THE Lord Jesus Christ possesses the pre-eminence in being infinitely more glorious than all created beings and things and His Name alone is excellent, so that He shall be called the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father and Prince of Peace (Isaiah ix, 6). He is God’s dear and eternally begotten Son, by whom were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, and were created by Him and for Him (see Coloss., chap. i, v. 16). And as the Son of God incarnate, He is the image of the invisible God; and through His obedience unto death, even the death of the Cross, believing sinners have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace. Further, He is the head of the body, the Church, the divine Lord and King of every one united to Him by precious faith; and as such “it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell” (Coloss., chap. i). In His Person, offices, words and works as the glorious mediator of the New Covenant, Christ is pre-eminent and all to His redeemed and believing people; and He has in view to present each one of them, “holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight” at last (Coloss., chap. i, v. 22).
Now there are several places or spheres where the pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ ought to be recognised if sinners are to be saved, saints comforted, society blessed, and He Himself honoured.
The Lord Jesus is worthy to have the throne of our heart. Without Him and His reign by abounding grace in the heart we are wretched and miserable slaves to sin and the devil, indeed. Cursed self will have the pre-eminence in that heart which is closed to Christ. But those whose hearts the Holy Spirit has opened to welcome the Son of God as the Redeemer of the lost, have been enabled to give Him the pre-eminence there. By faith and with the tears of gracious sorrow
they have done so, although many a time since “another law in their members” has sought to regain the dominion in them and over them. But their desire is that Christ will reign in their hearts until He will put all His and their enemies under His divine and blessed feet. And now, reader, we would ask at the outset of another year as we pass on to Eternity, what do you desire to give pre-eminence to in your heart—sin, self, the world or the precious Saviour? Remember, that the Lord Jesus will have the pre-eminence at the judgment of the Great Day.
Again, the home where Christ’s claims are recognised, there the blessing of God may be found. How sad it is that so many homes are unlike the home of long ago, where Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus received and entertained the Lord of Glory. Christ in His Word, in His commandments, and in His people, is a complete stranger to thousands of homes in our beloved land. But we will find Christ being given the pre-eminence in that home where those who love His blessed Name dwell, be it but an old thatched roof cottage on a lonely hillside. There the Bible, which testifies of Christ, will have a pre-eminent place; there the Lord’s Day will be the day of the week, the day which is a memorial of His resurrection; there prayer will be heard in the name of Christ; and in such a home, a life and conversation becoming the gospel of the Lord Jesus will be met with. In prosperity and adversity, in health and sickness, the Lord Jesus is the Friend and Counsellor of His people, and their prayer is that He would be with them in their lying down and rising up, in their outgoing and incoming. To Him they turn with all their family and home cares, burdens, trials, and anxieties. On such matters they confer not first with flesh and blood, but with the recognised divine Master of the home, the Lord Jesus Himself. But what of the homes, at such a time as this, with empty places, with sickness, and maybe anxiety regarding absent ones on the battlefield, and yet Christ despised and His glory unknown? But on the other hand, there is a measure of spiritual light, warmth and fellowship in that home where Christ’s pre-eminence is recognised in the exercise of the grace of God, whatever the circumstances may be.
