Grafton Communion
We are asked to state that the Communion will be held (D.V.) in Grafton, Australia, on 5th Sabbath of August.
Old Bracadale Church — An Appeal
At Portree and within the Free Presbyterian Church Manse there on 7th March, 1969, the Deacon’s Court of Bracadale Free Presbyterian Congregation met and was constituted.
Inter alia: It was agreed to ask the Presbytery to put an appeal in the Church Magazine for financial help in connection with the proposed plan to repair the old Bracadale Church, and at the same time to intimate that the Bracadale Manse Building Fund is now closed, and to thank cordially all who gave financial help hitherto. Closed with prayer.
The Western Presbytery heartily endorse this appeal.
Alfred MacDonald, Moderator.
John Colquhoun, Clerk.
Parish of Bracadale. — This Parish has figured in the ecclesiastical history of the Church of Scotland in the Highlands in the past, and was originally within the bounds of the Synod of Argyll, which stretched as far as the Island of Lewis. The first record we have of this part of Skye shows it to have been divided into two parishes, that is, Minginish and Bracadale. The church of the Parish of Minginish was at Eynort, and its ruins are still to be seen. It was here on 5th July, 1642, that the National Covenant was signed for the first time in Skye, and on 7th July of the same year it was signed in Bracadale. It was recommended by the Synod in 1651 that the two parishes be united and a church built at Loch Harport, but the union does not seem to have taken place at that time for they are mentioned separately in 1656, and both are stated to be vacant at that time. Episcopacy, however, continued to be the religion of the people in general till after the Revolution, and, according to Scott’s Fasti, the Rev. John Bethune minister of Bracadale, was the first minister in the Island who dispensed the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, from the time of the Reformation, according to the Presbyterian form. The Church for which the appeal is made was built in 1831, and was formerly the parish church. It was built during the ministry of the Rev. Roderick MacLeod, latterly of Snizort, Skye, and is on the site of a former Church which might possibly take us back to pre-Reformation times. Mr MacLeod’s ministry in Bracadale extended from 1823 to 1838, and thus he must have ministered in the previous church whatever its condition must have been until the present church was erected. It was here that he spent the most troublesome part of his ministry, but the Lord acknowledged his labours in spite of all that his co-presbyters did against him, so that his name is still revered among the descendants of those who sat under his ministry, while those who persecuted him are forgotten, and even their names are not remembered except in association with foolish episodes which bring out the mediocrity of their talents and the immorality of their lives. — J. Colquhoun.
Jewish and Foreign Mission Collection
The Synod appointed this Collection to be taken in August, by book where convenient. Again we have to thank our loyal people for so generously contributing to this Fund, and their generosity in the past encourages us to approach them again, in order to help to meet with our ever-increasing expenses. We have had the gospel in Scotland for hundreds of years and many have been turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. This ought to make us anxious to send it to those who are less privileged than we are. Our efforts in the past have been acknowledged by the Lord in turning many of the natives in Rhodesia from heathendom, and the fruits of the gospel are seen among them. Whatever political changes have taken place in that land, the door has not yet been shut on us, and as long as the Lord keeps the door open we ought to continue our efforts. We have now a fully qualified medical man in charge of the Mbuma Hospital, and from reports received the appointment is favourably viewed by the Government, which encourages the hope that a grant may be given, but, so far, we do not get a grant, and, therefore, expenses have to be met from other sources. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Eccles. ix, 10.
John Colquhoun, Convener.
Winnipeg Communion
This year the Communion will be held on Sabbath, the 7th September (D.V.), when it is expected that the usual services from Thursday, 4th September, will be conducted by the Rev. Dr R. Macdonald along with the Rev. Alexander Murray. Visitors would be made welcome. Rev. A. Murray may be contacted at Kitchen, 758 Fleet Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Opening of New Beauly Church
Since some years now the old Church building at Beauly had been considered by the congregation as inadequate and on occasions unsuitable. A new, larger and excellent Church building was recently completed which is a credit to those concerned in its erection.
On the evening of 2nd July, 1969, this Church was opened, and a service was conducted by Rev. Robert R. Sinclair, Wick. The congregation present filled the Church and additional seating had to be brought in to accommodate all who attended. Friends came from many places such as Fort William, Wester Ross and Caithness and Inverness and district.
Mr Sinclair preached from “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?” (2nd Chronicles, ch. vi, verse 18). Mr Sinclair dealt with some Scriptural statements relative to God’s greatness and character. Then the question was proposed, Would God dwell with fallen, sinful men who merited His displeasure; when the heaven of heavens could not contain His essential presence? The answer given to the question was “Yes”. And the speaker gave in some detail an exposition of the answer, primarily from New Testament sources. God had chosen unto Salvation many of the fallen children of men. His own Son and equal was “made flesh and dwelt among us”. By means of His Word, Gospel and the Sacraments and also His providential government, God did dwell with men on the earth. But it was in and with Spirit taught believers upon His name revealed in Christ, that God did dwell, and also while they engaged in worship in fellowship with one another and in their times of need and trouble, etc. God has in view, in this regard, preparing men to dwell with Him in the everlasting Kingdom, the speaker said.
Sincere thanks are extended to Mr John MacKenzie, Treasurer, and also ladies of the congregation for their activities in preparing the Church for the opening service. Rev. D. A. Macfarlane, M.A., Minister of the joint Dingwall-Beauly Congregation, at the end of the service, spoke most appropriately for such an occasion and intimated that the collection taken that evening was £475; but this sum rose to £500, before the congregation dispersed. Mr Macfarlane wishes in this notice to convey his and the congregation’s thanks, to Mr Sinclair, for coming to open this Church. And may this place for public worship, be made a Bethel spiritually to many a soul.
Bookroom
Bound volumes of the Free Presbyterian Magazine and Young People’s Magazine up to 1967, are now available for sale from the Bookroom, price 8/6 and 5/- respectively. Readers will appreciate that stocks of the earlier issues are limited. — Librarian.