THE Annual Meeting of the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland was opened in the Hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on Tuesday evening, the 22nd day of May, 1917. The retiring Moderator, Rev. Alexander Mackay, Oban, conducted public worship at 6.30 p.m., and preached from Hebrews x. 23: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.” After public worship was ended about 8 p.m., the Moderator constituted the Synod with prayer. The roll was then called, and there were present: From the Western Presbytery—Revs. Neil Macintyre, Stornoway; Donald Graham, Shieldaig; and Andrew Sutherland, C.F., Ullapool, ministers; with Messrs. John Macdonald, Gairloch; Finlay Macdonald, Shieldaig; and Alex. Mackenzie, Stornoway, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Rev. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall, minister; with Messrs. Charles Maclean, Inverness, and Murdo Urquhart, Dingwall, elders. From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s; James S. Sinclair (Clerk), John Knox’s; Ewen Macqueen, Kames; and Alex. Mackay (Moderator), ministers; with Messrs. Donald Fraser, St. Jude’s, and Murdo Campbell, Oban, elders. The Clerk intimated apologies for absence from the Revs. M. Morrison, Lochinver; N. Matheson, Halkirk; D. M. Macdonald, North Uist (presently in London); D. Mackenzie, Gairloch; and D. N. Macleod, Harris. Mr. Neil Mackinnon, elder, Portree, also sent an apology. Mr. John Maclachlan, student, was appointed Officer of Court, and agreed to perform the duties.
The Minutes of the last two Sederunts of the previous Meeting of Synod were read and approved of. At this stage, the Moderator (Rev. A. Mackay) intimated that his term of office had expired. He thanked the Synod for their kindness to him during his term, and said that it now lay with them to appoint his successor. Rev. E. Macqueen moved, and the Rev. Neil Cameron seconded, that the Rev. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall, be appointed Moderator for the ensuing year. Mr. Macfarlane rose and said that he did not feel very fit at his advanced time of life to undertake the duties, and would prefer that the Synod would wait until at the next Sederunt a younger minister would be forward, who had not yet occupied the Chair, and then they could proceed with the appointment. The Synod, while fully appreciating the nature of Mr. Macfarlane’s suggestion, appeared to be of the mind that it was desirable to proceed with the appointment at the usual stage, and that they could not do better than appoint their esteemed father, Mr. Macfarlane, in the circumstances. Mr. Macfarlane then agreed to take the Chair, and feelingly thanked the Synod for the honour they had for the third time conferred upon him. Thereafter, he proposed that the Rev. Alexander Mackay be asked to publish his sermon, which he (Mr. Macfarlane) warmly commended, in the Magazine. This was seconded by the Rev. Neil Cameron, and agreed to. Rev. E. Macqueen moved that the Revs. Neil Cameron, J. S. Sinclair, and Mr. A. Mackenzie, elder, be appointed as a Committee to draw up a loyal Address to the King. Mr. F. Macdonald, elder, seconded the motion, with the suggestion that Mr. Macqueen be added to the Committee. The motion with the addition was agreed to. It was also agreed that the following examiners of Presbytery Records be appointed:— The Members of the Northern Presbytery to examine the Records of the Southern; the Members of the Southern Presbytery to examine the Records of the Western; and the Members of the Western Presbytery, the Records of the Northern. It was further agreed, on the motion of the Clerk, that the Members of Synod (God willing) meet next morning in the Hall at half-past ten o’clock as a Committee on Bills and Overtures. It was also arranged that the Synod have two regular Sederunts next day, at 2 p.m. and 6.30 p.m., and intimation thereof was accordingly made. The Sederunt was closed with praise and prayer.