Report of Synod Meeting.

THE Synod met this year at Inverness on Tuesday the 21st of May. The retiring Moderator (the Rev. Ewan Macqueen) preached from Gal. i. 15, 16: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.” Thereafter the Synod was constituted. There was a large gathering present. The members present were:—Northern Presbytery—Revs. Donald Beaton (Clerk), Ewan Macqueen (Moderator), William Grant, Finlay Macleod, Donald John Matheson, ministers, with Messrs Inspector Sinclair, George Mackenzie, Charles Sutherland, and Kenneth Maciver, ruling elders. Western Presbytery—Revs. Murdo Morrison, Donald Malcolm Macdonald, Malcolm Gillies, and John Maclachlan, ministers, with Messrs John Macaulay, Duncan Matheson, John Maclellan, Murdo Mackenzie, ruling elders. Southern Presbytery—Revs. Neil Cameron and Neil Macintyre, ministers, with Messrs James Nicolson and James Mackay, ruling elders. After the roll was called letters of apology were intimated from Revs. W. Matheson, Chesley; D. A. Macfarlane, Oban; and D. N. Macleod. On the minutes of previous meeting being read and approved, Mr John Ross was appointed officer of court.
* This Report is not the official minutes of the Synod.—Editor.

The retiring Moderator then intimated that his term of office was at an end, and that it remained with the Court to appoint his successor. He thanked the members of Synod for their forbearance during his term of office. The Rev. Neil Cameron moved that the Rev. John Maclachlan, Bayhead, North Uist, be appointed Moderator; this was seconded and unanimously agreed to. Mr Maclachlan then took the Chair, and thanked the Synod for the honour they had conferred on him.

The following Committees were appointed to examine the Presbytery and Synod Records:—Western Presbytery—Revs. W. Grant and F. Macleod to examine Western Presbytery records; Revs. M. Morrison and M. Gillies to examine Southern; Revs. N. Cameron and Mr James Mackay to examine Northern, and Revs. N. Macintyre and D. M. Macdonald to examine Synod records.

The Clerk intimated that he intended giving in his resignation at next sederunt.

It was decided that the Synod meet as a Committee on Bills and Overtures and Business Committee in the hall of the Free Presbyterian Church, Inverness, on Wednesday, 22nd May, 1929, at 11 a.m. The Synod adjourned to meet again (D.V.) in the Free Presbyterian Church, Inverness, on Wednesday, 22nd May, 1929, at 5 p.m. The meeting was closed with prayer.

Second Sederunt.

The Synod met again on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. In addition to members present at last sederunt the Rev. Donald R. Macdonald. Tarbert, was present at this sederunt. After the roll was called the minutes of previous sederunt were read and approved.

A letter of apology was intimated from Rev. Duncan Mackenzie, Kames, and from Mr Alex. Ross, Ullapool.

The Synod then proceeded with the business decided on at its Business Committee.

1. Proposed History of the Free Presbyterian Church.

Mr Cameron regretted that he had not been able to do anything last winter owing to the indifferent state of his health. He thought the Committee should appoint another Convener, and in this connection he would mention Mr Beaton’s name. Mr Beaton said he would be quite willing to do what he could provided Mr Cameron remained as Convener. Mr Cameron agreed to this, and he suggested that he would draw out a rough draft which he would send to Mr Beaton to be expanded, and that this would in turn be sent to Mr Macintyre. The Synod unanimously agreed to the re-appointment of the Committee.

