Meeting of Synod

THE Annual Meeting of the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland was opened in the Church at Inverness on Tuesday evening, the 18th day of May, 1920. The retiring Moderator, Rev. D. M. Macdonald, Portree, conducted public worship at 6.30 p.m., and preached from 1 Corinthians i. 21, “For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

FIRST SEDERUNT.

After public worship was ended, the Moderator constituted the Synod with prayer. The roll was then called, and there were present the following ministers and elders: From the Southern Presbytery—Rev. J. S. Sinclair, John Knox’s, Glasgow (Clerk), minister; with Mr. Norman Mackay, St. Jude’s, elder. From the Western Presbytery—Revs. Neil Macintyre, Stornoway, Duncan Mackenzie, Gairloch, Donald Graham, Shieldaig, Murdo Morrison, Lochinver, and D. M. Macdonald, Portree (Moderator), ministers; with Messrs. John Macdonald, Gairloch, A. Mackenzie, Ullapool, D. Mackenzie, Lochinver, and Ken. Macleod, Kishorn, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Revs. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall, and D. Beaton, Wick, ministers; with Mr. Chas. Maclean, Inverness, elder. The Clerk intimated apologies for absence from the Revs. D. N. Macleod, Tarbert, Harris, and Alexander Mackay, Oban. Mr. Ross, church officer, was appointed officer of court, and agreed to undertake the duties. The minutes of two sederunts of last meeting of Synod (not previously read) were read, and approved of.

At this stage, the Moderator (Rev. D. M. Macdonald) intimated that his term of office had expired, thanked the Synod for the indulgence they had extended to him, and said that it now lay

with them to appoint his successor. Rev. D. Beaton rose and said that if Rev. D. A. Macfarlane, Lairg, had been present at this sederunt, as was expected, he would move his appointment to the moderatorship, as he had not yet occupied the position; but, seeing that he had not come, he had pleasure in moving that their venerable father, the Rev. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall, whom they were all glad to see was still spared and active amongst them, after twenty-seven years of witness-bearing as a minister of the Church, be appointed. Rev. E. Macqueen seconded the motion. He said that it was very suitable that, when so many aged and worthy fathers of the Church were being removed by the hand of death, they should show their appreciation and regard in this way by appointing their esteemed father, Mr. Macfarlane, Dingwall, as Moderator, whom, he (Mr. Macqueen) hoped would be long left among them. Rev. D. Graham supported the motion, which was cordially agreed to. Rev. D. Macfarlane thanked the Synod for the honour that they had conferred upon him. He said that he never expected to be Moderator for the third time, but that he would endeavour to the best of his ability to discharge the duties. He then took the Chair.

Rev. Neil Macintyre moved that the Rev. D. M. Macdonald be asked to send his sermon for publication in the Magazine. The motion was seconded by the Rev. D. Mackenzie, and agreed to. Mr. Macdonald said that he would comply with the Synod’s request.

Rev. E. Macqueen moved that the Revs. D. Beaton, Neil Macintyre, and the Clerk be appointed as a Committee to draw up a Loyal Address to the King. The motion was seconded by Mr. Charles Maclean, elder, and was agreed to.

Rev. D. Beaton moved that the members of Synod meet (D.v.) as a Committee on Bills and Overtures at the Manse at 10.30 next morning. Mr. D. Mackenzie, elder, seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

The Clerk moved that the Synod hold two sederunts next day at 2 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. The motion was unanimously agreed to.

The Synod adjourned, to meet again (God willing) on Wednesday, 19th May, at 2 p.m. The sederunt was closed with praise and prayer.

SECOND SEDERUNT.

The Synod resumed its sitting, in terms of adjournment, on Wednesday, the 19th May, at 2 p.m. The meeting was opened with devotional exercises, conducted by the Moderator, Rev. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall.

The roll was called, and there were present: From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s, Glasgow, and J. S. Sinclair, John Knox’s (Clerk), ministers; with Mr. N. Mackay, St. Jude’s, elder. From the Western Presbytery—Revs. N. Macintyre, Stornoway, D. Mackenzie, Gairloch, D. Graham,

Shieldaig, M. Morrison, Lochinver, and D. M. Macdonald, Portree, ministers; with Messrs. J. Macdonald, Gairloch, A. Mackenzie, Ullapool, D. Mackenzie, Lochinver, and K. Macleod. Kishorn, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Revs. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall (Moderator), D. Beaton, Wick, D. A. Macfarlane, Lairg, and E. Macqueen, Inverness, ministers; with Mr. C. Maclean, Inverness, elder.

The minutes of the first sederunt were read and approved of. Before the Court proceeded to business, the Moderator made suitable and sympathetic reference to the death of Mr. Neil MacKinnon, elder, Portree, and other prominent office-bearers that had been taken away since last meeting of Synod.

(1) REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON BILLS AND OVERTURES.

The Clerk read the report of this Committee as to order of business. The order recommended was adopted.

(2) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES APPOINTED BY LAST SYNOD.

1. Rev. D. Beaton reported as to the work of the Committee which was appointed to draw up a Protest against the Education Act, and he read the Protest which was published in the May number of the Magazine.

2. It was reported that the Committee on Church documents had not taken any steps since last Synod, and it was agreed to reappoint the Committee, consisting of Revs. N. Cameron, D. Beaton, and the Clerk, with Mr. Cameron as convener.

