THE Half-yearly Meeting of Synod was held in the Hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on Tuesday the 11th day of November, 1913. The retiring Moderator, Rev. Neil Macintyre, Stornoway, conducted public worship at 11 a.m., and preached from Isaiah vi. 13 (last clause), “So the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.” After public worship was ended, the Moderator constituted the Synod with prayer. The roll was then called. There were present: From the Northern Presbytery—Rev. John R. Mackay, Inverness, minister; with Mr. Charles Maclean, Inverness, elder. From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s, Glasgow; John Robertson, Greenock; Alexander Mackay, Oban; and James S. Sinclair, John Knox’s, Glasgow (Clerk), ministers; with Capt. Macdonald, St. Jude’s, elder. From the Western Presbytery: Revs. Neil Macintyre, Stornoway (Moderator), and Andrew Sutherland, Ullapool, ministers; with Mr. John Macdonald, Gairloch, elder. The Clerk intimated apologies for absence from the Revs. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall; A. Macrae, Portree; D. Mackenzie, Gairloch; D. Graham, Shieldaig; N. Matheson, Halkirk; D. N. Macleod, Harris; and M. Morrison, Lochinver.
The Rev. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall, in his letter of apology, wrote as follows:—”I regret that I cannot at this season of the year be present at the meeting of Synod to-morrow. I pray that the Lord may be with you to guide you in your deliberations. “There is one thing that has been impressed upon my mind for some time, which I hope the Synod will take up as an item of competent business, viz., to urge upon all the congregations of our Church the duty of social prayer in private and public for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our congregations, that sinners might be converted, and the Lord’s people revived; also that the Lord may bring our nation to repentance. A great revival of religion took place in Scotland in 1742, 1842, and 1860, when the cause was at a low ebb. I remember the revival of 1860 myself. It appears that there is a time of trial drawing near, and the Lord in the past raised up witnesses to stand the trial, and He may do so in our day. In 1842 He prepared the people of Scotland for the Disruption, so that the great majority came out. “I trust you, as Clerk, will bring this important matter before the Synod. If they approve of it, notice thereof may be given in the Magazine. Our own Church is not so living as at the beginning, and needs a revival. With kind regards to all, yours sincerely, D. MACFARLANE.”
After apologies were intimated, the Synod appointed Mr. Angus Fraser officer of Court. The minutes of last meeting of Synod were read and approved of.
At this stage, the Moderator intimated that his term of office had now expired. He thanked the Synod for the kindness and forbearance which had been shown him during the period of his Moderatorship, and said that it now lay with the Court to appoint his successor. Rev. John R. Mackay moved, and the Rev. Neil Cameron seconded, that the Rev. Andrew Sutherland, Ullapool, be appointed Moderator for the ensuing year. The motion was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Sutherland accepted office, and was welcomed to the chair by the retiring Moderator. Mr. Sutherland then thanked the Synod for the unexpected honour they had conferred upon him, and expressed the hope that the brethren would extend to him their forbearance during his term of office, and that he would be enabled by the grace of God to discharge his duties efficiently.
It was moved, seconded, and unanimously agreed to, that the members of Synod meet as a Committee on Bills and Overtures at Mr. Cameron’s Manse at 3.30 p.m. It was agreed to leave the question of the examination of Presbytery Records on this occasion to the members of Synod in Committee.
Rev. Neil Cameron moved, and Rev. Alexander Mackay, Oban, seconded, that the retiring Moderator (Rev. Neil Macintyre) be asked to publish his sermon in the Magazine. The motion was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Macintyre said that he did not anticipate such a request, but that he would do his best to comply with the wishes of the Synod.
On the motion of the Rev. Neil Cameron, the Synod adjourned to meet again (God willing) at 6.30 p.m. The meeting was closed with praise and 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 Moderator, Rev. Andrew Sutherland.
