*Dear Friends,
Once again, we would express our humble gratitude to you for your care towards us. We find it difficult to express sufficiently our thanks, as we feel on each occasion that our thanks is but a repetition of the past, and always an insufficient expression of gratitude. However again we wish to record our humble acceptance of your gifts, our feeling of deep indebtedness, and to remind you that without your help our Mission in Rhodesia could not operate on such a large scale as at present.
As one can see from our Financial Statements, our constant income equals constant expenditure. Apart from the normal day to day running of the already existing activities, we are also extending our work in certain fields. For example, in the Secondary School at Ingwenya there is preparation for a further and final stream of students. At Mbuma we are preparing for the building of an Isolation Block. Again, at Ingwenya, there is preparation for the building of a vestry to the Ingwenya Church. In fact the foundations are already laid and the walls are going up quickly. It is hoped (D.V.) that the vestry will be completed before the Ingwenya Communion of this year, September 25-29. There is hope also that churches will be built at some outschools. By having our own little Church in these places, should the African Council take over these outschools as they have already done in some cases, we need not depend on the whim of a local council for a place of worship.
Although much of our work has a secular aspect yet in this case it serves as a means to carry the gospel, and those who would never enter a place of sound gospel teaching, but for material benefit, have on such occasions the gospel preached to them. This has proved in the past a method whereby many were caught in the gospel net. Our chief purpose then in raising institutions is that the gospel may be carried by such means. How long these institutions will be in the hands of the Church here, is hard to say. Government policy can change so quickly, and indeed when it appears from the Press that many Missions seem to be places from which pupils can readily abscond to engage in the evil of Terrorism and Communism, one need not wonder at this Government should they change their attitude towards Mission Schools. Thankfully, our Mission strongly opposes the popular view that Terrorism and Communism are the answer to racial problems, and our pupils are discouraged from supporting those terrible evils which abound throughout the world.
Should our institutions, in future years, be taken over by the Government, this will not mean the collapse of the Church, for there will be left a nucleus of worshippers, those who truly fear the Lord, a living Church. There will be places of worship and a properly organised and active body of believers left behind. It is good that at this stage in our history, should institutions fail, we are nevertheless left with an established Church. It brings to mind the method adopted for the building of a house. The house must have scaffolding, but once the house is completed, there is no more use for the scaffolding, other than to be taken away.
However, whatever is to become of institutions and their relationship to the work of the gospel, one thing is certain — the gospel must needs always be carried, and spread abroad to the ends of the earth. There will always be this work, there must in fact always be a going out with the gospel: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.
This involves constant expenditure — the sending forth of the Preacher, of the printed page, and the maintaining of places of worship etc. This will be a work for the Church to the end of time.
Therefore dear friends, let us never weary in well doing. Our giving is giving to further the gospel, the gospel which alone is the “power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16.
One last matter I wish to bring before you, and that is the care the Church in Acts, Chapter 6, exercised towards those poor in body. This land has her poor like any other land, but no doubt to a greater degree than some nations. Since we are continually in contact with the poor, for this reason we feel thankful that we have at hand those necessary medicines and garments, supplied through your liberality and that of others.
Our tithing also brings a blessing from God. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10. May we enjoy those blessings in our tithing — God’s blessing, which is better than a thousand worlds, blessings for time and eternity.
May we understand also, that it is when Christ by the renewing of the Holy Ghost becomes our Prophet, Priest and King, our Saviour, that tithing becomes a real pleasure: whereas to the unbeliever tithing is no more than a cold duty as is all the law of God, but with Christ as our Saviour it is a delightful exercise to give to such a great King. Pray that our people in Rhodesia may know what it is thus to tithe one tenth of their worldly possessions to such a glorious King.
Yours sincerely,
Donald A. Ross.
*The above letter was sent to the friends in Holland who support our Mission.
Notes and Comments
The Moderator and the St Giles Demonstration
On Sabbath 7th September, Dr Edward Daly, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Londonderry, was to have preached in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, at the evening service there at the personal invitation of the minister, Rev. Gilleasbuig Macmillan. In fact, the Roman Catholic Bishop was unable to speak owing to protestors creating an uproar during the service, and the ecumenical venture misfired to the discomfiture of the minister of St Giles.
While not condoning the disturbance of public worship, it is clear that the minister of St Giles must share in the blame for the events of that day because he was responsible for inviting the Roman Catholic Bishop to preach from his pulpit. It is regrettable that the Moderator of Assembly could only view the incident as an assault on freedom of speech; while at the same time he condoned the action of the minister of St Giles by stating that he welcomed every move towards friendship and co-operation between the churches. How blind can church dignitaries become to the issues involved? If we, as a nation, enjoy liberty of speech we do not owe it to the Romanist Church but to the great Protestant Reformers.
B.B.C. and Bhuddhism
The bold, anti-christian action of the B.B.C. in allowing the broadcasting of a series of early morning talks on Buddhism in the programme once entitled “Lift Up Your Hearts,” has aroused considerable concern in many circles. The power exerted by the media cannot be underestimated and unless broadcasting is in the hands of those who can be intrusted to act responsibly, the consequences for the nation could be far-reaching. Without doubt two influences are very clearly evident in the Corporation. One of these is Roman Catholic influence, the other is humanistic or atheistic influence. Both of these are subversive elements, threatening the overthrow of the civil and religious liberties enjoyed in the nation until now. It is to be hoped that the Government will act speedily to prevent further degeneration of the media from the better standards which once prevailed. The demoralising and dechristianising tendencies of many of the programmes ought to be eliminated, and men appointed to positions of authority in the Corporation who will see to the carrying of this into effect. In proper hands the media could be of great influence in the moral and spiritual upbuilding of the nation, instead of acting as an influence towards the nation’s degeneracy.