3. The Legacy Committee.—The Clerk (Rev. J. S. Sinclair, who was also Clerk of this Committee) reported that the Church was successful in getting the legacy left by the late Mr. John Stewart, California, U.S.A., to “The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland” declared in its favour, and that the amount realised came to upwards of £1000, which was expected to be soon in hand. He further reported that, since above legacy was first announced, another legacy was intimated as left by a Mr. Dougal MacGregor, Osprey, Ontario, for the benefit of “the weaker Churches of the Presbyterian faith in the Highlands of Scotland.” Notice came from Messrs. Simpson & Marwick, W.S., Edinburgh, of said legacy, and it was arranged that these agents present the case in the Court in Canada for an equal division of the legacy between the Free Church and the Free Presbyterian Church. The Court decided on the evidence that this division should be made, and these Churches received since then the sum of £490 each. He concluded by saying that, as the whole business with the first legacy was not yet completed, it would be advisable to continue the Committee. Rev. E. Macqueen, in moving that the Committee would be continued, said that they had reason to be thankful to the Most High for His goodness at this particular time. The motion was seconded by Mr. D. Mackenzie, elder, and agreed to.

(3) REPORTS OF EXAMINERS OF PRESBYTERY RECORDS.

The Examiners of the Records of the three Presbyteries gave favourable reports as to the manner in which these books were kept by the respective clerks.

(4) THEOLOGICAL COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

Rev. E. Macqueen, as Convener of this Committee, said that the only thing he had to report upon on this occasion was the arrangement with regard to the divinity course of Mr. Malcolm Gillies, late of Winnipeg. It was proposed that Mr. Gillies, who had done two years’ divinity work before he came to this country, and who had studied last winter under Rev. D. Beaton, thus making three years, should, in the event of his going back to Canada this year, be considered as having completed his theological course.

The Clerk moved that this recommendation be adopted. The motion was seconded by the Rev. D. M. Macdonald, and unanimously agreed to.

It was further reported that Mr. Roderick Mackenzie, Arts Student, Glasgow University, who had engaged, in order not to lose last session (his first) in Divinity, to do the work of the classes during the summer months of this year, and to sit the necessary examinations before joining the second year classes, had found it impossible to carry out this arrangement. The Synod agreed, on the motion of the Rev. D. A. Macfarlane, seconded by Mr. Norman Mackay, elder, that Mr. Mackenzie proceed with the second year classes this coming winter, and do the work of the first year classes (D.V.) next summer.

(5) REMITS FROM PRESBYTERIES.

1. Northern Presbytery.—(1) Rev. D. Beaton, clerk, submitted a remit to the Synod requesting the court to draw up a strong protest against the Matrimonial Causes Bill. Rev. E. Macqueen moved that the Clerks of the three Presbyteries be appointed as a Committee to draw up said Protest, with Mr. Beaton as convener. The motion was seconded by Mr. C. Maclean, elder, and agreed to. (2) Rev. D. Beaton also brought a remit from this Presbytery before the court with respect to a case in which one of the ministers of the Presbytery felt bound to refuse baptism to an adherent because he was regularly employed on the railway on the Lord’s Day. The Synod agreed that the minister was fully justified in the refusal. It was also agreed to delete a former minute of this Presbytery, which did not sufficiently safeguard discipline on this point. (3) There was also a remit with respect to the appointment of a Day of Humiliation and Prayer for the state of Ireland and for the general world unrest. Rev. E. Macqueen moved that the Synod appoint Wednesday (or

Thursday, if found more convenient in some places) before the third Sabbath of July for such a Day of Humiliation and Prayer. The motion was seconded by Mr. D. Mackenzie, elder, and agreed to.

1. Southern Presbytery.—The Clerk stated that there was a remit from this court as to the Matrimonial Causes Bill, which was satisfied by the resolution already come to. There was also a remit re the Church of Scotland Enabling Bill which would be taken up and met under a special head yet to come.

2. Western Presbytery.—(1) Missionary for Achmore, Lewis. Rev. Neil Macintyre spoke to a remit on this subject, and it was agreed, on the motion of the Rev. Neil Cameron, seconded by the Rev. D. M. Macdonald, that a missionary should be granted this place. The hope was expressed that the people would do their utmost to support the Home Mission Fund.

(2) Missionary for Portree. Rev. Neil Macintyre also presented this remit. It was desired that Mr. Alexander Macaskill would be appointed missionary, the lamented death of Mr. Neil Mackinnon making the necessity urgent. It was moved by the Rev. Neil Cameron, and seconded by the Rev. D. Graham, that the request be granted. The motion was agreed to.

(3) Missionary at Coigach.—Rev. M. Morrison reported that Mr. Ronald Macsween, Skye, was acting as missionary at Coigach, and said that it was desirable Mr. Macsween should be regarded as a regular missionary of the Church. It was moved by Rev. Neil Cameron, and seconded by Mr. C. Maclean, elder, that Mr. Macsween be treated as a regular missionary as long as he remained at Coigach. The motion was agreed to.

(4) There was a remit with reference to the future payment of students and probationers. It was agreed, on the motion of the Rev. Neil Cameron, seconded by the Clerk, that they be paid by congregations in future, at the rate of 32/ per week, along with their board and lodgings (or a sum equal thereto) for the week-end.

(5) The case of Mr. James Macfarlane, retired missionary, Dunoon, who had acted for a number of years at Luib, Broadford, Skye, was taken up, and it was agreed, on the motion of the Rev. E. Macqueen, seconded by the Rev. D. Graham, that Mr. Macfarlane be granted a retiring allowance of £15 per annum.

(6) North end of Raasay, and Rona.—Rev. D. M. Macdonald spoke to a remit with respect to getting a missionary for this quarter, in view of the fact that Mr. A. Maclean was laid aside with the infirmities of age. After deliberation it was agreed, on the motion of the Rev. E. Macqueen, seconded by the Rev. M. Morrison, that the Synod, finding that the meetings were being conducted satisfactorily by local men, counsel the people to carry on as they were doing meantime.

