THE General Assemblies of the Established, United Free, and Free Churches met at Edinburgh on Tuesday, 22nd May. The Earl of Stair was again Lord High Commissioner, and in his speech to the Established Assembly, in a reference to the centenary of its Home Mission, he pointed out that almost half of the population of Scotland did not at present belong to any branch of the Reformed Church (these included those who belonged to no Church). The Moderators of the respective Assemblies were Rev. James Montgomery Campbell, D.D., minister of St Michael’s Parish, Dumfries; the Rev. Harry Miller, D.D., Warden of the Students’ Settlement, Edinburgh; and the Rev. A. D. Cameron, Creich, Sutherland. Dr Miller’s address from the Chair dealt with the Church’s heritage and task in Scotland. He pled for “a fearless inventiveness in the service of Christ.” Neither the phrase nor the quality indicated appeals to us, as the past history of the United Free Church and other Churches in Scotland has given abundant proof that there has been more than is good of “fearless inventiveness” in ecclesiastical and theological movements in our country. The Rev. A. D. Cameron, in his moderatorial address, dealt with “Modern Tendencies in Doctrine and Worship.” He referred to the disruptive forces at work in the religious world today, and dwelt at some length on the Romanising movement in the Church of England. In worship, he pointed out there was a distinct movement towards an ornate ritualism.
Thursday in the Assemblies was devoted to Foreign Missions. Dr Hetherwick, of Nyasaland, who had returned to this country after 45 years’ service in Africa, made a remarkable speech in the Established Assembly, in which he charged the Church at home in “letting him down.” He blamed the Church for not sending men or women to carry on the Mission. He also directed attention to the desperate effort being made by the Church of Rome to get hold of Nyasaland, especially in the districts around Blantyre, where their Mission headquarters were.
Dr Forgan, in the United Free Assembly, made reference to the understaffing in the Foreign Mission Field, and intimated that the Foreign Mission Committee had closed their books on 31st December with a deficit of £6000, notwithstanding the special efforts that had been made to augment their funds.
In the Free Church Assembly, Prof. D. Maclean reported that they had thirty European missionaries in the field. Considerable discussion took place in connection with the Lima College. A recommendation by the Foreign Mission Committee, that on the expiry of the lease two years hence of the buildings presently occupied, the Church should build a College at a cost not exceeding £20,000 was opposed by the Rev. N. Campbell, Dingwall. In the course of his remarks, Mr Campbell said that the religious instruction was quite inadequate, as only a half-hour a day was given in the primary school, and only two hours per week in the senior school. Mr John MacNeilage said that the proposed development was on wrong lines. It was not the function of the Free Church to run an educational institution and to teach people commercial and other secular subjects, excellent and necessary though these might be. Dr Stewart said that the matter before them was a matter of life and death for the College of Lima, which he characterised as the admiration of the missionary world. Dr Stewart described Mr MacNeilage’s reference to Lima as a secular undertaking as an unworthy reflection on their missionaries in Peru.
The discussion on Lima College was continued on Friday, and during the debate the Rev. John Calder remarked that the discussion which took place on Thursday was one of the gravest that had taken place in their Assembly for some time. Prof. Maclean, in replying, said that either of the amendments before the House would be disastrous to the College. Mr Campbell’s amendment, said Prof. Maclean, rested on his statement that Lima as a College was not a centre of evangelical teaching, but the testimony of the Commissioners who had visited the College was that it was a missionary College in the truest sense. Mr Campbell withdrew his amendment for Mr Gillies’s, viz., that the matter be remitted to the Presbyteries for consideration. This was carried by a vote of 36 to 27 against the Committee’s recommendation referred to above.
The subject of outstanding interest at the two larger Assemblies was that of the pending Union. It came up for discussion on Friday (26th May), in the two Assemblies. The joint report on the Basis and Plan of Union as adjusted after submission to Presbyteries, kirk-sessions, and congregations during the past year, was approved. In the Church of Scotland, Dr A. Gordon Mitchell, Killearn, dissented. In the United Free Church the minority against the Union shrank from 126 in 1927 to 53 this year. In both Assemblies it was resolved that Presbyteries be given a final opportunity of suggesting adjustments to the Basis and Plan of Union between now and 29th September, and that adjourned meetings of the Assemblies of both Churches be held on 21st November, when an Overture embodying the Basis and Plan of Union would be sent down to Presbyteries under the Barrier Act.
The United Free Church, from its trying experience at the hands of the law, is endeavouring to forestall any eventualities by passing a Declaration under the Barrier Act to safeguard their position in the event of Union.
The Rev. Dr Harvey, senior clerk, submitted the overture under the Barrier Act “anent Declaration with reference to the consistency of the constitution of the United Free Church of Scotland and the principles thereof, and the relations of the Church of Scotland to the State.” The last clause declared “that there is in the relations of the Church of Scotland to the State nothing which is inconsistent with the constitution of the United Free Church of Scotland and the principles thereof.” He said that when the overture was transmitted to Presbyteries under the Barrier Act steps would be taken by those who are responsible for the issue of the overtures that the attention of Presbyteries would be directed to the regulation that had been agreed to for a considerable time that Presbyteries take steps to ascertain the opinions of kirk-sessions, and that these should be tabulated in due order and submitted to the Presbyteries. The Assembly approved of the overture and ordered it to be transmitted to Presbyteries under the Barrier Act. In view of what is said in the article on the Barrier Act on another page, it may be necessary to explain that in 1901 the United Free Church adopted a regulation in reference to overtures sent down to Presbyteries under the Barrier Act that kirk-sessions and congregations should be consulted. This explains Dr Harvey’s statement in submitting the overture to the Assembly.