Then, Christ in relation to His Church here on earth requires that He have the pre-eminence. To-day, in some professed branches of the visible Church of Christ, the King and Head of the Church is completely ignored, as to His revealed holy mind and will in many matters that are introduced into the teaching, worship and practice of such denominations. The Lord Jesus Christ, for example, is He who calls and authorises men to give themselves wholly to the ministry of the Gospel, that is, regenerated men. And men who usurp this authority and intrude themselves into office in Christ’s Church, being encouraged
by others, being neither converted nor called to the ministry by the Head of the Church, do greatly defy and dishonour Him. He must and will have the pre-eminence as to the appointing of those who shall be His servants. Then Christ in the glory and doctrine of His sufferings and sacrificial death must have the pre-eminence in the teaching and preaching of His Church in the world. Paul proclaims this in his letters, as he declares, “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. vi, v. 14). And in the government of His Church, delegated to those whom He has according to Scripture appointed thereto, the honour of His Name and the purity of His Church must be pre-eminently regarded before the feelings of men and the influence of the world. The Church must be subject to Christ and His mind revealed in His inspired Word. And further, those living members of Christ’s Church who have “tasted that the Lord is gracious” (I Peter ii, 3) are a holy priesthood to offer up such spiritual sacrifices as praise, prayer and penitence to God; and are to offer all in the name of and through Jesus Christ Himself, as their sacrifices are only “acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (I Peter, ch. ii, v. 5). And so Christ must have His rightful and exalted place in the doctrine, teaching, worship and government of His Church, if the Church is to serve Him honourably and faithfully. There is much declension from the faith and practice of the Gospel, a growing spirit of compromise in face of inconsistent Christian profession and evident weakness in dealing with worldliness, within the professing Church of Christ to-day. As we look forward to another year, the call to those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity seems to be, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith, without wavering (for he is faithful that promised)” (Heb. x, v. 23).
And finally, it would be well for the nation as such, to render to Christ the honour due unto His name. For Christ is worthy of all honour from Her Majesty the Queen, the whole Royal family, the Houses of Parliament, the Civil Magistrates, the Industrialists, Educationalists, City Councils and all local authorities and the whole population of the nation. And it would be to our advantage indeed to hearken to Christ speaking as Wisdom and as follows, “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me Kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures (see Prov., chap. viii, vs. 14-21). And so may our nation be turned in this Coronation year to another Royal Monarch, other than our beloved Queen Elizabeth II, even to Jesus, the King Eternal, and be brought by the Holy Spirit to do Him homage in a nation-wide return to obedience to the royal law of His Word.
Meeting of Synod—November, 1952.*
THE Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland met within the Church, Inverness, on the 18th day of November, 1952, at 6.30 p.m. The Moderator, Rev. William MacLean, M.A., Ness, conducted public worship and preached an appropriate sermon from John, chapter 21, verse 15, “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed my Lambs,” etc. There was a large congregation present.
The Moderator thereafter constituted the Synod with prayer.
The Roll.—The Roll was then called as follows:—Northern Presbytery: Revs. D. A. Macfarlane, W. Grant, F. MacLeod, R. R. Sinclair and A. F. MacKay, ministers; with Messrs. F. Beaton, A. MacLennan, R. Ross, D. Campbell, A. J. Davidson, and Jas. Davidson, ruling elders. Southern Presbytery: Revs. Jas. MacLeod, D. J. Matheson, J. P. MacQueen, John Tallach, D. Campbell, A. Cattanach, ministers; with Messrs. Jas. MacKay, J. MacDonald, D. MacPherson, W. Sim, A. E. Alexander, and Dr. M. G. Tallach, ruling elders. Western Presbytery: Revs. D. N. MacLeod, J. Colquhoun, A. Beaton, Alex. MacAskill, J. A. MacDonald, M. MacSween, D. R. MacDonald, D. MacLean, ministers; with Messrs. Dan. MacKay, Murdo MacLeod, Alex. Beaton, Alex. MacLean, John MacLennan, Alex. Gollan, Don. MacAskill, Ken. MacAskill, Neil MacLeod, Ewen Macrae, Don. Mackenzie, ruling elders. Outer Isles Presbytery: Revs. W. MacLean, D. J. Macaskill, Fraser MacDonald, and J. A. Tallach, ministers; with Messrs. D. G. MacKenzie, D. MacKay, D. Matheson, J. MacKay, J. MacInnes, A. MacLennan, N. MacIsaac, ruling elders.
Letters of Apology for Absence.—The Clerk read letters of apology for absence from Rev. D. N. MacLeod and Mr. J. MacInnes, Tarbert; Mr. Matheson, Uig; and Mr. Gollan, Plockton.
Officer of Court.—Mr. D. G. MacKenzie moved, “That Mr. Donald M. MacLeod, student, be appointed Officer of Court.” Rev. F. MacLeod seconded and this was approved. Mr. MacLeod agreed to act in this capacity.
