The following resolution of the Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has been forwarded by the Clerk, the Rev. A. F. Mackay, M.A., Inverness, to the Town Clerk, Inverness, to be presented to the Inverness Town Council in due time:—
“The Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland at its meeting on Tuesday, 8th December, 1959, considered the motion submitted by Major A. F. Macgillivray at the meeting of the Inverness Town Council on 7th December, 1959, as reported in the ‘Inverness Courier’ of 8th December’s date, which motion calls for:—
“1 The opening of tennis courts and putting greens at Bellfield Park on the Lord’s Day;
“2 That throughout the year the Bught Park be made available for football and other forms of sport on the Lord’s Day;
“3 That a cinema be opened on the Lord’s Day to exhibit films;
“4 That the Town Council form a committee to open a social club on the Lord’s Day for organised entertainment of young people.
“The Court state that the fact that golf and tennis are played on the Lord’s Day by members of private clubs (which the Presbytery considers a flagrant desecration of the Sabbath) provides no warrant whatsoever for further encroachments upon the sanctity of the Lord’s Day.
“The Court would also observe that although Major Macgillivray stated as a Roman Catholic he respected the views of those who believed in Sabbath Observance, yet in his 4 proposals he gave abundant evidence of the fact that on the contrary Major Macgillivray has no respect whatsoever for those who love the Sabbath Day. And further, in stating that he felt that his motion might be anathema to such people, he nevertheless appears prepared to ride rough-shod over the religious convictions of a large number of the citizens of Inverness.
“If these proposals are carried in whole or in part, the result will constitute a further serious and conspicuous violation of the Divine Law, and will, we believe, contribute to provoking the Most High to manifest His displeasure.
“The Presbytery call upon all members of the Inverness Town Council to resist this fresh attack upon the Lord’s Day, and uphold the binding obligation of the Sabbath by dismissing out of hand these iniquitous proposals.”
Letter from Rhodesian Mission.
Mbuma Mission,
Dear Mr. MacLean,
27th October, 1959.
Just a few lines to let you know how I am faring.
I shall be going to Ngwenya this weekend (D.V.). We can then discuss any matters Mr. MacDonald would like to bring before the home committee.
I have just come back from a trip across the Shangani river, holding services and treating patients. I went alone with only my boy with me. Makwateni is one of the most depressing places as regards the landscape. Barren soil without any grass. The few trees are without a single green leaf. Soil erosion has washed away any bit of topsoil that could support the life of a tuft of grass. Above this dreary, waste land shines the merciless, African sun. Scattered around the little school are a dozen kraals, exposed to the scourging heat of the sun.
No one comes to greet us. The whole scene is a picture of desolation. But from one of the nearby kraals comes the sound of drum-beating and the hoarse shouting and singing of drunken people. We settle down and wait for a little while, praying for Wisdom and guidance. The time is one hour after noon. The sun is almost right overhead. Through the quivering heat of the day comes wave after wave of drunken laughter and singing. After a while a few black children in rags peep round the corner of the schoolbuilding and watch me from a safe distance. At long last they overcome their shyness, so that we can ask them some questions. They tell me that there is a feast today to worship the amadhlozi, the ancestor spirits. Did they not know that I was coming. Yes, they did, but had not this feast lasted for four days already, and had not the diviners told them that the spirits of their departed relatives had to be honoured. I then asked the children about getting some water for us as the only container I had, was a 2 Gall. can. All the wells nearby had dried up in the drought. There was only one pool about two miles away. Many cattle were dying for lack of food and water. We went over to that distant pool and found it to be a muddy waterhole about fifty feet across. The dirty feet of man and beast had fouled the water in a terrible way. This was the only drinking and washing water for all the kraals miles around. This was to be my drinking water for the next day as well! Boiling would certainly not improve its taste. When we came back to the school, the headteacher was there. A pleasant young man, who finished his training at Mbuma last year. We talked about the heathen feast at that nearby kraal, and the possibilities of addressing the people. He agreed to go and speak to the head of the kraal. He came back with the news that we were welcome and that we should come over straight away as the beer was finished and the people would soon be going home. I counted over one hundred people at that poor miserable kraal. Several diviners stared at me with a hostile, distant look. Four days of drunkenness had certainly put a stamp on most of them. Again I wondered whether it is wise to speak to people whose mind is dulled with beer. However, the Most High made it possible to let them hear the Word of God. I asked all those who had been at mission schools to put up their hands. Quite a number of hands went up. O, for a true love for their immortal souls. I reminded them of Paul’s address to
the Athenians. “I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.” We came away unharmed, although some would liked to have vented their hatred.
That evening about a dozen people came to the school where we had a short Bible study together. One woman is a member with us. (One of the teachers seemed to be interested in the Truth in a more than the usual way. May fruit yet be seen.) These teachers ought to be continually on our spirits. If there can be so many inconsistencies in my life in spite of my privileged and sheltered environment, how much more difficult must their lives be, where everything is bent on dragging them down. They have to live in kraals with the worst of heathen, often far away from their own homes. In many places the teacher is the only representative of the Gospel. This applies to both our male and female teachers.
We are trying to get all schoolchildren to read through the 4 Gospels in 1960. Here are some figures for Shangani only.
| 800 pupils in Sub. B. | Gospel of Mark. 3d. each. |
|———————–|—————————|
| 777 pupils in Std. I | Gospel of Matthew. |
| 500 pupils in Std. II | Gospel of Luke. |
| 438 pupils in Std. III | Gospel of John. |
| Std. III | 3rd term New Testament. 2/6 each. |
2515 pupils below Std. IV.
As soon as the psalmbooks are printed (D.V.) they will be able to buy those as well. Printing will take about two months in Bulawayo. 5,000 copies at approx. 1/9 ea. Three of our men are still busy with translating. Mr. Tallach, Mthethwa and Ndebele.—Van Woerden.