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.
SECOND PUBLIC SEDERUNT.
The Synod again met within the Church, Inverness, on Wednesday, the 22nd day of May, 1940, at 6 p.m.; and was constituted. The Roll was called, and business was proceeded with, after a brief prayer-meeting conducted by the Moderator.
The Queen of Holland.—The following message was moved, seconded and agreed to:—
TO HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland authorise the Clerk to send a message of sympathy to Her Majesty Queen of the Netherlands, in the trying position in which (in Providence) Her throne and people are placed at this present time; and pray that God may overrule this solemn dispensation for His own glory and the good of the people of the Netherlands.
Rev. Jas MacLeod said: “We all know the terrible condition of Holland and how Her Majesty was forced, in the providence of God, to leave her own country. The history of the House of Orange is one of the most remarkable histories in the world since the days of the Reformation. They took sides with the Reformation at the very outset, and any person who ever read the historian, Motley, on his history of the Netherlands, and especially with reference to the Reformation, will remember how unselfishly, and humbly and courageously the first Prince of Orange fought against the enemies of civil and religious liberties
to the very end until an assassin took away his life. He was a godly man, and had his confidence in the Most High. Ever since that time the Lord favoured the Netherlands in a most remarkable manner and used them in defending the great Protestant principles down through the ages. In the last war they were preserved, in the providence of the Lord, from the fearful things that other nations, and our own beloved nation, had to contend with; and they evidently thought that on this occasion also they were to escape the terrible catastrophe that has overcome Europe. Evidently they did not realise that they had to contend with no ordinary men, but with murderers and thieves and robbers, in every sense of the term. They warded off trouble as much as it was in their power by holding to their neutrality; but as we know a thief or a robber has no respect to truth or morals, and the Hitler gang has proved to the whole world that they have not the faintest regard for truth, nor for the lives of their fellow-creatures. It seems that they just sport in destroying life and property. Yet without the least possible doubt they are a rod in the hand of God to chastise the nations of Europe. What may be the result is in the hand of the Lord, not in the hand of any man, however mighty or powerful.
Everything is at stake in our own nation, our religion, our liberties and our lives. And it is the duty of every true citizen to be on his knees at the present time pleading with the Lord for deliverance, which He can give us in His mercy and providence.”
Rev. W. Grant said: “In seconding this motion it is with sorrow that circumstances call for it. We have the deepest sympathy with all the nations and peoples who have had, and are still meeting with the barbarous forces of a godless tyranny; but we have a special sympathy with Holland. Holland, time and again, proved a refuge for those who had to flee from wicked powers and who contended for truth and liberty. At the same time it is evident that God is reckoning with nations, and nations must realise the authority of God’s Word. They have been ruling the world without God. We have gone to many gods, and Scripture
is being fulfilled—‘Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god.’ We, in expressing our sympathy with the Queen of Holland, who is now a refugee in our land, do not forget those who are expressing their sympathy in a practical manner on our battle fronts. The question may be asked—‘What is to become of the nations of the world?’ Well, a few days ago I was visiting a Danish seaman. He suffered ship-wreck, and had bitter experience of war. He lost all he possessed. He is in hospital with both legs broken, but he has one thing—he clung to it—his Bible, the Word of God. And we felt that although he is mutilated, if he has the Word of God in his hand and in his heart, he has what men and devils cannot take from him, and we believe that there lies the hope of the mutilated nations of Europe and of the world. They may lose their all materially, but if they will have the Word of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the power of it, then they will arise triumphantly. It will lead them to say in the words of another—‘Rejoice not against me, oh mine enemy, when I fall I shall arise.’”
Religion and Morals Report.*—The adoption of this Report was moved, seconded and agreed to. Rev. D. M. Macdonald said: “There is one thing I shall refer to and that is in connection with the sentence—‘Then shall Christ be given His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords.’ Let us remember that the time will come when He shall rule over the nations of the world and it is because He is not given His rightful place at present as King of kings that the nations are suffering so much. Some are very ready to accept Dictators to rule over them, but they are not willing to accept Christ as their King, and as long as things continue like that nations shall not prosper. When they do come to submit to His authority they shall not suffer as they are doing now; and the time is promised in God’s Word when He shall bring into subjection to Himself the nations of the earth.”
