The Synod resumed its sitting on Thursday the 24th May, 1917, at 10.30 a.m., according to terms of adjournment. The sederunt was opened with devotional exercises conducted by the Moderator, the Rev. D. Macfarlane. The roll was called, and there were present: From the Western Presbytery—Revs. D. Graham and A. Sutherland, C.F. ministers; with Messrs. J. Macdonald, F. Macdonald, and A. Mackenzie, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Revs. J. R. Mackay, D. Macfarlane (Moderator), D. Beaton, and D. A. Macfarlane, ministers; with Mr. C. Maclean, elder. From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. N. Cameron, J. S. Sinclair (Clerk), and A. Mackay, ministers; with Mr. M. Campbell, elder. The Minutes of previous Sederunts were held over till next Meeting of Synod.
(13) REPORTS OF EXAMINERS OF PRESBYTERY RECORDS.
The examiners of the several Presbytery Records tendered their reports, which were entirely favourable as to the manner in which the Records of the three Presbyteries were kept.
(14) COMMITTEE ON LOYAL ADDRESS TO THE KING.
The Clerk reported that this Committee, owing to the constant pressure of the other business of the Synod, and the limited time at their disposal, had not been able to have the Loyal Address ready. The Synod remitted the business again, with full powers, to draw up and forward the Address as soon as possible.
(15) CHURCH MAGAZINE REPORT: MAY, 1916, TO APRIL, 1917.
Rev. J. S. Sinclair, as Editor and Treasurer, presented the following report:—”We are glad to say that we have again a favourable report to give for the year ending April, 1917, which was the twenty-first of the Magazine’s existence. The Magazine has at last reached its majority. The circulation during the past year has been slightly increased. We closed the previous year with a monthly issue of 4000: for most part of last year the issue has been fifty more. Of this number, we have been sending on an average, as before, 1250 copies to our brave soldiers and sailors. The larger proportion (800) goes to His Majesty’s fleet, while an additional parcel of 80 is sent to the mine sweepers, through Messrs. G. Trollope & Sons, West Halkin Street, London, S.W. We still continue to send 70 copies monthly to the interned prisoners at Gröningen, in Holland, and 100 to Mr. R. E. Brider, 6 Stirling Road, Bath Road, Bristol, who carries on a ‘Gospel Book Mission’ to Army and Navy. Mr. Brider has a special delight in circulating sound Gospel literature, and he is in communication with a number of colporteurs and others who work among soldiers and sailors on active service and in hospitals. Friends who have the ability would do well to send him an occasional donation, however small. Perhaps we should remind our readers that we have a General Free Distribution Fund, as well as that to soldiers and sailors. We send a few copies here and there to public libraries and institutions, and also to private individuals, for personal use and outside distribution—about 60 in all per month.
“As to the Fund for Free Distribution to Soldiers and Sailors, we closed the previous year with a balance to credit of £41—but owing to the increase in the price of the Magazine, the balance was exhausted at the end of six months, along with other contributions during that time. The appeal, however, that was made in the November issue, was responded to so well that the emergency was adequately met, and we have been able to finish the year with a balance to credit of £15. We received £1 9s. 6d. during the year for the General Free Distribution Fund. Our sincere thanks are tendered to friends for these donations.
“It is also our duty to thank all our literary contributors who help to make the Magazine a useful periodical, including those who may send sermons by past preachers, or other valuable extracts from books. Sometimes we delay publication of such, as we are anxious to have as much from current pens as possible, but we none the less appreciate the interest of such contributors.
“It gives us great pleasure to know that the Magazine is much appreciated in many quarters. The following extract from a letter by a Highland naval man on the sea may be of interest:—
“I don’t know rightly what to say as to my thankfulness to you for the great kindness you are doing in sending me your Magazine monthly, for we always enjoy the reading of it. When I read it myself, I am handing it to one of my mates, so that we may all have a reading of it. I trust that the Lord will reward you for your labour, and the great interest you are taking in distributing your Magazine among soldiers and sailors, and trust that the reading of them will be a comfort to many a soul in these dark and hard days that have come upon as a nation. But it’s for our own iniquities and for our backsliding away from the commandments of God that all this rebuking has come upon us, but if we would come to a state as to humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord, in due time He will exalt us. This is not a time to sleep. It’s time for every soul to be seeking the Lord for Himself, as long as we are in the room of mercy.’
“We conclude by expressing our sincere desire and prayer that the Lord may bless abundantly the pages of the Magazine to the comfort of His own children, and to the awakening of those who are spiritually unconcerned. May the word of truth have free course and be glorified!”