The roll was then called, and there were present: From the Northern Presbytery—Rev. John R. Mackay, Inverness, minister; with Mr. Charles Maclean, Inverness, elder. From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s; Ewen Macqueen, Kames; Alexander Mackay, Oban; and James S. Sinclair, John Knox’s (clerk), ministers; with Captain Macdonald, St. Jude’s, elder. From the Western Presbytery—Revs. Neil Macintyre, Stornoway, and Andrew Sutherland, Ullapool (Moderator), ministers; with Mr. John Macdonald, Gairloch, elder. Mr. John Auld, elder, John Knox’s, Glasgow, was prevented from being present by illness. The minutes of the first sederunt were read and approved of.
(1) The Clerk read the Report of the Committee on Bills and Overtures as to the order of business. The order was as follows:—(1) Report of Committee on Bills and Overtures; (2) Report of Committees appointed by last Synod on Loyal Address to the King and Sabbath Observance, etc.; (3) Report as to Examination of Presbytery Records; (4) Motion as to Call to Prayer contained in Letter from the Rev. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall; (5) Half-yearly Financial Report; (6) Report of Foreign Mission; (7) Report of Canadian Mission; (8) Reports from Deputies to Summer Fishing Stations; (9) Remits from Presbyteries; (10) Any Competent Business.
(2) As to Reports of Committees, appointed by last Synod, the Clerk read the Loyal Address to the King drawn up by Committee and forwarded in July, with the Reply received, both of which have already appeared in Magazine. He further read a Resolution which was drawn up by the Committee on Sabbath Observance and sent to the press, as also a reply received from the Moderator of the Irish Presbyterian Church to a copy of the Synod’s resolution on Irish Home Rule and a Day of Humiliation and prayer.
(3) The Examination of Presbytery Records. The Clerk reported that the members of Synod in Committee had decided to postpone the examination of these Records until next meeting—the usual annual time when they are examined—as there was no special urgency in the matter.
(4) CALL TO PRAYER FOR TRUE REVIVAL.
Rev. Neil Cameron moved that the Synod cordially recommend to the serious consideration of their Congregations the call to special prayer for a time of true reviving contained in the letter of the Rev. D. Macfarlane, and express the hope that the Lord, in answer to prayer, may vouchsafe a day of power from on high in the conversion of careless sinners and in the quickening and strengthening of His true people. Captain Macdonald seconded the motion, which was supported by the Rev. J. R. Mackay. Mr. Mackay said that they all highly appreciated the spirit and object of Mr. Macfarlane’s letter, and earnestly desired to see such a time as Mr. Macfarlane longed for. He hoped that the publication of the letter in the Magazine would call widespread attention to the matter and arouse an interest which, with the divine blessing, might produce good and abiding results.
(5) HALF-YEARLY FINANCIAL REPORT.
Rev. John R. Mackay, as Convener of the Sustentation Fund and Finance Committee, submitted the usual brief half-yearly report as forwarded by Mr. Clunas, the General Treasurer, which gave a list of the usual payments to be made to ministers and missionaries, and stated that the Fund at date was sufficient to meet these payments. Mr. Mackay moved that the General Treasurer be instructed to pay ministers and missionaries at the usual rates, and that the Synod make acknowledgment of God’s goodness in thus providing from year to year for the material necessities of those labouring in the Gospel among a comparatively poor people. The motion was seconded by the Rev. Neil Macintyre, and unanimously agreed to.
(6) FOREIGN MISSION REPORT.
Rev. Neil Cameron, in delivering his report on Foreign Missions, began by reading a letter he had received from Rev. J. B. Radasi, in which the sad news of the death of Mr. Radasi’s father and sister was conveyed. He said that he was fully convinced that he expressed the feelings of the heart of every member of the Synod when he said that they all sympathised deeply with Mr. Radasi in his time of sorrow. He suggested that the Synod would convey to Mr. Radasi its sincere sympathy with him in this bereavement, and its sense of the loss he has sustained by the removal of a pious father. Mr. Cameron said: “You will have noticed that Mr. Radasi asks leave of absence for a month in order that he might go to visit his aged and now bereaved mother. As the matter required haste, I conferred with Rev. J. S. Sinclair, clerk, who was at hand, and believing that the brethren would be in full agreement with us, we decided to write Mr. Radasi granting him leave of absence as requested. We now ask the Synod’s approval of our action.”