*All cross-heading marked with an asterisk (*) indicate that the Reports will be found printed in this or subsequent issues.—J. C.
Gambling Evil.—It was moved, seconded and agreed to, “That the Government be asked in the national interest to abolish all facilities for betting and gambling, as being against the moral and spiritual well-being of the people and dishonouring to God.” Rev. D. M. Macdonald said: “In connection with this motion I may point out that there is a tremendous amount of money spent on gambling and betting in the country. It is very sad that people should be allowed to spend several hundred million pounds annually on betting and gambling, when that money, if diverted into the proper channels, would be for the benefit of the war. It may come to this very soon that Britain will see that this is a colossal waste of money. Money is spent on what is very harmful to the people themselves, and it might be spent far more usefully. The turnover in connection with gambling is about £30,000,000, i.e., gambling on football pools. The profit to the promoters is more than £2,000,000. That shows what an enormous sum has been spent on that part of gambling. Apart from the Commercial and Stock Exchange speculation the total amount spent is reckoned about £500,000,000 annually, and the country cannot stand that very long, and that is why we should call the attention of the Government to this gross waste of money, and endeavour to put a stop to it if we can.”
Saluting Papal Nuncio.—The following motion was moved, seconded and agreed to, “Bearing in mind the history and blasphemous and tyrannical claims of the Papacy, and remembering how the prosperity of this Protestant nation is bound up with opposition to these claims, the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland protest against the Admiralty regulation which singles out for special honour the representative of the head of this politico-ecclesiastical system by requiring that ships of His Majesty’s Navy fire a salute when a papal nuncio comes into port, an honour not accorded him by any other nation, Papal or Protestant, and one contrary to the spirit of the Protestant constitution of the realm and grievous to multitudes of His Majesty’s loyal subjects.”
Mr. F. Beaton said: “It is the height of folly for individuals or nations to cast aside or ridicule the testimony of history, and the history of Europe is largely intertwined with the history of the Papacy. The Pope claims to be Christ’s Vicar and, as such, he claims to be higher than the kings of the earth; and to exercise the authority of Him who has a name written on His vesture and on His thigh, King of kings and Lord of lords. When the Popes had the power to do so they asserted their claims. One of them made the Emperor Henry IV. of Germany, whom he had excommunicated, wait bare-footed, and clothed in sackcloth, three days and nights in the winter snow outside the castle of Canossa, suing for forgiveness. Christ, in His rule of providence, has largely deprived the Pope of the power he formerly wielded, but the Papacy has never relinquished any of its claims. Among the anathemas pronounced by the Pope when he proulgated his own infallibility at the Vatican Council in 1870, we find him say, ‘Whosoever saith that the Papacy should be reformed let him be accursed.’ Why should the representative of this religio-political system be singled out by the Admiralty for this honour? Also, how had instructions for this salute been surreptitiously introduced into the King’s regulations? Why should loyal subjects of the King be grieved in this way? It is with grief and sorrow that many of the people of this land heard of this privilege. They include many men serving in the Navy. It is time this thing was abolished, and that what is just and right in the constitution should be preserved, and on that account we send this Protest.”
Sabbath Observance Report.*—This Report was adopted, on being moved and seconded,
Wireless on Sabbath.—It was moved, seconded and agreed to, “That the Synod warn our people not to be making use of the wireless on Sabbath, either for news or for so-called religious services; and that notice to that effect be inserted in the F.P. Magazine.”
Political Speeches on Sabbath.—It was moved, seconded and agreed to that, “The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland desire respectfully to draw the attention of the Prime Minister to the evil of making public speeches on the Lord’s Day. This is a practice which does not appear to the Synod to come under the category of things necessary and merciful and is therefore to be deplored, not only because the practice is evil in itself, but because of its general effects. For God demands of all to observe the fourth Commandment holy to Him, and we are bound by His Command to obey.”
