Communions.
Coigach (Ross), and Greenock (Hall, West Stewart Street), first Sabbath of June; Fort-William, and Shieldaig (Ross), second; Dornoch (Sutherland), and Lochcarron (Ross), third; Garloch (Ross), and Inverness, fourth. Beauly, Lairg (Sutherland), and Raasay, first Sabbath of July; Tain (Ross), Tomatin (Inverness), and Staffin, second; Daviot (Inverness), Halkirk (Caithness), Kinlochbervie (Sutherland), Rogart, and Flashadder, third; Plockton (Ross), and Bracadale, fourth. Raasay was stated last month by mistake as fourth Sabbath of June.
Church Acquired at Dunoon.
We have pleasure in stating that the Congregational Church building at Victoria Road, Dunoon, has been purchased for Free Presbyterian services. The building, which is considered an excellent structure, was previously held on rent by adherents of our Church, and proved very useful in the matter of services to members of the F.P. Church who came to Dunoon at holiday seasons. It is seated for 300 people, and the cost has been about £500. It is hoped that friends of the cause will help to meet this outlay.
Southern Presbytery’s Resolution re Divorce Bill.
The following Resolution has been sent to the Prime Minister and others in authority:—”The Presbytery view with very serious alarm the facilities which a Bill before Parliament recommends as to the grounds upon which married parties may be legally separated or divorced. The Presbytery observe with much concern that the anti-scriptural facilities already legalised for this purpose have had the result that hundreds of parties have been allowed separation in the civil courts of the country, and that many of these parties have contracted marriage again with others. The Presbytery would respectfully remind the British Government that the Word of God is the supreme authority and the only infallible guide in all questions of morality; that its rules are binding on all persons, high and low; that no Acts of Parliament can make lawful that which it condemns; and that God’s Word sanctions separation between husband and wife only in two cases—(1) for the sin of adultery (Matt. v. 32), and (2) for wilful desertion (1 Cor. vii.)”
“The Presbytery desire to enter their humble but strongest protest against all unscriptural laws on this important matter, and would call serious attention to the dreadfully demoralising effects of such laws on the social life of the nation.”
The late Mr. Neil Mackinnon, Portree.
It is with profound regret that we record on this occasion the death of Mr. Neil Mackinnon, elder, Portree, which sad event took place somewhat suddenly on Friday the 7th May. Mr. Mackinnon, who was about seventy-six years of age, was one of the most highly esteemed and useful office-bearers in our Church—a man of God, of outstanding gifts and grace, whose labours have been much blessed in the Lord’s vineyard. Though failing somewhat in vigour, he was active to the last in his Master’s service, and conducted the meetings at Braes, Portree, on the Sabbath before his decease. We hope (d.v.) to have a much larger notice in a future issue. Meantime, we express our deepest sympathy with his widow in her great bereavement.—J. S. S.
The late Bishop Moule of Durham.
It is with sincere sorrow that we record the death of the Rev. Handley C. S. Moule, D.D., Bishop of Durham, which event took place at Cambridge on the 8th May. His remains were buried at Durham. The deceased, who was in his seventy-ninth year, was one of the best Bishops the Church of England has had in recent times. His eminently Christian character, and sound evangelical writings, breathing the spirit of living piety, made him “a man greatly beloved” by those who were capable of appreciating “the truth as it is in Jesus.” Of course, in all points we were not in agreement with him, and one thing we particularly regretted was that he did not stand forth more strenuously in the Protestant cause, but made some concessions to the Ritualists. This regret is shared by many in England, who loved and esteemed him. It does not appear to be easy for a man in the office of bishop to be uncompromising in his testimony. Dr. Moule, however, was in many respects an admirable character. He was a loyal and eloquent upholder of the Bible as the Word of God, and declared again and again in his public utterances that it was not ritual or ceremony, but the preaching of the gospel of “Jesus Christ and him crucified” that was “the power of God unto salvation.” The removal of such a man in these times is a great loss, not only to the Church of England, but to the Church of God in general upon earth. May the Lord speedily raise up living and faithful witnesses in defence of His truth and cause!
Inverness Manse Purchase Fund—Appeal.
The Inverness Congregation has hitherto been without a house of its own as manse, and the Session, finding that the house occupied at present can be had on very favourable terms, have unanimously decided to purchase it.
The members and adherents of the congregation have done their best to raise money among themselves, but they find that, without the help of other congregations of the Church, they will take a long time to pay the price of purchase. They therefore appeal to friends to come to their aid. This Appeal has been unanimously approved by the Northern Presbytery.
Contributions will be thankfully received and acknowledged by the Rev. E. Macqueen, F.P. Manse, Broadstone Park, Inverness; or Mr. Charles Maclean, Dalvourn Villa, Cawdor Rd., Inverness; or Mr. John Grant, Treasurer of Fund, Bank of Scotland, High Street, Inverness.