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, Portnalong, Breasclete and Fort William; third, London and Greenock; fourth, Glasgow and Wick. May—First Sabbath, Kames and Oban; second, Scourie; third, Broadford and Edinburgh. June—First Sabbath, Tarbert, Applecross, Coigach; second, Shieldaig; third, Lochcarron, Glendale, Helmsdale, Dornoch and Uig; fourth, Gairloch; fifth, Inverness. 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 and Vancouver (Canada); second, Portree and Stratherrick; third, Bonar, Finsbay and Laide; fourth, Vatten, Stornoway and Thurso. September—First Sabbath, Ullapool and Breasclete; second, Strathy; third, Tarbert and Stoer; fourth, Applecross. October—First Sabbath, Tolsta and Lochcarron; second, Gairloch and Ness; 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: All changes in above Communion dates to be notified to Editor, for next year, 1958 (D.V.).
Mr. Jan Van Woerden and African Mission.
Mr. Jan Van Woerden who was recently appointed to work in the Church’s Mission at Zenka, Southern Rhodesia, sailed from London for Africa on Thursday, the 31st October, 1957. By the time this note appears we trust he has been taken safely to his destination in the kind providence of God, and that he will be divinely guided and assisted in his work for the Lord. We have of course, learned that Miss MacCuish arrived safely at Ingwenya sometime ago, and we wish her well in the Lord.
Articles Held Over.
We are glad to state that friends have been very mindful in recent times in sending suitable reading material for the pages of the Magazine. We have sent personal letters of thanks. But we wish to state that some of these articles are inevitably held over to future issues of the Magazine, and this is a helpful state of matters when the Editor has “reserves” to call upon from month to month.
Free Distribution Donations.
The General Treasurer informs us that during this past financial year—1957—donations from kind friends for the Free Distribution Fund have fallen below previous year’s givings. As Editor, we thought that the unofficial mention of the above, would help friends to decide on giving in this direction from the beginning of 1958, as Magazine funds require assistance.
Induction at Bracadale.
At Bracadale Church, Skye, the Western Presbytery met on 15th October, 1957, for the purpose of inducting Rev. Donald A. Maclean, M.A., to the pastoral charge. The Rev. A. Beaton, Moderator, preached from Colossians iv. 12, 13, and solemnly inducted Mr. Maclean to the pastoral charge of the congregation. Thereafter the newly-inducted pastor was addressed by the Rev. Alex. Murray, M.A., and the congregation by the Rev. D. J. Macaskill, M.A. The Call was signed by 12 Members and 156 Adherents. May the ministry begun prove a fruitful one.—John Colquhoun, Presbytery Clerk.
A Correction in Synod Proceedings.
It seems necessary to answer questions raised regarding the report of my Synod remarks, as reported near the bottom of page 13 of the Synod Proceedings for 1957. It seems that I speak with such rapidity that it would put the typist to a test to keep pace with me, in transferring my words to paper; hence the mistakes in reporting. The correct version of what I said is as follows, so that such a person as Rev. Donald MacLeod was not mentioned at all: “I may mention that the late Rev. Dr. Norman MacLean, at the funeral service of General Ross of Cromarty, said that the ideal aim of the Church of Scotland was one world, one faith, and one baptism, and he added that that world organisation was there ready for us in the Church of Rome, with the Pope as head, with modifications. That is exactly what the Church of England is also aiming at—a world Church—and the Pope is very pleased with what they are doing, while waiting for absolute submission. May I be permitted to emphasise again that our supreme authority in these matters is, of course, the Bible. Bishop Lightfoot, an ardent episcopalian, after his scholarly researches, declared that there was not a vestige of foundation for prelatic diocesan bishops in the Apostolic Church until one goes beyond 70 A.D. Rev. Professor Rawson Lumby of Cambridge, also a great scholar and ardent episcopalian, came to exactly the same conclusion as Bishop Lightfoot.” Will readers of the Synod Proceedings for 1957, who, as a general rule, retain their copies for future reference, please make this necessary correction near the foot of page 13 of their copies.—J. P. MacQueen.
New Church for Mbuma, S. Rhodesia.
The following is an extract from an interesting and encouraging letter received recently from the Rev. J. S. Fraser: “Last month we had communion services at Mbuma and the number of people who attended was far in excess of any previous record. There was a contingent from Ingwenya, another from Zenka, a third from Donsa Dam and the people belonging to the stations around Mbuma turned out in great force, especially on the Sabbath. Owing to the lack of accommodation we had to conduct Sindebele and English services in two classrooms throughout the Sabbath. For the actual communion service the two congregations combined. The tables (three) were served in the shade of a small clump of trees near Mr. Mzamo’s house. While everything went very smoothly, the need for a church at Mbuma was brought once again very forcibly to our minds. It occurred to me that I should write the Committee and ask permission to begin building a church, using funds available on the mission. I should like, if possible, to begin this year, even if we cannot complete the building until next year. The African people who attended the communion were deeply impressed by our need of a church at Mbuma and, I understand, the elders wish to start collecting for this purpose in all our congregations. You will remember that my application for permission to build a church last year was not approved by the Committee owing to the low state of the Foreign Mission Fund.”
The Committee agreed to give Mr. Fraser permission to go on with the building of this Church as funds became available. They also considered that friends at home might like to assist our African people if they knew the circumstances, and this notice is intended to give such an opportunity to help. Donations for this purpose should be sent to Mr. John Grant, 4 Millburn Road, Inverness, and marked “Mbuma Church.”
JOHN COLQUHOUN, Convener.
DONALD MACLEAN, Clerk.
The Jewish and Foreign Mission Committee.
Publications.
“Memoirs and Remains of the Rev. Donald Macdonald, Shieldaig,” by the late Rev. Donald Macfarlane, Dingwall.
In keeping with Synod’s decision our Publications Committee has now reprinted this valuable book. The names of Rev. D. Macdonald and Rev. D. Macfarlane, the valiant witnesses for truth and upholders of the Church of the Reformation in Scotland in the crisis of 1893 continue in remembrance. The stand they were enabled to take, by the grace of God, appears more and more valuable as we see the sad apostasy that has followed the passing of the infamous Declaratory Act.
Since the original issue in 1903 this much appreciated book has had a special place in many homes but this reprint is now needed and desired. This is an opportunity to have it widely circulated among the present generation. It is a very appropriate gift for readers overseas.
It is modestly priced at 7/6 per single copy (postage 9d extra). Quantities are being sent to congregations for sale post free.
Supplies can be had from Mr. J. Grant, 4 Millburn Road, Inverness.
—W. Grant, Convener.