Students.—Rev. W. Grant reported as follows:—”I am not able at present to say if any student is likely to be licensed before the Synod meets in May. But following the May Synod, 1953, it is expected that three or four students will be ready for licensing (D.V.)”
Synod Sermon.—The Rev. F. MacLeod moved “That the Moderator send his sermon to the Magazine for publication.” Rev. Don. MacLean seconded and this was agreed to.
Synod Sederunts.—The Synod agreed to meet again in public to-morrow (Wednesday), the 19th November, at 6.30 p.m. Other meetings were also appointed.
The meeting was closed with praise and prayer.
* This report not official minutes.—Clerk of Synod.
SECOND PUBLIC SEDERUNT.
The Synod again met on Wednesday, the 19th day of November, 1952, at 6.30 p.m., and was opened with prayer by the Moderator.
The Roll was called and the Synod proceeded to deal with business.
Ministers and Missionaries and Sickness Benefit.*—Rev. R. R. Sinclair, the Clerk, moved, “That ministers and missionaries when indisposed and are drawing sickness benefit from the National Insurance, shall intimate to the General Treasurer the dates during which such benefit is paid to them—as during that period their insurance card does not require to be stamped.” This was seconded by Rev. J. Colquhoun and agreed to.
The Type of Free Presbyterian Magazine.—The Editor of the F.P. Magazine, Rev. R. R. Sinclair, told the Synod that there had been complaints as to the smallness of the type used throughout the Magazine, and he thought that there should be no delay in arranging for a larger type. Thereafter Rev. J. Colquhoun moved, “That the type in the Free Presbyterian Magazine be made larger and that four pages be added in order to bring up the reading material to the present amount.” This was seconded by Rev. J. P. MacQueen, and agreed to.
Period of Theological Course.—Rev. W. Grant, Convener of the Training of the Ministry Committee, raised the question that regulations for students in theology required a three years’ course of five months in each year to be taken. This had not been adhered to because of students being ex-Service men. It was suggested that there might be agreed upon a two years’ course of 30 weeks’ study in each year. But members of Synod who spoke on the question advised the return to the three years’ course; and the matter was to be kept under consideration until the next Synod. There was no motion.
Report by Publications Committee.—Rev. W. Grant, on behalf of Publications Committee, intimated that the issue of the Christian’s Great Interest, recently printed, had been sold out, but that a further issue was on hand. He suggested that a future publication might be the Crook in The Lot, and he was obtaining estimates from Messrs. N. Adshead & Son, printers. The Clerk of Synod suggested that the Committee should seriously consider publishing the now rare but most interesting book, The Ministers and Men in the Far North, by the late Rev. Alex. Auld. The Clerk’s suggestion was supported by several members, and Mr. Grant said he would keep this suggestion in mind. He also intimated that Adshead & Son, printers, were willing to continue to bind copies of the Church Magazine at prices already charged.
Trinitarian Bible Society.—Dr. M. G. Tallach, elder, London, who is an official of the Trinitarian Bible Society, spoke of collections for this Society. He said that he thought it was understood that congregations throughout the Church were to make an annual collection. He told the Synod that the demand by Israel for Scriptures cannot be met.
Mr. Robert Watt appointed Full-time Missionary.—Rev. A. F. MacKay, Assistant Clerk, read an extract minute of Northern Presbytery of date 18th November, 1952, in which it was recommended to the Synod that
* Will those concerned take special note of this motion.—Clerk of Synod.
Mr. Robert Watt, Inverness, be appointed a full-time missionary for Tomatin; his appointment to date as from the end of December. Thereafter Rev. A. F. MacKay moved, “That the recommendation that Mr. R. Watt be appointed full-time missionary for Tomatin, as from the end of December of this year, forwarded by the Northern Presbytery, be approved.” Mr. W. B. Sim seconded and this was approved.