Northern Presbytery.—Rev. E. Macqueen brought before the Synod the question of the supply of Beauly and Daviot, and suggested that Mr. William Macdonald, elder, Inverness, should be

appointed as regular missionary for these places. Rev. Neil Cameron moved that the appointment be made. The motion was seconded by the Rev. M. Morrison, and unanimously agreed to.

(6) THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND ENABLING BILL.

This subject was discussed, and it was agreed that the Synod take steps to protest against this Bill, and to state the constitutional position of the Free Presbyterian Church, and the grounds on which it made this protest. Rev. E. Macqueen moved that the Synod appoint a Committee to draw up a memorandum to be submitted to the Government, the Committee to consist of the Revs. Neil Cameron, J. S. Sinclair, Alexander Mackay, and Mr. Norman Mackay, elder, with Mr. Cameron as convener. The motion was seconded by Mr. C. Maclean, elder, and unanimously agreed to.

(7) MISSION TO FISHERMEN’S COMMITTEE.

The desirability of sending men to preach to the Highland people at the summer fishing stations was considered, and it was agreed that the Revs. Neil Macintyre, M. Morrison, and D. Beaton be appointed as a Committee, with Mr. Macintyre as convener, to make any necessary arrangements.

The Synod adjourned, to meet again (d.v.) at 6.30 p.m. The sederunt was closed with praise and prayer.

THIRD SEDERUNT.

The Synod resumed its sitting at 6.30 p.m., and was constituted with devotional exercises by the Rev. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall, Moderator.

The roll was then called, and there were present: From the Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron and J. S. Sinclair (Clerk), ministers; with Mr. N. Mackay, elder. From the Western Presbytery—Revs. Neil Macintyre, Stornoway, D. Mackenzie, Gairloch, D. Graham, Shieldaig, etc., M. Morrison, Lochinver, etc., and D. M. Macdonald, Portree, ministers; with Messrs. John Macdonald, Gairloch, A. Mackenzie, Lochbroom, K. Macleod, Kishorn, and D. Mackenzie, Lochinver, elders. From the Northern Presbytery—Revs. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall (Moderator), D. Beaton, Wick, D. A. Macfarlane, Lairg, etc., and E. Macqueen, Inverness, ministers; with Mr. C. Maclean, Inverness, elder.

The minutes of the previous sederunt were held over till next meeting of Synod.

(8) LOYAL ADDRESS TO THE KING.

The Clerk read the following draft of Loyal Address to the King, drawn up by the Committee, which was adopted, on the motion of the Rev. Neil Cameron, seconded by the Rev. Ewen Macqueen:—

“A LOYAL ADDRESS BY THE SYNOD OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, GEORGE V., KING OF
Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc.

May it Please Your Majesty,—

We, the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, met at Inverness, desire to renew our annual expression of loyalty and goodwill towards your Majesty’s person and throne, and of constant and prayerful anxiety for the welfare and prosperity of your Majesty’s reign.

We express our sincere sympathy with your Majesty in the present anxious and troublous times. The terrible War, which raged for so long, is past, but a very tumultuous aftermath has succeeded, which, we believe, is mainly due to a disregard of the spiritual lessons of the War, viewed in the light of God’s Holy Word. The state of Ireland must cause much concern to your Majesty, as it does to all patriotic, Protestant, and Christian people among your Majesty’s subjects, and we earnestly pray that God would bring to light the machinations of ill-disposed men, would cause violence and bloodshed to cease, and restore a righteous and beneficial peace, ordering all things, in Ireland as well as elsewhere, for His own glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

We conclude by expressing our earnest prayer that God, in His infinite grace, would bestow much of His holy fear and wisdom upon your Majesty, Queen Mary, and the Royal House, so that you would be enabled to serve Him, in your high and responsible station, to the abiding benefit of the Empire and the world.”

(9) CANADIAN MISSION COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

Rev. D. Beaton, Wick, Convener, submitted the following report:—

“It will be remembered that at last meeting of Synod the Committee reported that they had approached Mr. James Macleod with a view to his proceeding to Canada, and recommended that he should be licensed and ordained before going. The Synod agreed to this recommendation, and Mr. Macleod was licensed by the Western Presbytery, and ordained as the Church’s deputy to Western Canada. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining accommodation and to strikes, Mr. Macleod did not leave the Mersey until the second day of August, 1919, though the ship had been timed to leave at the beginning of July. The Committee were keenly disappointed at these delays, over which they had no control, as it had been arranged that Mr. Macleod was to proceed first to Vancouver, and return to Winnipeg on the departure of Mr. Gillies for this country to attend his theological classes, and these delays necessarily lessened the time Mr. Macleod could give to Vancouver.

“Mr. Macleod reached his destination safely after his long voyage and journey, and conducted his first service in Vancouver on the 17th August. His reports as to the attendance and attention of his hearers, sent home to the Committee, were of a gratifying and encouraging nature. Soon after his arrival, an effort, which proved successful, was made to obtain a more central place of worship than that hitherto in use. This new hall had the additional advantage of being more cheaply rented and more conveniently situated. A Committee was formed to look after the financial affairs of the congregation, and has been very helpful to Mr. Macleod in the management of this side of the congregation’s interests. The attendances at the services, as has been stated, were very gratifying, and Mr. Macleod specially mentions one of his regular hearers—’Granny Macleod,’ a native of Lewis—who was baptised by the Rev. Finlay Cook when minister of Cross. She remembers the worthies of a past generation, and though she has reached the great age of 90 years, her memory retains pleasant and sacred memories of the days that are gone. Mr. Macleod reports regretfully that there are a few Free Presbyterians in the city who never darken the door of the place of worship, and if this should catch their eye, we would appeal to them not to forget the training of their early years, and to consider well the paternal exhortation of David to Solomon: ‘My son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts and all the imaginations of the thoughts; if thou seek him, he will be found of thee, but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever’ (1 Chron. xxviii. 9).

