Communions.
January—Fifth Sabbath, Inverness. February—First Sabbath, Dingwall; third, Stornoway; fourth, North Uist. March—First Sabbath, Ullapool; second, Ness and Portree; third, Finsbay; fourth, Kinlochbervie and North Tolsta. April—First Sabbath, London, Portnalong, Achmore and Stoer; second, Fort William; third, Greenock; fourth, Glasgow; and fifth, Wick. May—First Sabbath, Kames and Oban; second, Seourie 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 Beauly; second, Staffin, Tomatin and Tain; third, Halkirk, Rogart, Flashadder and Daviot; fourth, Bracadale, North Uist and Plockton; fifth, Achmore and Thurso. August—First Sabbath, Dingwall and Vancouver (Canada); second, Portree and Stratherrick; third, Bonar, Finsbay and Laide; fourth, Vatten and Stornoway. September—First Sabbath, Ullapool and Breasclete; 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 and Halkirk; third, Edinburgh, Dornoch and Uig. December—First Sabbath, London.
Special Notice.
We have published above all the Communion dates for the year 1956. Will ministers kindly check the list and forward a note of omissions or corrections to the Editor.
London Communion Services.
Sabbath, 1st April, 1956. At Eccleston Hall, Eccleston Street, Buckingham Palace Road, S.W.1. The following services have been arranged, to be conducted by Rev. D. J. Matheson, Glasgow, and Rev. J. A. MacDonald, Raasay (D.V.):—Thursday, 29th March, 7 p.m. Friday, 3.30 p.m. (Gaelic); 7 p.m. (Fellowship Meeting). Saturday, 3.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. (Prayer Meeting). Sabbath, 11 a.m., 3.30 p.m. (Gaelic), Upstairs Hall and English (Downstairs Hall), and 7 p.m. Monday, 3.30 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.
Magazine Business during Editor’s Absence.
As the Editor of the Free Presbyterian Magazine expects (D.V.) to be away from 26th January until the 20th April, 1956, all correspondence and articles for the Editor should be sent to Rev. James A. Tallach, Free Presbyterian Manse, James Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, during the above period.
Synod Business during Clerk’s Absence.
The Clerk of Synod, Rev. R. R. Sinclair, Wick, expects (D.V.) to be abroad from 26th January until the 20th April, 1956, and hopes on his return to prepare business for the Synod meeting in May, if well. But during his absence the Rev. A. F. MacKay, M.A., Free Presbyterian Manse, 11 Auldeastle Road, Inverness, will receive and deal with any correspondence or business requiring attention.
Induction at Lairg.
In the early afternoon of Tuesday, 17th January, 1956, the pastoral vacancy in the Lairg-Bonar congregation, which had lasted for nine years, was filled with the settlement of Rev. Don. M. MacLeod, Probationer, as pastor over the congregation. The day was very stormy with high wind and heavy rain, but in spite of the unfavourable weather, friends gathered from many parts of the North, as far distant as Lochinver and Helmsdale and from Inverness, as well as Golspie, Tain and Dingwall.
The Church was quite full when the Moderator of the Northern Presbytery, Rev. D. A. MacFarlane, conducted public worship and preached an instructive and most appropriate sermon on the words of the address to the Laodicean Church: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see” (Rev. iii. 18). The narrative of the steps taken in preparing the Call to Mr. MacLeod was then recounted by the clerk. The pastor-elect answered the questions usually put to candidates for the ministry to the satisfaction of the court, and signed the formula in the presence of the congregation. The Moderator then solemnly ordained Mr. MacLeod to the office of the ministry with the laying on of hands in which he was joined by the ministerial members of Presbytery present, and thereafter formally received and admitted the newly ordained minister in the name of the Presbytery and by authority of the Great Head of the Church to the pastoral oversight of the joint congregation of Lairg and Bonar. Minister and congregation were then addressed in appropriate and, it was felt, reasonable terms respectively by Rev. R. R. Sinclair and Rev. M. MacLeod.
The people of the congregation and the friends who had gathered to the service were then able to welcome Mr. MacLeod at the door as they passed out of the building. Several office-bearers from other parts of the Church were present, and of these Rev. D. MacLean, Portree, was associated with the Presbytery throughout the proceedings, and gave brief expression of his delight at being present, and offered his good wishes for Mr. MacLeod’s happiness and success in the Gospel ministry. A letter was received from Rev. D. J. Matheson, Glasgow, who had been minister of the Lairg and Bonar congregation for more than 20 years, in which he expressed regret that Church duties in Glasgow prevented him from being present and wished his successor success in his work and all prosperity in the Lord. The Moderator, who presided, had also been minister of the congregation before Mr. Matheson, appropriately enough.
Lairg lies in the midst of a parish where in the past the fruits of the Gospel were greatly in evidence, and the memory of many of these gracious men and women is still preserved. In the early days of the Free Presbyterian Church some of the very salt of the earth were connected with our Church and there still survive, greatly reduced, a small number who love the “Gates of Zion.” They have now, we believe, a pastor settled over them who will break to them the bread of life. May the Lord spare Mr. MacLeod to minister long among the flock over the which He has made him overseer, and may He see much fruit attend his labours.—A. F. MACKAY, Clerk of Northern Presbytery.
Foreign Mission Notes.
Our people will be glad to know that Mrs. and Miss Nicolson arrived safely and in good health at Ingwenya after a comfortable and interesting journey. The re-union of old friends and fellow workers was a most happy one.
On January 8th communion services were held at a place called Ntabenendi, an out-station under Ingwenya, and about 20 miles distant. The Rev. J. Fraser came through from Mbuma to conduct the services. The small school there was packed to capacity. The services were most encouraging, warm and cordial. This was the first communion for some years held at this station. We trust that much good may result from these services.
At Mbuma a new school year was opened on the 24th January. Owing to the scarcity of teachers it may be necessary to limit the number of students.
Binding of Church Magazines.
This very desirable work is being done by Messrs. Adshead & Son, Ltd. We appreciate the difficulties they, and other bookbinders, have to contend with under present conditions. We wish our people to take advantage of the opportunity of having, if possible, complete volumes from No. 1. The early contentions of our Church against the infamous “Declaratory Act,” and its evil accompaniments, should be read by the rising generation and re-read by others.
It is necessary to remind all that address and instructions should be carefully included in each parcel (not in separate letters). Further, time is required by the binders to accumulate a considerable number of copies before they proceed with the binding: thus delay in returning bound copies need not cause surprise. The next despatch of bound volumes is about to take place.—W. GRANT.