Rev. Jas. MacLeod said: “It is a custom for ministers of the Crown to broadcast speeches on the Lord’s Day. That was not the case with His Majesty’s ministers in days gone bye. I remember in 1916 when the Rt. Hon. Lloyd George, who was then Prime Minister, made his first public speech on the Lord’s Day, he excused himself for making this speech by making special reference to a Scottish Ecclesiastic who suggested to him, that owing to the stress of business, he was quite justified in making this political speech under the terms of necessity and mercy. We do not believe that comes under this category at all. The public of Britain should have taken special note that when any of our leaders make speeches on the Lord’s Day we are confronted almost the following day with some most distressing catastrophe, and surely they themselves should take note of that! We know that many a thing our leaders have to do at the present time on the Lord’s Day as well as on other days, because of the situation our nation is in, under the laws of necessity and mercy; but we cannot possibly see any justification for making political speeches on the Lord’s Day, and it would be better for our leaders not to make them because it is not necessary. And I beg to move, Mr. Moderator, that the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church desire respectfully to draw the attention of the Prime Minister to the evil of making public speeches on the Lord’s Day. This is a practice which does not appear to the Synod to come under the category of things necessary, and it is therefore to be deplored, not only because the practice is evil, but because God demands of
all to observe the Fourth Commandment, and we are bound to obey Him.”
Mr. K. Matheson said: “We have no delight or desire as a Church to interfere with our rulers in their great responsibility, but certainly we have full right to stand by the Word of God and by the Sabbath law, and as said in the motion, it is not a case of necessity and mercy for our Prime Minister or anyone else to be broadcasting political matters on the Lord’s Day, for it is against the command of God. We are suffering on account of the fact that we transgressed the commandment of God, which will stand for time and eternity. ‘Except ye repent we shall all likewise perish.'”
Training of the Ministry Report.*—The adoption of this Report was moved, seconded and agreed to.
Rev. W. Grant said: “Since our last meeting of Synod three students were licensed, ordained and duly inducted to congregations. Two of them are with us as members of this court to-day, but we regret that one of them, Rev. A. D. MacLeod of Shieldaig, is laid aside. I am sure we, as a court, extend our sincere sympathy to Mr. MacLeod in his illness, and sincerely pray and desire that he will be restored to health and usefulness.”
Rev. M. Gillies said: “The Rector of the Nicolson Institute is to send a report to the Synod of Mr. Alistair Mackenzie’s progress. He was to have sat an examination last Monday. It will be here before the Synod is over, in all probability.”
Canadian and Colonial Report.*—The adoption of this Report was moved, seconded and agreed to. Rev. W. Grant said: “I have to remind you that our Deputy, Rev. A. F. Mackay, of Applecross, is at present in Winnipeg. He has been several months in Vancouver, also visiting other stations, and he sent in encouraging reports of the attendance at all services. Mr. MacKay sent in a request to have his time extended to June. His Presbytery granted that and the Committee agreed to it. A further request has since come in asking that he remain for a longer period, but that matter is under consideration by this
court. We have also had proposals from our people in Australia—proposals to strengthen the cause of Christ there. These proposals are also coming before this court for consideration. You will remember that the Synod last year decided that Rev. D. Beaton would visit Australia. Mr. Beaton booked his passage for the 2nd September, but owing to the outbreak of war the sailing was cancelled, and he had to delay his departure. He sailed, however, about ten days ago, and a cable has come intimating his safe arrival in New York. It is Mr. Beaton’s intention (D.V.) to visit our various stations in Detroit, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, and probably the Mission Field in South Africa, and I am sure that friends will follow him with their prayers in his long journey in these perilous times. He is also expecting to meet the Dutch friends in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who had sent a request to the Synod last year, and in meeting with them he will undoubtedly meet with a people grieved and pained at heart because of the devastated state of their homeland. Among these Dutch people—and we have all had the pleasure of meeting several of them from Holland for several years, there are those who are outstanding Christians and who, we believe, are wrestling with the Most High for an outpouring of His Spirit. We know not whether these friends have come through this terrible catastrophe or not. We know not if they are still alive, but our sympathy goes out, not only to those who have been driven from their homes but to the many overseas who are broken-hearted by the cruelty of the oppressor. Our enemies declared some time ago that to worship Germany is to worship God, but even from such paganism we could not expect the horrible brutality of recent times. We regret that in this country there are those who looked for peace to a quarter who gave their blessing to the conquest of Abyssinia, of Albania and of Spain. Christianity does not stand for peace at any price, but for righteousness at all costs.”
