Communions.
June—First Sabbath, Tarbert, Coigach and Applecross; second, Shieldaig; third, Lochcarron, Glendale, Helmsdale, Dornoch and Uig; fourth, Inverness and Gairloch. July—First Sabbath, Lairg, Raasay, Beauly; 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. September—First Sabbath, Ullapool and Breasclete; second, Strathy; third, Tarbert and Stoer.
South African Mission.
The following are the dates of the Communions—Last Sabbath of March, June, September and December.
Northern Presbytery’s Letter to the King.
To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.
Sir,
May it please Your Majesty graciously to receive this respectful and urgent crave from the Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, met at Dingwall, on this 3rd day of May, 1949. The occasion of this crave is the report appearing in the public press of a proposed visit of H.R.H. The Princess Margaret during the Royal tour of Italy to the Pope of Rome. With many more of Your Majesty’s most loyal subjects we have learned of the contemplated visit with profound grief and alarm.
Although the visit of Her Royal Highness abroad is, we learn, of a private and educational nature, the deep and widespread interest taken in the movements of every member of our Royal House invests with special significance every particular of the Royal tour. As the plans of the Royal visit to Italy have apparently to be submitted for Your Majesty’s approval, we desire to express the hope that the high sense of public service and unfeigned love and concern for the country’s welfare invariably characterised by Your Majesty’s relations with your people may now guide Your Majesty in this important matter.
The visit by a member of our Royal House to the head of the Roman Catholic Church will, we feel, in view of papal claims, undoubtedly and justly cause great offence to Protestant opinion throughout the country as well as lead to regrettable and unnecessary misunderstandings. We, therefore, humbly and earnestly represent to Your Majesty the undesirability of the proposed visit of H.R.H. The Princess Margaret to the Pope of Rome taking place.
We take this opportunity of expressing our fervent hopes for Her Royal Highness’s safe conduct abroad under the divine blessing and respectfully assure Your Majesty of our continued prayers for Your Majesty’s speedy restoration to complete health.
On behalf of the Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, I have the honour to be Your Majesty’s most respectful servant.—ANGUS F. MACKAY, Clerk, (pro tem.).
Princess Margaret’s proposed visit to the Pope.
At a recent meeting of the Southern Presbytery the proposed visit of Princess Margaret to the Pope, as reported in the press, was discussed. As Princess Margaret was expected to leave Britain for Italy within a few days it was decided to send the following telegram to His Majesty the King.
“May it please your Majesty: The Southern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland learn with grief of the reported visit of Princess Margaret to the Pope. The Presbytery cannot view such a visit but as a flagrant breach of the Protestant Constitution of the nation. As the most exalted defender of our Protestantism the Presbytery humbly look to your Majesty to prevent this proposed visit.”—D. J. MATHESON.
Moderator.
Appeal by South Harris Congregation.
It was agreed by the Outer Isles Presbytery, met at Stornoway on the 5th day of April, 1949, that permission be granted to South Harris to renew their appeal (first appeared in the Magazine July, 1943) for donations towards the South Harris Manse Building Fund. The Congregation is without a minister or manse. To remedy this state of affairs they are exerting themselves and looking to friends to help. Contributions will be gladly received and acknowledged in the Magazine by Mr. M. Macaulay, Geocrab, or Mr. N. Mackay, Geocrab, Harris.—D. R. MACDONALD, Clerk.
Resignation of the Editor.
The Synod, at its meeting in May, received the resignation of Rev. Donald Beaton, as Editor of the Free Presbyterian Magazine, with much regret.
New Editor appointed.
The Synod, at its meeting in May, on the resignation of Rev. D. Beaton, appointed Rev. Robert R. Sinclair, Free Presbyterian Manse, Wick, Caithness, to be Editor of the Free Presbyterian Magazine.
Editor, Young People’s Magazine.
Rev. Donald MacLean, Free Presbyterian Manse, Portree, Isle of Skye, has been appointed Editor of the Young People’s Magazine, on the resignation of Rev. D. Beaton.