THE SCOTTISH FREE CHURCH

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 15

THE SCOTTISH FREE CHURCH

The Second Division of the Court of Session on October 22 (Lord Young differing) applied the judgment of the House of Lords finding the Free Church entitled to the property belonging to that church at

the time of the union in 1900. The majority of the judges were of opinion that the duty imposed upon them by- the House of Lords

was a ministerial one, which they were bound to fulfil. Lard Young, on the other " hand, thought an opportunity should be given to discuss the question whether it "nraa within the discretion of the court to delay pronouncing decree in order to see if Parliament would interfere. The effect of the decision is, of course, to hand everything over at once to the Free Church, but there are many points of detail which remain to be cleared up. For example, there is the application for interdict in regard to the use of ,the New" College and the University Hall, 1 in connection with which a great deal has happened since the union -of 1900. ,' In 1902 the United Presbyterian buildings— tKe Synod Hall and College in Castle terrace, Edinburgh — -were sold for- £30,000, and practically the whole free balance* of that money- has been -spent in additions to the" Free Assembly Hall, the Church Offices, and thg Colleges, in- Edin"burgh^and in Glasgow. .. It is argued that while tEe judgment means that the trustees Lave not to denude, nevertheless the trustees '. have not yet donf so, and it will require probably another action to compel ' them. . To that action very serious defences^ — on' the ground * that the United Free Church must be recouped for the valuable additions ■which they have put on - the properties sinoe the union—^may ~be put forward. An action. of this kind, "might take «omei considerable time to determine.' Questions of a similar nature in regard to properties all over the country' will- arise. N With regard to" the ' Glasgow U.F. College (says the Glasgow Herald), no formal demand has been made. by- the Free Church for possession, nor has anything, been done - in the way of appointing professors; but it is stated that there was a very general ieeling among the members of the board that in looking at the position taken up at the conference by the representatives oi the 3?ree Churoh, and their refusal to' come to any arrangement, it might be well at once to surrender >the buildings and find accom-

modation elsewhere. Through the courtesy "of Principal Story and the professors of the' University, 'class-rooms at Gilmorehill have been placed at the disposal of .the professors of the U.F. College- in the >event of such a contingency arising,, and there" is

a- disposition on- the part of the board- to,- • accept? of 'the offer so generously made. ■ x Answers to. the application by the Free Church" to interdict- Principal "Rainy and the. United? Free- Church professors! from entering or, teaching in the New, College at. Edinburgh were lodged in the "Bill Chamber of ;the. Court of Session. The' respondents submitted - that the complainßrs were' not . the" proprietors o£" and" had no ■ title* to, the heritable subjects' in dispute,^ a'iid - that it would be^ altogether . unreasonable! and oppressive in the circumstances to summarily dispossess the whole staff of professors and students. The point was debated at length, But in the end the; Free Church' got the interdict- craved, dating, as from Monday of this week. CHURCHES TO BE OCCUPIED. No indication was .given on October 22 as to when the Free Church will take possession of the, church whicn they decided- to occupy immediately on the judgment, of the House of Lords being applied. These are : Presbytery of Edinburgh— Bucclsuch and Greyfriars, Coulter. Dollar, St Columba. Presbytery of Glasgow — Brodick, Coathndge,' Duke Street, Govau, Greenook, Hope Street, Xilmory, Lenimorej Milton,- North Knapdale, Renton, liothesay, Shiskine, Southend. Arran (Sliddery), Whiting Bay. " Presbytery of Lorn — Acharaole, Arclnanvurchan', Coll, 3?ort Wiiliam, Gienorchy, Kilmallie, JBolbrandon and Kilchattan, Obau, Sa&en, Strontian, Tobennory. | Presbytery of Inverness— Davlot, Dxithill, Elgin, Fork Augustus,. Glenmonston, Glen•urquhart, Grantown-on-Spey, Inverness, Kiltarlity, -Moy, Straiherriek. j Presbytery cf Chancnry—^Kilearnan, Knockbain, Resolis. 5 - / _ .Presbytery of , Dingwall— Alness - and Rosskean, Cpntin. Dingwaßl, Feaam/Kilmorack, Kil-" nrair (Easter), . Kxlteaxn, Strathoonan, Strathgarve. Strathpeffer, TJrquhart, Urray. - . Presbytery, of Lochcarron.— Applec'ross, Col- , gach, Gairloch, Glenelg.Glenshiel, Kinlochewe,Lochalslf Loehcariron, Plockton, Poolewe and Aultbca. Torridon. Presbytery of Skye and Uist— Bracada,le, Duirnish, Kilmuir, Raasay, Sleat, Snizort (5.),. Strath, TJist, TT]g. . Presbytery of Lewis-rßack, Barvas, .Carlo•way, Cross. Kinloch, Knockj Lechg, Park, Sha-w-bost, Stomaway,- Ulg'(Bernara). Presbytery of Dornock. — Assynt, Clyne, Crioeh, Croick, Domooh, Edderton, Fair, Go-1-spie, Kincardine, Lairg, Rogart, Rosehall, Steer, Strathy, Tongue. Presbytery of Caithness — Bcrridale and Dunbeath, pamnet, Latheron, Olrig, miscellaneous. In a number of these eases the congregations are divided, one-Jialf entering into the union and the other half adhering to the Free Church. Considerable feeling has been manifested between the two sections, and it is believed by not a- few that when it comes to ejection there will be extraordinary scenes in many of the churches. \ TAKING* FORCIBLE POSSESSION. On Friday, October 21, the anti-unionists of SniTiort, Skye, without waiting., for the. judgment of the House of Lords to become operative, tcok forcible possession of the Snizort Churoh, which hitherto remained in possession of the section adhering to theunion. This was the church of which the late well-known Rev. Roderick Macleod, and ex-Moderator of the General Assembly, was minister. He was succeeded by the Eov. Joseph Lamont, now minister of Rosetall, Sutberlandshire, who was in charge of the congregation at the date of the union, when he joined the United Church. A considerable section of the people who i-cfused to follow their minister into the union organised themselves into a congregation and worshipped in the schools of fheir district, and had a misiSionary ordained -to minister to them. On Mr Lamont c 'departure three years ago the Key. John rMacDougall, of Lochs, Lewis, was elected minister, and he carried .on the work with 'the assistance of a missionary, holding services in the churches at Snizort and! Uigi .While feeling ran high as to the case and the exclusion of the anti-umonists from