Deliverance on Kingship of Christ.*—This Deliverance was read by Rev. D. A. MacFarlane and its adoption was moved, seconded and agreed to.
Deliverance to be sent to the King.—It was moved, seconded and agreed to, “That copies of above Deliverance be sent to, His Majesty the King; the Prime Minister; the Foreign Secretary; the Secretary for Scotland; and to the Press and F.P. Magazine.”
Rev. Jas. MacLeod said: “For many years it has been obvious that the name of the Lord Jesus in the public utterances of officials has been disregarded. There is no mention made of the Lord Jesus Christ at all. If the Lord Jesus Christ is not honoured by us as a nation, God cannot be honoured—the Father is not honoured. It was He who revealed the Father to us in the everlasting gospel of His grace, and how dare men to be so presumptuous that they would not acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ in all circumstances, at all times, and especially the leaders of the people! It is a terrible thing for men professing the Christian religion to deny the eternity of the Son of God, and the Sonship of Jesus Christ, e.g., the Arians or Unitarians as they are now called; and as Mr. MacFarlane stated in his Deliverance,—ignoring the fact that He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and Prince over the kings and kingdoms of the earth. We hope the day is fast approaching when the blind nations of the world will see the dishonour that has been cast upon the Son of God by the so-called Christian nations, and that will put an end to this slaughter and wickedness for a thousand years, according to the promise of God.”
Mr. F. Beaton said: “I have much pleasure in supporting this Deliverance. The evil practice on the part of public men of ignoring the claims and refraining from mentioning the name of the Lord Jesus Christ came to a head in the procedure of the League of Nations where the very mention of Christ’s name is forbidden lest it give offence to the supporters of false religions. This fact grieved the hearts and alienated the sympathies of many Christians from the League, and where is the League of Nations now? The League’s baneful precedent is being copied with deadly effect in the public life of the nation. There is, therefore, an urgent call for a witness against the ignoring of the name and claims of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more so when
we remember the national testimony raised for Christ’s Headship over the nations as well as over His Church, in this land in the past, and public men should be requested to acknowledge these claims.”
Rev. A. F. Mackay’s Return.—It was moved, seconded and agreed to, “That Rev. A. MacKay be instructed to return home, after he visits Detroit and New York City—after Rev. D. Beaton’s arrival in Winnipeg.”
The meeting was now closed with praise and prayer.
THIRD PUBLIC SEDERUNT.
The Synod again met within the Church, Inverness, on Thursday, the 23rd day of May, 1940, at 6 p.m.; and was constituted. The Roll was called; and after a short prayer meeting, the Synod dealt with business.
Wire to Prime Minister.—It was moved, seconded and agreed to, that the following wire be sent to the Prime Minister:—”Rt. Hon. W. S. Churchill, Prime Minister, Westminster.—We, the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, convened at Inverness, this day, beseech the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to vouchsafe you personally and your Government the Divine guidance and strength in your arduous task. ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’ Ps. 50, v. 15. Rev. MacDonald, Moderator.”
Financial Statement.*—This was read by Mr. J. Grant, General Treasurer, and its adoption was moved, seconded and agreed to.
