Communion.—Edinburgh, Hall (Riego Street, near Tollcross), first Sabbath of December.
Acceptance of Call to Ontario, Canada.—At a meeting of the Northern Presbytery, held at Dornoch, on Monday, 18th November, a letter was read from the Rev. William Matheson, a member of the Northern Presbytery, intimating his intention of accepting the call addressed to him by the Ontario Mission. The Presbytery, according to the Synod’s arrangement, accordingly recognised him as inducted to his charge.
Free Presbyterian Ministers and the Free Church.—It is with much regret that we report this month that three of our ministers, the Revs. J. R. Mackay, M.A., Inverness, Alex. Macrae, Portree, and A. Sutherland, Ullapool, have severed their connection with the Free Presbyterian Church and joined the present Free Church. They were admitted to the latter body as ministers without charges, at a meeting of the Free Church Commission, held at Edinburgh on the 20th November. It will be remembered that these ministers at the last meeting of Synod moved in favour of steps being taken to confer with the Free Church with a view to union, and that they dissented from the Synod’s decision (by a large majority, 20 to 4) that such steps should not be taken. We deplore the fact that they have now consummated their union efforts by a grievous act of disunion, an act, in our judgment, far from creditable to their character as ministers of the gospel. Personally, we are deeply convinced that the Synod took up the right attitude on the subject of union, and we have also the satisfaction at the present time of being fully persuaded in our conscience and heart that, whoever else has forsaken us, the Lord Jesus, the Head of the Church, has not. He is still “the glory” in the midst of our despised Zion, and in this we rejoice.
The late Miss Agnes Weston, L.L.D., Portsmouth.—Since last issue, we observed with sincere sorrow intimation of the death, after a short illness, of Dame Agnes Weston, Royal Sailors’ Rest, Portsmouth, popularly spoken of as the “Sailor’s Friend,” or “Mother of the Navy.” This truly excellent lady passed away on the 23rd October, after spending a long life of generous service
in the social and religious interests of the officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Her Sailor’s Rests at Devonport and Portsmouth have proved invaluable during the recent terrible war. Our ministerial deputies on mission to our Highland naval men have had frequent experience of her great kindness and interest at Portsmouth, and her memory will always abide with them as that of a generous and sympathetic friend. Miss Weston was a woman of truly evangelical views, and did her best, we understand, to combat the delusive error, so current at the present time, that men are for ever saved on the ground of dying for their country, holding, as she strongly did, that salvation is only through “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” A letter has recently appeared in the press, calling attention to Dame Weston’s life and work, signed by His Grace the Duke of Sutherland, Commander R.N.R., and Duty Captain at the Admiralty, and H. D. Grant, Esq., Superintendent, Admiralty Meteorological Service. Mr. Grant, who is a native of Dornoch, is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church. We expect, if well, to have some fuller notice of Miss Weston’s work in a future issue.