the church buildings, the services continued to be conducted by both parties according to the arrangements that held since the union. Impatient, however, at what they thought the law's delay, the more impulsive adherents of the South Sni-

zort section determined' to take immediate steps to put themselves into possession of the church A young man presented himself at Ihs manse on the afternoon of Octob&r 21, and on behalf of the Free Church people demanded from Mr MacDougall the keys of the church. The minister asked him to produce his authority for making suoh a demand. The young man replied that they had had the authority of the highest court in the land, and they were determined to have the church. Thereupon tho man retired, and in a few minutes returned to the manse with a deputation of Free Church supporters. Mr MacDougall received them courteously, and counselled them to be careful as to what they were going to do. One of them, in a most excited manner, demanded the keys, with full possession of the church. The minister, becoming alarmed at the threatening attitude of members of the deputation, said they evidently came, to intimidate Mm, and asked them to leave his house. They at once n-fthdrew and moved off to the church. One of their number gained admission by a' 'window and opened thi church doors. Thay then and there removed the lock from the main door a,nd put another k in -its-place,- and- barricaded the other doors on the inside. By this time a number of Mr, MacDougali's congregation assembled at the church, and it was feared there would- be a " conflict " between the parties but Mr MacDougall advised his people to refrain from any action that would prejudice their case. The people remained about the. church till 10 o'clock, when they dispersed. Meanwhile Mr MacDougall wired to the police authorities at Portree for protection, and a constable was sent lo Snizort, but his services were not necessary. SCENES AT SUNDAY'S SERVICES. The Free Church members worshipped in tno church on Sunday, October 23, the services being conducted by Mr Alexander Mac Lean, oatechisfc. The United Free Church congregation gathered in the manse. lhe older men and women were accommodated in four rooms on the ground flat and in the lobby,- while the younger folk stood outside in front of the manse. The minister, the Rev. Mr Macdougall, took up has position at the front door of the manse and preached for an hour, and was attentively listened to by his audience. The services were very imrtressivef and the people seemed to be greatly affected by the unusual circumstances in which they found themselves placed, most of them sheddinig tears during the progress of service. The day was very wet, and those outside had nothing to protect them from the rain but their umbrellas. In the evening, by the .thoughtMness pf-'Mrs Maodbug&ll, who arranged the staircase , and kitchen for further accommodating the congregation upw.ards of 200 people were able to take part in, the Eervices in tJie manse. . Several members" present .recalled the first Sabbath after, the Disruption^ .when the Snizorfc congregation- gathered with their pastor, the -late Rev. .Roderick- 'MaeL&od, who preached, to them in the open air The people adhering to the United" Churoh appear to be very loyal to the Union and to tiheir pastor, whom they are determined to follow. Rumours were abroad this week that the Free Church people we<re'to focre the minister out of the manse. A deputation of his congregation has waited on Mr MacdoTJigall, and expressed their sympathy with him in the position in which he was suddenly placed, and urged him not to be discouraged by what had taken place. One of them, a crofter, who had a very comfortable house, offered to give it up for the use of the minister and his family, while the crofter would get ample accommodation for himself and his family in the barn.