“In regard to the next part of the report it may be necessary to inform the Synod that for some years the Free Church had been in the habit of sending deputies to Vancouver, but for a number of years they had ceased doing so and the people felt their isolation keenly. This led to the Free Presbyterians in the city petitioning the Synod to send out a deputy, and the Synod granted their request, but Mr. Macleod had not been long in the place when the Rev. George Mackay, who had been sent out by the Free Church, appeared. He had an interview with Mr. Macleod asking that arrangements might be made for joint services. To this suggestion Mr. Macleod gave a point blank refusal, with the result that a division took place among the people. We trust, however, though the experience was not pleasant, that it will work for the furtherance of the Gospel in the great and rising city on the Canadian Pacific coast. Nothing daunted by these happenings our people worked heartily together, and just within the time when Mr. Macleod was to set his face homewards to Scotland, he was able to report that our people had secured a suitable property in a very desirable location quite near the hall where they are presently worshipping. The property consists of a hall and a dwelling-house. The hall will seat about 300 people, and later on, should the cause prosper, a church could be built on the site.

The cost of the property is 4,000 dollars, and favourable terms of payment have been granted. Already there has been a promise made by several of the people in connection with the Mission of 700 dollars in payment of the first instalment. The property comes into the possession of the congregation on the payment of this instalment. It is to be hoped that all friends of the cause who can afford to lend a helping hand to our people in Vancouver will do so. The Treasurer, Mr. Hugh Mackay, 264, 39th Avenue East, Vancouver, will be only too pleased to receive such help, and to acknowledge the same. At the congregational meeting held at the end of the financial year, 31st March, 1920, it was reported by the Treasurer that the total collected from 16th August (the time of Mr. Macleod’s arrival) to 31st March, was 1,200 dollars. The congregation paid the deputy’s salary and all his travelling expenses, and began the new financial year with a fair amount to their credit. Our people are keen to have a pastor set over them, and we trust in the Lord’s appointed time that the prayer of their hearts will be granted them.

“In making reference to the situation in Winnipeg, the Committee would seek to recall to the memory of members of Synod that it had been decided that on Mr. Gillies’ return to this country, Mr. Macleod should come east to Winnipeg. This was the arrangement suggested by the Committee, and made in the expectation that Mr. Macleod would have been a considerable time in Vancouver before it would be necessary for him to come to Winnipeg, but, unfortunately, owing to the delay referred to in the preceding part of this report, and the new developments in Vancouver, a new situation had arisen. To accentuate the Committee’s difficulties, a pressing appeal from Vancouver was sent to the Committee asking them to allow Mr. Macleod to remain. After serious consideration the Committee granted this request, and proceeded immediately to make arrangements for the supply of Winnipeg. The Committee wish it to be clearly understood by our friends in Winnipeg that it was not owing to any want of consideration for them that they came to this decision. Vancouver was only beginning its career, and was face to face with a situation that had not been anticipated when the Synod arrangement had been made, whereas Winnipeg had received supply for years, and had a constituted Kirk-Session whose members were able and capable speakers. The Committee’s efforts in getting supply seemed to be fairly on the way to realisation when, at the end of two or three months, the plan failed to materialise. This was a keen disappointment to the Committee, and immediately another effort was made which, after much correspondence, resulted in the acceptance of Mr. D. Matheson, a lay missionary, proceeding to Winnipeg. Though these negotiations began in November, we regret Mr. Matheson was not able to reach Winnipeg until March. The congregation in Winnipeg had the misfortune of having the hall where they worshipped burnt down, and are at

present worshipping in a hall in the city. It is their intention to build a place of worship as soon as possible. The Committee wish them every success. Mr. Macleod was asked to give a few Sabbaths to Winnipeg and Detroit on his homeward journey.

“The Committee recommend that for this year Mr. Gillies be asked to go out to Western Canada as the Church’s deputy, and, if he is willing, that he be licensed and ordained. It is proposed that when Mr. Gillies goes to Winnipeg that Mr. D. Matheson proceed to Vancouver, and return to Winnipeg when Mr. Gillies visits Vancouver.”

Rev. E. Macqueen moved the adoption of the report. The motion was seconded by Mr. K. Macleod, elder, and agreed to.

Mr. Macqueen further moved that the Synod request the Canadian Mission Committee to convey their desire to Mr. Malcolm Gillies that, providing he had no objection, he would proceed this year as their deputy to Canada as soon as circumstances would allow, and that, so arranging, he would be licensed and ordained, after the usual trials, for the full discharge of his work. The motion was seconded and unanimously agreed to. Rev. Neil Cameron moved that the Synod instruct the deputy who might go to Canada to ordain Mr. Hugh Mackay as elder in Vancouver, who, it was understood, had been chosen by the people there. The Clerk seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Rev. Neil Cameron, Convener of the Finance Committee, reported that £59 had been advanced from the Organisation Fund in payment of the travelling expenses to Winnipeg of Mr. Donald Matheson, missionary, and that it was expected that £42 of said sum would be refunded by Winnipeg. In view of the circumstances of the congregation, the Synod agreed to pay the balance without refund.

