The circulation of the Magazine is steadily increasing. 3300 copies per month are now printed, being an increase of 150 per month on last year’s number.
It is gratifying to know that the Magazine is highly appreciated, and this is specially indicated by the fact that English and American religious papers time and again reprint articles from its pages. During the past year the Magazine drew the fire of the Freemasons and the Spiritualists. The former, judging by what appeared in the press took the Synod’s discussion very seriously, while Tobiah-like belittling our work. The articles on Freemasonry are being reprinted in America, that Secret Society-ridden land. The “Two Worlds,” a London journal, “devoted to the phenomena, philosophy and progress of spiritualism, religion and reform,” considered it worth while to devote half a page of criticism to one or two of our notes on Spiritism. The writer of the criticism says:—”We are sometimes told that fundamentalism, or the continued belief in the historical accuracy of the first chapter of Genesis and of the creeds and dogmas based thereon, exist only in some of the back blocks of the United States, but someone has forwarded us a copy of the Free Presbyterian Magazine, published at Inverness, which seems to stand for a type of evangelicalism of the most literal kind.” We are pleased that the Magazine got an entrance into the spiritist editorial sanctum where anything but the light of the upper world has a place, and glad to know that it made clear to even a spiritualist editor that fundamentalism is not confined to the U.S.A. The “Two Worlds” would do well to give up its worse than childish theories and accept the statements of God’s Word as authoritative and final.
As Editor I have to sincerely thank all those, ministers and others, who have helped me by sending literary contributions. The work of editing the Magazine has its onerous side, but the burden is lightened by the consciousness that it is work done in connection with a good cause, and it is a form of service which extends to distant places of the world. The Magazine is carrying its message month by month, not only to readers at home, but to many in lonely places in foreign lands. If we reckon on each Magazine having three readers, which is an under-estimate, that means that the Magazine is speaking to 10,000 each month, and in view of this, those who are responsible for its articles—the messages it is bringing—need the prayers of all God’s people connected with us that the Lord would accept this form of ministry and bless by His Holy Spirit the efforts thus put forth to the edification of His people and the everlasting well-being of unconverted sinners. We, therefore, ask that God’s people would not forget to remember this matter at a throne of grace. The older we grow the more are we impressed with the blessings that flow from a ministry of prayer.
Financially the Magazine is in a sound position. Notwithstanding the reduction in price, involving a sum of close on £80, the balance this year is only £15 less than last year, and were some outstanding accounts paid, it would have shown a slight increase. This, of course, is mainly accounted for by the increase in the circulation.
The Committee desire me, in their name, to thank Mr Cameron for his supervision of the Gaelic appearing in the Magazine.
The Committee also wish to state that they recommend to the Synod the same salaries to Editor and Treasurer as were paid last year, and that for the future payments be made quarterly within the Magazine’s financial year, the first quarterly payment being for quarter ending 31st July.
The Rev. N. Cameron moved the adoption of the report, and asked the Synod to carry out the Magazine Committee’s recommendation that the same salaries be granted this year to the Editor and Treasurer as last year, and that in future such payment be made quarterly within the Magazine financial year. It was encouraging to learn of the steady increase of the Magazine, he said, and it was a good sign when it was calling forth the criticism of those who were helping the powers of darkness. The motion was seconded by the Rev. R. Mackenzie and unanimously agreed to.