THE report of Rev. F. MacLeod, our deputy to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America, was submitted to the Synod at its meeting last May, shortly after his arrival back in this country. The Report will be published in due course in the Proceedings of Synod. First hand accounts of Free Presbyterians abroad cannot but interest the Church at home; for although thousands of miles separate between Scotland and Australia and Scotland and Canada, there is in the case of all united by faith in the Redeemer a spiritual union to one another by virtue of their vital union to Christ Himself. The physical separation and aloofness with its apparent disadvantages is one thing, but the spiritual oneness which bridges all distances is another.
There is cause for encouragement that the Church in Scotland is represented in these far off lands, by men and women who were born and brought up amid the privileges, and under the influence, of the Gospel in Scotland; but who now find their lot cast in the divine providence in these regions beyond. Sons and daughters have risen up and are following their parents in adherence to the Free Presbyterian Church; and others also, who, originally had no personal links with Scotland, have come to regard and support our testimony for Truth. The numbers of these may not be large, indeed they may be few in some places, but they do concur with the doctrines, worship and practices of the Church at home and endeavour to uphold and preserve the same. Those who truly fear the Lord are, of course, the strength and substance of Christ’s cause in these Missions, as they are employed and upheld by His grace.
Our friends abroad, undoubtedly have at times their particular and peculiar trials, temptations and discouragements, in part by reason of their outward isolation from the fellowship of the main body of Free Presbyterians in Scotland. We sincerely sympathise with them regarding, for instance, their being without an ordained and faithful Gospel Ministry, the regular administration of the sacraments and constant pastoral care and visitation. To those who have known and valued these privileges, their absence will be felt more or less. These are assuredly desirable privileges for all who know and love the truth. Yet God does not so order matters in the experience of all, by the bestowal of all Gospel ordinances upon those who may desire them. But those who hunger and thirst after righteousness whatever they may lack in Australia, New Zealand, Canada or America or elsewhere, shall not lack nourishment for their needy souls. The Lord will not be a wilderness to them. Even in our Church in Scotland there are at least five fairly large congregations without settled pastors. The times are perilous. The Most High is not calling many, in these days, by His blessed Spirit to the knowledge of His dear Son and to a life of godliness, nor is He raising up but a few, to be living and heaven sent ministers of the gospel of Christ. This may appear to some downright arrogance on our part, but we merely record our humble opinion. So we say to our friends abroad, let prayer and waiting upon the Lord be graciously engaged in.
It cannot be too strongly emphasised that, in face of periodical difficulties, regular services have been held in Canada and Australia for many years on Sabbaths and week-days, in church buildings, built for the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland by the people in these Dominions. In these congregations the responsibility for, and the burden of these services have fallen upon faithful and willing laymen-elders; men who after their daily tasks during the week, have conducted the services of God’s sanctuary, and have expounded God’s Word to the people, not for reward or praise from men, but, we believe, for His Name’s sake. One important point emerges here. Because of the services rendered by these men, the congregations have been preserved and our distinctive position as a branch of the visible Church of Christ in these lands has been retained. These facts ought not to be minimised but soberly given their own value, for value they possess, inasmuch as it is of God’s kindness that in Scotland, Canada or Australia there is in one’s community a place of worship to which one can go and worship Him Who is the God of the whole earth, according to His Word and revealed will.
May a rich measure of the Holy Spirit’s presence be granted to all who love Zion in our Canadian and Colonial Missions, that they may be enabled to persevere in following those who through faith and patience are now inheriting the promises, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ,” (I. Peter i. 27).—”All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee,” (Ps. xxii. 27).