ESTABLISHED CHURCH.
In submitting the report of the General Trustees on Wednesday (23rd May), it was indicated that settlements had been made with the heritors in 837 out of 884 quoad omnia parishes in regard to the repair of churches and manses under the Act of 1925, and that it was expected the total sum received from the heritors on this account would come to about half-a-million sterling. At the same session, when the report of the Committee on Education was submitted, the duty of keeping in the front at Education Authority elections the religious education of children in the day schools was emphasised.
On Monday (28th May), Lord Sands, in submitting the report of the Committee on the World Conference on Faith and Order, said “the reports on the proceedings at Lausanne were historic documents, the most authoritative statements that had been prepared, or could be prepared, on agreement and differences on religious faith and order in the early period of the 20th century. Among those present at the conference there were difficulties about common Communion, but there was no difficulty about common worship. All sections were able to join in that, and he could recall no more moving religious experience.” All of which goes to show how seriously the high fever of Union with which many in the larger Churches are smitten when one of the distinguished Senators of the College of Justice, and an elder of the Church of Scotland, could describe the findings of that mongrel ecclesiastical gathering at Lausanne as he did.
At the same session, Dr White, in presenting the report of the Committee on Church and Nation, dealt with greyhound racing, gambling and immigration. The Committee, he said, had come to the conclusion that the only satisfactory way in dealing with the question of immigration was to have legislation passed for the United Kingdom similar to that in force in practically all the Dominions, and the Committee suggested that the Secretary of State for Home Affairs be asked to receive a deputation with a view to laying before him the facts of the situation.
The Rev. J. Maclagan, Merrylea, Glasgow, in seconding Dr White’s motion, referred to the Education Act, and said section 18 was meant to safeguard minorities, but it was the very contradiction of constitutional democratic government that privileges extended to a minority should become a tyranny to the majority. In regard to the Irish immigration question, he said employers of labour were beginning to realise their short-sighted policy in bringing over the cheap labour they required at the time. He could conceive no saner method of trying to solve the unemployment problem than to stop at its source the greatest supply of the unemployed. In the discussion that followed, the notorious Bonnybridge decision came under review.
The report of the Committee on Christian Life and Work dealt with Sabbath observance, Dr Norman Maclean, in seconding the report, stated that the quiet and peace of worshippers was disturbed on Sabbath mornings by ‘buses assembling at the church door for tours, sometimes organised by the city authorities. The Church, he said, ought to raise a protest against that. So far so good, but the Church of Scotland has too many Laodiceans within her borders on the question of Sabbath observance, and it is to be feared that the leaven of his more famous namesake, Dr Norman, of the Barony, Glasgow, has almost leavened the whole lump by this time.
The Church of Scotland Assembly concluded its deliberations on Thursday (31st May). The Moderator, in his concluding address on ‘The Scottish National Church of the Future,’ said, among other things, that the Scottish National Church of the future ought to include every branch of the Church of God in the land which had its root in Scottish soil and its place in Scottish history. He further added:—”There were some who dreamt of the coming of a great British Church, whose bounds should be coterminous with the Empire and whose Christian life and influence should mightily affect the whole world. Should that ever come within the borders of realisation, the Church of Scotland, free and united in all its parts, would have a contribution to make to it, characteristic and precious.” This speaks for itself, and shows towards what goal certain minds are already looking. Union is the one panacea to cure all the ills in the body ecclesiastical. In opposition to this view, we have no hesitation in characterising such an idle dream as a fond delusion. Fidelity to God’s truth and loyalty to His revealed will should come first.
UNITED FREE CHURCH.
On Wednesday, the Rev. Dr J. G. Sutherland, the Junior Clerk, in submitting the report of the General Interests Committee, made reference to a number of provisional unions that had taken place in anticipation of the Union of the two Churches. The Rev. Dr A. Boyd Scott, in submitting the report of the Central Fund Committee, warned the Assembly that beyond 1928, unless their normal income came materially up, the minimum stipend would suffer a fairly sharp fall from £300 and a manse.
When the Education Act was under review, the Rev. Alexander Dale moved an addition to the motion before the Assembly, which asked the Assembly to prepare a syllabus of fundamental religious instruction that could be given in all schools. What he meant is very clearly indicated in his speech. There were two groups in their schools—Protestants and Roman Catholics. There was a cleavage between the two, and it was being maintained by the method in which religious instruction was given to the coming citizens of the country. There was surely a common Christianity between Roman Catholics and Protestants. The above motion was a foolish suggestion, followed by a speech that was worse than foolish. No doubt there are some common properties between nitric acid and water, but if anyone is so foolish as to believe the two liquids will peaceably combine they should try the experiment. Fortunately, Mr Dale’s foolish addendum to the Education Committee’s motion was defeated by a large majority.
