Communions.
May—First Sabbath, Kames and Oban; second, Scourie; third, Edinburgh and Broadford. June—First Sabbath, Tarbert, Coigach and Applecross; second, Shieldaig; third, Lochearron, Glendale, Helmsdale, Dornoch and Uig; fourth, Inverness and Gairloch. July—First Sabbath, Lairg, Raasay, Bealy; second, Staffin, Tomatin and Tain; third, Halkirk, Rogart, Flashadder and Daviot; fourth, Bracadale, North Uist and Plockton; fifth, Achmore and Thurso. August—First Sabbath, Dingwall; second, Portree and Stratherrick; third, Bonar, Finsbay and Laide; fourth, Stornoway and Vatten.
The Annual Meeting of the Synod.
The Synod will meet (D.V.) in the Hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, on the 17th day of May, 1949, at 6.30 p.m., when the public worship will be conducted by Rev. Alex. Macaskill, Lochinver, the retiring Moderator.
Resolution re Sabbath Travelling.
We, the Outer Isles Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, convened at Stornoway on 5th April, 1949, in view of the widespread inroads on the sanctity of the Lord’s Day, reaffirm our adherence to the Synod’s statement in reference to churchgoing by public conveyances on the Sabbath, which statement is endorsed in the “History of the Free Presbyterian Church,” Appendix II, page 230, and the opening paragraph of which is as follows:—”While not in any way condemning or disallowing the use of mechanically-driven or other conveyances on the Lord’s Day when the purpose and manner are in keeping with the spirit of the Sabbath, and in accord with the precepts and precedents of Scripture, the Synod do, notwithstanding, most emphatically denounce as sinful and subject to censure, not only of men but of God, the practice of running such conveyances on Sabbath for reasons dictated by considerations of worldly or carnal expediency and on terms which are essentially mercenary. Under this description the Synod include the Sabbath services of trains, tramway cars, buses and motor cars run for ordinary hire. It must surely appear to all who hold by the Scriptural interpretation of the Sabbath law, as set forth, for example in the Shorter Catechism, that such services being maintained in utter disregard of the claims, and at the expense of sanctity, constitute a flagrant breach of the Fourth Commandment.” The Presbytery would remind their faithful people to respect the same, and instruct Kirk Sessions to exercise discipline in terms of the said statement by debarring from the Sacraments of the New Testament Church—Baptism and the Lord’s Supper all who are guilty of countenancing this modern trafficking on God’s holy day. The Presbytery would also remind their people that in accordance with the Synod’s unanimous Resolution of 1947, they are neither to co-operate with nor support the Lord’s Day Observance Association of Scotland for the reasons stated in the said Resolution, viz.—”There is such variance in the views and practice of many of those belonging to the Association, as to what does, and does not, come under the due observance of the Lord’s Day, even in the outward observance of it, that we as a branch of the visible church, resolve unanimously to withdraw from membership.”—WILLIAM MACLEAN, Clerk (pro. tem.) Outer Isles Presbytery.
Protest sent to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland.
We, the Outer Isles Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland convened at Stornoway on 5th April, 1949, most emphatically protest against your proposed programme, as outlined in the “Glasgow Herald” of April 2nd, in connection with your visit to Glasgow on Sabbath 10th inst. Your programme of activities constitutes a flagrant breach of the Lord’s Day. In your official capacity as Prime Minister you will not only draw the wrath of God upon your own soul, but also upon the nation. “Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” We respectfully call upon you to honour the divine command, “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy,” and the cherished religious convictions of our beloved land by arranging your programme for a day other than God’s holy day.—WILLIAM MACLEAN, Clerk (pro. tem.) Outer Isles Presbytery.
An Appeal by Breascleite Congregation.
The place of worship at Breascleite has been in use now for nearly 50 years but in recent years the corrugated iron roof of the building has been showing the ravages of time and becoming increasingly costly to maintain. It is hoped to renovate the building and erect a substantial roof. The whole cost of reconstruction is beyond the means of the congregation and so, with the authority of the Outer Isles Presbytery, this appeal is made to friends throughout the Church to help to shoulder the burden.
Any contribution will be gratefully appreciated and acknowledged by Mr Finlay Smith, 22 Breascleite, Stornoway.—DONALD CAMPELL, Moderator.
Return of Church Deputy.
Rev. Finlay MacLeod, Dornoch, expects (D.V.) to leave New York on 4th May, aboard the “Mauretania,” arriving in this country on 11th May.
Protest sent by the Southern Presbytery to the Prime Minister objecting to his announced visit to Glasgow and Clydebank on Sabbath, the 10th April.
The Right Hon. C. R. Attlee,
Prime Minister of Great Britain.
5th April, 1949.
Dear Sir.—The Southern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland have learned with profound grief of your intended visit to Glasgow on Sabbath, the 10th day of April.
According to the terms of the Fourth Commandment, which is an integral part of the Moral Law, the sanctity of the Lord’s Day is solemnly binding upon all men. Having regard to the secular nature of the engagements arranged for this visit the Presbytery can only view the matter as a serious breach of God’s Holy Law.
The fact that some of those engagements are of a public nature will mean that many of the citizens of Glasgow and Clydebank will be involved in the guilt of this sin.
With all due respect the Presbytery would also point out that the high office of trust occupied by the Prime Minister of Great Britain greatly aggravates the seriousness of this offence. The Word of God requires of all who occupy high office in the State that they be “for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well.” Because Sabbath desecration is such a glaring evil in the present day life of the British people; those who have the highest interests of the nation most close at heart are doing their utmost to combat it. To those loyal and conscientious citizens it is grievously discouraging that, on this visit, the great influence and the public example of the Prime Minister of Great Britain are found to be altogether on the side of the evil-doer and against those who seek to do well.
For those and other reasons the Presbytery hereby enters its solemn protest against this projected visit to Glasgow on the Sabbath Day, and respectfully express the hope that even at this late date those responsible may yet be persuaded to cancel it.—JAS. A. TALLACH, Clerk, Southern Presbytery.