and which we publish elsewhere. Mr. Cameron, in his remarks, made reference first to the circulation of Kaffir Bibles. He said that they were much indebted to the Directors of the British and Foreign Bible Society for giving Bibles at 25 per cent. reduction, and sending them free of freight from Cape Colony to Bembesi. These Bibles were circulated among all who could read, whether they belonged to the Mission or not. As to the Shorter Catechism, he was sorry to observe that Lovedale was not to print it in Kaffir any more, but was to circulate a new Catechism. He suggested that our Church should get copies of the Shorter Catechism in Kaffir reprinted and forwarded to Mr. Radasi. Mr. Cameron then devoted his remaining remarks to the proposed new church building, which he concluded with the following motion:—”The Synod, having considered the plans and specifications submitted to it by three contractors for the erection of a church at Bembesi, agrees that the plan, etc., by Mr. M’Keurtan should be further considered. It gives the Foreign Missions Committee full powers to confer for further particulars as regards certain things not made so definite as might be desirable in this plan, and directs that if they get these matters settled in accordance with their mind, they instruct Mr. M’Keurtan to proceed with the building.” The motion was seconded by the Rev. Murdo Morrison, and agreed to.
Rev. D. Beaton moved that the £11 be granted to Mr. David N’Tuli for the expense of his transference to Mashonaland and the erection of huts for preaching and dwelling purposes. The Rev. J. R. Mackay seconded the motion. He said that there were some people who had the impression that the Synod was dealing too generously with its missionaries in South Africa. He had consulted, when there, two gentlemen—Messrs. Russell and Woodhouse—who took an active part in the promotion of Missions, and he found from their statements that the Free Presbyterian allowances for mission work were under what others were giving in the same quarter. David N’Tuli was rather an accomplished man, and the natives expected a good deal in the way of hospitality. It would be a great pity if the Mission should suffer from stinginess on their part. The Mission was conducted, he was convinced, on very sound lines. The motion was agreed to.
Rev. J. R. Mackay moved, and Rev. D. Beaton seconded, that the Synod appoint the Rev. Neil Cameron and the Clerk to see to the printing of 1000 copies of the Shorter Catechism in Kaffir. The motion was agreed to.
Rev. Neil Cameron submitted the following motion anent the money for church building in Rhodesia, which was seconded by Mr. B. Dawson:—”The Synod desire respectfully to submit to the consideration of their people the desirability of their contributing to the Building Fund of the new church for Rev. J. B. Radasi. Contributions will be thankfully received and acknowledged by Mr. Angus Clunas, 18 Ardconnel Terrace (East), Inverness, and by Rev. N. Cameron, 4 Shaftesbury Terrace, Glasgow.” The motion was agreed to.
TRANSLATION OF PSALMS INTO METRICAL KAFFIR.
On the subject of rendering the Psalms into Kaffir metre, Rev. J. R. Mackay read the following communications from Rev. J. B. Radasi and Rev. J. K. Bokwe:—
“C/o NATIVE COMMISSIONER, BEMBESI, MATABELELAND, SOUTH AFRICA, 2nd October, 1911.
MY DEAR MR. MACKAY,—I received your kind letter, and was very glad to hear that you were still enjoying good health. I wrote to the Rev. John Knox Bokwe, one of the ministers appointed by Principal Henderson, to ask him what progress they were making in putting the Psalms into metre, as the last letter I got from him—months ago—said that they had translated and put into metre nineteen Psalms. And I have received from him a detailed reply, which I am enclosing. Mr. Henderson seems, I am sorry to say, to have interrupted progress by the proposal he has made. Mr. Bokwe, one of the native ministers who are translating and putting the Psalms into metre, is well qualified for this work. He is a very good English scholar and a master of the Kaffir language. He has written several books in Kaffir. He has also a very good knowledge of music, which will be very helpful to him in putting the Psalms into metre. My own opinion is this—that you ought to write to Mr. Henderson at once, and ask him to write to Mr. Bokwe and instruct him to proceed with the translation and putting the Psalms into metre. You might write to Mr. Bokwe too, if you think it necessary, as our people are continually asking when these Psalms will be finished.
David N’Tuli is here, to fetch his wife and family. He will be returning next week, if the Lord be willing. I have written to Mr. Cameron a long letter; you will see from it that David N’Tuli has not yet been given a Mission site, although permitted to preach to the natives. It is to be hoped that they will not take as long as they did in my case to give him a Mission site. You will remember that I remained more than a year before I got my Mission site cut, although I was permitted to preach all the time. It seems that N’Tuli is exactly in the same position as I was. It took some time, too, before I was recognised by the Government. I was under the impression that David N’Tuli would not have any difficulty in getting a Mission site cut, as our Church has already been recognised by the Government. It is to be hoped that the delay in granting it will not be as long as it was in my case. N’Tuli is stationed at Felixburg, Victoria District, Mashonaland, South Africa.