Rev. D. M. Macdonald said: “We have much reason to express our indebtedness to the Lord for His great goodness in supporting us until now. It is clear in the statement, and as the late Rev. D. MacFarlane of Dingwall used to say on occasions like this, that—”as long as we adhere to the gospel and its doctrines faithfully the Lord will reward us.” That saying has been fulfilled time and again in our history as a Church. We have been upheld all along until now although at the outset we were
told that as a body we would soon be out of existence altogether, and yet it seems that we never had our finances in such a good condition—at least the congregational contributions were never so high as they were in the past year, and that in face of all the troubles we passed through in the last two or three years. I think we can take it as a token of good from the Lord which should encourage us. It is our duty as a Church, and we have been endeavouring to fulfil that duty, to abide by the doctrines and to preach the gospel of Christ to our fellow-sinners as the only remedy for their condition, and the only hope for them. We are indebted to our people for their generosity. Some of them have doubled their contributions during the past year or two. We are also indebted to our collectors who are undertaking a very important duty, and are doing it well, so that we are under considerable obligation to them for their zeal and activity in helping the Church. Other churches in Scotland are complaining of being in debt.
Without any boasting in the matter we have great reason to be grateful as a Church that we are not in debt, and although we are poor in comparison with other churches yet our funds have been kept in a very satisfactory condition, and we should see the hand of the Lord in it all. Although it was said that we would not continue to exist as a Church long, here we are still, not only in Scotland, but in other countries as well, so that in various directions we are endeavouring to spread the truth as it is in Jesus, and that is the best work we can do in the world. May we continue to do it until the end.”
Mr. R. R. Sinclair, London, said: “It might be advisable for the benefit of those who are not members of this Court that some explanation of the various items should be given. The Sustentation Fund is £433 up on last year, but we have an increased liability of three additional ministers who have been admitted to congregations during the past year, so that, while depending entirely on the Most High for the sustenance of His cause, and looking to Him for these extra liabilities, it it also imperative for each one of us to make it a matter of conscience as to whether
we are doing our duty to the cause of Christ with which we are connected. I am quite prepared to agree that the older generation or the fathers and mothers of families, subscribed handsomely to the funds for the maintenance of the cause of Christ, but I think there is a large number among us as a church who do not personally realise their responsibility. I can tell you how my experience proves it. In the congregation to which I belong we have a large number of young people from the Highlands. We have few families in London, and we notice when the young people from the Highlands first come there they put a penny in the plate. After some little time they appear to realise their responsibility and give sixpence. The point I would like to emphasise to our young people is that when they begin to earn a living the first thing they ought to do is to contribute to the cause of Christ. They will never regret it because the Lord will never be in their debt. He is jealous for His cause, and if each one of us were to deal with the matter between ourselves and the Most High I am sure we would be able to give a little more. It is the young people of our congregations I want to impress this upon. The Lord’s cause in our church is progressing. We have more ministers—we have a liability, and if we put our trust in the Lord He will provide, but we have to do our duty. I would like particularly to say that to those who have not, up to the present, realised their responsibility. Let us think of the condition of affairs in the rest of Europe where they have no open Bible—Hitler, the Sabbath before last, shut all the churches in Holland. When I was there last year I met quite a number of godly people. They are just the same identical people as we are ourselves. They would certainly put us to shame in many ways. I never took a meal in a house but there was family worship after it, at breakfast, dinner, tea. The Bible was always in evidence, and the character of the people, and reception we got (we had no Dutch and they no English) was exceptional. An interpreter was telling me these people do not talk about the things of the time, and now they have been shut out from the things of God, and surely we, this
evening, ought to appreciate our blessings and show our appreciation in a tangible manner. These people sung the psalms, not hymns, and struck us as having a great love for our Church, and were certainly very interested. Well now, can we imagine how we would feel if we did not have a church to go to or if we were not allowed to gather together for prayer. That is the condition that has existed in Germany for years, and in Holland for ten days. The Jewish and Foreign Mission Fund shows an increase of £156. Surely everybody ought to be interested in the spread of Christ’s cause. A stationary church is a soul-less church, but a church that is willing to shoulder the burden in faith on the Most High will be blessed, and the Report which you will hear from South Africa shows it. What is money to the value of a soul?”