The Clerk reported that, as Editor of the Magazine, he had received from a generous donor who gave no name the sum of £100 for the Canadian Mission Building Fund, and he submitted the division of the money to the Synod. It was agreed that he should send £50 to Winnipeg, and £50 to Vancouver for their respective Building Funds.

(10) FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The General Treasurer (Mr. Alexander M’Gillivray, Inverness) read the Abstract of the Church’s Annual Accounts for the year ending 31st March, 1920. This being done, the Rev. Neil Cameron submitted the following motion:—

“The Synod adopt the yearly Financial Report, and order it to be published in the Magazine. The Synod would humbly acknowledge the Lord’s goodness in the heartiness with which their people have so liberally contributed towards the Church’s support, and would again recommend the several schemes of the Church to their liberality. The Synod, considering the high and increasing cost of living, decide that the salaries of ministers and missionaries shall be considerably augmented.

“The Synod, further, tender their best thanks to Messrs. James Campbell and John Fraser, Inverness, for their gratuitous labours in auditing the Church’s financial accounts, and to the Treasurer for his efficient services.

“The Synod, in conclusion, instruct the auditors to accept the Finance Committee’s order to the General Treasurer as sufficient warrant for disbursing sums of money out of the Sustentation Fund or any other of the Church’s funds.”

In supporting the motion, Mr. Cameron spoke to the following effect:—

“The motion which I have submitted to the Synod humbly acknowledges the Lord’s goodness in the heartiness with which our people have so liberally contributed towards the Church’s support. In the month of May, 1893, we took our stand in defence of the integrity and infallibility of the whole Bible as the inspired Word of God, and also of all the principles and doctrines held by the Free Church of Scotland as constituted in 1843. When we took this step, we did so, believing that ‘the earth belongs unto the Lord, and all that it contains,’ and that it was our duty to cast ourselves for maintenance entirely on His providence. There was not a penny to our credit then in bank, but we based our hope for the future upon the faithfulness of the Lord, and felt confident that he would provide all that would be needful for our support. In looking back over the twenty-seven years since then, we are reminded of the question our Lord asked His Apostles: ‘When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything?’ And they said, ‘Nothing.’ So must be also our answer. The Lord has proved to us that the gold and silver are His, and that He could provide for us churches, manses, salaries, and friends, an hundredfold more than we had to give up. This should encourage us in maintaining our position with the utmost fidelity. When we look back over these twenty-seven years, we feel amazed at the number of churches, meeting houses, and manses, erected and cleared of debt. We have also to consider the amount of money contributed for the maintenance of the ministers and missionaries of the Church by our people. When we consider that all this has been accomplished by a comparatively poor people, and that none of them has had to say that he or she has been in the least made poorer on that account, have we not very solid ground for thanking the Lord for His goodness to us both as a Synod and people?

“There is another consideration which, if I were not to mention it, I would fail in my duty in dealing with the matter in hand. As one who has been a member of the Finance Committee from the beginning, I have noticed that, whenever our people felt that we were in danger of compromising the position taken by us in 1893, their heartiness in providing for us abated. This was very evident during the struggle for union with the present Free Church in our Synod between 1900 and 1905. Since then our

people have gained confidence in our integrity as a court, and, notwithstanding that we passed through other two years of contentions for the faith, and that some of the ministers who pressed with all their might for union with that body were very highly valued in our Church, our people did not lose confidence in us, neither did they cease to contribute most liberally for our support. They have proved that this was the case inasmuch as they have faithfully held by us, when these men left us. We are fully convinced that the Lord will continue His goodness toward us, while we will hold steadfastly to the position we held since 1893 (which was that of the Free Church in 1843), without removing a pin or cord; but should the day come in which this Church will change from her moorings, her days shall be numbered. The Lord grant that that day may never appear!

“This year our position financially surpasses by far anything we have experienced yet. In this we have to acknowledge the Lord’s goodness and our people’s Christian liberality; for it has become an absolute necessity that the salaries of ministers and missionaries should be substantially augmented to meet the high cost of living. This can easily be done now. As the Lord has done so much for us in the past, both as regards our temporal and spiritual needs, let us, in the strength of His grace, resolve to stand faithfully to His Word and our subordinate standards, having no doubt in our minds concerning the future.”

Rev. E. Macqueen seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to.

The subject of the salaries of ministers and missionaries was next discussed. It was pointed out that such was the extraordinary advance in the cost of living that £100 was much less than half its pre-war value, and that a salary of, say, £220 was not equal to £100 of pre-war value. The general feeling, however, was that the Synod could not go beyond this total amount meantime as a ministerial salary. Rev. E. Macqueen moved that the stated salaries of ministers be £160, with the addition of £60 (£30 to be paid in August and £30 to be paid in February), thus making a total of £220 for the year, and that the salaries of missionaries be proportionally arranged by the Finance Committee. The motion was seconded by Mr. Alex. Mackenzie, Lochbroom, and agreed to.

Rev. Neil Macintyre moved that the honorarium given to Rev. D. Beaton, as Theological Tutor, be increased from £15 to £25. The motion was agreed to. Rev. D. Beaton moved that the sum of £7 be given to the Manses where members of Synod were entertained at the annual meetings. The motion was seconded by the Clerk, and agreed to.

Rev. E. Macqueen said that, while many of their people were alive to the financial situation in the country and were doing their utmost to support the Sustentation and other Funds, all did not realise the position of matters. He moved that ministers and missionaries be instructed to bring the financial situation before

the congregations, and to impress the necessity of increased subscriptions, according to people’s respective abilities. Mr. Don. Mackenzie, elder, seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

(11) APPOINTMENT OF CHURCH COLLECTIONS.