A SURPRISE FOR ISLAY U.F.'S.

The state of affairs in Porfcnahaven, May, resulted in an extraordinary meeting fchere. The church (says a correspondent), which was erected by the congregation at the Disruption, served for church and school until a public school was built in 1878. At the time of the Union with fche U.P. body the minister, the Rev. Mr M'lntyre, without consulting the congregation, went over to the majority, leaving fche people to follow him or dissent at pleasure. Much dissatisfaction was manifested, in the matter, and some office-bearers and members dissented, while others attended the services occasionally, on account of having no other Free Church to go to. At the close of the service on Sabbath, the 16th October, the minister announced to the small number of worshippers that the church, which had not 'been_ occupied '^for a considerable time on account of undergoing a renovation, would be opened, on the, 20th, when a deputation of the 'U.F.' ministers, consisting of the Rev. Mr M'Millan ' (formerly of Port Charlotte Free Church), Rev. Messrs Lee, M'Kay, and .Murray, would address a meeting of the congregation. He also intimated that the Fast Day would be observed on the 21et, and the communion dispensed on the following Sabbath. As the "time for the meeting approached a large number of people assembled in fche church to await the deputation. After praise and prayer Mr M'lntyre expressed- his pleasure at seeing such a large gathering, and thanked the congregation for coming to listen to the addresses which would be delivered by their kind friends, who had undertaken such long, fatiguing journeys to be- present. Proceeding, he drew attention to the fact of their being a poor and small body, who could ill afford a split, and strongly exhorted th© j oongr>eg<ation to be unanimous in their de-, cision. He then called upon Mr Lee to speak, but before the rev. -gentleman had time to rise Mr Archibald M'Aulay. postmaster, stood up and quietly intimated that .the congregation had decided to adhere to " the Free Church of otir fathers." This was seconded by Mr A. M'Le&n, officebearer, who requested all adhering to the Free Church to rise and follow him out of the meeting. Without lingering or looking back, the people filed out and returned to their respective homes to discuss matters uninterrupted with their families, leaving the distinguished orators 'to deliver their addresses to an audience of some 12 people.

THE SITUATION AT KINGLASSIE.

The church services at Kinglassie, where, a, fortnight previously, a deplorable scene occurred in connection with the congregational schism .there, passed off quietly on Sunday, October 23. The adherents to the Free Church possession of the building, while the other section, -who have decided to remain in the United Free Church, met in the Mitchell Hall, where barely a score attended. Inspector M'Gregor, of the Fife Constabulary, along with the local policeman, attended the services in view, of eventualities; the. former

being in the church, and the latter in the hall. Fortunately, they found no occasion calling for interference. The Rev. J. Deas Logic, formerly assistant, and now the chosen minister of the Free Churoh congregation, preached in the church before a congregation of about 100. At the conclusion of the services, Mr Logic referred to their present position. They had not yet fully commenced their winter's work, but he expected that complete arrangements would be made soon. He desired to say nothing regarding the events of the past week, which, they hoped, would soon be forgotten.

A DIVIDED CONGREGATION.

A rather lively meeting of Abernyte United Free Church took place on the union question. While the majority voted for adhering to the United Free Church, it was intimated that the entire kirk session was against the union, and, although appealed to to acquiesce in the decision in favour of the union, the elders held out, and on appeal being made by the Rev. A. B. Macaulay, Dundee, to the members of the congregation why they voted against the union, no one responded. Mr Macaulay remarked that it seemed that the schism was to continue. In the course of the proceedings if - was stated that, the Church was under the model trust deed, and there were nearly £600 of endowments.