In the Free Church Assembly, Rev Donald Gillies, Lochs was appointed Moderator. In his address he condemned Sabbath sport declaring that people who arranged football matches on the Lord’s Day were flouting the law of God. He warned against slanting the Gospel and distorting the message to win support of some current ideology. Everyone must be made to know, he said, that either Christ will save us from our sins in time or our sins will separate us from Christ in eternity. There was no neutral position. He criticised those who through misguided zeal for the good of the cause of Christ, resorted to devices and gimmicks that had no warrant from Scripture.
Rev Maurice Roberts, Convener of the Public Questions and Religion and Morals Committee said that there was strong public feeling in this country against the Pope’s visit. He also stated that, in the providence of God, the visit might yet be stopped. Rev. Hugh Cartwright proposed that presbyteries be directed to keep the matter under review and do what they can to express reasoned opposition at this visit and to alert their people to the spiritual and temporal dangers of Romanism. This proposal was accepted. Rev. Hector Cameron said that they should make the preaching of the Word the antidote to Romanism. Mr Cartwright’s proposal was very timely and it would be good if it was carried into effect throughout the Free Church. It is clear that in many evangelical circles in Scotland opposition to Roman Catholicism is not what it once was.
A renewed call was made in the Assembly for a large increase in contributions. It was suggested that if the 10,000 contributors gave £5 per week it would bring in £2½ million. It was pointed out by other members of Assembly that such a suggestion would be an embarrassment to people, such as pensioners who could not afford that amount.