THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
THE General Assembly of the Church of Scotland opened in Edinburgh, on Tuesday, the 24th day of May. The Lord High Commissioner, H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, represented the King at this year’s meeting. Rev. Dr. George S. Duncan, Principal of St. Mary’s College, St. Andrews, was elected Moderator. During the 1914-18 War, he was known as Lord Haig’s Chaplain on the Field. The King’s letter to the Assembly referred to the need that the ministry and missionaries of the Church should proclaim the unchanging principles of the Christian faith. It would be well for many in the ministry of this Church if they did believe in the unchanging nature of the doctrines of God’s Word. Too many move with the times in their beliefs and teaching, which has been spiritually disastrous for Scotland. The Duke of Gloucester, in his address to the Assembly, said that all was not well with us here in our own land and that allegiance to the Christian Faith hardly enters into the life or thought of a large proportion of the people. Whatever these references to the “Christian Faith” exactly mean, it is only too true that regard for even a “watered-down” Christianity just doesn’t exist in the homes and conduct of the masses of our people. The Duke ended his address by inviting members to a garden party at Holyroodhouse. And so the worldly tastes of nominal Christians to-day are catered for. An appointment of interest to some of us was made on the second day of the Assembly. Mr. James R. Philip, K.C., was appointed Procurator of the Church in succession to Lord Strachan. Mr. Philip was the Counsel consulted some years ago by our Synod as to its action in rejecting a certain petition. In his written opinion, he upheld the Synod’s action. Those who pressed for this consultation are now outwith the Free Presbyterian Church.
The Home Board proposed that Deaconesses should be trained at the same level required for theological students. They might preach the Word, and do pastoral work. So it appears that by a gradual process, women may soon assume the office of the ministry, to all intents and purposes, in the Church of Scotland, although not permitted as yet by an Act of Assembly, and as we consider, contrary to the teaching of the Bible.
A Special Commission on Gaelic Charges, reported to the Assembly, through Rev. Dr. J. R. Forgan, and proposed the appointment of a “Highland Superintendent.” This proposal met with strong opposition inside the Assembly. Rev. A. J. MacLean, Fort William, said that the very term “Superintendent” denoted an attitude which had leanings towards Episcopacy. He moved an amendment to the effect that the appointment of a superintendent, with powers over the Highland ministry, was a breach of the Presbyterian constitution of the Church. He continued, “So seriously would they regard the issue, that once more they might rise and walk out of the church.” Mr. MacLean carried his point by a considerable majority and reference to a “Superintendent” was deleted. It is a pity Rev. A. J. MacLean would not turn his opposition further to the observance of Holy Week, Good Friday, etc., on the part of Church of Scotland ministers in certain localities, and in the North of Scotland.
The Report of the Foreign Missions Committee, given by Rev. Dr. G. S. Gunn, emphasised the urgent need for missionaries and money if mission stations, in different parts of the field, were not to be closed and become derelict. He said that there were nearly 900 congregations which gave less than 1/- per member per year. The Missions needed 4/- per member per year.
The Re-Marriage of Divorced Persons was reported on by a Special Committee. Dr. White was the leading member and had a good deal to say. The Committee recommended that the Church should cease to impose an absolute bar to the re-marriage of any class of divorced persons. “The change recommended,” said Dr. White, “would call for firm measures to ensure the exercise of Church discipline and to strengthen the witness of the Church to the sanctity of marriage.” It is high time that Dr. White and all the other leaders of the Church of Scotland, called for firm measures to ensure discipline in their Church regarding innumerable matters from John o’ Groats to the Borders. Where a suggested Church Panel decided that, in any particular case re-marriage by a minister was permissible, the party, or parties, divorced would be required to sign a formula expressing both adherence to the Church’s doctrine of marriage and their repentance. These proposals were sent to the Presbyteries for discussion. We would propound the following questions—Is a man, divorced on account of adultery, to be re-married to his aggrieved wife with the Church’s blessing, on his professed repentance? Or does this proposal include the re-marriage of such a man to another woman while his former wife is alive? These points are not dealt with in the proposals.
