Communions.—August first Sabbath, Dingwall; second, Portree and Thurso; third, Finsbay, Laide, Bonarbridge; fourth, Vatten; fifth Stornoway. September, first Sabbath, Ullapool and Breasclete; second, Strathy; third, Tarbert (Harris) and Stoer. October, first Sabbath, Tolsta; second, Ness. South Africa 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.
Day of Humiliation and Prayer.—The Synod appointed Wednesday, 19th day of August as a Day of Humiliation and Prayer throughout the Church.
“The Mrs. Mary Morrison Macfarlane Bequest.”—The form of this Bequest were given in last year’s issue of the Synod Proceedings. Its object is to encourage among our young people definite instruction in the Scriptures and Shorter, and Mother’s Catechism. The necessity for such teaching in home, school, and church is more and more urgent in these evil days. The Shorter Catechism is much despised by Modernists. It is truly scriptural and educative in its setting forth of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. The fact that proposals are being made to produce a “New Catechism” pleasing to the corrupt minds of present day religious teachers, should make us more zealous for the old. An equal proportion of the yearly interest on this Bequest is available to each Presbytery of our church to provide good books as encouragements for children attaining satisfactory proficiency in their knowledge of the Bible and Catechisms. This also applies to our South African Mission at the discretion of the Trustees. Presbyteries are expected to make arrangements accordingly and congregations may regard this effort as deserving their supplementary support if the number of books provided is not sufficient.—W. Grant.
Synod Motion in Connection with Forementioned Bequest.—In connection with the foregoing the following motion was passed at the Synod. “That the Magazine Committee be appointed to carry out the terms of the Mrs. Mary Morrison Macfarlane Bequest, with the Editor of the Free Presbyterian Magazine as Convener. The Clerks of each Presbytery are to make arrangements for examinations and to report to the Committee regarding the results of the examinations.”
Commemoration of Notable Events.—The Synod at its meeting in May appointed the following Committee:—
Revs. D. Beaton, D. A. MacFarlane, J. Colquhoun, and D. J. MacAskill, to make suitable arrangements for the Commemoration of—1. The Tercentenary of The Westminster Assembly, 1643. 2. The Centenary of the Disruption, 1843. 3. And 50th Anniversary of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland; and that they be instructed to have Papers prepared.
Mr Edwin Radasi.—The following motion was passed at the Synod:—“The Synod having heard the Reports of the Board of Examiners as to the progress of Mr. Edwin Radasi in Theology and cognate subjects, resolves as follows:—(1). That Mr. Radasi continue his studies until the end of the War. (2). That the Tutors be asked to prescribe books for study for Mr. Radasi without having a regular class.”
Magazines to the Troops Fund.—Owing to scarcity of paper this Fund is closed meantime until further notice.
Collection for August.—The Synod Collection for August is for the College Fund.