Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
I came across a website that has several sermons by the Revd Kenneth A. Macrae.
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Thank you Daniel. No doubt this will be a spiritual gem. I have been enjoying his diary so much I am reading it a second time.
Daniel, I was just going to recommend you get it, when I saw you have already done so I think you will be helped in two ways. It provides helpful background to his booklet "The Resurgence of Arminianism". It also includes many spiritually helpful gems in his comments. The diary gives a glimpse into the soul of a very godly and useful servant of Christ.I have just ordered a copy of the Diary from Gowan Books in Fermanagh.
There isn't actually a local seminary on Lewis btw, just to avoid confusion. There is a building called "the seminary" in Stornoway where church services were (and are) held, but it's not an educational establishment where you'd expect lectures/students/exams etc. (@scottmaciver would know more than me though) I'd guess that the lecture might have been on behalf of some organisation or maybe for some occasion.I just visited this website again. I noticed this website had Kenneth MacRae's sermons and a lecture. If I have understood his diary correctly, he preached sermons at his local church and lectured at a local seminary on the Isle of Lewis.
Iain Murray lists his diaries at the end of the book and said (as of 1980) his daughter housed his diaries. I did wonder if any of his Grandchildren had them now?I wonder where these are housed
There isn't actually a local seminary on Lewis btw, just to avoid confusion. There is a building called "the seminary" in Stornoway where church services were (and are) held, but it's not an educational establishment where you'd expect lectures/students/exams etc. (@scottmaciver would know more than me though) I'd guess that the lecture might have been on behalf of some organisation or maybe for some occasion.
Iain Murray lists his diaries at the end of the book and said (as of 1980) his daughter housed his diaries. I did wonder if any of his Grandchildren had them now?
His grandson is Rev Kenneth I Macleod, currently Assistant Minister in Stornoway Free Church, although nearing retirement.
Kenneth MacRae was very concerned with the theological and spiritual decline in the Free Church. He documents this in his diary. It is my guess he would have approved of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) denomination. Obviously his Grandson did not think the same?His grandson is Rev Kenneth I Macleod, currently Assistant Minister in Stornoway Free Church
There is a building called "the seminary" in Stornoway where church services were (and are) held, but it's not an educational establishment where you'd expect lectures/students/exams etc
Iain Murray says in 'The Diary of Kenneth MacRae' pg 233, "An additional church property, known as 'the seminary' (rebuilt in 1899 to hold up to 300 people), had been used since the time of Peter MacLean for a Sabbath afternoon service in English for those who had too little Gaelic to profit from the regular services. By 1931 the need for such a service had increased and accordingly Macrae, from the start of his ministry in the town,normally preached three times every Lord's day. He was also to introduce a 'lecture' in English on Wednesday evenings during the winter months, an innovation which soon became an important part of the church's life."Yes, as Catherine said, the seminary is a church building, where we had Sabbath school when we were in Primary School. Nowadays, It tends to be used mainly for one Gaelic service on the Lord's Day, although also for prayer meetings throughout the week.
Kenneth MacRae was very concerned with the theological and spiritual decline in the Free Church. He documents this in his diary. It is my guess he would have approved of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) denomination. Obviously his Grandson did not think the same?
Kenneth MacRae died in 1964 so obviously any comment about him agreeing with FCC men is speculation. On that I do agree. My comments were based on ch 18 of the Diary, especially pg 459. MacRae was very concerned with theological developments at the General Assembly of 1955. The chapter concludes with his comment "It was a sad Assembly, which chilled my heart and filled me with apprehension as to the future". My assumption was that if these trends continued over the following decades I can see how the logic could develop as to the need to form the FCC.That conclusion does not necessarily follow from the premise. While obviously he would have agreed with the FCC men on issues such as psalmody, it does not necessarily mean that he would have supported the formation of another denomination. He also stated his desire to have the Free Presbyterian ministers come into the Free Church, whom he was probably closer to in some respects than some other Free Church ministers, and he mourned that Israel and Judah remained divided (see page 173 of the Diary). And yet he never advocated joining the Free Presbyterians just because he thought there was declension in the Free Church.
My comments were based on ch 18 of the Diary, especially pg 459. MacRae was very concerned with theological developments at the General Assembly of 1955. The chapter concludes with his comment "It was a sad Assembly, which chilled my heart and filled me with apprehension as to the future".
Enjoy I think you will particularly enjoy Iain Murray's comments on the pamphlet "The Resurgence of Arminianism" mentioned a few times in the chapter.That chapter is the next one that I am due to read.
Yes. I enjoyed it too. I did wonder where he sourced his information. No doubt his own military background helped.The chapter on the Second World War was outstanding.