2. Communication from Ontario Kirk-Session.

A communication from the Kirk-Session of Ontario, in which the Session intimate that they refrain from recognising the Synod’s declaration on Church Privileges was read at the Business Committee meeting, with a letter from Rev. R. Mackenzie in reply to the aforementioned communication. The Clerk was instructed to have these printed and issued with the July Magazine. In connection with the above communication Mr Cameron then rose and said:—

When I visited Ontario as the first deputy of the Free Presbyterian Church in 1902 it gave me very much pleasure to see how very carefully the sanctity of the Lord’s Day was observed by our people there. It reminded me of the care with which our parents of sixty years ago prepared everything on Saturday so as to abstain from work on the Lord’s Day. So far as I observed our people there—they were at that time much ahead of the people in this country, yea even in the Highlands of Scotland—in their efforts to keep the Sabbath day holy. This having been so, you may well understand my amazement at the defiant attitude taken up by the Kirk-Session of Ontario towards the decision of this Synod against the use by any in the Free Presbyterian Church, who receive Church privileges, of trains, street cars, or ‘buses run for commercial purposes on the Lord’s Day. I can hardly take in that our people in Ontario, or in other places in Canada, desire to weaken the hands of this Synod in our efforts to keep the flood of Sabbath desecration from pouring into the Free Presbyterian Church. But should we as a Synod allow the claim now made for churchgoers to travel by trains, street cars, or ‘buses on the Lord’s Day, this flood will flow in, and we will become immediately like the other Churches, which are beginning to realise that they cannot now stem the influx of Sabbath desecration to which they opened their doors widely.

What causes me great surprise is, that the Rev. William Matheson, who was present at the Synod at which the minute of the resolution on Sabbath observance was read, should have remained quiescent about it at the Synod. This fact is before the Church in Scotland and in Canada. Let them draw the conclusion which seems to them to be the right one. Mr. Matheson ought to know the mind of the Free Presbyterian Church as regards Sabbath observance—for the matter of Sabbath observance had been repeatedly before the Synod, and decisions come to on the same lines as that of the resolution which he defies. This being so, why did he bind himself by most solemn vows to follow no divisive course from the practice of the Free Presbyterian Church at the time of his ordination? Are we as a Synod to repeal this resolution? No, we cannot. Our consciences will not allow us; our obligation to keep the Sabbath day holy, and the consciences of our people will not allow of any compromise or open questions in this serious matter. I will have to be convinced by our people in Ontario, yes even by these elders, that they are against this finding of the Synod to the extent of separating from the Free Presbyterian Church for license to transgress the Fourth Commandment. Whatever the end may be, our duty is plain; we must use discipline, or throw the reins of Church government out of our hands, and allow everybody to do as he pleases in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

It greatly simplifies the situation that, when this Synod received at their own request the groups of people scattered over a wide area in Ontario, which form the congregation represented now by this “Kirk-Session of Ontario,” there was no financial obligation asked by them nor entered into by the Synod. The same thing was the case when the Rev. Walter Scott was inducted as their minister, and again when the Rev. William Matheson was ordained as their minister. I appeal to our people in Ontario, for whom I always have had sincere regards and a very real concern for their soul’s salvation, should their minister and elders pursue their defiant attitude to the Synod’s resolution to the extent of separating from the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, that they should very seriously consider the consequences before they will follow them. I do pray and also hope that the Kirk-Session themselves will, upon serious and prayerful consideration of the whole situation, withdraw their finding. But whatever they may do, I think it is high time that this disputing about words which have no connection with the business in hand, viz., the keeping of the Sabbath day holy should come to an end.

The Rev. William Matheson, Chesley, Ontario, Canada, ought to have known prior to his being licensed and ordained by the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland that this Church did not allow such as received Church privileges from her to do any work (except works of necessity and mercy) or to travel to church by trains, street cars, or ‘buses on the Lord’s Day, which were run for mercenary purposes, and which are a form of Sabbath profanation against which the Free Presbyterian Church contended since the separation in 1893. Mr Matheson bound himself to the following as conditions of his contract with the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and upon which conditions this Church licensed and ordained him, viz.:— “I do own the purity of worship presently authorised and practised in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and also the Presbyterian government thereof; which doctrine, worship, and Church government, I am persuaded, are founded on the Word of God, and agreeable thereto . . . and I shall in my practice conform myself to the said worship, and submit to the said discipline, government, and exclusive jurisdiction, and not endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion of the same; and I promise that I shall follow no divisive courses from the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church. Mr Matheson promised also that “he would submit himself willingly, and humbly, in the spirit of meekness unto the admonitions of the brethren of this Presbytery, and to be subject to them, and all other Presbyteries and superior judicatories of this Church.”

