Collection for this Month.—The Collection for this month is for the Home Mission Fund (Missionaries and Catechists.)
Communions.—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.
An Appeal from Rogart Congregation.—Though the Rogart congregation were about the first Free Presbyterian congregation formed in Sutherlandshire, they are yet without a place of worship of their own. For the last number of years they have been meeting in Rogart School and Torbreck Library, both places being very inconvenient for the congregation attending the services. At recent meetings of Session and congregation it was agreed to proceed, at an early date, to erect a place of worship at a place convenient for the whole congregation, or to purchase a building, if available. As the congregation have already contributed liberally to the erection of a manse at Dornoch, they feel that they will have to rely on the kindness of friends throughout the Church to help them as much as possible in contributing to their Building Fund. The congregation are assured from God’s Word, that it is His glory they have in view, and the welfare of sinners in the Parish of Rogart, therefore, they feel that the cheerful giver shall not miss his mite for such an object.
Donations will be gratefully received and acknowledged by Mr John Murray, Muie, Rogart, and Rev. F. Macleod, F.P. Manse, Evelix, Dornoch, Sutherland.
This Appeal is issued with the approval of the Northern Presbytery.
W. GRANT, Moderator pro tem.
D. BEATON, Clerk.
Newcastle Church Purchase Fund.—At a meeting of the Southern Presbytery on August 14th, it was agreed to authorise the Newcastle-on-Tyne congregation to negotiate and collect for the purchase of a church, subject to Presbytery’s final approval of the price and feu-duty. The congregation is still numerically weak, but is sparing no effort to raise the necessary funds, and would be glad of assistance from all who have the cause of Christ at heart, and who may be able to subscribe or take collecting cards, which may be had on application to Mr F. Bentley, 39 Osborne Avenue, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Services at Newcastle and Hull.—Rev. W. Grant, Halkirk, will (D.V.) conduct services (English) at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sabbath, 21st October, in the Rechabite Hall, 22 Ellison Place, Newcastle-on-Tyne. For particulars of regular services see Magazine cover. Also at Hull on Wednesday, 24th October, at 7.30 p.m. Meeting place: 269 Aulaby Road. Further particulars may be had from Mr H. Vertican, 8 Ellesmere Avenue, Sutton, Hull.
Death of Mr Charles Maclean, Elder, Inverness.—It is with sincere regret that we learn that Mr Charles Maclean passed away on 29th August. Mr Maclean was well known in the north, and his death makes a blank, not only in our Inverness congregation, but in the Church at large. We hope (D.V.) to have a fuller notice in a later issue. We extend our sympathy to the widow and family, and also to the kirk-session and congregation of Inverness in the great loss they have sustained.
Safe Arrival of the Rev. D. Urquhart and Mr Angus Fraser in Palestine.—We are pleased to learn that Mr Urquhart and Mr Fraser reached Jerusalem safely. We hope later on to give our readers further information about their plans in Palestine when these have been approved by the Foreign and Jewish Missions Committee.
Rev. W. Matheson’s Letter in “Northern Chronicle.”—The “Northern Chronicle” of 15th August contained a letter from Rev. W. Matheson, Chesley, purporting to set before interested readers “a fair statement of relevant facts” in opposition to alleged “misrepresentations” that were fitted to convey a painfully odious impression (though he does not say that these alleged “misrepresentations were deliberately designed) of the intended vindication of the F.P. Synod’s course on the matter of Sabbath church-going use of public conveyances. He unhesitatingly challenges anyone anywhere to discredit any statement as to fact in his report of 1926, in his statement to Synod of 1928, or in the letter above referred to. He further adds: “The really vital question of faith, government, and practice will be dealt with firmly and plainly in due manner, place, and time.” We have no intention of carrying on a controversy on this subject in these pages, but we cannot help expressing a feeling of regret at Mr Matheson’s action in sending his letter to the public press when the Synod was open to him to make any complaint he had to make. This is the second letter which has appeared in the “Chronicle” dealing with the subject that is presently made a matter of controversy by some in our Church, and though the authorship of the first letter, being anonymous, is unknown to us, it bears the mark of coming from a Free Presbyterian source. Should the matters complained of by Mr Matheson come before the Synod we may be permitted to express the opinion that they will be dealt with plainly and firmly.