The MacQueen Memorial Church, Inverness.
The late Rev. Ewen MacQueen, Inverness, originally a minister in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, separated from our Church in 1938, and formed a Church and a congregation of his own, with the help of those who left the Church in sympathy with him. After his death, this congregation, in Inverness, were without a pastor for only a brief period. They obtained the services of Rev. A. D. MacLeod, that is, about five years ago. Mr. MacLeod, we understand, belonged to the Church of Scotland as a young man, but left it, and became a member in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and later was accepted as a student for the ministry. He in due course became a minister and had a charge in the Church. He was only a few years in the ministry when he supported views in connection with Rev. E. MacQueen’s departure, which were contrary to the mind of the Synod; and ultimately in 1945, declared that he would not remain under the jurisdiction of the Courts of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland any longer. He was at this juncture declared no longer a minister of the Church. This was a relief to the Church and to all who desired the prosperity of Zion in her midst.
Thereafter, he became Secretary to the Sabbath Observance Association of Scotland; and preached here and there on invitation, including the Free Church in Glasgow; although he repudiated the jurisdiction of the Courts of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, professedly in his faithfulness for Free Presbyterian standards and principles. He gave up the above secretaryship when invited to take charge of the late Rev. E. MacQueen’s Church, in Inverness, in 1949.
In December, 1951, he sat behind learned counsel and solicitors, in the Court of Session, as principal Defender with others, while Rev. A. F. Mackay, Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Inverness, as Pursuer with others, sought possession of the manse in which the late Rev. E. MacQueen resided, and which was now occupied by Rev. A. D. MacLeod himself.
The case for which Mr. MacLeod was Defender, before four Lords of the Court of Session, was according to the late Lord Cooper: ‘That case is, that on their own showing the Pursuers have violated and ceased to adhere to the Constitution and whole standards of the Free Presbyterian Church.’ Of course this view was not upheld, although a serious charge against the Church by such as Mr. MacLeod. Lord Cooper in his judgment declared inter alia: “I cannot predicate of the Synod’s action that it was in any sense a departure from and violation of the constitution and standards of the Free Presbyterian Church.” This narrative is just by the way of background and not to revive controversy on these issues. And now, on 26th May last, the Rev. A. D. MacLeod was received into the Church of Scotland to be a minister therein, on his own petition and as supported by petition from the Inverness Presbytery of the Church of Scotland. And following upon this it was reported that a member of the business committee of the MacQueen Memorial Church said, that when Mr. MacLeod took the post, that is of their pastor, five years ago, he made it quite clear to the congregation that he was not a Free Presbyterian minister. But was he not professing to be just that before the Lords of the Court of Session in 1951, to retain for himself and the late Rev. E. MacQueen’s congregation, the manse property in which he has resided for the last five years? And let it be remembered, that this property is not the exclusive possession of the MacQueen Memorial Church, by the terms of Lord Cooper’s judgment. It seems also that Rev. A. D. MacLeod endeavoured to re-enter his former Church in Inverness on a prayer-meeting night, after joining the Church of Scotland officially, but was barred from the pulpit by a prominent member. This has led to a split in this congregation from all reports. We are of the opinion that the Church of Scotland expected this “changeable” minister to endeavour to bring this congregation over with him in whole or in part. We have thought fit to put on record these facts and observations to remind our Church people and others, that Rev. A. D. MacLeod was one of those who troubled the Free Presbyterian Church when he was in it, and against whom a stand had to be taken. He has now troubled and disturbed those who also left our Church and looked for his assistance and help. He has proved to be “a broken tooth and a foot out of joint.” The modernistic Church of Scotland is the sphere he now desires. What need the Church has of God-given ministers! Men who shall be steadfast, godly, and faithful in the ministry of the gospel of Christ are among God’s gifts to His true Church on earth.
