Late Rev. D. M. MacDonald, London
We are indeed sorry to have to report the death of Rev. Donald M. MacDonald, formerly the minister of Portree con-
gregation, Isle of Skye. Our friend was two years pastor of Uist congregation and twenty-nine years at Portree, from where he retired in 1948. He passed away in his sleep on the Sabbath morning, 1st September, 1968. The previous evening, Saturday, he took part in family worship, at which all his family were present, in the kind providence of God. He was almost eighty-six years of age. This note would be incomplete if we did not mention that Mr MacDonald lived in his latter years, after his wife’s death, with his son-in-law, Mr John Campbell, Worcester Park, London; and Mr and Mrs Campbell were exemplary in their devotion to and care of Mrs Campbell’s father. We remember the late Mr MacDonald since our boyhood. He came often to Glasgow at communion seasons. He was a gracious man and a lively preacher of the gospel of Christ. Few in our day, among the godly, possessed such a tranquil spirit which was manifest in his whole bearing and character. He continued all his life in unswerving and faithful adherence to the faith of the gospel and the testimony of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. As Editor, we had great pleasure in getting our late friend to write once and again, most interesting and edifying articles for this magazine. In this, he took great delight. He has left behind preaching and the pen and has entered into his rest — with the Saviour he truly loved, while here many friends will mourn his death. We extend our deep sympathy to all the members of his family and other relations, including the Rev. W. Grant, Dingwall, a brother-in-law. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord”.
Church Day of Prayer
Will ministers please take note of the following Synod motion: “That a day of prayer and humiliation be held on Wednesday, 16th October, 1968, or Thursday, the 17th October, in view of increased incidence of violence, and the passing of demoralising legislation in Parliament, and the low state of religion in the Nation.” — Robert R. Sinclair, Clerk of Synod.
Induction of the Rev. D. M. Macleod to Auckland, New Zealand
The Southern Presbytery met in the Vestry of St Jude’s Church, Glasgow, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28th, 1968, and was constituted.
At the Service, which began about 7 p.m. in St Jude’s Church, the Rev. D. Campbell, M.A., Edinburgh, Moderator of the Southern Presbytery, preached and presided. His Text was Mark, chapter 16, verses 15 and 16: “And He said unto them, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned’.” From this portion the Moderator delivered
a most appropriate discourse on the gospel, the preaching of the gospel, and the extent of the duty laid on the preachers of the gospel.
The Sermon being ended, the Clerk read a narrative of the steps leading up to this Induction. He then set the usual Questions, to all of which the Rev. D. M. MacLeod returned satisfactory answers. He then read out the Formula, which Rev. D. M. MacLeod signed in the presence of the congregation. The Moderator then engaged in solemn prayer and, prayer being ended, did Solemly Induct and Admit the Rev. D. M. MacLeod to the pastoral charge of Auckland, New Zealand. The newly-induced minister was then given the right hand of fellowship by the Moderator and Members of Presbytery and associated Members. The Clerk then addressed a few suitable words to Rev. D. M. MacLeod; and the Rev. D. MacLean, Glasgow, addressed the congregation in appropriate terms. After the conclusion of the Service with the singing of the last three verses of Psalm 122 and the benediction, the Rev. D. M. MacLeod shook hands with the congregation as they left the church.
The prayers and good wishes of the Southern Presbytery and of the Church follow the Rev. D. M. MacLeod to his new sphere of labour in the Lord’s vineyard. May he and the Auckland congregation have the blessing of the Lord, which maketh rich, and may the congregation he has now left be similarly favoured.
“He in thy borders maketh peace; with fine wheat filleth thee.
He sends forth His command on earth, His word runs speedily.”
Psalms, 147, verses 14,15.
Malcolm MacSween, Clerk to the Southern Presbytery.
Synod Proceedings — Correction
The following corrections regarding speeches made at last Synod and reported in Synod Proceedings have been submitted by Rev. A. F. Mackay.
“In presenting the Report of my recent visit to Rhodesia this year, I am represented as speaking of “This Mis-Government” on page 53, obviously in reference to the “Smith Government”, which should have been immediately noticed and corrected. I have paid particular regard in my Report and throughout my stay in Rhodesia to the obligation of avoiding all unnecessary criticism of the Government whose country I was visiting. Further down on the same page, the words “The Bembesi valley to the north along the Border of the Chambay tribal Trosslands” should read: “The Manguisi Valley to the north, along the Border of the Zhombe Tribal Trust Lands” — as a glance at the actual Report presented to the Synod shows, on page 87. On page 54, “Saka” should read “Luanda”, the coastal town of Angola in West Africa, and
on page 52, the minister of Zenka is Mr Campbell, not Mr Mzamo whose congregation is at Mbuma.
“Turning to the remarks accompanying the presentation of the Home of Rest Report, there occurs some confusion near the top of page 36 of the Proceedings, where a line is missed out and the previous line repeated. Instead of the line which is repeated, the passage should read: “the surrounding in which the Home is situated. An aspect of our work which is gratifying to us as a Committee is the financial side of the Home.”
We regret any errors and trust that these corrections will be noted by readers. — Robert R. Sinclair, Clerk of Synod.
New Clerk to Outer Isles Presbytery
The name of new Clerk to the Outer Isles Presbytery of the Church has been omitted from list of Clerks in this year’s Synod Proceedings. The new Clerk is, Rev. A. M. Cattanach, M.A., Free Presbyterian Manse, Finsbay, Harris, Inverness-shire.
— Robert R. Sinclair, Clerk of Synod.