The Clerk moved that the Church Collections be appointed for the same dates as last year:—(1) Collection for College Fund in August, 1920—notice to be sent by the Convener of the Training of the Ministry and Theological Committee; (2) Home Mission Fund (Missionaries and Catechists), first collection in October, 1920, by book from house to house—notice to be sent by the Convener of the Finance Committee; (3) Organisation Fund—collection in December, 1920—notice to be sent by Synod Clerk; (4) Church Building Fund, in January, 1921—notice to be sent by Synod Clerk; (5) Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund, in February, 1921—notice by Convener of Jewish and Foreign Missions Committee; (6) Home Mission Fund, second collection in April, 1921—notice to be sent by Convener of Finance Committee; (7) Aged and Infirm Ministers’ and Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund, in June, 1921—notice to be sent by Rev. E. Macqueen, Inverness. The motion was seconded, and agreed to.

(12) JEWISH AND FOREIGN MISSIONS COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

Rev. Neil Cameron, Convener of this Committee, read a report of the Foreign Mission in Matabeleland which he had received from the Rev. John B. Radasi, missionary. (The report is published elsewhere.) Mr. Cameron then proceeded to speak to the following effect:—

“There are several items in the Rev. J. B. Radasi’s report to which I desire to refer briefly:

“1. As regards the rendering of the Psalms into metre in the Kafir language, Principal Henderson, of Lovedale, wrote us last spring and sent an account for £66 3/, being payment for a final revision of the whole Psalms by Rev. Mr. Bokwe. In the letter he said that they intended to proceed with the printing of the book at an early date. I wrote Mr. Radasi informing him of this, as I knew that he and his people were anxiously waiting for the completion of that work. Up to date this work cost our Church £125 15/. We do earnestly hope that the printing of this book will not be delayed much longer, and that the four tribes speaking the Kafir language will soon have the whole Psalter. The first twenty-four Psalms were printed in 1913, and have been their manual of praise since then. Up to that time they had only nine Psalms, but the people of our Mission confined themselves strictly to that limited number for several years.

“2. Another item is the removal by death of an exercised Christian at the age of 70 years. The report gives proofs of his sincere piety in several instances—such as his fondness of the Bible—his deep sense of the depravity of his own nature, and that there is no

salvation apart from the sovereign grace of God—his diligence in attending the means of grace, and the efforts he put forth to assist in holding meetings in the outstations of our Mission. We desire to offer the sincere sympathy of the Synod to Mr. Radasi and our people there at losing such a sincere Christian and useful helper. We have lost several men in this Church at home since the last meeting of Synod. We greatly mourn our loss, which was assuredly their great and everlasting gain. One of these was an outstanding man among his brethren; I mean Mr. Neil MacKinnon, Portree. He was a man upon whom the glory rested of being faithful above many to God’s truth and cause, and to the souls of his fellow men in his day. So that we can experimentally sympathise with our friends in Matabeleland in their sorrow and loss.

“Another very pathetic item is that of the lassie who was taken home to see her Saviour at the age of fourteen years. Her diligence at school for two years, in which she had learned to read her Bible, and, better still, to believe its doctrines. How she committed whole chapters and psalms to memory, and the Psalm (the 139th) which she desired Mr. Radasi to read to her the day before she passed away; and how she told her father and mother that that was to be her last night in the world, and that she was going to see her Saviour; how she charged them to send her little brother, who used to attend school along with her, regularly to school; and how she gave him her own Bible as the only legacy she had to leave him, and, I am sure, the best, in her opinion, she could give him. These things are most touching, and they should make a deep and lasting impression upon the minds of our young girls in Scotland. Are the black Matabele young girls and boys to be at the right hand of Christ at the great day of judgment, and shall our young at home, who enjoyed much greater opportunities and privileges, be at His left hand? I appeal to our young to betake themselves to the Bible and their knees in secret, for the Lord has given the young many promises, such as: ‘They who seek me early shall find me.’

“Mr. Radasi wrote me last November for more Bibles, and I sent him, through the British and Foreign Bible Society of London, £15 worth last December. He acknowledges receipt of them in his report. As I have stated on a former occasion, Mr. Radasi gives, by the full permission of the Foreign Mission’s Committee, a Bible to every boy or girl who remains at school till they are able to read it in their own language, whether they adhere to our Mission there or not. We are anxious to get the Bible into the hands of as many of the young there as can read it, for we believe that His Word will not return unto Him void, but that it will prosper in the thing whereto He has sent it. I may say that up till now we have sent £60 worth of Bibles to Mr. Radasi for his schools. The British and Foreign Bible Society have done their utmost to help us, by giving us Bibles at their lowest reduced prices. For this great favour we desire to thank them very sincerely. I desire

also to thank our people at home for their liberality in supporting the Bible Fund, and to inform them that I have a balance on hand and in bank of £37.

“Mr. Radasi wrote recently that there were one hundred children in the school at Bembesi, and that the Government Inspector of Schools told him that the regulations required that there should be three teachers in that school. He did not say how many attended the other three side schools. I understood that he received nothing from the Government for furnishing the schools with the necessary materials, and I asked our worthy Treasurer to forward him £6, to meet his expenses in that way. He acknowledges that money in the report.

“There are three studying at Lovedale—two girls and a boy—at the expense of the Church. One of these went there quite recently. He sent me the certificates of the girl and boy who were there for some time, and they have been a credit to themselves and the Mission. There are others at Lovedale from Bembesi, but their parents pay for their education.