Finance Committee’s Report.*—The Report was read by Rev. D. J. Matheson; and its adoption was moved, seconded and agreed to.
Mr. Matheson said: “We have much cause for thankfulness to the Most High for His goodness to us as a Church. We have reason to say—’Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.'”
Mr. Jas. Hymers said: “I always remember when this Church came into existence, Mr. Cameron on the first few occasions generally read the Financial Report, and at the end of the Report he stated this—’As long as we keep faithful to the principles and doctrines of the Bible we need not be afraid,’ and I have every belief at this time if we remain faithful to the standard the Lord will uphold His own cause. The Apostle says—’If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?’ When this church came out, I remember an anecdote Mr. Cameron told in Halkirk. Dr. Macdonald was at a Communion and a good many came to hear him on the Sabbath from other churches, but on the Monday some did not return as they did not believe in the doctrines he was to speak about, but if these doctrines were applied by the Spirit they would return. Unless I am deceived this will be the
church I will seek to abide in as long as I am on the earth. We may have difficulties and disappointments, but let us always maintain the principles on which it was raised, and if we do that we shall never lose sight of the church.”
Miss Jean Nicolson, South Africa.—In connection with Miss Nicolson, Rev. N. MacIntyre said: “As you are aware, Miss Nicolson was advised not to sail to Africa when her furlough expired, and the Committee agreed that her salary should be continued until she got suitable work in this country. Later when travelling appeared to be safer she sailed for South Africa, and she returned her quarter’s salary to the Treasurer, i.e., £50, to be used as part of her travelling expenses, and I beg to move that, ‘The Synod cordially thank Miss Nicolson for returning here quarter’s salary to be applied towards her travelling expenses to Africa.'” This was seconded and agreed to.
Rev. Jas. A. Tallach said: “I think that the word ‘cordially’ should be added to the motion, i.e., ‘The Synod cordially thank Miss Nicolson,’ because we all ought to be very much indebted to Miss Nicolson, and I am sure we all feel it. During the time she was here she infused a spirit of enthusiasm into the minds of those with whom she came in contact in relation to the Foreign Mission, and when she departed she left behind her this added incentive.” The word suggested was included in the motion.
Legacy Report.*—Rev. D. J. Matheson read this Report, and said that although the legacies this past year were smaller they were much appreciated, and thereafter moved the adoption of the Report, which was seconded and agreed to.
Jewish and Foreign Missions Report.—Rev. N. MacIntyre said: “I beg to move the adoption of the Jewish and Foreign Missions Report which includes the Committee’s Foreign Mission Report, Mr. Tallach’s, Mr. Fraser’s and Mr. Urquhart’s.” This was seconded and agreed to. “With regard to Dr. Macdonald’s Report, it is not included in the draft copies as it did not arrive in time to be printed along with the others, but it will appear in the
Magazine. I am expected to take up some of the most important items in these Reports. I will take the Foreign Mission Report first. I got a surprise when I had a letter from Mr. Grant informing me that our balance this year was £1,495 18s. 3d. I did not expect this as it is only a decrease of £79 on last year’s balance. I expected at the end of this year that our balance would be almost wiped out, and that gave the Committee some anxiety. We had Mr. Grant in Glasgow to consider these matters as we thought if the decrease of £805 at the end of last December would continue we would soon be in difficulties. The Free Church is nearly £2,000 in debt and we have a balance of £1,495 18s. 3d.—only £79 down this year. I think that is most gratifying, and besides, we had scarcely no legacies. The legacy we received from our late worthy friend, Mr. Donald Fraser, of Strathpeffer, of £100, helped our balance very much. We are indebted also to our people and congregations for their liberality, and I would make this appeal that they continue, and increase their liberality to enable the Committee to carry on the work they have undertaken. The Lord has countenanced this Mission, and it would be a calamity which everyone of us would regret if this work would be curtailed. I wrote Mr. Tallach to use the ‘pruning knife,’ but he thinks we should go on in faith. I do not admire his policy, however, because ‘Faith without works is dead,’ and it is easier to get into debt than to get out of it. The Committee agreed that the work of the Mission be carried on this year at least as formerly, and that further consideration be deferred until Mr. Tallach comes home (D.V.) in July. We authorised Mr. Grant to realise £500 War Loan Stock if necessary to keep on the Mission as formerly, but we do not think it will be necessary meantime.