Mr. Cameron then read Mr. Radasi’s report. On this report he said: “Mr. Radasi conveys the thanks of our people there to the friends at home who contributed toward the Bembesi Church Building Fund. We desire to take this opportunity of thanking our people for the sincere interest they have taken in this African Mission from its inception, and the heartiness with which they have given of their means to support it. We would also convey our deep sense of gratitude to a friend who, in commemoration of a beloved deceased sister who was greatly interested in this Mission, gave fifty pounds in aid of the Bembesi Building Fund, and fifty pounds to aid the rendering of the Psalms into Kaffir metre. At the meeting of Synod in July, we reported that the contractor who built the church at Bembesi wrote to the effect that the work was finished, but forgot to enclose his account. We wrote him immediately to notify him of this fact, asking him to forward the account without delay so that we might settle it. The account arrived at the beginning of August. In the letter accompanying it, he asked that £200 should be forwarded by Telegram Money Order, so that he might pay his men, and that the other £138 8s. might be sent by Bank Draft. We forwarded the account and accompanying letter to Mr. Clunas, instructing him to send the money as requested. This was done by our worthy Treasurer with his usual promptness. Owing to the fact that the half of the money required had not been received up to that date, Mr. Clunas borrowed £199 from the Ordinary Foreign Missions Fund. It is very desirable that the above sum should be refunded as early as possible. We have received very nearly the one half of that sum already, and, from our past experiences of the liberality of our people, we expect to be able to have matters rectified very soon. The next item in Mr. Radasi’s report deals with the Psalms in Kaffir metre. This important work has been before this Church since Mr. Radasi reported that he could find only nine Psalms in Kaffir metre. (The whole of these Psalms were not rendered: only portions of them.) With these nine Psalms, worship has been conducted in our Mission since, without resorting to hymns, of which there are plenty. At the Synod last July there was a letter read from Principal Henderson, Lovedale, to Rev. J. R. Mackay, inclosing six Psalms in proof, and offering to print one thousand copies of the Book of Psalms in Kaffir metre for £37 10s. The Synod resolved to accept of this offer, and asked Principal Henderson to let us know what another thousand would cost as the type would be in bloc. We have not heard anything about the progress of the work of printing since. You will have noticed from the report how keenly the poor people await their appearance. We do trust that they will not have to wait very long now. As regards the charges in this good piece of work, we have to report that the 150 Psalms are in rough draft in metre. For this work we have paid the two men who have done it £30 each. The one who prepares it for the press, and who will have to correct the proofs, will have to get some acknowledgment yet. I think we shall have the one thousand copies for about £120. This is a cause why we should be really thankful; for it was a responsible and laborious task for any two men to have the whole Book of Psalms rendered into Kaffir metre. These men did it with alacrity, and we desire to acknowledge our indebtedness to them. I may say that we have received as much money as is required just now for this work. In conclusion, we have good cause why we should thank the Lord for the progress made, both from the religious and educational point of view, since we started this Mission in Matabeleland. Our worthy missionary, Rev. J. B. Radasi, is not idle. We see him at a prayer meeting every Sabbath morning, preaching at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m., and holding a Bible class in the evening. Surely that will keep him from rusting on the Lord’s day. On five of the week days, he teaches in the school; he also keeps a weekly prayer meeting, and goes occasionally to the outlying districts to hold meetings. He also finds time to catechise the children in their own homes. We desire the prayers of our people at home for Mr. Radasi and his laborious work. ‘God alone gives the increase.'”