Despite the above facts, Rev. W. Matheson, in a minute of the Kirk-Session of the Ontario congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Canada held at Chesley there on the 19th September, 1928, declares that he, the said Mr Matheson, Messrs Hugh Scott, Alexander Macfarlane, and Murdo Matheson refrain from recognising the said declaration . . . as interpreted to debar the use of public conveyances on the Sabbath for churchgoing purposes in that part or section thereof referring to “travel by trains or cars run in systematic disregard of the Lord’s Day.” Therefore, I beg to move as follows:—Inasmuch by the said decision of the Kirk-Session of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Ontario, Canada, an extract of which they sent to the Clerk of Synod, they have committed themselves to a position quite contrary to the deliberate decision of the Synod of the Church, thereby defying that decision by stating that they “refrain from recognising” the Synod’s finding re Sabbath travelling to church “by cars and trains run in systematic disregard of the Lord’s Day.” We can hardly believe that our people in Ontario are supporting the Kirk-Session in this defiance of the Synod.

The Synod decides that such conduct, if allowed, means that all discipline will be at an end in this Church; and that anarchy against authority, based solidly on ordination vows and the practice of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, will be encouraged. The Synod therefore orders that the Clerk of Synod do send a copy of this finding to the aforesaid Kirk-Session, with the intimation that, if they do not notify the Clerk of Synod by the last day of August, 1929, that they have fallen into line with the Synod’s decision simpliciter, they will not be considered after that a Kirk-Session of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

In seconding the motion, Mr Macqueen said that they had all listened with interest to what had already been said. They were pained to find men rising up in the Free Presbyterian Church like those who had sent the minute of their Kirk Session to the Synod. He had much pleasure in seconding the motion and he hoped the Synod would give a clear bill on this occasion, for it was high time it was done. In support of the motion Mr Macintyre said that it is quite clear that the Session of Ontario, both minister and elders, are prepared to act defiantly. This is a solemn thing for this Church. They are setting at defiance the Synod and it is high time that this was put a stop to; for, if we will allow this to go on, discipline will come to an end, and one cannot understand how anyone with a spark of grace would do anything to oppose our weak efforts in defence of the Sabbath day. The motion was unanimously adopted.

3. Theological Committee’s Report.

Mr Macqueen reported that there were three students studying at present with a view to the ministry of the Church. Two of these—Messrs A. Beaton and J. Colquhoun—were studying Arts at Glasgow University, while Mr Bentley, who was recently received as a student, was studying for his B.A. (London) degree. It was decided that Messrs Beaton and Colquhoun should take the classes of European History and Hebrew first winter, and that after doing so they would be reckoned as having finished their Arts course. It was also suggested that in addition to Greek that Mr Bentley take Hebrew, if permissible, in working for his degree.

4. Financial Statement.

The annual Financial Statement was read by the General Treasurer, Mr John Grant. The two most important funds of the Church, that is the Sustentation Fund and the Jewish and Foreign Mission Fund, both show an increase on last year’s figures. The balance at credit of the Sustentation Fund this year amounts to £7239, an increase of £428 on last year’s figures, while the Jewish and Foreign Mission Fund, notwithstanding an increased expenditure, shows an increase in the balance carried forward of £133. With the exception of the Home Mission Fund, which shows a slight reduction on the previous year, the other funds compare favourably. The sum of £140 8s 8d was received in Legacies during the year.

