Communions.
— September—First Sabbath, Ullapool, Breasclete, and Vatten; second, Strathy; third, Stoer and Tarbert (Harris); fourth, Broadford (note change of date). October—First Sabbath, Tolsta; second, Gairloch and Ness; third, Scourie; fourth, Lochinver and Wick. November—First Sabbath, Oban; second, Glasgow; third, Edinburgh and Dornoch; fourth, Halkirk. South African Mission.—The following are the dates of the Communions:—Last Sabbath of March, June, September and December. Note.—Notice of any additions to, or alterations of, the above dates of Communions should be sent to the Editor.
Collection for this Month.
—The collection for the Organisation Fund is to be taken up this month. It is to be hoped that the collection will be as liberal as possible.
Ordination of the Rev. D. Urquhart.
—As reported in our last issue, the ordination of the Rev. Donald Urquhart as prospective missionary to the Jews took place in the Hall of St Jude’s Free Presbyterian Church, Glasgow, on Wednesday, 25th July. The Rev. N. Cameron, Moderator of the Southern Presbytery, conducted divine worship, preaching from Roms. x. 1—”Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” After divine worship, the usual questions were put to Mr Urquhart, which on satisfactorily answering and signing the Formula, he was duly ordained by solemn prayer and the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery to be a missionary to the Jews. The Moderator then appropriately addressed the newly-ordained missionary. He concluded by saying it was his prayer that the Lord would grant him much of His presence in his labours, and he further expressed the hope that the Lord’s people at home would remember him in their prayers at a throne of grace. Mr Urquhart and Mr Angus Fraser, sailed by the Lancastrian Prince from Manchester for Alexandria on the 4th day of August. We bespeak the prayers of the Lord’s people on their behalf, and of the success of their mission to the Jews in Palestine.
Ordination of Rev. Rod. Macdonald, M.B., Ch.B.
—The Southern Presbytery met at Glasgow on 14th August, when Dr R. Macdonald, our prospective medical missionary for South Africa was licensed. The members of Presbytery expressed themselves as highly satisfied with Dr Macdonald’s trial discourse, and duly licensed him. The Court then adjourned, to meet the following evening (Wednesday, 15th), in the Hall of St Jude’s, at 7 p.m., for the purpose of ordaining Dr Macdonald as Medical Missionary for South Africa. The readers of our Magazine will notice that there was a mistake made in the August number re the date of ordination. For this I (Clerk of Presbytery) take all responsibility, and apologise. The Presbytery met according to terms of adjournment. There was a large congregation present. Rev. N. Cameron, Moderator of Presbytery, preached an appropriate discourse from the words, “Separate me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts xiii. 2). Thereafter he gave a summary of the steps which led to Dr Macdonald becoming a missionary, and also explained the arrangements come to with the Rhodesian Government. The Clerk then put the questions usually asked before ordination to Dr Macdonald, all which he answered in the affirmative, and signed the Formula. The Presbytery then proceeded to ordain him by prayer and the laying on of hands as a medical missionary to South Africa, and the members of Presbytery then gave him the right hand of fellowship. The Clerk, in addressing the newly-ordained missionary, pointed out the honour the Head of the Church conferred upon him in setting him apart as His ambassador to the dark heathens of South Africa. He also expressed the hope that the Lord would use him as an instrument through which Ethiopia would soon stretch out her hands unto God, and that there would be many dark Africans who would bless the Lord throughout eternity that Rev. Rod. Macdonald was sent out to them as a missionary by the F.P. Church. He also assured him that the Church at home would follow him with much interest and prayers. Rev. Mr Cameron then addressed Mr Macdonald, and pointed out how the Lord had blessed our Mission in South Africa from its very inception, that to-day there were no less than 150 persons professing Christ who twenty-two years ago were dark heathens. He also wished to corroborate what Mr Macintyre had said, that Dr Macdonald might rest assured that the Church would follow him with interest and their prayers, and expressed the earnest desire that the Lord would go with him and greatly bless his labours in South Africa. After the Benediction was pronounced, the congregation had an opportunity of shaking hands with Dr Macdonald at the door as they went out. The Presbytery ordered Mr Macdonald’s name to be added to their roll as an ordained medical missionary. Dr Macdonald expects (D.V.) to sail for South Africa from Southampton on 28th September by the s.s. Saxon. We earnestly pray that He who commanded the wind and the waves to be still, and there was a great calm, will bring him safely to the end of his journey, and encourage and strengthen him in all his labours.
A Correspondent’s Appreciation of the Synod’s Action on the Sabbath Question.
—The Rev. N. Cameron has received the following in a letter from a correspondent in England in appreciation of the Synod’s attitude on the Sabbath question:—”Another thing I have observed in the Magazine is the line now adopted on Sabbath Observance, and this I have noted with great satisfaction. I have been of opinion for a number of years now that until the Church of Christ deals with this question on a disciplinary basis little or no good will be done. Pious resolutions and deplorings will not meet the case; more drastic measures are necessary. No doubt the Free Presbyterian Church will purchase to herself a good measure of contempt, but this does not matter much, and time will ultimately show that she has taken the only sound line. Mr William Wileman, London, also writes us, saying:—”I am glad and thankful for your faithful testimony re the Lord’s Day; it is increasingly needful.”
Church’s Deputies to Canada and Australia.
—The Rev. James Macleod hopes to sail (D.V.) on the Doric on 20th October. The Rev. R. Mackenzie, M.A., who is accompanied by Mr James Campbell, elder, Inverness, sails shortly for Australia. We wish our brethren a safe voyage and the rich and abundant blessing of the Holy Spirit on their labours.