Church Notes
Rhodesian Mission Staff
Miss Margaret MacKenzie, Laide, who teaches on the Mission was home for a short visit in August and September. She returned to the Mission in September and a new Dutch nurse, Miss Janteen Saane, went out at the same time. Miss Catherine Anne Turner returned home in September after serving another three years in the hospital at Mbuma. Miss Jessie Coote also was expected to return home in October on medical grounds. We would acknowledge the Lord’s goodness in His protecting care over Mission personnel in going out to and coming home from the Mission. May the Lord uphold the Mission Staff in their labour of love in that part of the world for the sake of Christ. We were glad to hear, too, of the safe arrival of a daughter to Dr and Mrs Cameron Tallach in far off Taiwan. May they, too, be blessed in their work in that part of the world.
Sabbath Observance Committee
The above committee is anxious to hear from readers about any instances of Sabbath-breaking against which action may be taken. It will be understood that the members of the committee cannot possibly keep an eye on the whole scene. It would, therefore, be of great help to us if others who are concerned for the observance and preservation of the Lord’s Day would supply us with information about Sabbath-desecration in their respective localities. We would welcome newspaper cuttings, addresses to which protests may be sent, and any other relevant items of information. Obviously, the more that people co-operate with us, the more effective and extensive will be our witness.
Perhaps, the following piece is not out of place here. It is taken from a discourse by Robert Gordon, D.D., which appeared in The Christian Miscellany of 1843. “I fear,” writes Dr Gordon, “that even Christians, by being so familiar with the sight of Sabbath profanation, regard it with less horror and alarm than it is befitting they should; and that they are not always forward to use the influence which they might exercise in arresting or preventing a sin which, when it becomes so common as to be characteristic of a nation, will assuredly, as all past experience testifies, bring down the judgments of God in national calamities. They cannot, indeed, either persuade or compel their fellow-men to regard the Sabbath as a privilege, or to improve it as such, calling it ‘a delight, holy of the Lord, and honourable.’ But they could do more than I fear many have ever attempted, to prevent the flagrant violation of a divine command, the open and impious profanation of a divine ordinance: and let us never forget, that if we cease to look with becoming horror on the more daring outrage on the sacredness of the Sabbath, which is too frequently exhibited, we shall be in danger ourselves of coming to entertain low ideas of that day, both as an ordinance of God, and as an inestimable privilege of the Church, and of sinking into formality in the observance of its holy duties.”
No enlightened Christian can surely fail to see Dr Gordon’s point here. It is to be feared that, as a result of the widespread Sabbath-desecration which we see around us, we are ceasing to view it with ‘becoming horror’ and we are in danger of entertaining ‘low ideas’ of the sanctity of the day. Are you concerned about the Lord’s Day? Is there something going on in your town or village or locality about which you feel we should know? Then do not hesitate to write to us, or to contact your local minister about it. Members of the Sabbath Observance Committee to whom you should write are:—
Rev. D.J. MacDonald, M.A.
(Convener)
Free Presbyterian Manse,
Portnalong.
Isle of Skye (Tel. Carbost 214)
Rev. I.R. Tallach, (Clerk)
77 Nimmo Place,
Perth PH1 2QA (Tel. Perth 25540)
Explanation
In a letter which the Editor has received from Rev. Iain Murray of the Banner of Truth Trust, Mr Murray wished to make it clear that in his reference to Dr Lloyd-Jones (on page 54 of the Memorial to John Murray), as the one figure in London who was commonly recognised as believing and preaching the doctrines of the Confession, he had no intention of denigrating the memory of other faithful servants of Christ but only of emphasising that the interests of historic Christianity had so waned in the city where Calvinistic congregations had once been strong and influential, that, with one exception, preachers of the old theology were not commonly known or recognised in English Evangelicalism. Mr Murray also states that he himself did not view as amusing the incident referred to on pp 32-33 of the Memorial. The Editor regrets the wrong impression given in the October magazine.
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
- Northern: At Dingwall on 18th November at 2.30 p.m.
- Outer Isles: At Stornoway on 18th November at 3.30 p.m.
- Southern: At Glasgow on 11th November at 6 p.m.
Church Deputies
Rev. D. A. Maclellan, Uig, was due to return to this country from Canada in mid-October. At the same time Rev. E. A. Rayner, Aberdeen, accompanied by Mrs Rayner, was due to set out as the Church’s Deputy to Canada and also to Grafton, Australia. We trust that the Lord will follow with a rich blessing the labours of His servants in the different places they visit.
Italian Mission
Rev. John Tallach, Kinlochbervie, who visited Italy on previous occasions, spent three weeks there again towards the end of September and beginning of October to minister to the small group at Fornaci di Bargo who are interested in the Gospel. We hope that his visit will have been an encouragement to the friends there to continue steadfast in the truth in very discouraging circumstances. May the Lord raise up for them one who would minister for them the Word of life.
Halkirk Congregation
It was decided that the hours of worship on Sabbath in the Halkirk congregation be 12 noon and 5 p.m. This arrangement to begin November — D.V. — D. A. MacLean, Minister.
Thurso Congregation
It was decided that public worship be regularly conducted in the Thurso Church, Olrig Street, at 6.30 p.m. each Sabbath. This arrangement to commence on first Sabbath in November, D.V. — D. A. MacLean, Interim-Moderator.