Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

elders'exposition"revised."The Reformed Presbyterian Synod of Ireland- 1954Through the courtesy of Mr. H. B. Holmes ofBallymoney, Ireland, the "Minutes of the R. P. Synodof Ireland" has come to my desk and I offer a briefsummary. There were present thirty ministers andthirty-five elders: a reversal of the situation here,where the attendance is less than that of theministers. (In Ireland ministers who are absent forany reason send apologies.) The Rev. James Calderwood, minister of the Bready congregation, wasModerator.The Irish church has before it, as we had a fewa revision of its "Doctrinal and Practicalyears ago,Testimony"and of its Terms of Communion. The newTerms, which number four instead of six as beforeare said to have the general approval of the church.They do not mention the subordinate standards. Toremedy this the Rev. A. Barkley of Australia gavenotice that at the next Synod he would move an addition: "I accept the doctrines set forth in the Westminister Confession of Faith and Catechisms asfounded upon and agreeable to the Word of God."There was also a petition that came from the Sessionof the Geelong congregation, of which the Rev. Mr.Barkley is pastor, through the Eastern Presbytery ofthe Reformed Church in Australia complaining thatthe Terms had no specific mention of DistinctivePrinciples. The Minutes give at length the replyofthe Commission of the Synod: "It is admitted thatthere is no specific reference to the subordinatestandards of the Church in the Four Terms ; neitheris there reference to the Presbyterian Form of Government, Covenanting, purity of worship, the matterof oath-bound secret societies, political dissent, etc.All these points in doctrine, discipline, and practicerequire to be explained to those seeking membershipand it was felt that a general term likein the Church,the third, that required from members adherence toall the church stands for in doctrine and practice,would suffice. The Witness-Bearing Committee hasprepared that brief exposition of this position to beappended to the Four Terms of Communion."Evidently the question whether with the newTerms the Church can legally retain property givenit on the express condition that it remain faithful toitems of mint and anise and cummin, what the familyconsumes from farm and garden ; or our income mayeven be too large to tithe. Let's keep back a part ofthe price. And Sapphira agrees. "RobbingGod"and"Lying to the Holy Ghost" are God's ugly but truenames for such leaks.Then there are seepages in the local treasury.Perhaps enough has been said here. Is the local expenditure any business of the church at large ? Well itwas money on the way to the storehouse, wasn't it ?I believe we all ought to be conscientious about howmuch money we get out of the treasury of the Lord,whether en route, or after it arrives. The Lord thatsits over against the treasury has a keen sense ofjustice. Isn't the Lord saying to each of us, "Whatdoes the Lord thy God require of thee but to dealjustly?"October 13, 1954the principles held at the time of the gift has beencarefully considered, for the next paragraph reads:"Legal advice has been sought in the matter of defining the position of the Church property held underadherence to the former Terms. It is affirmed thatsince the Church is at liberty to revise her Terms ofCommunion, and since these Terms have been adopted by the decision of the Supreme Court, and sinceshe has not abandoned any of the principles formerlyheld, there is no violation of Trust regarding Deedsdrawn up on the basis of an earlier set of Termsof Communion that have been subsequently"All that the Church stands for" seems to adistant onlooker a rather vague and unsatisfactoryway of presenting to the world in the Terms of Communion the great doctrinal basis, government anddistinctive principles of an historic church. The particular and definite becomes general and indefinite.It is true that a "briefis "appended," butthis is certainly not authoritatively in the degree thatthe Terms have authority. However, the issue so faras doctrine is concerned will be before the next Synodwhen Mr. Barkley's proposed addition comes to avote.The missionaries of the Irish and Scotch Churches (theyoperate jointly) have been forced out ofSyria and have had difficulty in getting permissioneven to visit their former fields. The new work inLebanon, a country that has more religious freedomthan any other Arab or semi-Arab country, is progressing well.Three men, Messrs. Stewart, Beck and McKeereported on work done in the fields of Irish evangelism and Bible circulation.The two congregations in Australia are bravelycarrying on : that at Geelong under the Rev. A. Barkley and that at McKinnon, Melbourne, under the Rev.W. R. McEwen. These men are pleasantly remembered because of their studies here. May all thatgreat continent be brought some day into the Covenants !The Women's Missionaryand counted it an "eventful" one.came of age last yearThe C.Y.P.U. reported two new societies and aone-day Annual Conference.The Psalmody Committee reported the holdingof the first Psalmody Festival since the war with achoir of over two hundred voices. The question ofhaving sufficient Psalters was considered. It is saidthat a few congregations are using the RevisedPsalter of the Presbyterian but that this is not general. The cost of printing a new edition of the Rouseversion was said to be prohibitive and the matter wasleft at that. Of course the American church would beglad to have Ireland adopt our Psalter.Of the 122 pages of the Minutes 50 are taken upwith a report of the finances of the church and especially a detailed account of investments. One couldwish that a part of the income of these funds couldbe spent in printing a new edition of the Psalter. Itcould be repaid when the books are sold.John Coleman229