Mr Cameron, in moving the adoption of the report, said that we ought to be thankful our funds are so well supported. When we started in 1893 we had not a penny. We were now thirty-six years endeavouring to maintain the original testimony of the Free Church of Scotland, and we have to say in these thirty-six years the Lord has helped us and enabled us to believe that if we continue steadfast to God’s truth that He will uphold us. He firmly believed if the day would come—and may God forbid that it should come—when they would cease to maintain God’s truth a decline not only in spiritual but also in temporal matters would be felt. He had great pleasure in moving the adoption of the report and in thanking the Treasurer for keeping the record of the finances of the Church so well, and also that the auditors be re-appointed and thanked for their gratuitous services. Mr Macqueen seconded the motion and said they had reason to give glory to God in the heavens who had so liberally provided for them. Thanks were also due to the Treasurer and auditors, the collectors and all the people who gave so willingly and wholeheartedly for the up-keep of the cause of Christ in our midst. The motion was unanimously adopted.

5. Foreign Mission Report.

The Report was given in by the Convener, the Rev. Neil Cameron, and is printed on another page of this issue. The Rev. William Grant read reports from Rev. John Tallach and Dr R. Macdonald, which will also be found on another page. The Rev. D. M. Macdonald moved the adoption of the Report. Mr Macdonald, in the course of his remarks, said they had listened with interest to the remarks made by the Convener. The Lord was showing His kindness to us as a Church, not only in providing men for the foreign field, but also the means to support them. It was worthy of note that when the expenditure had been heavily increased through two new missionaries going out to the mission field that the Foreign Missions Fund balance showed an increase of over £133. Intimation also had been received of a handsome legacy to the Fund, which would be very useful for the future. He hoped that the sphere of the mission activities of the Church would be extended and that at no distant date the Church would enter China. The motion was seconded by Rev. William Grant and unanimously adopted.

Mr Cameron reported that intimation had been just received that the legacy left by Miss Ross, Golspie (formerly of the London Mission) was about £1000. Of this sum it was decided that £500 be used to purchase 5 per cent. War Stock by the General Treasurer on behalf of the Church.

In view of the necessity of erecting a house for the Missionary and a small hospital for the doctor, the Rev. M. Gillies moved that £170 be granted from the Foreign Missions Fund for the Missionary’s house, and £95 for the hospital. This was seconded by the Rev. Donald Macleod and unanimously adopted.

The Rev. M. Gillies then moved the following motion, of which he had given notice at the meeting of the Committee on Bills and Overtures, and which was unanimously adopted by the Synod:—”In order that the interest of our people may be more and more directed to the work of the Church in the Foreign Mission field, the Synod lay it upon the missionaries labouring in Africa and Palestine to write items of general interest frequently to the Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee for publication in the Magazine.”

It was decided that in future Mr Isidore Reuter’s salary of thirty shillings per week would be paid out of the Foreign Mission Fund.

6. Report on Religion and Morals.

The Rev. D. M. Macdonald gave an interesting report on the above, which was listened to with keen interest. The Report was printed in the June Magazine. The adoption of the Report was moved by the Rev. N. Cameron.

Mr Cameron said that he had the greatest pleasure in listening to the very edifying and intelligent reports which the Synod were privileged to receive annually from Mr Macdonald. There were discouraging, but also some encouraging things brought to their notice. Recently their Presbytery had sent a resolution on Sabbath desecration to the public press, and to his great surprise the “Glasgow Herald,” “Scotsman,” “Evening News,” and the “Citizen” printed it in their columns, which they would not have done two or three years ago. This ought to encourage them to lift their voice against the flood of evil that was pouring into Scotland. The motion was seconded by Mr John MacLennan and unanimously agreed to.

The Rev. D. M. Macdonald moved that “The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland urge upon the Government, through their Colonial Secretary, to prevent the importation of intoxicating liquors into East Africa in the moral and spiritual interests of the natives, who are being demoralised by the excessive use of strong spirits.” The motion was seconded by the Rev. Neil MacIntyre and unanimously adopted.