“I desire to thank very sincerely the friends who sent contributions to assist the girl in Standard V. (mentioned in Mr. Radasi’s letter published in the Magazine). The thanks of the Synod are due to Mr. Clark, Pittsburg, for his liberality by giving £6 per quarter for educating poor boys and girls connected with our African Mission, and I am sure that I express the mind of all my brethren in the court when I offer him the thanks of the Synod. I would also, in the Synod’s name, thank two sisters who gave £100 for helping on our work there.

The Jews.—”Our very liberal contributor, known to us only as ‘Passer-by’ sent, at the end of April, another £100 for sending a Missionary to the Jews. We have now on deposit receipt £400 for this purpose. Let us pray the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth a labourer, or labourers, to do harvest work among the poor, long benighted, Jews. He knows the best time to send them, and we are sure that, when that time will come, the harvesters will be forthcoming. We, in name of the Synod, desire to thank the donor of this fund, for the £400 came from ‘Passer-by,’ and other £200 besides.

Australia.—”As regards Australia, I have had a letter from Mr. J. D. Kidd, renewing the prayer of the Petition presented to the Synod last year, viz. :—’to send them a minister of our Church, who could labour among them for twelve months, and who might accept a call from them.’ It lies with the Synod to decide as to the nature of the reply which should be sent to our friends in Australia. I am sure the deepest sympathy of each member of the court is drawn out towards them in their lonely and isolated position. May the Lord provide for them a pastor, who would feed them with knowledge and understanding! Meanwhile, they can do nothing but wait upon the Lord for help. He is never at the end of His resources, for He can make true and faithful

preachers of persecutors, as He did in the case of Saul of Tarsus. Mr. Kidd sent me the annual contribution of our people at Ballina, N.S.W. £7 10s., in aid of Foreign Missions. We desire to express our thanks to them for continuing to remember us from year to year.”

Rev. D. Beaton said that they had listened to the Foreign Mission Report with much interest and appreciation. He moved its adoption. Rev. E. Macqueen, who seconded the motion, made reference to the friends in Australia, and expressed the hope that some minister would go out as a deputy there, for a time at anyrate.

The Clerk moved that £20 be added to Rev. J. B. Radasi’s salary, raising it to £180 per annum, according to value of money in South Africa. The motion was agreed to.

(13) CHURCH MAGAZINE REPORT: MAY, 1919—APRIL, 1920.

Rev. J. S. Sinclair, as Editor and Treasurer, delivered the following report:—

“Our report for the past year May, 1919, to April, 1920, does not embody anything specially new, but it is, as has been in the past, of a favourable nature. The interest in the Magazine throughout the Church and among subscribers outside is well sustained. During the past year we have issued on an average 3,100 copies. Since the War came to an end, we are not sending the same number to Army and Navy. Our only parcel now is 250 per month to Mr. R. E. Brider, who carries on his Gospel Book Mission to Army and Navy at 6 Stirling Road, Bath Road, Bristol. Mr. Brider highly appreciates our Magazine and sound literature in general, and deserves every encouragement and help in his work. He is in touch with a number of colporteurs and other agents who work among both services on land and sea, and also in hospitals, and sends them constant supplies of Magazines and other books. He sends us a note of cordial thanks every month for our parcel. We cannot do better than supply Mr. Brider, as much as possible, not knowing what God, in His rich mercy, may do in a way of blessing His Word. ‘The great day’ alone will declare. We still send a matter of 50 or 60 copies per month to private and public individuals and libraries in Glasgow, Inverness, Tain and Wick. These are sent under the head of ‘General Free Distribution.’

“Our readers gave liberally during the year to the Free Distribution Fund for Soldiers and Sailors, and we ended the year with a balance to credit. The same has to be said of the General Free Distribution Fund, one kind anonymous donor sending the large sum of £30. To all our helpers we tender our most sincere and cordial thanks.

“We are sorry to say (at the close of April) that we must face an increase in price during the current year. The price of paper has increased greatly, and wages have also risen, so that we cannot

produce the Magazine at the same price in future. The price per copy requires to be 4d., postage extra, but we believe the vast majority of our readers will not grudge this amount, or find difficulty in giving it. If people would reckon how much money is often expended in trifling things, four pence per month for a book which is fitted, with the divine blessing, to benefit their immortal souls for eternity, would not appear much.

“In conclusion, we desire to thank our ministers and others who have helped with the literary matter of the Magazine, and we earnestly impress upon them the desirability of helping more and more. We are glad to have obituary notices of godly persons deceased, while we deplore the necessity for so many of these, but we would wish more articles of a historical and expository kind. It is our earnest desire that the Lord, for His own name’s sake, would pardon our shortcomings in all that we do, and bless the truth conveyed through the Magazine pages to the spiritual edification and everlasting good of our readers.”

Rev. D. Mackenzie, in very appreciative terms, moved the adoption of the Magazine report. The motion was seconded by the Rev. E. Macqueen, and unanimously agreed to.

(14) APPOINTMENT OF CHURCH COMMITTEES.

The following Church Committees were appointed for the coming year:—

1. Theological Committee.—Revs. D. Beaton, E. Macqueen, and D. A. Macfarlane; with Mr. Macqueen as Convener.

2. Finance Committee.—Revs. Neil Cameron, E. Macqueen, and N. MacIntyre, with Messrs. Charles Maclean, and A. MacGillivray, General Treasurer; with Mr. Cameron as Convener.

3. Canadian Mission Committee.—Revs. D. Beaton, N. MacIntyre, and D. M. Macdonald; with Mr. Beaton as Convener.

4. Jewish and Foreign Missions Committee.—Revs. N. Cameron, D. Mackenzie, and Alex. Mackay; with Mr. Cameron as Convener.