As to Miss Nicolson, Mr. Grant has received £5 4s. from Messrs. Cook with whom she booked for Africa, which reduces Miss Nicolson’s fare now to £7 16s., which is all the Church had to pay apart from her own £50.
Regarding Shangani, we have had a small school there for some years. It is over 80 miles from Ingwenya, and it is evidently
a beautiful place and thickly populated—about 15,000 natives. On one occasion when Mr. Tallach was in Shangani the Native Commissioner called him into his office and said they were very anxious that a Mission would be started in Shangani, and that the Free Presbyterian Church would start it. In fact, the people would have no Mission apart from the Free Presbyterian Church, and he offered from the Government £500 on loan at a very low rate of interest for twenty years, and the interest paid in twenty years would only come to £250, and the other £250 would be given to the church as a grant. The £500 was to be given to set up buildings in Shangani. They also offered £200 to a European teacher irrespective of what the Church would pay. When I got that letter from Mr. Tallach I immediately consulted the members of the Committee, and they were all unanimous that we accept this as a very liberal offer, and we cabled Mr. Tallach; but then he wrote saying that we should defer the matter until Mr. James Fraser would come home, and he dropped it there. Whether Mr. Tallach had further conversation with the Commissioner or not I cannot say. He told us when the war broke out it would be better to drop the matter just now because it was quite likely that the Government might change their mind about the financial help, but now I see that Mr. Tallach is taking up the matter again without letting us know. I brought Mr. Tallach’s letter before the Committee, and we agreed that we would do nothing until Mr. Tallach comes home in July (D.V.). I think it would be right that the members of Synod should express their minds on this matter, and if the Committee is going to take it up it would be well that they would know the mind of the Synod.
Mr. Fraser’s Report, and Dr. Mr. Macdonald’s Report, you will find are very interesting. There is also Mr. Urquhart’s Report, and we all sympathise with Mr. Urquhart because he has very uphill work when working among the Jews.”
Dr. Macdonald’s Report.*—This was read by Rev. R. Mackenzie, and its adoption was moved, seconded and agreed to.
Rev. M. Gillies said: “When about forty years ago the Southern Presbytery sent Rev. J. B. Radasi to go out to the South African Mission he selected a place where the gospel had never been, saying that his own people had the gospel already. He laboured there alone for some time, and then he wrote a letter to the late Rev. Neil Cameron giving an account of a meeting where he read the 14th chapter of Jeremiah. When he came to the words, ‘We have sinned against thee,’ Mr. Radasi went on to say that one of the Chiefs got up and repeated the words, ‘We have sinned against thee.’ That, I think, was the first indication that the Holy Spirit had work to do among the black people to which Mr. Radasi went, and to which the Free Presbyterian Church has been from that time sending her labourers. Who would visualise at that time two ordained missionaries working in that field, one of them also a medical practitioner, and two fully certificated teachers, along with many native teachers, and many elders acting as missionaries at the out-stations. We ought to be very humble as a Church that the Lord has used us so wonderfully in the Mission Field in South Africa, and we ought to consider it a hopeful sign that He will maintain His cause among us. To my mind the Free Presbyterian Church exists to maintain the doctrines, worship and discipline and government of Reformation times. We hope she will be sustained in order to send out the gospel—that the Lord will sustain her as a temporal kind of fountain from which the Mission in South Africa will be supplied from year to year. It is our duty to remember the South African Mission at the Throne of Grace, and that the abundant harvest of souls which have been gathered in in connection with that Mission up to the present will continue and will be more fruitful in the years to come.”