7. Canadian Mission Report.

This Report was submitted by the Rev. Neil MacIntyre, who also read reports from the Rev. James MacLeod, the Church’s deputy to Canada. These reports are held over until next issue. The Rev. D. Beaton moved the adoption of the Report. He said Mr MacIntyre, like others who had been Conveners of the Canadian Mission Committee, had not found the Convener-ship a bed of roses, but he was glad he was still sticking to his post. An angel from heaven could not please some individuals, and Mr MacIntyre need not be unduly perturbed if he found himself up against an element which also confronted his predecessors in the Convener-ship. The Church at home had a deep and keen interest in our people in Canada, and as their Mother Church she naturally looked for that filial devotion which he was sure the great bulk of our people in Canada were quite willing to render. In this go-ahead age it was not uncommon for rebellious sons and daughters to kick over the traces and set parental authority at defiance but we are persuaded better things of our people in Canada, and we are sure we will not be disappointed. The motion was seconded by the Rev. Ewan Macqueen and unanimously adopted.

In view of the statement made in the Rev. James Macleod’s report that religious services had been conducted at the grave on two occasions at Winnipeg by Rev. W. Matheson and Mr William Sinclair, the Rev. Neil Cameron moved the following motion:—”In view of the fact that it has been reported to this Court that the Synod’s resolution forbidding prayers at the grave (see Church Documents, p. 16) has not been observed by some in Winnipeg notwithstanding that one of the recent deputies from Scotland had set his face against the practice, the Synod overlooks this breach of the practice of the Church this time, but gives warning to all concerned that it must not be repeated.” Mr Cameron said these services at the grave were just an old Roman Catholic custom, which the Reformers in this country put a stop to. They were now being brought back again. The motion was seconded by Mr Murdo Mackenzie and unanimously agreed to.

The congregation at Winnipeg wrote the Convener of the Canadian Mission Committee, through Rev. James Macleod, to approach certain persons whose names were given in Mr Macleod’s private report with a view to giving them a call should they consent to accept the same. The Synod authorised the Canadian Mission Committee to approach these in the order mentioned.

8. Report of Examiners on Presbytery and Synod Records.

The examiners reported that they had examined the Presbytery and Synod Records, and that they found them correctly kept. The examiners pointed out that some of the Western Presbyteries’ minutes were not signed, but that this was due to the absence of the Rev. James Macleod in Canada.

9. Editor’s Magazine Report.

This Report was given in by the Rev. D. Beaton. It is held over until next month. The adoption of the Report was moved by Mr Macqueen, who said it was gratifying to know that the circulation was increasing. In entering into houses where he saw the brown covers of the Magazine, though the people did not belong to our Church, he felt at home. He believed the circulation could be still more increased, and he hoped that not only its circulation would increase, but that the spiritual good resulting from it would increase more and more; that it would be the means of comforting the Lord’s weary heritage and the means of bringing sinners to the Saviour. The motion was seconded by Mr George Mackenzie and unanimously adopted.

10. Report on Fishing Stations

The Rev. Malcolm Gillies gave in this Report, which is as follows—”When the time drew near to arrange for a deputy to supply Yarmouth during the fishing season, it seemed unlikely that it would be feasible to send one last season, owing to the fact that it was thought that very few men intended to leave the home fishing grounds for that port. The Yarmouth season opened about a fortnight earlier than usual, and the application for a missionary within a few days of its opening left little time for making the necessary arrangements. The Committee, however, procured a hall, and asked Mr Angus Mackinnon, who has undertaken the Yarmouth Fishing Mission on several occasions, to go there again this year. Mr Mackinnon became unwell and was unable to go, and the Committee, though an attempt was made, failed to find a substitute. There were therefore no services held by our Church in Yarmouth last season, but the Committee has bespoken the hall if it be required for next season, and hope to be more successful this year than the last in providing the means of grace for our people, whose calling takes them so far away from home and places them in circumstances in which the efforts of the Church to have services kept and their spiritual welfare cared for, are greatly appreciated.” The adoption of the Report was moved by the Rev. Donald R. Macdonald, seconded by Rev. Donald J. Matheson and unanimously adopted.