Rev. J. R. Mackay begged to move—”That the Synod adopt the Report of the Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee, and thank the Convener for the same: That the Synod express their sincere sympathy with the Rev. John B. Radasi in the recent death of his father, and approve of the sanction given him to leave Rhodesia for a few weeks to visit his widowed mother: That the Synod further thank Mr. Radasi for his half-yearly report, and express their gratefulness to friends at home for the liberal way in which they have already responded to the appeal made to defray the expense of a new church at Ingwenya, at the same time venturing the hope that further response may be given, so that the entire sum withdrawn for building purposes should be returned to the general Foreign Mission Fund: That the Synod, finally, express their admiration of the work which the Rev. John Knox Bokwe and his co-workers have accomplished in bringing the rendering of the Psalms into Kaffir metre almost to a finish, and trust that the authorities at Lovedale will at an early date have the new Psalm Book issued from the press.”
The motion was seconded by the Rev. Alexander Mackay, and cordially agreed to.
Congregation in Australia.
Rev. Neil Cameron brought before the Synod the case of the congregation on the Clarence River, New South Wales, which was formerly ministered to by the Rev. Walter Scott, now in Chesley, Ontario. He reminded the Court that a section of this congregation were already formally received by the Church, and that supply had been promised as soon as such was possible. The people had intimated that they would pay the travelling expenses of any deputy who would be sent out for a few months. He moved that the Synod take steps to send out a minister for a few months to the Clarence River. A member of the Court pointed out that the absence of a minister would also involve some expense in the way of paying the supply of his congregation at home. Mr. Cameron said that he believed their friends in Australia would do all in their power to meet this outlay also. It was unanimously agreed, on the motion of the Rev. J. R. Mackay, that the members of the Southern Presbytery form a Committee, with full powers to secure a minister of the Church for the purpose in view, and to make all arrangements.
(7) CANADIAN MISSION REPORT.
Rev. John R. Mackay, Convener of the Canadian Mission Committee, delivered his report as deputy to the Mission in Canada last summer. The report (which is published elsewhere in our pages) was listened to with much interest and appreciation. At the conclusion, the Rev. Ewen Macqueen rose and moved that the Synod adopt the report with much pleasure, and thank Mr. Mackay for his services. He said that he had listened with great pleasure to the interesting account Mr. Mackay had given of his travels and labours. He felt that their friends in Canada had been brought near to them once again. If it were not for the wide rolling Atlantic, some of them would pay frequent visits to Winnipeg and other places on the opposite side of the ocean, in which they felt a warm and abiding interest. Rev. Neil Macintyre seconded the motion, which was very cordially adopted. Rev. J. R. Mackay thanked the Synod very sincerely for their kind appreciation and approval of his report and services.
Rev. J. R. Mackay further read a letter which he had received from Mr. George Baird, Brucefield, Ontario, with reference to next year’s supply, and which read as follows:—”DEAR MR. MACKAY,—I am requested by the Supply Committee of the Canadian Mission to write to the Supply Committee of the F.P. Church in Scotland, asking that they consider favourably a request for a supply of preaching for next season (1914). I trust this application will be in time to be brought before the meeting of Synod in Glasgow on the second Tuesday in November.” Rev. Neil Cameron moved that the Synod give full powers to the Canadian Mission Committee to make all necessary arrangements for the supply required in Canada next year. The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Rev. J. R. Mackay read a copy of the “Declaration of Trust,” a document drawn up in connection with the Church’s property in Winnipeg, which he handed to the Clerk.
(8) REPORTS OF DEPUTIES TO SUMMER FISHING STATIONS.