Miss Mary Lusk, President of the Girls’ Association, appealed to ministers to support branches of this Association. She said, “We even dare to ask that you should not allow badminton, dramatics, beetle-drives, dances, and other forms of entertainment . . . to crowd out of your congregational weekly programmes an organisation which is trying to provide something of a more spiritual nature. . . .” This surely was, even if not intended to be, a condemnation of a sad and deplorable state of affairs brought to light on the floor of the Assembly. All the high-sounding talk of capturing Scotland and Youth for Christ, is empty and delusive, when, as we know, and have it confirmed by Miss Lusk, badminton and dances are the order of the day in many Church of Scotland halls throughout the country.
The plea of Rev. George F. MacLeod that he be inducted to his former charge of Govan Old Parish, Glasgow, while retaining his leadership of the Iona Community, was rejected by a majority of the Assembly, on the basis of an Act passed in 1932, forbidding his appointment as one who has undertaken employment outwith the jurisdiction of the Church. The Assembly kept rigidly to their ecclesiastical law in this case. But at a later stage, Dr. White was the prime mover in the appointment of a Commission, including Dr. George MacLeod, to examine the question of bringing the Iona Community Organisation within the orbit of the Church and under its jurisdiction. As to this, we are of the opinion that no good will come to the Church of Scotland. The Iona Community has nothing definite and tangible to say of its views as to doctrine, worship and methods. There is evidence that it seeks to emulate the monks of former centuries. We have seen and met members of the Community in Iona.
Very few of them are ever stationed at the Cathedral, which Dr. MacLeod has publicised as the centre of their organisation. Columba, the Iona Cathedral, and the Isle of Iona, seem to be the mystic motive power by which Dr. MacLeod has enthused others with his notions.
On Monday, the 30th May, the Assembly was addressed by the Bishop of Lichfield on “The Vital Need for Church Unity.” He said that the bare fact of his being there was a gesture of unity, made from both sides.
Next day, presenting the report of the Inter-Church Relations Committee, Rev. Prof. Wm. Manson said, “The first charge which was laid upon the Committee . . . was to watch over and to promote to every good effect their relations with the separated brethren of the Free Church and other Churches. During this year they have taken soundings again regarding co-operation . . .” He also referred to relations between the Church of Scotland and the Church of England and past discussions between the two Churches. Dr. White moved “to accept the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury for informal discussions with a view to fuller reconsideration of Inter-Communion between the Church of Scotland and the Church of England, and to report to the General Assembly.” It was hinted by Dr. White himself that the Church of England had suggested changes in the form of the ministry and government of the Church of Scotland. And so we see a gradual process going on whereby Episcopacy seeks slowly but persistently to undermine Presbyterianism in Scotland. The Professors and Doctors of Divinity on this side of the border are, in these negotiations, deliberately ignoring the historical and spiritual origin of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland.
THE FREE CHURCH ASSEMBLY.
THIS Assembly also opened on Tuesday, the 24th May, in Edinburgh. The Rev. George N. M. Collins, B.D., was the newly-elected Moderator. Mr. Donald MacBeath, Edinburgh, in seconding the election of the Moderator, said the Free Church of Scotland was not, as some people seemed to think, a “Wee Free Kirk” with old-fashioned ideas and a narrow-minded theology. On the contrary, it was a big Church in the broadest sense of that term, with a living message suitable for all classes and conditions of men, even in the twentieth century. Mr. MacBeath surely should know that those who declare that certain sections of the Church of Christ are old fashioned in their ideas and narrow-minded in their theology, are the modernists in theology and the irreligious of the world. Those who hold faithfully to the doctrines of God’s Word and live in the fear of God to-day, are called old fashioned and narrow-minded. But if we seek to avoid such criticism from this back-sliding generation, then that is another matter. In relation to a witness for Truth, better far to have the sneers of this evil generation than its applause.
The Moderator, in his address, said that it was scarcely an exaggeration to say that “the times in which we live are characterised by the lowest moral, ethical, and spiritual tone that has been known in Scotland for many generations. Family religion has well-nigh disappeared. Marriage vows are lightly taken and as lightly broken. The Lord’s Day is being sacrificed upon the altars of Mammon.”
Presenting the Report of the Committee on the Welfare of Youth, Rev. D. MacDonald, Muir of Ord, spoke of increasing ignorance, among the young, regarding the Bible. Yet he was glad to say that in Ross-shire schools the day’s lessons began with religious instruction, including teaching in the Shorter Catechism. Of course, this still obtains in other Northern Counties other than Ross-shire. But what many children learn of religion at school, they soon lose by a Godless home influence.