5. Church Magazine Committee.—Revs. N. Cameron, J. S. Sinclair, and Mr. A. Stewart, elder, Glasgow; with Mr. Sinclair as Convener.

6. Religion and Morals Committee.—Revs. D. Graham, M. Morrison, and D. A. Macfarlane; with Mr. Macfarlane as Convener.

(15) ANY COMPETENT BUSINESS.

1. John Knox’s Tabernacle Trust, Glasgow.—The Clerk reported that he had received a communication from the surviving Trustees of this Trust, through Messrs. J. Andersons, Writers, Glasgow, offering the funds of the Trust to the Free Presbyterian Church under ordinary legal conditions. Rev. D. Beaton moved that the Synod refer the communication, with full powers, to the Legacy Committee already appointed, to confer with the Agents of this Trust, to make any necessary enquiry, and, if found advisable, to carry through the business. The motion was seconded by the Rev. E. Macqueen and agreed to.

2. Anti-Opium Protest.—The Clerk read a letter from the Hon. Secretary of the Edinburgh Anti-Opium Committee, requesting resolutions to be sent as early as possible to the Government against the Drug Traffic. It was moved by the Rev. D. Mackenzie, and seconded by Rev. D. Beaton, that a strong resolution be forwarded against this traffic.

3. The Temperance Act, and Prohibition.—The subject of Prohibition under this Act was discussed, and, whilst it was the mind of the Synod that there should be no interference with what was necessary for medicinal purposes, a circumstance expressly provided for by the Act, yet it was highly desirable, in view of the grievous drunkenness among the young as well as others, that Prohibition should be carried. Rev. Neil Cameron moved that the Synod strongly recommend their people as a whole to vote, whenever opportunity offered, for the total prohibition of the sale of strong drink. The motion was seconded by the Rev. D. Beaton, supported by the Rev. N. Macintyre, and others, and agreed to.

This concluded the business.

It was moved, seconded, and unanimously agreed to, that the Synod meet again (God willing) in the Free Presbyterian Church, Inverness, at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday after the third Sabbath of May, 1921.

The Synod was closed with praise in the last three verses of Psalm 122 and prayer.

The late Mrs. H. Mackenzie, Inverness.

MRS. MACKENZIE, Gruinard Cottage, Crown Street, Inverness, better known on the West of Ross-shire by her Christian name, “Hectorina,” was born at Mangstade, between Laide and Little Lochbroom, to which place the family removed while she was very young. There she lived and married before she attained the age of twenty, but her union with her earthly husband was not a long-lasting one. The hand of death took the husband from the young wife, leaving her with three young children.

Hectorina, naturally affectionate, felt the separation most keenly, but we believe it was the Lord’s time to favour her. As she was laid aside, a teacher who feared the Lord came to see her, and, in conducting worship at her bedside, used words somewhat as follows: “If it be Thy will, spare this young woman and raise her up again, and if Thou art not to spare her, do Thou prepare her for Thy will concerning her.” This made her think of death, and of meeting God as her Judge, and how ill prepared she was to meet Him. She now mourned over her own sins as the root-cause of all her troubles, and realised that God would be just in casting her to the place prepared for the devil and his

angels. By nature there is no truth in us, and as there is no truth in us, we believe the lie from Satan, rather than the truth from God, concerning Himself as righteous and ourselves as guilty; but, when the Spirit of Truth comes with the truth, and prepares us to receive the truth, then Satan’s lie is disbelieved by us. Thus, Hectorina was made to realise that it was mercy from God through Jesus Christ she needed, and which alone would meet her case, and in His time the Word came to give her liberty, and she was enabled to sing of mercy and of judgment. During the wilderness journey she did not forget who her Saviour was, as far as her fellow-creatures could see, but she lamented many a day the “evil heart of unbelief” that forsaketh the living God. She loved the Word of God and good men. She was truly a companion of all those who fear and obey the Lord, and we knew of very few who valued their company more. She was not ignorant of the fiery darts of the wicked one.

In 1893 she heartily joined the Free Presbyterian Church, and walked many a long mile to hear the Word of God, and to “pay her vows” before all His people. She loved to hear of Christ crucified, as the end of the Law for righteousness, to every one who believeth, and, until her strength of body failed, she attended the public means of grace. Among our first recollections, we can see Hectorina, tall and slender, coming to show the Lord’s praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion. She truly had the marks given of the godly women of old. She lived during the latter part of her life in Inverness with her daughter, who, with her husband, nursed her with affection. She was able to attend some of the services of the Communion before she died, and rejoiced to be enabled to hear with joy what to others is but the letter that killeth.

At a testing time some feared that Hectorina’s love for “the servant” might cause her to act contrary to what they would approve, but they lived to see that their fears were ill-founded. She expressed to us more than once that she dreaded she might be left to bring a spot on the cause of Christ before she would be taken away. The Lord preserved her to the last, looking to Him alone for salvation, and when the end came, peace rested upon her soul. Her mortal remains were carried by car to Gruinard, to await the coming of the Lord in the clouds with great glory. To her daughter, son-in-law and children, and her aged sister we tender our sincere sympathy.

May the Lord bless them, and raise them up to be true followers of those who are now “through faith and patience inheriting the promises.” Gentle Hectorina rests from her labours. Meek and lowly, and persevering, she kept to the road. Waiting for the Bridegroom, she finished her course. E. M’Q.

THOU temptest God to suffer thy locks to be cut, when thou art so bold to lay thy head in the lap of a temptation.—Gurnall.