11. Standing Church Committees.

The membership of these Committees are the same as last year except that the places of the representative elders on the Committee last year are to be taken by their successors this year.

12. Church Collections.

The Synod decided that the Collections be on the same dates as formerly, but it was unanimously decided that the Foreign Mission Collection be taken up by book from house to house.

13. Business from the Presbyteries.

Western Presbytery.—1. In regard to the report of the Western Presbytery on the division of the Harris congregation, the Rev. E. Macqueen moved that in view of the fact that the Presbytery had not sufficient light on the situation that the matter be remitted back to the Western Presbytery to find out if both ends could give £120 and to do with one missionary each, and to report to next meeting of Synod. This was seconded by the Rev. N. Cameron and unanimously agreed to.

1. A number of financial arrangements were made in connection with the salaries of missionaries, and the Synod confirmed appointments made by the Presbytery.

2. The question as to the division of the Presbytery was remitted back to the Presbytery.

Southern Presbytery.—The Clerk of the Southern Presbytery reported to the Synod that they had a letter from the Rev. James A. Tallach, in which he apologised for and withdrew his letter read at last Synod on the question of the use of public conveyances to church on the Lord’s Day, and which the Presbytery accepted. The Synod approved of the Presbytery’s report as satisfactory.

14. Competent Business.

1. Resignation of the Clerk.—The Clerk tendered his resignation, notice of which he had given at last sederunt. He said that with his other work and the great increase in Synod work since he accepted the Clerks’hip seven years ago, rendered it almost impossible for him to carry on any longer but he was willing to continue until the beginning of next Synod and render what help he could to his successor. The Rev. Ewen Macqueen said that it was with regret they heard of the Clerk’s resignation, but they were pleased to have the promise of his services till next Synod, and after paying a tribute to the Clerk, he moved that the Synod accept the resignation and appoint Rev. R. Mackenzie, M.A., as Clerk of Synod. The Rev. N. Cameron, who spoke with feeling in seconding the motion, said Mr Beaton’s resignation causes a very sad feeling because we find generally that it is when men are realising that their energy is not equal to the work that their duties impose that they resign, and I must say personally that it causes sadness in my mind when men resign who faithfully and very sincerely act as Mr Beaton has done as clerk of Synod since their beloved brother, Mr Sinclair, was taken away. He hoped Mr Beaton would have still many days in the Church filling other posts though he was giving up this one. Mr Beaton thanked his brethren for their generous tributes to his work, and said that he was demitting office with regret, but as the work was becoming too heavy, with his other work, he had no alternative.

2. A letter and statement were read from Rev. William Grant re his sister’s (Miss Jeanie Grant’s) case of suspension. These had been read at the meeting of the Committee on Bills and Overtures, and notice of motion had been given by the Rev. N. Macintyre. After Mr Grant’s letter and statement were read Mr Macintyre moved as follows:—”I beg to move that the Synod adhere to its former motion almost unanimously adopted at its meeting in Inverness in 1927.” This motion was seconded by Mr James Mackay. On the Moderator asking if there was any amendment, Mr Grant rose and delivered a speech, but made no amendment. He was followed by Mr Macqueen. As there was no amendment the motion of Mr Macintyre became the unanimous finding of the Synod.

3. Allocation from Ministers’ Widows’ Fund.—The allocations were the same as formerly except that £5 was added to Mrs Graham’s allowance, making it £40.

4. A Committee, consisting of Revs. N. Cameron, E. Macqueen, N. Macintyre, and D. Beaton, were appointed to draw up a declaration against the efforts made by public companies in providing facilities for the public to desecrate the Sabbath.

The Synod decided to meet again (D.V.) in the Hall of St Jude’s, Glasgow, on Tuesday, 20th May, 1930, at 6.30 p.m. The meeting was closed with praise and the benediction.

When a man goes thirsty to the well, his thirst is not allayed merely by going there.—MacCheyne.