THIS is the heading of an Appeal which was issued in December by representatives of various Churches in Scotland, urging upon the people sobriety and other virtues at the New Year season. The following were the signatories:—Thomas Nicol, D.D., Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; George Reith, D.D., Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland; James A. Smith, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh (Roman Catholic); W. J. F. Robberds, D.D., Bishop of Brechin, Primus of the Episcopal Church in Scotland; A. F. Simpson, M.A., Chairman of Scottish Congregational Union; Joseph Burns, President of the Baptist Union of Scotland; James Spence, Moderator of the Synod of the Original Secession Church; W. Russell, Moderator, Reformed Presbyterian Synod; S. Wilcox Stocker, Chairman, Scotland District, Wesleyan Methodist Church; Walter Stott, Chairman, Primitive Methodist Church, North British District; P. Kelt, President, Evangelical Union.
Though the object of the above Appeal was good, yet there was “a dead fly in the apothecary’s ointment”—the Roman Catholic Archbishop as an allied signatory. We are greatly astonished that the names of the Original Secession and Reformed
Presbyterian Moderators are in above list. The only names wanting are those of the Moderator of the Free Church Assembly and the Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Synod. Rev. Andrew Sutherland, Ullapool, the Moderator of our Synod, was written to for his signature by Dr. Nicol, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland Assembly, but Mr. Sutherland very rightly refused to give it in the circumstances. The following is a copy of Mr. Sutherland’s reply to Dr. Nicol:—
“FREE PRESBYTERIAN MANSE,
ULLAPOOL, 14th December, 1914.
The Rev. THOMAS NICOL, D.D.,
Moderator of the Church of Scotland,
53 College Bounds, Aberdeen.
A PLEA FOR A GOOD NEW YEAR.
REVEREND SIR,—I approve of the motive that prompted you and others to draft an Appeal to the heedless and self-indulgent at the present time.
Were the Appeal made by the Protestant Churches of Scotland only, I would give my signature. As, however, the Archbishop of Edinburgh, the representative of the Roman Catholic Church, is to be allied in this matter, I consider it inconsistent with thorough-going Protestantism, and therefore decline to give my signature for the Appeal.
As our Church fails not to speak of the sin of intemperance, I have no doubt but anew at this New Year, the people will be faithfully exhorted by our ministers.
Would that when the King of Nations is, at this time, speaking with a voice of terrible majesty, our nation would humble itself and acknowledge its sins before God! Otherwise we cannot expect the Lord’s blessing upon us.—I am, Reverend Sir, yours faithfully,
ANDREW SUTHERLAND.”