THE General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland and the Free Church met in Edinburgh, on Tuesday, 20th May. The Rev. Andrew Bogle, D.D., was Moderator of the Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Rev. R. M. Knox of the Assembly of the Free Church. Generally speaking the impression left on our minds after reading the reports of the proceedings of the Church of Scotland Assembly is that it was a very tame affair—lacking in the interest one would expect from the Assembly of a Church of such large dimensions. In the Church of Scotland it was intimated by Prof. Lamont that contributions from congregations would require to be increased by £10,000 if the minimum stipend of £300 per annum were to be maintained. The Free Church were able to maintain the minimum stipend of £250.
When the reports on Foreign Missions came up in the General Assemblies the Church of Scotland showed a deficit of £23,000, and the Free Church, £4,000. In the Church of Scotland the Committee were urged to review its financial obligations and resources and report to the Assembly. Mr. Smith, W.S., in the Free Church criticised the lack of support given by the Church to foreign mission enterprises and said that the matter of finance was the cause of deep depression to the committee. The Assembly adopted a deliverance enjoining the cause of missions to be more attentively considered and liberally supported. On Friday, 23rd May, the Free Church Assembly dealt with a number of overtures having for their aim the union or co-operation of the smaller Presbyterian bodies in Scotland with the Free Church. In speaking to the overtures from the Presbytery of Edinburgh, Prof. Kennedy Cameron is reported in the Press to have said: “He was informed of a resolution of the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church to the effect that they would not undertake co-operation with any Church, even to the extent of their members being permitted to worship in any Church other than their own. So that to ask them to co-operate with the Free Church without first removing any difficulties that might stand between them was impossible.” We are not aware of any resolution of our Synod such as Prof. Kennedy Cameron mentions. After discussion the following motion became the finding of the Assembly:—
“The General Assembly being of opinion that the differences that existed between the Free Church and the United Original Secession, the Reformed Presbyterian, and the Free Presbyterian Churches, were such as might be satisfactorily adjusted or removed, expressed the desire to come into closer touch with those other Churches, to ascertain whether a greater measure of co-operation than existed at present could be secured, or whether an incorporating Union could be effected between them; and that the Assembly remit the matter to the committee appointed in 1916 to consider union with the Free Presbyterian Church, with additional members, and the Rev. Professor Donald Maclean, D.D., convener.”
As this motion has been sent to the Synod for its consideration we forbear making any remarks on it meantime.
On Monday the Bonnybridge case came under review in the Church of Scotland Assembly. After some discussion a motion by Dr. White to the effect that it be remitted to the Committee on the Instruction of Youth with six ad hoc members to consider the situation created by the Education (Scotland) Act of 1918 and the Local Government (Scotland) Act of 1929, more especially as bearing upon the equitable treatment of the Protestant interests of the country in relation to education and to report to the next General Assembly. The Free Church also dealt with the case on the same day.
When the report on Public Questions came up before the Free Church Assembly reference was made to the Prince of Wales playing golf on Sabbath and also to the efforts of the Railway Companies to secularise the Sabbath by running excursions on the Sabbath day.
The question of University theological chairs was discussed, both in the Church of Scotland and Free Church Assemblies. In the Free Church Prof. Kennedy Cameron moved that the matter be remitted to the Training of the Ministry Committee and instruct it to take whatever steps might be advisable and make it known to the Church of Scotland and the University Authorities that the Free Church protested against the abolishing of the statutory tests as an undue interference with a national institution. It was finally decided to add to the above Committee the Law and Advisory Committee of the Senatus of the Free Church College. The Rev. R. M. Knox gave as his concluding address “The Training of the Young.”
On Wednesday, 28th May, several references to Creed Revision were made and finally a motion to the following effect was adopted in the Church of Scotland Assembly:—
“The General Assembly, believing that it is the duty of the Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, from time to time to give new confessional expression to Christian faith and experience, and holding that such confessional restatement is a matter of great importance in the present age, commends the whole subject to the earnest and prayerful consideration of the Church, and remits to a special committee to investigate the lines upon which Creed revision may most profitably be conducted, and to report to next General Assembly.”
On the last day of the Church of Scotland Assembly an Overture from the Presbytery of Glasgow praying that the way might be prepared for the removal of the hindrances to the fulfilment of the prayer of the Great Head of the Church. This is the Larger Union which is gradually shaping itself and which was referred to also by Dr. Bogle in his closing address. Principal Martin, probably from the painful experience he has had of trying to weld two cold pieces of iron (the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church), did not altogether favour the Glasgow proposal with his blessing. He moved that the overture be received but that the matter be remitted to the Committee charged with the oversight of the relations with other Churches. The Rev. E. E. Williamson, Shurrery, Caithness, vigorously protested against the motion.