TO THE KING’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, We, the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, convened at Glasgow this Twenty-Seventh day of May, Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-Six years, desire most humbly to convey to your Majesty the expression of our cherished loyalty to your Majesty’s person and throne.
As this is the first occasion on which we are met as a Synod, since the death of your Majesty’s beloved father, the late King George V, we take occasion to express to your Majesty, to
Her Majesty Queen Mary, and to the various members of the Royal Family our sincere sympathy in the loss sustained through that afflictive bereavement.
Recognising that kingship brings with it a burden of responsibility which, we feel, is likely, in times of stress and anxiety such as these, to lie heavily upon your Majesty’s shoulders, we pray that God, for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Divine Saviour, would richly endow your Majesty with the gift of His Holy Spirit; that through Him, your Majesty may be strengthened and guided in the discharge of onerous duties; and that, in face of difficulties and in the midst of troubles, your Majesty may enjoy the abounding consolations of His grace.
In presenting this, our loyal address, we would, most respectfully, avail ourselves of the opportunity of acquainting your Majesty with our feelings of grief and alarm on account of the low condition of vital religion in this part, at least, of your Majesty’s dominions at the present time, which condition we believe to be an influential factor in the general situation. Especially would we bring to your Majesty’s notice the largely prevailing apathy towards the public and private ordinances of God’s worship, the widespread disregard of the sanctity of the Sabbath, and the steady advance of Popery throughout the realm, all of which we regard as signs of spiritual decadence and as evils provocative of the Divine displeasure. We would most earnestly solicit your Majesty’s interest in this matter which burdens the heart of many of your Majesty’s most loyal subjects and we humbly beg that your Majesty would direct the influence of your Majesty’s exalted station, by example and otherwise, towards the correction of these evils.
We conclude by wishing your Majesty a long and prosperous reign, while we pray that the Lord, by whom kings reign, would bless your Majesty and make your Majesty a blessing in the land.
In name and by the authority of the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. JAMES MACLEOD, Moderator.
Report of Fishing Stations Committee.
By Rev. MALCOLM GILLIES.