I am sure you will be sorry to hear of the death of Chief Raditladi, King Khama’s youngest brother. I got a letter from one of his sons, informing me of his father’s death. His other son is still here, and did not go home. I must now conclude with kindest regards to you and to Mrs. Mackay.—Yours sincerely, J. B. RADASI.”
From Rev. J. K. Bokwe.
“UNITED FREE CHURCH MISSION, UGIE, EAST GRIQUALAND, 23rd September, 1911.
Rev. JOHN B. RADASI, Free Presbyterian Mission, Bembesi, Rhodesia.
DEAR MR. RADASI,—I am in receipt of your letter, dated 15th instant, inquiring as to the progress made in our translation of the Psalms in Kaffir metre, required for use in your Mission. As you need this information for reporting to your Synod in Scotland, this reply must necessarily go into detail.
(1) We should by now have been probably more than half through with the translation, but Principal Henderson interrupted progress by a proposal to seek one or two European examiners—one of whom should be well up in Hebrew, the other in Kaffir—for checking that our rendering preserved the scriptural meanings. This was by way of aiming at making the work as perfect as possible. About eighty or ninety pages of MS., ending with Psalm xxix., have been in Mr. Henderson’s hands since 10th December, 1910, waiting to be judged by the proposed examiners, and if acceptable, then we shall know we are not wasting time and effort continuing on same lines. Unfortunately, Mr. Henderson seems not to succeed in finding the proposed examiners; nor does he instruct us to proceed. We have had MS. in our hands, not yet handed to him—beginning with Psalm xxx., ending with Psalm xl.—for months, awaiting instructions from Lovedale.
(2) My own opinion is Mr. Henderson will not be able to get any two among the present generation of South African missionaries to lay themselves out for so laborious an undertaking, and I doubt even if one agrees that he will produce, beyond verbal alterations, any better versification of the Psalms than we were trying to submit. The best plan would have been for the Lovedale Press to have issued a leaflet of, say, twenty-four Psalms, as translated, for trial; call for criticisms of Kaffir scholars, both European and native, or for suggested improvements, giving a limited time within which these amendments would be received; and so judge, by opinions expressed on this tentative leaflet, whether our translation is acceptable to Presbyterians desiring the use of David’s Psalms in metre. In this way the Free Presbyterian, Free Church, and United Free Church of Scotland would offer suggestions in the work that might by and by be found useful to their Missions among Kaffir-speaking tribes in South Africa and Rhodesia.
It is strange that we three native Africans, belonging to the respective Scottish Missions of the Free Presbyterian, Free Church, and United Free Church, should be taking the initiative compilation of this work. You, Mr. Radasi, are Free Presbyterian Mission; Mr. Wm. Kobe Nisikana, Free Church; and the writer is United Free. Should it ever come to production, I have not the slightest doubt use will be made of it not only by those Churches that discourage the hymns in Church praise.
(3) The translation into metre follows as near as possible the latest renderings of English and Kaffir (Xosa) Revised Versions of the Psalms, even if we, as translators, do not know the classic Hebrew in which David wrote them.
(4) Though the terms of remuneration were submitted to Principal Henderson, and left by Mr. Mackay to be decided by the former, that matter also has never been arranged, though repeated applications have been addressed to Lovedale to let us know how we stand in undertaking the work. As it is, both Mr. Nisikana and myself have incurred some expense in stationery and postages, not counting the labour on the MS. of the forty Psalms already translated. The delay lies in our not being told whether there is approval of what we have done, and if so, it is worth proceeding to the finish.
I have written fully, so that you may be in a position to satisfy the inquiries of your Synod in Scotland, by either sending this letter as it is or in your words, knowing exactly how the matter stands.
With Christian regards, believe me, yours sincerely,
JOHN KNOX BOKWE.”
Mr. Mackay was instructed by the Synod to write to Principal Henderson on the lines suggested in Mr. Radasi’s letter, and, further, to acknowledge Mr. Bokwe’s letter.
A PETITION FROM AUSTRALIA.