Rev. W. Grant said: “The work of the Foreign Mission is at all times difficult, but they are confronted with new difficulties now arising out of war conditions. In Rhodesia war regulations exist, and there is every likelihood that the youth of the Mission will find themselves in military service. Dr. Macdonald said in his Report that there was a probability that the Mission work
might be curtailed on account of war conditions. That makes it the more necessary that we at home should bear our Foreign Missionaries upon our minds at a throne of grace. We live in extraordinary times, times that will shake the nations of the world, and the missionaries may find themselves to some extent cut off from the homeland as matters develop. But there is one source whence help can come, and our place is at a Throne of Grace for the Foreign and Home Mission Field.”
Rev. R. R. Sinclair said: “I should like that Rev. Donald Urquhart would say a word or two about his work.”
Rev. D. Urquhart said: “I did not expect to be asked to say anything just now about the Jews. They have certainly been very prominently in the eyes of the world since the Hitler régime in Germany, and in a very sad way—a frightful way. The degradation and shame they have had to endure as well as the suffering is dreadful. It would be good if all that suffering were worth while—if they were brought to the feet of Christ in consequence. It would be blessed suffering, and who knows but all the suffering of recent times may be a strong indication that their redemption draweth nigh, and that the Lord’s set time to favour literal Zion may be near at hand. I hope and pray so. When some of their ancestors said: “His blood be on us and our children,” little did they think that centuries later their descendants would be dragged through the mire of degradation as they have been recently. I am not going to say that the Jews are saints, or anything like it, and neither am I going to expose their faults. There are plenty anti-Semities in the world without my beginning to expose their many failings. I know a good deal about them, but I keep that to myself, and my earnest desire is that they might be saved, and that the Lord may hasten the time when they shall come weeping to the feet of Christ, and when they shall say: “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” I do think that time is not very far away in the future. May the Lord hasten it. May it be a time of blessing to the whole world, and let our prayer be that
the Lord would hasten that time when all ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the Lord.”
Miss J. Nicolson’s Arrival in South Africa.—Rev. N. MacIntyre said: “It escaped my mind to say when referring to Miss Nicolson, that she arrived safely at her destination.”
Separation of Jewish Mission and Foreign Mission.—The following motion was moved, seconded and agreed to:—”That consideration of the separation of the Jewish Mission and the Foreign Mission be postponed on account of the unsettled condition of things at present.”
Rev. N. MacIntyre said: “At last Synod it was suggested that the Jewish and Foreign Missions should be separated, and a Committee was appointed to consult a capable lawyer regarding the matter. Rev. D. Beaton and I did so in Edinburgh, and his view has been submitted to the Synod already. In view of the upheaval that is going on, we do not know what may take place. But who can tell that although these things are sad, they may be the means of opening doors to spread the gospel among Jews and Gentiles.”
Payments to African Mission.—These were moved, seconded and agreed to as follows:—”That the following annual sums be sent to the African Mission—(1) £10 to Mr. Paul Hlazo; (2) £30 for the upkeep of the Mission at Ingwenya; (3) £30 for Medicines; (4) £10 for Mission Hospital.”
Addition to Magazine Committee.—It was moved, seconded and agreed to, “That Rev. J. Colquhoun be added to the membership of the Magazine Committee in his capacity as Editor pro tem.“
The Hour of Trial.—The “hour” of trial has generally been succeeded by a season of light. After the persecution about Stephen came the conversion of Paul. After the martyrdom of John Huss came the German Reformation. After the Marian persecution came the establishment of English protestantism. The longest night has had its morning. The sharpest winters have been followed by spring. The heaviest storms have been changed for blue sky.—Bishop Ryle.