It was agreed to adopt the report, and to tender the best thanks of the Synod to the Editor and Treasurer for his report and labours.
(16) REMITS FROM PRESBYTERIES.
Western Presbytery.
—(1) This Presbytery desired approval of the appointment of Mr. Duncan Mackinnon as missionary for the whole parish of Bracadale, Skye, at the same salary as his predecessor. The Synod approved. (2) The Presbytery also desired the approval of the appointment of Mr. Kenneth Macdonald, Strathcanaird, as missionary for Coigach, Ross, at same salary as his predecessor. After ministers representing the Presbytery and Ullapool were heard, the Synod approved appointment, but remitted salary question to the Finance Committee to arrange. (3) The Presbytery transmitted an application from Mr. Finlay Morrison, missionary, Flashadder, Skye, respectfully asking that his salary should be increased to £40. The Synod took into sympathetic consideration Mr. Morrison’s circumstances, and gave instructions that £6 should be presently forwarded him, leaving it with the Finance Committee to decide as to the exact amount of future increase.
Southern Presbytery.
—The Clerk intimated a remit from this Presbytery, humbly requesting the Synod to take into consideration the necessity of formulating a deliverance against the use of unfermented wine and the individual cup in connection with the Lord’s Supper. The Synod decided to appoint a Committee, consisting of the Revs. J. R. Mackay, Neil Cameron, J. S. Sinclair, and D. Beaton, with full powers to draw up a deliverance, in the name of the Synod, against these innovations, and to have it published in the Church’s Magazine.
(17) COMPETENT BUSINESS.
(1) Canada, and Liquor Traffic, etc., in British Camps.
—The Clerk read the following cablegram which he had received on the 14th May from the Clerk of the Presbyterian Synod of Hamilton and London, Ontario, at St. Catherine’s in the same province:— “The Synod of Hamilton and London, Canada, brings to the attention of your Assembly the great injury done our soldiers in British camps through the liquor traffic and kindred evils. Parents are deeply grieved. We beg you to protest in the strongest possible manner, and unite with all other forces to overthrow this great evil.—Ratcliffe, Clerk.”
The Synod agreed to appoint a Committee, consisting of the Revs. J. R. Mackay, Neil Cameron, J. S. Sinclair, and D. Beaton, to draw up a protest against the evils referred to, and forward same to the Government authorities.
(2) Anti-Opium Protest.
—The Clerk read a letter he had received from the Anti-Opium Society in Edinburgh, urging that the Synod should protest against the continued importation of opium from this country to China. The Synod decided to refer the business to the Committee on Religion and Morals to draw up a suitable resolution on the subject.
(3) The Law as to Irregular Marriages.
—It was reported that the Committee, appointed to deal with this subject at the Synod Meeting last year, had not as yet done anything in the matter. The Synod remitted the business to them again (Revs. N. Cameron, A. Mackay, and D. A. Macfarlane), to draw up and publish a statement relative thereto.
(4) New Time Regulation.
—At the request of members of the Southern Presbytery, the Synod appointed a Committee to formulate a deliverance on this subject, referred to at a previous stage of the Synod’s business—the members of Committee to be the Revs. Neil Cameron, J. S. Sinclair, and Alex. Mackay.
(5) The Church’s Widows’ Fund.
—It was agreed on the motion of the Rev. D. Macfarlane (who left the chair for the purpose, the chair being taken by the Rev. A. Mackay, ex-Moderator), seconded by the Rev. J. R. Mackay, that the Synod grant a permanent allowance of £20 per annum to Mrs. Scott, widow of the late Rev. Walter Scott, Chesley, Ontario, from the Ministers’ Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund.
Rev. J. R. Mackay moved that the Synod adjourn to meet again (God willing) in the Church at Inverness on Tuesday after the third Sabbath of May, 1918, at the hour of seven o’clock in the evening. The meeting was closed at 12.30 p.m., with praise in the last three verses of the 72nd Psalm and prayer.
WHEN I have sometimes felt my miserable carnality and earthy-mindedness, so that it has seemed impossible for me to be either going to or to be fit for heaven, I have, as it were, fallen back upon the dying thief. Where was his fitness, externally or internally? I have thus seen what grace can do by what grace has done, and I neither expect nor desire to be saved in any other way than the dying thief.—J. C. Philpot.
A MAN might as justly think to gain a race without legs, as press after true holiness without the power of the Redeemer.—Serle.