Dr. Fisher at Church of Scotland Assembly.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Fisher, was invited to address the Church of Scotland General Assembly on Wednesday, 23rd May last. In his speech he expressed the opinion that the present epoch was one of the most glorious and hopeful in the relations between their churches. There were conversations, he said, in progress between the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Episcopal Church in Scotland and the Presbyterian Church of England, which meant something of a new stage in their relations. He also said that some people viewed them with alarm, as they viewed every new stage with alarm. The remainder of his reported address was in general terms, non-committal as to what was actually taking place at the conversations and counceiliatory. He referred to their task as Churches conferring with one another, in these terms: “How far can we agree—how far we need agree—to work as one body for Christ.” This dignitary of the Anglican Church, in which “reservation of the sacrament” is permitted, and many other Romish practices, is thus given an official, ecclesiastical welcome by the professed Presbyterian Church of Scotland. If the Archbishop, as we know, cannot or will not take steps to purge his own Church of Romanising practices and law-breaking Anglo-Catholic clergymen—how is he to even modify the recognised doctrine of Apostolic Succession, forms of worship and government, etc., of his Church to satisfy compromising Church of Scotland leaders. If he will not get rid of what is foreign to the legal Constitution of the Church of England and opposed to the Christian and Protestant faith; how will he and other Anglican leaders tone down what properly belongs to the Anglican Communion to satisfy any demands by milk and water Presbyterians on this side of the Border? The leaders of the present Church of Scotland are optimists of the first order, if they think they can collaborate with the Church of England and not at the same time betray Presbyterianism and cast away much of what yet remains of Scriptural Church government and order, set up and established by the Scottish Reformers, who in their day cast out and disowned Episcopacy. The fact is that many of the people adhering to the Church of Scotland to-day are opposed to these conversations entered into by their leaders, such as Principal Baillie and Professor Torrance. But the sad fact is that there is not one outstanding witness in their Assembly who is prepared to rise and condemn and oppose out and out the whole business of this gradual process of the betrayal of Scottish Presbyterianism. Many of the people in the Church of Scotland are not aware of what is going on and their ministers are not informing them. The indifference manifested to-day toward the fundamentals of the Christian and Protestant faith is giving the enemies of Truth the opportunities they desire, to overspread the land, and to eliminate what signs are still left, that there was a great and historical Reformation in Scotland.
Conflict Regarding New Canons in the Church of England.
These Canons are of a Romanising character. We received the following circular letter after writing our Note and Comment on Dr. Fisher’s visit to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland—significant! This letter is not given in full.
TRUTH AND FAITH COMMITTEE.
c/o The Rectory,
Whinburgh,
Dereham, Norfolk.
Spring, 1956.
Dear Friend,
Since our last News Letter in the Autumn much has happened about which we feel you should be told.
In December our booklet, Laid in the Balances, came through from the printer. At our January Committee Meeting, we decided a copy should be sent to every member of Church Assembly. As soon as the Archbishop of Canterbury received his, he wrote back to know more of our Committee and its aims. The result of the brief correspondence was a long interview between the Secretary and the Archbishop at Lambeth Palace in the middle of February. A few weeks prior to this, the Archbishop had received a delegation from several societies on the same subject, and since then another long meeting, at which Dr. Stokes, our Chairman, and Canon Livermore and the Secretary, were all present, has been held at Lambeth.
It was quite evident that the policy now is, to get some of the canons ready for final approval and promulgation very soon. Although we reaffirmed, time and again, the objections which there are, when the proposed canons are considered against the background of the teaching of Holy Scripture, there was little to suggest that those members of the Steering Committee of Convocation, whom we met with the Archbishop, will do anything to remove the terrible errors.
It remains to us to speak out now, and make our voices heard, and opinions known, in places where they will be taken more notice of. To do this it is much hoped that Evangelicals everywhere, members of the Church of England and members of the Free Churches, will take up this matter, and demand that the Scriptural and Protestant character of our National Church be maintained.
The next two years will be crucial. That is the opinion of those who have known most about the Canon Law Revival project. We ask your prayer-backing for this new phase of our work together. Above all, we long that every opportunity may be used to proclaim the Gospel of redeeming Grace, so that God may be glorified, and, out of what portends to be a National calamity, may Christ Jesus the Lord be exalted and magnified.
As I write, the words which Mr. Rainsbury spoke from the Chair at our London meeting last June, come back to my mind:
“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust.”
(I Timothy vi. 20.)
Yours very sincerely,
DONALD R. HILL, Hon. Secy.