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Articles by John Redford Scott

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While in Scotland for a brief period, in May, it was my good fortune to have a glimpse of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Travelling toward Edinburgh at that time is something not soon forgotten.  Ministers and lay representatives from many parts of the country were in railway stations and on the trains, and numerous references to  the Assembly were heard.  In the same compartment in which I travelled with Rev.  E. G. B Foote,  a Senior Naval Chaplain, and who made possible for me certain privileges I should not otherwise have had, was a representative, the widow of a minister who had served in a rural district for some years.

Edinburgh has much to interest the visitor, with its Castle overlooking the city, wide and beautiful Princess Street with the park along one side, stately architecture, and many places of historic importance.  With Mr. Foote and Mr. McLeod, a Canadian Air Force Chaplain sometime was spent previous to the opening of Assembly at the War Memorial in the Castle, and at John Knox's house.

Spectators crowded the streets to watch the variously robed representatives of Church, University and State arrive for Divine Service in St.  Giles' Cathedral.  Spirited band music gave the procession added colour.  The service in the Cathedral was very, impressive.  It  included, the chanting of a Psalm, the repeating of the Apostle's Creed, Scripture Reading, Congregational Praise, prayers well composed and  suited to the occasion, and a scholarly, biblical and timely sermon delivered clearly and earnestly by the retiring Moderator, Dr. John Baillie.  It was based on John 3 (16-21)

For business sessions we went, to the Assembly Hall where we heard the retiring Moderator's address, the King's letter, the address of Lord Linlithgow,  and witnessed the election of the new Moderator.

Dr. Baillie told of his visits, to various parts of Scotland,  and the absence of young people at the services.  They were seen however on tours of camps, barracks, aerodromes, huts, canteens, factories, dockyards, schools and Universities.  High tribute was paid to people up and down the land who often in quiet ways and in obscure places met for worship and prayer and faithfully carried on the Church's work - "dispersed cells of holiness and spiritual influence." On these the fortunes of Christ's Church depend quite as much as on more outstanding leaders.

On the other hand he had been told of disturbing features.  Attendance at divine service was often scant; any kind of second Sunday service was difficult to hold; many week-night services had declined in vitality;  there was a lack of elementary Christian knowledge among many people; a loss of hold by the church on many of the youth, and an alienation from the Church of large sections of the industrial population.  This was due to intellectual and sociological disturbances-the former the -more manageable of the two.  He described how the primary - groups of family, neighbourhood, community and country town had been merged in mass society characterized by great factories, trade unions, department stores, big business, modern journalism, broadcast news bulletins, internationally provided cinema entertainments, mammoth cities and crowded industrial areas.  The Church must penetrate these new groupings, and be thinking about factory chaplains and team ministries.  Also the Church must beware of any force that breaks down family and neighbourhood spirit.  He stated: "I am convinced that the Church must not be content with seeking to adapt its ministration to the changed pattern of a general society, but must direct its utmost and most prayerful efforts towards the direction of our national life into such channels as will foster the restoration of family solidarity, an intimate sense of Christian neighbourhood; a regained sense of the dignity of labour, and the development of a true community spirit throughout the whole area of life.  Only so is our land likely to be blessed with a future worthy of its richly favoured past. Only so are our fellow citizens likely to be glad when we say unto them, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."

Of Irish birth the new Moderator, Dr.  Hagen,  went to Scotland as a student at New College, Edinburgh.  He expressed his regret at the absence, due to travel restrictions of the Dr. Kennedy Moderator of Presbyterian Church of Ireland, as it would have given him great pleasure to welcome another Irish Moderator to the Scottish General Assembly.  Later with Rev. D. M. Sinclair of the Maritime Conference, now a Senior Naval Chaplain, Overseas, I heard Dr.  Kennedy at a Children's service in his land.

Dr. Hagen is a fluent speaker with a vein of humour.  In presenting him to the Assembly, Dr. Baillie mentioned his strong leadership in Scottish Church life and his close associations with the Protestant Churches on the European continent.  The Scotsman commented editorially on this latter fact.

At the evening session representatives of other churches spoke, including two Canadians and one American - Squadron Leader W. B. Willan represented the United Church of Canada.   He gave a vivid picture of the vast dominion, mentioning that he was nearer the head offices of  the United Church while speaking in Edinburgh than when in his own church in British Columbia.  He pictured the varied make up of our population,  the extensive work of the United Church, and the recent underwriting of our deficit - This drew applause - He referred to Union as running off and getting married.

Rev.  E. G. B.  Foote (likely the youngest representing another church) for the Presbyterian Church in Canada.  He described well the large  contribution to Canadian life made by Scottish people and by the Presbyterian Church and the close ties between the Presbyterian Church in Canada and in Scotland.  He also brought greetings from Bishop Wells, Chief Protestant Chaplain for the Royal Canadian Navy, and who had once personally visited the Assembly.  Mr. Foote stated that as one representative had felt it worth the trip from England to Scotland to hear Dr. Baillie's address, he felt it worth a trip from Canada.  Many agreed with him as applause indicated.

A speaker for the Methodist Church told how in Scotland John Wesley was gladly received as a great preacher.  He also stated that Leslie Weatherhead when once told that he was a good Presbyterian, replied, "an improved one".

After all the representatives had spoken Dr. Baillie said that the Assembly should pray for a large measure of grace to prevent the compliments received (sincerely spoken and obviously appreciated) from doing much harm.

The official Canadian representative also spoke at the New College Dinner.  Another speaker at the Dinner known to some who have attended Maritime Student Christian Movement conferences, was Dr. William Rose now at London University, and representing Poland at the Assembly.

Others who brought greetings were Rev. A. D. Harcus Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of England,  Rev. R. B. Johnson of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, and Rev.  John T. Stark of the Baptist Union of Scotland.  Delegates from other churches, who did not officially bring greetings from their churches were also welcomed and included representatives from Holland,  Switzerland and Belgium.  A number of these later spoke at the Overseas Breakfast.

One day a representative and his wife seeing from our badges that we were Canadians,  spoke very graciously to us.  He told how as a boy he had lived in Canada, had been all across the country, and liked it very much.  We found out that he was the Marquis of Aberdeen and that his father had once been Governor General of Canada.

At an evening meal in a restaurant, a minister who sat at the same table, had been in the Shetland Islands six years during a number of which he did not attend Assembly.  Now he is at Cabrach in the Highlands where he cordially invited the two Canadians who sat with him, to visit at the Manse.

Canadians receive a warm welcome in Scotland, are well spoken of by the Scottish people and the Canadian church life is followed with keen interest.  It is good to enjoy even briefly their hospitality and to see their land.