In the afternoon session on Friday, reference was made to the notorious Bonnybridge case and the Lord Ordinary’s recent decision, and the Education Committee moved a deliberation expressing concern as to the future bearing of Lord Murray’s decision. Sir Henry Keith, who is evidently always out to defend the Scottish Education Act, objected to the Committee’s reference to the Bonnybridge Case.
The Assembly concluded its deliberations on Wednesday (30th May).
THE FREE CHURCH.
The report of the Welfare of Youth and Publications Committee was made on Tuesday night (22nd May), when the Convener reported that the number of entrants showed an increase of 222 as compared with last year. In speaking to the report, the Rev. R. J. Macleod, Dumbarton, is reported in the “Scotsman” as saying:—”One of the modern tendencies is to elevate our women to the pulpit. He did not know how they as a Church would conduct themselves if that question came before them; very probably they would say that the pulpit was no place for their womenfolks. Probably the ministerial members of the Assembly, at any rate, would find it very difficult to yield their superiority in that matter to the fair but weaker sex. At the same time, if ever they were placed in the unhappy situation, which was quite common throughout the country to-day, of having great difficulty in finding candidates for the ministry—happily they had not come face to face with that situation yet—and found themselves compelled to put women into the pulpit, he knew of a few whom he would recommend very strongly if need be, although he hoped the need would never be. They would find these women among the girls who had competed in the Welfare of Youth test he had been examiner of.” This, to say the least of it, is a very strange speech coming from a Free Church minister, and if he is correctly reported, as we have no doubt he is, for both the “Glasgow Herald” and “Scotsman” reports agree, it is stranger still that no one called in question the view expressed. If necessity arose it would appear Mr Macleod would shut his eyes to the clear Pauline prohibition, and recommend very strongly a few who had done very well in the girls’ paper of the Welfare of Youth examination.
On Wednesday, Mr D. M. Smith, in presenting the report of the Committee on Finance, informed the Assembly that £1500 had been received in connection with the special appeal for £3000 which had been made for Foreign Missions. The Assembly adopted the Committee’s report that the ministerial salary of all ministers on the equal dividend should be £250, exclusive of the £7 payable to the Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund. A sum of £255 was set apart to augment the salaries of ministers settled under special arrangements.
At the evening session, delegates from the Irish Presbyterian Church, United Church of Canada, the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Lutheran Church, the National Church of Denmark, and the Reformed Churches of Austria, France, and Czechoslovakia, were presented. The reception of delegates from Churches with whose creed and practice the Free Church can have no sympathy if faithful to her own testimony, may be along the lines of a broad-minded charity, but is woefully lacking in consistency.
On Friday the Assembly had a visit from the Bishop of Ripon, who delivered an an address on the aims of the World Alliance for the Promotion of International Friendship throughout the Churches. The Moderator, in thanking the Bishop for his address, assured him that the Free Church would support the Alliance to her utmost power.
On Saturday (27th May), an Overture from the Synod of Glenelg was presented by Mr W. Rounfell Brown, the General Treasurer, asking the Assembly to demand from the Government protective legislation whereby cheaper railway fares on Sabbath than on other days, and dismissal or refusal of employment, on account of conscientious objections to Sabbath labour be made illegal; and also that power should be given to communities to prohibit the running of Sabbath excursions to their particular locality. Mr J. Macdonald, Glasgow, suggested if the Assembly did anything it should emphasise the fact that it was absolutely opposed to the running of trains on the Sabbath, and not only to cheap fares. Mr Archibald MacNeilage, Glasgow, moved that the Assembly remit the Overture to the Committee on Public Questions, with instructions to take action in name of the Assembly. This was agreed to. In the course of his speech, Mr MacNeilage pointed out that the statute law of Scotland and of England recognised the claims of the Sabbath, and it was on the strength of this that the Lord’s Day Observance Society had been so successful in many cases in resisting encroachments on the sanctity of the Sabbath in England.
The subject of Sabbath trains came up again when the report of the Committee on Religion and Morals was submitted. The Rev. J. R. Macleod, Dumbarton, stressed the fact that so long as the Churches allowed their ministers, elders and members to make use of ‘buses and trains and pleasure boats, she had no power to stem the tide. Dr Stewart called attention to the question of impure literature as one of the baneful influences at work in our social life to-day. It was admitted, he said, that a large proportion of modern fiction belonged to what had been called the “Fleshly School.” Our public libraries and also our secondary school libraries were full of that kind of literature. And this literature formed a large proportion of the Sabbath reading of the people of Scotland to-day. It was one of the most ominous things in the religious life of to-day that the novel, and sometimes the filthy novel at that, was taking the place of the Bible in the reading of the people on the Lord’s Day.
The Assembly concluded its deliberations on Tuesday (29th May). The Moderator, in his closing address on “The Springs of the Church’s Success,” declared that the Church must resolutely and fearlessly attack the strongholds of the god of this world, irrespective of any temporal loss which it might sustain.