Rev. Neil Macintyre, Convener of Mission to Fishermen Committee, read reports which he had received from the Rev. Norman Matheson, Halkirk, who was at Fraserburgh last summer, and Mr. Angus Mackinnon, missionary, Laide, who was at Lerwick, and who is presently engaged in similar work at Great Yarmouth. Mr. Matheson’s report was as follows:—
“Being appointed Deputy for the East Coast Fishing at Fraserburgh, I left Halkirk, as advised, in time to commence duties on the first Sabbath of July. After some difficulty, I succeeded in securing lodgings, for which I paid £1 per week. The hall, in which services were to be held on Sabbath, had been engaged for me, previous to my going there. I held two services each Sabbath, the forenoon service beginning at eleven and the evening service at six o’clock. The attendance at the services was on the whole encouraging. The morning services were not so well attended as the evening services, which, I fear, was owing to the carelessness and indifference of some towards eternal realities. One felt sorry to see some Highland people who knew better, posting their letters on Sabbath. We would hope that none of our people when away from home are guilty of the breach of the Fourth Commandment by this sinful practice. I endeavoured to visit the fisherwomen at their rooms as often as I could, and found this part of my work a pleasant duty. They always received me very kindly, and seemed to appreciate the Word read and sung.
Owing to the Communion being held at Halkirk on the third Sabbath of July I was obliged to leave Fraserburgh at the beginning of the third week, and I returned the following week to resume the rest of my work there. After going back to Fraserburgh I considered it my duty to visit the few of our people who were employed at the fishing at Peterhead. I did so twice, but on the first occasion on which I visited them I was not able to hold a service. I just visited them at their different rooms and held worship. On the second occasion I held a service in a hall in the town, at which a large number of people attended, the bulk being from other denominations—there being very few of our people there, as already stated. One was pleased to see so many coming out to hear the Word, not knowing but it might be blessed to some.
The collections for the five Sabbaths I was at Fraserburgh amounted to £5 9s. 8d. These collections, along with the contribution sent to me from Peterhead, would have well-nigh defrayed expenses, were it not for the extra expenses incurred by my coming back to Halkirk to the Communion. The difference was paid to me out of the Organisation Fund. I take the liberty here of thanking the few at Peterhead who made a collection to help to defray expenses of hall and deputy. May the Lord be pleased to bless our weak efforts, to the good of immortal souls!
(Signed) NORMAN MATHESON.”
Mr. Mackinnon’s Report.
“GREAT YARMOUTH, 21st October, 1913.—Dear Sir,—I was instructed to go to Lerwick for two months, beginning on the first Sabbath of June and to continue to the end of July. As the fishing was a great failure in Lerwick, the fishcurers thought it advisable to send their girls away to England about the middle of July, and therefore I thought it my duty to come home from Lerwick two Sabbaths before the appointed time. Our meetings were held in the Masonic Hall. Our own people attended well upon the means of grace, and also people belonging to other Churches. It is very urgent that our Church would make an effort to supply the fishing-stations, such as Lerwick and Yarmouth. The people are trying, to the best of their ability, to cover the expenses. I came to Yarmouth on the 16th of this month. We had our services last Sabbath in the Albert Hall, which is very suitable for the purpose. We are also keeping the prayer meetings on Saturday and Monday nights in the same hall. I am expecting (D.V.) to continue with the people here for four Sabbaths, trusting the Most High will reveal His holy arm in saving souls, to His own glory and to their eternal benefit.”
The Clerk moved that the reports be received and the deputies thanked for their services. The motion was seconded by Mr. Charles Maclean, and unanimously agreed to.
(9) REMITS FROM PRESBYTERIES.
Southern Presbytery.
The Clerk introduced a remit from this Presbytery with reference to a conference that had been held with Mr. William Matheson, student, late of Winnipeg, in regard to his relation to the Free Presbyterian Church and matters bearing thereupon. The Clerk read the Minutes of a pro re nata meeting of this Presbytery, which had been held with the approval of the other Presbyteries, with the object stated, and also answers to certain questions put to Mr. Matheson at a later date.
After deliberation, the following resolution was moved, seconded, and agreed to: “The Synod, in view of the remit from the Southern Presbytery with reference to a conference with Mr. William Matheson, student, late of Winnipeg, record their satisfaction that Mr. Matheson has expressed his regret for his recent step of separation, and has given assurance that he is now in full harmony with the principles and practice of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. They instruct the Northern Presbytery to examine Mr. Matheson in the usual way, with a view to his being received as a regular student of the Church.”
