Communions.—February—First Sabbath, Dingwall; third, Stornoway. March—First Sabbath, Ullapool; second, Portree and Ness; third, Finsbay; fourth, Kinlochbervie; fifth, North Tolsta. 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.
Church History Books.—It is desired that payment for copies sold of our Church History book be made not later than February to Rev. W. Grant, Halkirk. Unsold copies are to be returned to Inverness (as previously instructed). Payment for copies of the “Confession of Faith” sold should be made to Mr. F. Beaton, 11 Greig Street, Inverness.—William Grant.
Safe Arrival of Rev. D. Macleod in Canada.—We have received a letter from Rev. D. Macleod informing us of his safe arrival at Toronto. Should any friends desire to communicate with him they may write to him care of Mr. Macivor, 665 Lipton Street, Winnipeg.
Opening of New Meeting House in Lewis.—On Wednesday, 27th November, friends of the Church from nearly every part of Lewis gathered for public worship at Swordle, Knock, Lewis. By the whole-heartedness of a few loyal Free Presbyterians, a meeting-house had just been completed, capable of seating about 120 persons. Rev. Malcolm Gillies, Stornoway, presided at the opening services and preached from Psalm CXXXII, 14-16, and again in the evening from I Tim. I, 15. The building was completely filled by the congregation. The collection which was over £30 assured the opening of this place of worship, free of debt. It is very remarkable that after the lapse of over 40 years since our Church was formed, that we should have a meeting-house in the Eye Peninsula, where we had only a few adherents and no regular diets of worship.—Malcolm Gillies.
A Text for Free Presbyterians and Others in the Present Trouble.—The Apostle Peter, writing to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, says: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . . For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?” (I. Pet. iv. 12-18). These solemn and arresting words have a message for the converted and unconverted. It says to His people—(1) Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you. The fiery trial is the appointment of heaven and they are not to think it strange. (2) They are solemnly reminded that judgment must begin at the house of God. There is a divine necessity that this should be so however dark it may be to them. But the words have also a very solemn message for the unconverted. (1) “What shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?” That is a very solemn question which the Apostle leaves their own conscience to answer. If the storm that strikes the house of God be so severe what shall the end be of those who obey not the gospel of God? (2) And if the salvation of the righteous be so difficult as revealed by the trial of fire where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? They have no refuge to flee to and no hope that the storm which has begun that it will have an end. The fiery trial therefore through which God’s people are passing has a message not only for them but for the unregenerate also.
Meeting of Northern Presbytery.—The Northern Presbytery met at Dingwall on 9th December, 1935, when the following motions were passed:—(1) “As the Presbytery understand that the Rev. Finlay Macleod and his kirk-session are willing to have their part of the Dornoch case reviewed by the Synod, this Presbytery hereby record that they also are most willing to have their part of the Dornoch case and of Rev. Ewen Macqueen’s case brought under the review of the Supreme Court of the Church, and instruct the Clerk to give every facility to the Supreme Court as required.” (2) “The Court taking the circumstances into consideration meanwhile defer the second citation” to Rev. E. Macqueen.