On Wednesday, the 25th May, a proposal from the Church of Scotland that courtesy visits by the Moderators of the two Assemblies should be exchanged, was presented to the Assembly. Rev. Walter MacQuarrie, Knockbain, at once rose and moved that the Assembly take no action, in view of the fact that there were members of the Church of Scotland who denied some of the fundamental articles of Christian religion. We have no hesitation in stating that Mr. MacQuarrie, one of the older ministers of the Free Church, was on solid ground when he took this stand. But he found himself opposed by other influential members of the Assembly. Professor David MacKenzie said the Business Committee of the Free Church had given careful consideration to the letter presenting the proposal and were, indeed, very much touched by it. In a motion which he moved, thanks was offered for the message to the Church of Scotland. The question of the Free Church Moderator visiting the Church of Scotland Assembly was left over until next year. But readiness to receive the Moderator of the Church of Scotland was expressed. Rev. William MacLeod, Dornoch, seconded the motion. Mr. MacQuarrie again rose and moved an amendment that the Assembly should pass from the matter. Professor MacKenzie then rose and criticised Mr. MacQuarrie’s amendment as curt and abrupt. It is questionable whether the Moderator should have allowed Professor MacKenzie to criticise and make a speech upon the amendment. In this speech, he took occasion to remind the Assembly that there were not a few who objected to another Church in the North of Scotland, because they would never come to speak to them and because they rebuffed Free Church men every time they made an approach. If they accepted the amendment they would be doing the same thing and say that they wanted to have no truck with the Church of Scotland. Our readers will perceive that Professor MacKenzie’s reference to another Church in the North of Scotland, is an obvious reference to the Free Presbyterian Church. We would point out, in passing, that the Free Presbyterian Church is not confined to the North of Scotland. There are congregations all over the West of Scotland, and also in Oban, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Greenock, Kames and in London. Professor MacKenzie further stated that courtesy was a mark of Christianity. Courtesy to whom? We read in the 2nd Epistle of John, verse 10, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.” Ultimately the Professor’s motion became the finding of the Assembly by 41 votes to 32. Mr. MacQuarrie and others dissented.
On Friday, the 27th May, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland paid his courtesy visit to the Free Church Assembly. Just before his arrival a number of members left the hall—probably Mr. MacQuarrie and his supporters. Nevertheless, it is reported, he received a cordial welcome. In the light of all this, we would recall our notes on the Bishop of Lichfield’s visit to the Church of Scotland Assembly and Professor
Manson’s Report on Inter-Church Relations. A link-up between the Church of England, the Church of Scotland and the Free Church seems to be high up on the programme of those zealous for the union of Churches.
The Sustentation Fund Committee proposed that the salaries of ministers be reduced from £330 to £300 for the current year. But the Assembly authorised the stipends of all ministers on the equal dividend platform to be £330 for the current year.
The dangers of ritualism and Anglo-Catholicism were emphasised by Rev. Balint Miklos in connection with the Deliverance of the Committee on Evangelism, Testimony and Church Extension.
A long account was given in the press of a report from the Highlands and Islands Home Missions and Supply Committee, on Highland depopulation. Rev. Murdoch MacRae gave in this report which read more like a political speech of some Highland Member of Parliament, than a report to a Church Court. No doubt there are practical issues involved in endeavouring to stop the depopulation of the Highlands and of Highland congregations.
An overture from the Presbytery of Lewis asked the Assembly to define the law of the Church regarding the administration of the sacrament of baptism. This Presbytery was instructed to deal with each case according to the law of the Church as laid down in the Confession. Professor Finlayson felt there were cases which were not met by the Confession and they had to apply commonsense in their interpretation, provided they did not go against the law of God. A Committee was appointed to investigate the present situation regarding the administration of baptism, which, in the view of the Dingwall and Tain Presbytery, was giving rise to serious misgivings.
Reporting on Training of the Ministry, Rev. Farquar Mathieson, Glenurquart, said, among other things, “An unconverted, well-educated ministry who held destructive views of the Bible . . . was the most dangerous body in a community.” Mr. Mathieson thus rightly described many ministers of to-day. There should be no “truck” with such in an official and religious capacity by those who agree with Mr. Mathieson’s observations.
Overtures that the Assembly should meet next year in Inverness found little support on the ground that 1950 marked the jubilee of the stand made by 26 ministers against the Union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Church in Edinburgh.