Rev. Neil Cameron, as Convener of Foreign Missions Committee, read a letter which he had received from Mr. J. D. Kidd, Lawrence, Clarence River, New South Wales. Mr. Cameron said that Mr. Kidd was an elder in the Brushgrove-Grafton Congregation, where their worthy friend, Rev. Walter Scott, had laboured. The following is an extract:—”I received your letter of 16th August, and wish to thank you for the encouragement given. The elders have decided to send a petition to the Synod, asking for ministerial aid and closer relationship. We thought it advisable to send it without delay, that it might be in your hands by the time the Synod met. Owing to this, we are unable to obtain all the signatures of sympathising friends. Messrs. D. Maclachlan, John Maclachlan, and J. H. Macdonald, our best supporters, are unavoidably absent from home. I have no further particulars to give you since my last, save that the majority are putting forth their utmost endeavours to crush our position. The Free Church minister, Rev. Mr. Henry, and Mr. Herbert Ramsay, student, are both on the River, and are doing all they can to turn away the people. The majority have elected trustees for our Brushgrove Church and Manse, and we may lose these.” Mr. Kidd concludes by stating among other things, that ‘if the Synod should see its way to send a minister, the people would be agreeable to send £35 to help to pay the passage. Rev. Mr. Cameron then read the petition, which was signed by three elders, ten members and a few adherents, and runs as follows:—”To the Reverend the Moderator, and the Members of the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland: We, the undersigned elders, members, and adherents of the Brushgrove-Grafton Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia, desirous of promoting the glory of God and the good of the Church, being destitute of a pastor for over two years, crave ministerial aid and closer relationship with your Church. Owing to the present unsettled condition of the Congregation, no guarantee as to stipend can be given.” (Here follow signatures.) Mr. Cameron said that he was sure they all felt the deepest sympathy with their friends in Australia. The great difficulty was in providing them with ministerial supply. He moved, however, as follows, that the Synod, having much sympathy with friends in Australia, grant the petition for closer relationship by receiving into Church fellowship the members and adherents of the Brushgrove-Grafton Congregation who had forwarded this petition, and assure them that, while the Synod cannot make any promise as to sending out a minister, they will do their very utmost, if circumstances will at any time permit, to meet this requirement. Rev. D. Beaton seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
SUPPLY AT SUMMER FISHING STATIONS.
Rev. Murdo Morrison read the following report forwarded by Mr. Donald Mackenzie, missionary, Lochinver, who conducted Gaelic services at Fraserburgh during the summer fishing season:—
“I arrived at Fraserburgh on 14th July. Kind friends met me at the station and conveyed me to comfortable lodgings which they had already engaged, and I was there till the 28th August. Conducted services forenoon and evening each Sabbath in the Dalrymple Hall. The average attendance would be from 50 to 60. I also visited the fisher girls in their barracks, who would congregate for worship or meeting on very short notice when not working, and also visited such as I knew of them to be unwell.
We could not help being sorry to see the loose manner in which some Highland young men and women conducted themselves there, we believe, very differently from what they see and do at their homes. Deputies from other denominations were there five or six Sabbaths before I went, as the fishing began very early this year on the East Coast. I would strongly recommend that one of our ministers would act as deputy in future, or at least for part of the time. I take occasion here to sincerely thank the girls, who contributed towards our hall rent, from Shetland. May they be abundantly rewarded! I may also say that the presence of Mr. H. Morrison, elder, Scourie, was a source of strength to me there.
(Signed) DONALD MACKENZIE.”
Mr. Morrison moved that the Church should take a continued and lively interest in the spiritual welfare of their people who go to the various stations on the East Coast during the fishing seasons, and that, if at all possible, a minister should be sent to preach at those times to Fraserburgh, Shetland, and Yarmouth. The motion was seconded by the Rev. D. Beaton, and agreed to. It was remitted to the Committee on the subject to look into the matter of supply and to see what could be done in the way of sending ministers.
THEOLOGICAL REPORT.
Rev. J. R. Mackay reported that a number of valuable books, chiefly the publications of the Wodrow Society, had been left by the late Rev. Robert Macdougall, Resolis, to the library of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Mr. Mackay was instructed to tender the best thanks of the Synod to Miss M’Dougall, daughter of the late Rev. Mr. M’Dougall, who was fulfilling her father’s kind trust in the matter.
Rev. Neil Macintyre moved, and Rev. D. Graham seconded, that the Theological Committee be instructed to appoint examiners for the divinity students. The motion was agreed to.
REMITS FROM PRESBYTERIES.
Rev. D. Beaton submitted a remit from the Northern Presbytery requesting the transference of Mr. Hugh Munro, missionary, from Scourie and Kinlochbervie, to help in the supply of the congregations on the east of Sutherland, of which Rev. Ewen Macqueen is minister. The Presbytery had already instructed Mr. Munro to go for a month. Mr. Beaton now moved that Mr. Munro be sent permanently to assist in the congregations mentioned, and that Mr. Hector Morrison, elder, Scourie, be appointed as missionary to Scourie and Kinlochbervie at a salary of £20 per annum. The motion was seconded by the Rev. Neil Cameron, and agreed to.
