Church Notes

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, Scourie and Broadford; third, Edinburgh. June—First Sabbath, Tarbert, Applecross, Coigach; second, Shieldaig; third, Lochearron, 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 Lochearron; 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.

Letters from African Mission.

We give extracts below of personal letters we have received recently from our Mission in Southern Rhodesia, as any news from that quarter may well be of interest, more or less, to our people in Scotland and elsewhere.

Rev. James Fraser wrote us from Mbuma on the 8th August, 1956, and the following are extracts from his letter:

“We were all very pleased to hear from you some time ago, and also recently, to get a copy of your own and Mr. MacLean’s Report. Many thanks! We did enjoy reading the Report and are grateful that you were able to write so favourably of the work done here by our Church’s missionaries and African assistants. . . . Needless to say, we all missed you both very much after you left us. The last time I spent a week-end in the wee house at Zenka, I felt as if yourself and Mr. MacLean were just in the next room, and that one or other of you might appear at any moment. You made many friends among the Africans, and they often ask if we hear from you and how you are. . . . The work is going much as when you were with us. Miss Macaulay and I are busy correcting examination papers, as the end of the second term is drawing near. We haven’t forgotten how you and Mr. MacLean helped us, by setting and marking Scripture examinations, at the end of the first term of the year. I expect to go to Ingwenya (D.V.) for another Communion season in about two weeks’ time. Sabbath the 19th August will be the Communion Sabbath. Then Zenka on Sabbath, 2nd September. I wish you could be with us. Mr. Norman Miller was with us from Friday to Monday last week in the course of his school visitations. The Ingwenya friends were all well when he left home. I understand Miss MacKay wishes to stay on until the end of the year. Our cool season is drawing to a close and soon we shall be sweltering. . . . James Tallach is very fit and busy fitting up a bathroom for the boys. We all join in sending warmest regards.

Yours very sincerely,

J. S. FRASER.”

Simon T. Moyo, African teacher and interpreter at Ingwenya, wrote us on the 15th August, 1956. In this letter he says:

“We are on holiday as school closed on the 9th inst. till September 13th, 1956 (D.V.). On August 19th the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at Ingwenya Mission. The Rev. James Fraser will conduct the services which will commence on the 17th inst. We are looking forward to that and hope that His blessing will be shared among His people and that His Word preached throughout these services will be accompanied with His blessing. We shall miss you very much, as we already miss you. You will be thankful to the Lord to hear that He blessed His Word through your preaching on the day you visited Libeni’s School with Mr. Miller, as one of those present has now broken with Radasi, with the saying that the truth had been revealed and she has ceased being a Radasi follower. We hope she will yet be led to seek Him while He may be found and to call upon His name while He is near. . . . If you happen to see the Rev. D. MacLean, who came out to Ingwenya with you, please convey our best wishes to him and his wife. In reading this note I wish you to bear in mind that it has been written by one whose mother tongue is different and so please try to form a true form of the meaning of words and phrases incorrectly used. . . . My warm regards to one and all.

I am,
Yours very sincerely,

S. T. Moyo.

Collection for General Building Fund.

This useful Collection was appointed to be taken in September, and is most helpful to Congregations where financial aid is needed to pay off existing Debts on Church Property and to assist with erection of new and necessary buildings. We trust our people will continue their generosity for this useful end related to the cause of the Gospel. Congregational Treasurers whose Congregations have debt on Church or Manse Buildings should let the General Treasurer (Mr. John Grant) know the amount as early as possible.

ROBERT R. SINCLAIR, Clerk of Synod.

September, 1956.

Southern Rhodesian Mission.

The following vacancies for teachers are now open in our various schools on the Mission :—

1. Mbiama Teacher Training School.—The Committee are anxious to release Rev. J. S. Fraser from his duties with regard to the school so that he can devote more of his time to the spiritual side of the Mission work. There is a vacancy, therefore, in the most interesting work of training the teachers who will eventually go out into our many Kraal schools.

2. Zenka School.—The Committee are desirous of raising this school to a higher standard by opening a Standard VI. Class. This can only be done by employing an European Teacher and thus a vacancy occurs in this large school of about 450 pupils which affords a wide sphere of service to an energetic teacher.

3. Ingwenya School.—A teacher is required to replace Miss MacKay whose term of service has now come to an end. This school is well-known to our people at home and has a high reputation in Southern Rhodesia. Its 500 pupils include over 80 boarders who stay on the Mission itself and there is plenty work of a rewarding nature for any teacher who goes to Ingwenya.

4. Secondary Education.—The Government are keen that our Mission should take up secondary education and have indicated that they will offer us a considerable sum to put up the necessary buildings. Our final decision on this matter will largely depend on our being able to secure a teacher to engage in this work. In the meantime the Committee will be glad to consider any applications for this post which will represent a new field of work on the Mission.

All applicants should be graduates and in possession of teachers’ certificates or should have in mind the acquiring of these qualifications. Applications will be welcome from either young men or young women but the policy of the Church has been only to engage those who are members in full Communion. The thirst for education which is so outstanding a feature of the African nation at the present time is certainly very prominent among our children in the Mission and any teacher will find the work full of interest from the professional point of view. But our purpose is merely to use education as an helpmeet to the spreading of the Gospel which alone is able to give spiritual and saving light and the knowledge of Him who came in God’s great name to save. Teachers in our schools will have their own share in that noble work. The Committee earnestly hope that this call for teachers will find a response in the hearts of some of our young men and women and that the Lord will lead them to offer themselves for this work. All applications giving age and list of subjects in degree and certificate should be sent to the Clerk of the Committee, Free Presbyterian Manse, Portree, Isle of Skye, from whom any further particulars can be obtained.

The Committee would further point out that there is room for at least two other ministers of the Gospel in Southern Rhodesia. Both Zenka and Ingwenya are in need of ministers and Mr. Fraser is in need of assistance of this kind to an extent which cannot be fully expressed. The Committee would ask the Lord’s people in our midst to earnestly beseech the Lord of the harvest to raise up suitable men, equipped by Himself with gifts and graces, to engage in this work of carrying the Word of Life to the heathen, having in view the fulfilment of David’s prayer, “And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen” (Psalm lxxii. 19).

JOHN COLQUHOUN, Convener.

DONALD MACLEAN, Clerk.

The Jewish and Foreign Mission Committee.

The Publications Committee has now reprinted The Ministers and Men in the Far North. Copies have been despatched to congregations and are obtainable at 8s. 6d. per copy. Any congregation omitted should notify the General Treasurer (Mr. J. Grant, 4 Millburn Road, Inverness) and state number desired. Single copies can be sent direct, price 8s. 6d. (plus 8d. extra for postage) and to Canada and U.S.A. 1.50 dollars, post free.

Many friends have been waiting for this new edition, as original copies are now rare.

This interesting book gives an indication of the religious life and Christian experience of men and women of bygone days in the North of Scotland. Their descendants and others overseas will find it to be of special interest.

It is the Committee’s fervent desire that it will be, by the Lord’s blessing, beneficial to many readers.