PROVOST DEPOSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22717, 1 November 1935, Page 18

PROVOST DEPOSED

JOHN MURRAY OF DORNOCH After being under a ban for six months Provost John Murray, of Dornoch, Scotland, has been expelled from the Free Presbyterian Church for all time. This is the latest development in a controversy that has aroused amazing interest in Scottish Church circles. Provost Murray strenuously fought against the sentence of six months' suspension which was passed upon him by the Evelix Church Session because he allowed young peoples' dancing at a party in honour of his 20-year-old daughter in his home. In their judgment on his case the elders of the Church stated that promiscuous dancing was " a. means of fostering the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life." During vthe suspension Provost Murray each Sunday held rival services, which attracted large congregations, in the Birichen Library, a mile from his former church. When requested by the session to appear before it to explain why he was holding opposition services he declined to do so until his suspension had been revoked. A meeting was then held by the Church Session to consider a further case against Provost Murray for holding the opposition services. Secrecy concerning the result of the meeting was broken when, following the service in Evelix Church, the Rev. Finlay M'Leod, minister and Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church in the Rogart and Dornoch area, stated: — "John Murray, one'of our members, who refused to meet Evelix Church Session on three occasions in regard to his opposition meetings in this parish, has had his name erased from ,our roll." Mr M'Leod went on to appeal to those who had drifted from the church to return. Provost Murray, when told of the decision, commented: "The Church leaders have been acting contrary to Church law. Throughout my six months' suspension, I have not been a member of the Church, and I cannot conceive how the.v can depose anyone who is not a member. " I have not yet made up my mind whether to form a new sect or to become a member of some other denomination."