Correspondence to Synod.—The Assistant Clerk read several acknowledgments of Synod resolutions of May, 1952. Loyal Address.—A letter was read from the Secretary of State for Scotland intimating that the Loyal Address to Her Majesty the Queen had been duly laid before Her Majesty. Edinburgh Festival Arrangements.—A reply to a protest of May Synod re Edinburgh Festival arrangements encroaching on the Sabbath, was read. Rev. D. MacLean moved “That the letter re Edinburgh Festival arrangements be sent to the Convener of the Sabbath Observance Committee for attention.” Mr. D. G. MacKenzie seconded and this was approved. This letter had indicated that consideration would be given to the Synod’s resolution in future. Reformed Ecumenical Synod, Edinburgh, 1953.—A letter dated 14th August, 1952, was read from the Principal Clerk of the Free Church of Scotland Assembly, inviting the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland to send a delegate or delegates to a Reformed Ecumenical Synod, meeting in Edinburgh from August 3rd to 14th, 1953, the Free Church being the host Church on this occasion. After a brief discussion, the Rev. A. Beaton moved, “That it be left to the Clerk of Synod to draw up a reply to the invitation from the Principal Clerk of the Free Church Assembly to send delegates to the Reformed Ecumenical Synod, Edinburgh, August, 1953, and to give reasons why delegates will not be sent.” This was seconded by Mr. R. Ross and approved.
Letter from Mr. G. A. Warburton.—Mr. Warburton of the Trinitarian Bible Society, in his letter read, expressed appreciation of the kindness and generosity of the brethren in Scotland, when he came North to address the Synod last May. He said that he felt the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in all the associations made.
The African Mission.—Rev. John Tallach, former missionary of the Church in Africa, gave a brief address on some aspects of the work of the mission there. He read an interesting letter from Rev. James Fraser, Shangani, and said, “We should be praying for our missionaries in Shangani. We have no teacher training centre. All other denominations have a centre for training their teachers, and we used to be able to send our teachers to these centres, but they are now so full that they are unwilling to take ours in. We have not got a place to teach them in, and consequently, we cannot open schools, because the Government will not allow you to send teachers who are not trained.
“The R.C.s have opened many schools. The priest gets a three-ton lorry with nails and building materials and he goes round the district and says to the Chief, ‘Are you wanting a school?’ ‘Yes, we want a school.’ There and then the school is set up and teachers left to carry on. The priest goes from there on to the next place and repeats the same procedure. The Roman Catholic Church are not like us; they never lack funds.”
Further, Mr. Tallach gave a brief survey of the mission at Inwenya, making the particular point that the mission was run on Free Presbyterian principles since its inception in the days of the late Rev. John B. Radasi, until this present time.
Friends Thanked for Hospitality.—Rev. D. A. Macfarlane thanked friends in the Inverness congregation for their renewed kindness to members of Synod, and desired for them that the unction of the Holy One would be upon them and that the everlasting arms would be about them.
Next Meeting of Synod.—Rev. W. Grant moved, “That the Synod meet again, God willing, on Tuesday after the third Sabbath of May, 1953, in the Hall of St. Jude’s Church, Glasgow, and at 6.30 p.m.” Rev. D. J. Matheson seconded, and this was agreed to.
Rev. Angus Cattanach’s Recall from Mission Field.—The Synod of the Church met at Inverness in November, 1952, authorised the publication of the following statement:—
As the people of our Church, in general, know that the Rev. Angus Cattanach, M.A., was recalled from our mission at Inwenya, Africa, in May, 1951, and returned to this country in October of that year, the Synod at their meeting in Inverness, on 19th November, 1952, decided to publish—That the matters concerning Rev. Angus Cattanach, and especially his attitude to the European members of the African Mission staff, were again made the subject of an informal but thorough enquiry by the Synod on the 18th and 19th days of November, 1952. The case was duly brought to a final issue, the European members of the Mission staff being fully vindicated, and disciplinary measures taken with respect to Mr. Cattanach, according to the law of the Church.—ROBERT R. SINCLAIR, Clerk of Synod.
* * *
The Synod was closed on Thursday morning, the 20th November, 1952, with the singing of the last four verses of the 122nd Psalm, and the Benediction pronounced by the Moderator.