By Rev. W. GRANT.
THE Committee received from Rev. A. F. Mackay, M.A., our present deputy in Canada, encouraging reports of services held at various mission stations. Mr. Mackay was for several months with our Vancouver Congregation. He also held services at Calgary and Saskatoon. He is at present in Winnipeg where he had already been for sometime on his outward journey. Owing to war difficulties he asked his Presbytery to allow an extension of his stay until June. The Presbytery granted this and the Committee agreed to it. Further requests have come from Vancouver and Winnipeg congregations asking that he be allowed to remain for a longer period, but as this concerns his Presbytery in the first instance, the Committee passed it to them and await their decision.
Our Missionary in Vancouver, Mr. Hugh Mackay, with Mrs. Mackay and daughter, visited this country last summer. Their many friends in the homeland were pleased to meet them and glad to hear of their safe return after an anxious sea voyage in the midst of war dangers.
A petition has been received from our people in Grafton, New South Wales, containing several proposals for the strengthening of the congregation there. But as it was beyond the powers of the Committee to deal with this petition it has been remitted to the Synod for consideration.
At the Synod meeting last year it was suggested that Rev. D. Beaton, Oban, would visit our Mission Stations abroad. He expressed his willingness to do so and booked his passage for 2nd September. The outbreak of war altered this and he had to postpone sailing. Recently he intimated to the Committee that he was preparing to go (D.V.) when the necessary permission was received from the government department—possibly early in May. As this report is now going to print we intend to supplement it later with information regarding this matter. In the event of his getting away he hopes (D.V.) to visit U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and probably South Africa.
Our people at home and abroad will appreciate the difficulties confronting the Committee under the present abnormal conditions but we must not relax our efforts in matters pertaining to the Cause of Christ. “The Lord reigneth.”