In the August Monthly Record of the Free Church of Scotland, reference is made to an article—not a Report—on the Free Presbyterian Synod of 1949, written by a member of Synod. It is clear that the writer of the article did not have in view the recording of a detailed account of Synod business, inasmuch as he knew that the Clerks are authorised to publish a special detailed account of the Proceedings of Synod each year—1949 being no exception. It is strange if those in charge of the Free Church Monthly Record are not cognisant of this fact. On the basis of the fore-mentioned article, the Free Presbyterian Magazine is said to have adopted the methods of the Soviet Politbureau at the Kremlin in giving such a limited report of Synod business. The Free Church Monthly, in further statements infers that an “Iron Curtain” has been thus drawn over the proceedings of our Synod. These Proceedings can now be obtained at 1/6 per copy from the printers of our Magazine; and by this means the clouds, dust and curtains raised by this criticism can be eliminated. Criticism with some substance, we would be unwise to battle against, but this type of propaganda against the Free Presbyterian Church is not only easily exposed, but very unwise on the part of the Free Church Monthly. For instance, an “Iron Curtain” has been drawn over the whole Assembly Proceedings of the Free Church regarding the controversial business of the visit of the Church of Scotland Moderator to that Assembly last May. There is not one word reported of these particular proceedings in the “Assembly Number” issued in June. “Internal burdens and anxieties” which are said (by the Free Church Monthly Record) to exist, at present, in the Free Presbyterian Church are non-existent. This is a statement of fact. How the Editor of the Free Church Monthly can write thus, knowing as he is bound to, the “Internal burdens and anxieties” which have been experienced in his own Church, is difficult to understand. We do not write these notes for the sake of controversy, but merely to adjust what is out of joint.
Free Church Aspersions anent Services in London.
Rev. J. P. MacQueen, Free Presbyterian minister in London, has sent us the following statement:—
An Editorial statement in the Free Church Monthly Record for August, demands refutation. The statement is as follows, “Its neglect of this duty (Free Church Services in London) was largely due to its consideration for those already in the field, who were wont to make a loud profession of loyalty to the truth, a ‘loyalty,’ alas, that took the
form largely of reckless abuse which lead to alienation and a general dispersion that must have lost many for the cause, not only of the Free Church, but of the Church in general.” So far from its being true that there was an iota of consideration for the Free Presbyterian Church in London, the Free Church made several futile attempts to set up services in London. The last being before the outbreak of the 1939-45 War. So far from there being a foundation for the false charge that our profession of loyalty to truth “took the form largely of reckless abuse,” when Prof. Finlayson asked some Free Church people who attended our Mission in London if they ever heard the Rev. J. P. MacQueen abusing the Free Church, he received an emphatic denial. That I have criticized glaring inconsistencies on the part of the Free Church, I would be the last to deny, for I have made it a matter of conscience to apply the doctrine of Scripture to the corruptions of the times. Most of the Free Church people who heard me on these occasions acquiesced in my criticism, for they desired that the Free Church would manifest a reasonable Scriptural consistency in its practice.
Since the late worthy Mr. Donald Sutherland, Rev. W. Grant and others began the services in London, it was made a matter of principle that all people attending these services, regardless of denomination, should be invited to the homes of Free Presbyterians resident within reasonable reach of Eccleston Hall. This principle has been strictly adhered to, and was especially emphasised during the recent War, when young men and women in the Services received cordial hospitality regardless of denomination. We have received the thanks of many Free Church families, including Free Church manses, for the hospitality extended to their exiled sons and daughters. No Free Church young man or woman can say that there was any attempt ever made to make them leave their denomination. Our principle is to seek to be instrumental in convincing and converting sinners and edifying believers by the proclamation of the Law and Gospel, leaving denominational attachment to the individual conscience and God.
From the foregoing remarks it will be seen what an irresponsible and unreliable source of information the Free Church Monthly Record is becoming.