Communions.
January—Fourth Sabbath, Inverness. February—First Sabbath, Dingwall; third, Stornoway; fourth, North Uist. March—First Sabbath, Ullapool; second, Ness and Portree; third, Finsbay and Lochinver; fourth, Kinlochbervie; fifth, North Tolsta. April—First Sabbath, London, Portnalong and Breaseleite; second, Fort William; third, Greenock; fourth, Glasgow and Wick. May—First Sabbath, Kames and Oban; second, Secourie and Broadford; third, Edinburgh. June—First Sabbath, Tarbert, Applecross, Coigach; second, Shieldaig; third, Lochcarron, Glendale, Helmsdale, Dornoch and Uig; fourth, Inverness and Gairloch. July—First Sabbath, Lairg, Raasay and Bealy; second, Staffin, Tomatin and Tain; third, Halkirk, Rogart, Flashadder and Daviot; fourth, Achmore, Bracadale, North Uist and Plockton. August—First Sabbath, Dingwall; second, Portree and Stratherrick; third, Bonar, Finsbay and Laide; fourth, Vatten and Thurso; fifth, Stornoway. September—First Sabbath, Ullapool and Breaseleite; second, Strathy; third, Tarbert and Stoer. October—First Sabbath, Tolsta and Lochcarron; second, Gairloch and Ness; third, Applecross; fourth, Greenock, Lochinver and Wick. November—First Sabbath, Oban and Raasay; second, Glasgow; third, Halkirk, Edinburgh, Dornoch and Uig. December—First Sabbath, London.
We have published above all the Communion dates for the year 1953. Will ministers kindly check the list and forward a note of omissions or corrections to the Editor.
* Owing to local church circumstances the date for this year is changed from second to third Sabbath.—W. G.
London F.P. Communion Services.
London F.P. Communion Services.—The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, London congregation, Eccleston Hall, Eccleston Street, Buckingham Palace Road, London, S.W.1. In connection with the dispensation of the Lord’s Supper on Sabbath, 6th December, 1953, the following services have been arranged (D.V.), to be conducted by the Rev. Finlay MacLeod, Dornoch, and the Rev. William MacLean, M.A., Ness, Lewis:—Thursday, 3rd December, 7 p.m.; Friday, 4th December, 4 p.m. (Gaelic), and 7 p.m. (Fellowship Meeting); Saturday, 5th December, 3.30 p.m., and 6.30 p.m. (Prayer Meeting); Sabbath, 6th December, 11 a.m., 3.30 p.m. (Gaelic) (with a corresponding English service in downstairs hall simultaneously), and 7 p.m. Monday, 7th December, 4 p.m. (Gaelic) and 7 p.m.
Services are held every Sabbath at 11 a.m., 3.45 p.m. (Gaelic), and 7 p.m. Weekly Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
The Death of Rev. Neil MacIntyre.
It is with sorrow that we have to record here the death of Rev. Neil MacIntyre, which took place on Friday night, the 11th of September, at his home, 4 Warrender Park Crescent, Edinburgh. We understand that he was in his usual health, although frail, two days before he died. Mr. MacIntyre was a godly and active minister of the gospel of Christ for many years among us as a Church, until his retreat from the pastoral charge of our Edinburgh congregation, a few years ago. He was minister of our Glendale congregation at one time, then of Stornoway, before accepting a call to Edinburgh over twenty-three years ago. He was a worthy father in the Free Presbyterian Church, and was personally conversant with its history from the beginning, being an actual witness of the action of the late Rev. D. Macfarlane, when he protested in the Free Church Assembly of May, 1893. But a full obituary will no doubt be published later. In the meantime, we hasten to extend to Mrs. MacIntyre, the sorrowing widow, and to her sons and daughters, the sincere sympathy of the people of the Church. May the God of all comfort extend to each one of the sorrowing family the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, wherein true consolation is to be found.
New Church Opened at Vatten.
On 15th August a new Church was opened at Vatten, Skye, when the Rev. Donald Maclean, Portree, preached an appropriate sermon from Psalm cxxxii. 9, “Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.” A large and attentive congregation gathered from various parts of Skye. For years the congregation had great difficulties at Communion times owing to their having to meet in the open air in inclement weather. Over a year ago they purchased the local Territorial Hall, a substantial building of brick and rough cast with asbestos slates, and had it tastefully fitted up as a Church. The history of the building is unique in that, when it was built in 1936, it was opened with a concert and dance, and for many years it was used for these vanities to the grief of the Lord’s people, but now it has been opened for the preaching of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ. The following Sabbath the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was dispensed in it, when a large congregation met in comfort, and some, at least, could say that the Lord Himself was near. The congregation is struggling dutifully to reduce the debt, and have succeeded, within a year, of obtaining possession of the building, in reducing the bank overdraft to £600. May this new building become a birthplace of souls.—J. Colquhoun.