Northern Presbytery.
Rev. J. R. Mackay brought forward a remit from the Northern Presbytery with reference to a difficulty experienced by the joint congregations of Halkirk and Helmsdale as to the date of the Communion in these places in the winter season. Mr. Mackay explained that it was not appropriate that these places, being one congregation under one minister (Rev. N. Matheson), should hold the Communion in each place on the same day, and yet that no other day, owing to circumstances, happened to suit on some occasions. The Communion was celebrated twice a year (July and November) in Halkirk, while only once in Helmsdale, and that in November. In the parish of Halkirk, however, the particular Sabbath of the month was sometimes changed, by arrangement among the various denominations, to suit the country people in the matter of moonlight on their journeys home; but in Helmsdale the third Sabbath of November was a fixed day for the Communion in the several Churches. The Helmsdale people had a difficulty in changing their day when Halkirk held the Communion on the same date, and though they had changed it on occasion, it was still felt to be an undesirable arrangement to do so. Halkirk, on the other hand, had a difficulty in departing from the arrangement come to by the other denominations in the parish. [People at a distance will understand that the Thursday (Fast Day) and other days before the Communion Sabbath are still universally observed in these parts as days of worship, and so a difficulty arises, for example, on a farm when the master attends one place of worship and the servants another. If the servants attend on different days from those of their master, then a collision on the subject of work is apt to ensue.]
After hearing the case the Synod decided to refer it back again to the Northern Presbytery, to come to some understanding with the congregational Kirk-Session on the subject at issue, keeping in view that the Communion could not be suitably administered on the same day in both places.
Western Presbytery.
A communication from one of the missionaries under the jurisdiction of this Court, on the subject of his salary, was remitted to the Synod. The Synod agreed to transfer the whole matter to the Sustentation Fund and Finance Committee, to make inquiries and decide.
(10) ANY COMPETENT BUSINESS.
The Moderator left the chair, which was occupied ad interim by the Rev. Neil Macintyre, to submit the case of Mr. Roderick Macleod, missionary, Coigach, in the matter of remuneration for his services. The Synod agreed to give Mr. Macleod £5 per annum in recognition of his services at Coigach, and to pay him at the rate of £20 per annum, when he was officiating for a month or two elsewhere.
The Clerk stated that the attention of the members in Committee had been called to an expression used in a motion adopted at the August Meeting of Synod with reference to Princeton Theological Seminary. The expression was “recognised Seminary,” and the impression this was liable to give in the connection was that the Theological Classes in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church were not “recognised” as valid for a theological course equally with those of other denominations. In the matter being noticed, there was no intention to reflect on the author of the motion,—the words were undoubtedly used with no such idea in view.
Rev. E. Macqueen, who made the motion referred to, said that the student who had applied for liberty to go to Princeton had used the words, “recognised institution,” in his application, and that he (Mr. Macqueen) had employed the same words in the sense that Princeton was more outstanding in the public eye than the Free Presbyterian classes, but not with the idea that their own classes were not recognised as valid by all denominations. Rev. J. R. Mackay said that Princeton had no doubt classes for special studies in the various subjects of a theological course beyond what was necessary for ordinary work. It might be incumbent on a student who had taken a scholarship at a University to take up some of these special studies.
The Synod agreed to note the fact that the Theological Classes in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church were fully “recognised” as valid for a theological course.
Rev. J. R. Mackay gave notice of motion, as follows:—”I beg to give notice that, God willing, I shall, at the next meeting of Synod in Inverness, move that in future the Synod meet once in the year instead of twice as at present.”
The Synod adjourned to meet again (God willing) in the Free Presbyterian Church, Inverness, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday after the last Sabbath of June, 1914.
The meeting was closed with praise in the last three verses of the hundred and twenty-second Psalm, and with prayer.