THE Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland met, within the Free Presbyterian Church, Inverness, on Tuesday, the 21st day of May, 1940, at 6.30 p.m. Rev. John Colquhoun, Glendale, retiring Moderator, preached an appropriate sermon from Psalm lx. ver. 4, “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” There was a good attendance of the public. After Divine worship, the Moderator constituted the Synod.
Roll of Members—Northern Presbytery.—Revs. D. A. MacFarlane, W. Grant, F. MacLeod, D. J. Matheson, R. R. Sinclair, ministers; and Messrs. F. Beaton, K. Matheson, H. MacLean, C. Sutherland, J. Hymers, W. Bruce, ruling elders.
Southern Presbytery.—Revs. N. MacIntyre, D. Beaton, J. MacLeod, R. Mackenzie, J. A. Tallach, J. P. MacQueen, D. Urquhart; and Messrs. A. MacDougall, M. MacPhee, Dr. J. Johnston, J. Mackay, R. R. Sinclair (London), D. J. Walker, ruling elders.
Western Presbytery.—Revs. D. N. MacLeod, D. M. MacDonald, J. Colquhoun, Arch. Beaton, A. Mackay, Alex. Macaskill, A. D. MacLeod, ministers; and Messrs. D. Nicolson, A. Gollan, Allan Beaton, M. Macaskill, J. Macaulay, J. Mackenzie, J. Fraser, H. Campbell, Neil MacLeod, ruling elders.
Outer Isles Presbytery.—Revs. M. Gillies, D. R. MacDonald, D.
*This Report is not the official minutes of Synod.—E. R. Sinclair, Clerk of Synod.
J. Macaskill, W. B. Nicolson, J. A. MacDonald, ministers; and Messrs. N. MacLeod, A. Morrison, N. MacKinnon, M. Macaulay, D. Cameron, ruling elders. The Roll was called and there were several absentees. Letters of apology for absence from Revs. D. Beaton, D. N. MacLeod, and A. D. MacLeod, and Messrs. A. MacDougall, J. M. Johnston and Allan Beaton, were read.
Minutes of previous Synod were approved; and thereafter Mr. Donald Campbell was appointed Officer of Court and agreed to act in this capacity.
Rev. W. Grant reported that there were no students to be licensed.
New Moderator.—Rev. N. MacIntyre moved that Rev. D. R. MacDonald be appointed Moderator; and said that he looked to Mr. MacDonald to uphold the dignity and authority of the Chair. This was seconded and agreed to. Mr. MacDonald accepted office and was welcomed to the Chair by the retiring Moderator.
Committees to examine Synod and Presbytery Records.—It was moved and seconded that “Revs. N. MacIntyre and D. M. MacDonald be appointed examiners of Synod Records; and that the following Committees be appointed to examine Presbytery Records:—That Revs. A. Beaton and J. Colquhoun examine Northern Presbytery Records; Rev. M. Gillies and Mr. Nor. MacLeod examine Southern Presbytery; Revs. D. A. MacFarlane and D. J. Matheson examine Western Presbytery; Revs. J. MacLeod and J. A. Tallach examine Outer Isles Presbytery.” This was agreed to.
Loyal Address Committee.—It was moved, seconded and agreed to that, “The members of Western Presbytery be appointed a Committee to draw up the Loyal Address for next year.”
Meetings of Bills and Overtures and Business Committees.—It was agreed that the Bills and Overtures Committee meet, to-morrow, 22nd May, at 10 a.m., in the Inverness Church; and that the members of Synod meet as a Business Committee, to-morrow also, at 11 a.m., in the Inverness Church.
Next Public Sederunt.—It was agreed that the Synod meet again in public, tomorrow, 22nd May, at 6 p.m.
Synod Sermon.—Rev. J. Colquhoun was asked to publish his sermon in the Magazine, which he agreed to do.
Prayer at Synod’s Meetings.—It was agreed to, that in view of the critical situation which confronts us nationally, the Synod spend some time in prayer before entering upon business at the public meetings.
The meeting was closed with praise and prayer.