Communions.—Dingwall, first Sabbath of February; Stornoway, third; Breasclete, fourth. Ullapool, first Sabbath of March; Portree, second; Lochinver, third.
Deposition of Rev. Alexander Mackay, Oban.—It is with the deepest grief of heart that the writer, in accordance with the instructions of the Southern Presbytery, has to inform the readers of the Free Presbyterian Magazine, and he is sure that the same painful feelings will seize upon the hearts of all who love the Lord Jesus and His cause in the world when they will learn the sad news of the downfall of the Rev. Alexander Mackay, Oban.
Mr. Mackay came to the writer and made a full confession to the effect that he was guilty of two separate cases of misconduct of a very serious nature. He said also that nothing could relieve his conscience now, but that the Presbytery should as soon as possible depose him from the office of the holy ministry.
The serious nature of the case, and the demands of God’s word and the law of the Church, combined with the dictates of our own consciences, which claimed that purity must be maintained at all cost in the Free Presbyterian Church, would not allow of any other course. However much we loved and admired Mr. Mackay, we hope that we have more love to Christ and His cause in the world than we have for any man, so that there was no alternative left us but to proceed with his deposition, notwithstanding that it was to us as painful as cutting off a right hand. In these circumstances Mr. Mackay appeared at the bar of the ordinary meeting of the Presbytery, held in Glasgow on the 26th day of December, 1921. The Moderator then asked him whether he confessed still that he was guilty of the two sins for which he was now standing at the bar of the Court? He answered, “Yes.” The Moderator asked him whether he had any objection to his being deposed from the office of the holy ministry by the Presbytery? He replied that he whole-heartedly acquiesced in the action which his sinful conduct demanded at the hands of the Presbytery, and, further, that he felt thankful to the Lord that the Free Presbyterian Church would not connive at such sins as he was guilty of.
The Moderator then asked each member of the Presbytery to express his mind as to the duty of the Court. The unanimous decision was that Mr. Mackay should be forthwith deposed. So, after offering a solemn prayer, the Moderator, in the usual form, deposed Mr. Mackay from the office of the holy ministry.
The writer would appeal to all the Lord’s people to pray that the Lord would of His infinite mercy lift our poor fallen brother from off the dust and dunghill, and set him yet among the princes of His people; also that He would keep each one of His true ambassadors from temptations and evil. “And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices and wept sore; and said O, Lord God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to-day one tribe lacking in Israel?” (Judges xxi. 2, 3).
N. C.
New Interim-Moderator of Edinburgh Congregation.
Rev. Neil Cameron, 216 West Regent Street, Glasgow, has been appointed interim-Moderator of our Edinburgh congregation. He will receive and acknowledge any donations sent him on behalf of the Edinburgh Building Fund.