Communions.—March—First Sabbath, Ullapool; second, Portree, Ness and Tarbert (Harris); fourth, North Tolsta and Kinlochbervie. April—First Sabbath, Stoer and Achmore; second, Lochgilphead; third, Greenock; fourth, Glasgow and Wick. May—First Sabbath, Kames and Oban; second, Dumbarton; third, Edinburgh. 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 alteration of, the above dates of Communion should be sent to the Editor.
Induction at Greenock.—The Southern Presbytery met at Greenock on Tuesday, 26th January, for the purpose of inducting the Rev. James Macleod to the charge of the Free Presbyterian congregation of Greenock. The Rev. D. Beaton, Oban, preached from Acts x. 23—”Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.” After divine worship the Rev. N. Macintyre gave a brief narrative of the proceedings in connection with the call. The Rev. James A. Tallach put to Mr. Macleod the customary questions required to be answered by ministers at their induction, which, on being satisfactorily answered, the Formula was signed by him in the presence of the congregation. Mr. Macleod was then inducted to his new charge, and received the right hand of fellowship from the members of the Presbytery present. The
newly inducted minister was then addressed by the Rev. D. Beaton, and the congregation by Rev. N. Macintyre. There was a very large congregation, friends being present from Glasgow, Kames, etc. This congregation has been without a pastor since 1893, and our prayer for people and minister is that the Lord would abundantly bless them.
New Student Received.—At a meeting of the Southern Presbytery, held at Glasgow on 27th January, Mr. John A. Macdonald was received as a student studying with a view to the ministry in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
London Communion.—The services in connection with the Communion begin on Thursday, 24th March. They will (D.V.) be as follows:—Thursday (24th March), 7 p.m. (English); Friday, 3.30 p.m. (Gaelic), 7 p.m. (English); Saturday, 3.30 p.m. (English); Sabbath, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (English), 3.45 p.m. (Gaelic); Monday, 7 p.m. (English).
The services will (D.V.) be conducted by Rev. D. Macleod, Shieldaig, and are held in the Conference Hall, Eccleston Street, Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, S.W.
Magazine Subscriptions.—The Treasurer of the Magazine desires to call attention to the fact that a considerable number of subscriptions to the Magazine are unpaid—some of these extending over a period of years. The Magazine is not stopped unless notice to this effect is given so that these unpaid subscriptions are a considerable drain on the Magazine Fund. This state of matters, we have no doubt, will be remedied at once when this note is read.
What it has come to.—“I appeal to the Choir to come back for without them I cannot conduct a proper service” was the appeal made by the Rev. Alexander Loudon to the members of the choir of Falkirk Old Parish Church when they went recently on strike because the Kirk-Session would not give them a grant of £10 for their annual dance—a grant which the minister said ought to have been given. That choir should have been given a holiday during the term of their natural life and so also should the minister who could not conduct a “proper
service” without the assistance of such a choir. A “Forward Movement” in making a clearance is evidently much required in Falkirk Old Parish Church.
Thurso and Fast Days.—Thurso—at least the Town Council—has decided to abolish the three fast days which it at one time observed and to substitute holidays instead. A petition drawn up by Rev. William Grant, interim-moderator of our congregation there, and signed by 430 persons, received scant respect at the hand of the city fathers. In this, they are acting as one would expect men of the world to act, but if we are to rely on what was said at the council table it would appear that there was more opposition to the new move than some of the town councillors were willing to admit.