The Clerk submitted a remit from the Southern Presbytery, craving that the Synod issue a note of reminder to the members of the Church that it was necessary that members who went from one part of the Church to another to reside should carry with them certificates of membership. The Court agreed to receive the remit, and to record it as a note of reminder which might be observed by members in the Synod report when published.
Rev. Neil Macintyre introduced a remit from the Western Presbytery in which it was craved that Mr. Alexander Mackay, divinity student, be sent to supply Lochinver and Stoer after he had finished his studies at Inverness during the coming session. The petition was granted.
COMPETENT BUSINESS.
This was the tenth and last head on the paper. The Clerk moved that in accordance with the decision of the Committee on Bills and Overtures, sitting in private, the Moderator and Clerk in the Northern Presbytery, and the Moderator and Clerk in the Western Presbytery, be instructed to take into consideration and fix the salaries of certain of the missionaries within their respective bounds. The motion was seconded by Mr. A. Fraser, and agreed to.
Rev. J. R. Mackay submitted the following appeal for help from the congregation at Kinlochbervie:—
Rev. JOHN R. MACKAY,
F.P. Manse, Inverness.
“KINLOCHBERVIE, via LAIRG,
29th October, 1911.
Free Presbyterian Church.
REV. AND DEAR SIR,—I humbly beg to inform you that, at a meeting of the Finance Committee of the above congregation, I was authorised to write you, and kindly ask that you put our application before the first meeting of the F.P. Synod, with the hope that the Synod may kindly grant some assistance towards the repair of our church. Said church, which is a nice structure of wood and iron, capable of accommodating about 200 sitters, was opened a few years ago by the congregation free of debt, but was never lined or properly finished internally. Consequently, it is now undergoing said internal necessary repairs. As the Church never contributed towards said building, and owing to the very poor financial circumstances of the congregation, they are compelled to humbly approach the Church for some help to enable them to complete these necessary repairs. The least remittance shall be gladly accepted and duly acknowledged by the Committee. Hoping this may meet with your kind attention, and the Synod’s sympathy.—I beg to remain, Rev. and Dear Sir, yours most humbly,
MARCUS MORRISON, Secretary.”
Mr. Mackay moved that the Synod recommend this case to the Financial Committee, so that the said Committee may deal generously with the application when they distribute the sums collected within the past year for Church and Manse Building Fund. To this the Synod agreed.
Rev. D. Graham presented the case of the part of the Applecross congregation, hitherto attended to by Mr. William Macbeth, missionary. It was requested that the Synod send a missionary to supply for a few months, the people promising to pay the expense of the missionary’s board, etc. Rev. Neil Cameron suggested that Mr. Murdo Mackay, missionary, who was to supply Laide for some time, might go for six weeks to Applecross thereafter, and that Mr. John Macdonald, Garloch, might succeed Mr. Mackay for a time. The Synod agreed to send Mr. Mackay for the period mentioned. Mr. Macdonald, who was present, expressed some difficulty in regard to his being able to go, but at length he agreed to do what he could to meet the wishes of the Synod.
The Clerk moved that the Rev. D. Graham, Shieldaig, ex-Moderator, be requested to send his sermon, which they had listened to with pleasure that day, for publication in the Magazine. The motion was agreed to, and Mr. Graham, though reluctant, consented.
Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that the Synod adjourn to meet again (God willing) in the church at Inverness at 11 a.m. on the Tuesday after the last Sabbath of June, 1912. The motion was agreed to, and the Moderator intimated the date of next meeting accordingly.
The meeting was closed at 10 p.m. with singing the last three verses of the 122nd Psalm and prayer.
United Presbyterian Church of America.—As many of our readers are aware, this was usually regarded as the largest of the Psalm-singing Churches in the Presbyterian family. Some years ago one of the ablest works ever written in defence of the exclusive use of the Psalms—The Psalms in Worship—came from ministers of this Church. It also for many years bore strenuous testimony against the use of instrumental music in divine worship, and Prof. Harper’s pamphlet against the organ was an able piece of work. But for some years it would appear instrumental music was tolerated, and in some of the churches of this denomination, judging from a report in the United Presbyterian, kindly sent to us by a friend, it would appear that music is likely to be as great a curse to the United Presbyterian Church as it is to many of the American Churches. The report to which reference has been made is in connection with the installation of an organ. There was a dedication service, followed by a sermon, and a lady acted as soloist. We had hoped better things of the United Presbyterian Church of America, and though we were out of sympathy with its position as regards the national recognition of religion, still the fact that there was a Church bearing testimony on the side of purity of religion in the mighty land of the west was an encouragement. Still, we believe there are many in that Church who object to these innovations, but the plague, once begun, is not easily stopped.