Ordination and Induction of Rev. Angus MacKay.
On 12th August the Outer Isles Presbytery met at Tarbert, Harris, and was constituted. The Roll was called, and there were present Revs. J. A. Tallach, Moderator; D. J. Macaskill, M.A., Clerk; F. Macdonald, M.A.; L. Macleod (Ministers), with Messrs. D. Matheson, D. G. Mackenzie, D. Mackay, J. Mackay, A. Maclennan, N. Mackinnon. The minute of previous meeting was read and approved. Rev. D. J. Macaskill moved that Revs. F. Macleod, Dornoch, and M. Maesween, M.A., be associated with the Presbytery. This was seconded and agreed to. An apology for absence was read from Rev. W. W. Maclean, M.A. The report on return of the Edict was given by Rev. D. J. Macaskill, Interim Moderator of N. Harris. Rev. D. J. Macaskill moved that Mr. N. Mackinnon be appointed Officer of Court, and that he read a proclamation in terms of the Edict at the most patent door of the Church, twice in Gaelic, once in English. This was seconded and agreed to. Rev. L. Macleod preached a very appropriate discourse from John, chapter x, verse 11:—”I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” (1) His Qualifications as the Good Shepherd—(a) He loves His sheep; (b) He knows His sheep; (c) He is well acquaint with the nature of His sheep; (d) They are His own. (2) What He does as Shepherd—(a) He giveth His life for the sheep; (b) He feeds His sheep; (c) He gathers the lambs with His arms and gently leads those that are with young; (d) He protects and preserves His sheep and goes after those that stray; (e) He gives them eternal life. A short narrative of events that took place in filling up the vacancy was then read by the Clerk. The Pastor-Elect was asked to stand, and the usual questions were put in English, and the Formula was read by the Clerk.
The Formula having been signed, the Presbytery laid their hands on Rev. A. Mackay, and the Moderator, with solemn prayer, ordained him to the office of the holy ministry and inducted him to the pastoral charge of North Harris, saying the usual words, and gave the right hand of fellowship, followed by members of Presbytery. On returning to the pulpit, the Moderator solemnly advised the young minister to read three books:—(1) The book of his own experience from day to day, with reference to the work of the ministry. A certain class watched the conduct of ministers more than their doctrine to see how they followed Christ’s example. (2) Puritan Divines such as Dr. Owen and Boston among Scottish Divines. (3) And the Bible principally. The charge was given in Gaelic to the people by Rev. D. J. Macaskill. The Church was thronged by many, who had come from Ness, N. Tolsta, Uig, Breasclete and Stornoway. The N. Uist people went as far as Newton Ferry, but had to turn back, as the weather was unfavourable to make the crossing by sea to Leverburgh.
The huge assembly was hospitably entertained in the manse by the congregation of N. Harris. After the benediction, Mr. N. Mackinnon said he wished to give a token of appreciation for services rendered during the vacancy to the Interim Moderator, and also a token of welcome to the new minister. Both returned thanks in a few words. The congregation having been dismissed, the new Pastor was welcomed at the door.
We hope and pray that the new ministry thus auspiciously begun will be for the advancement of the Cause of Christ in N. and S. Harris, and in neighbouring congregations also. When the Free Presbyterian movement began in the Outer Isles, they had no ordained minister, only laymen. Then one minister had to travel between Stornoway and N. Uist. Now there is a Presbytery, and six charges have been filled.—D. J. Macaskill, Clerk of Presbytery.
Appeal from Staffin.
The Free Presbyterian congregation of Staffin, Skye, are now beginning to build their new manse. This congregation has recently been raised to the status of a sanctioned charge, and, while they have already put aside a considerable sum of money over a period of years towards the building of a manse, and are still diligently contributing among themselves, yet they find the total cost of the manse too heavy for them to carry alone. Accordingly, they take this opportunity of appealing to the generosity of friends throughout the Church in order that they may help them to pay the cost of the manse.
Contributions will be thankfully received by Mr. Donald Gordon, Treasurer, Garafad, Staffin, Isle of Skye.
The Western Presbytery cordially endorse the foregoing Appeal.
DONALD MACLEAN (Moderator pro tem).
JOHN COLQUHOUN (Clerk).