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A Personal View So many emotions. Conflicting ones. Joy and yet sadness. Relief and yet anxiety. Peace and yet anger. These were the feelings of many who in January attended the Commission of Assembly meeting in St Columba's, Edinburgh. For they saw, not the proceedings inside the building but a dramatic procession coming out of it. An unprecedented number of Free Church people had travelled from all points of the compass to give their support to the ministers who were (and are) making a stand for our constitutional principles. As the Commission opened with worship on the Wednesday evening many looked on eagerly and prayerfully. When business began the Principal Clerk stated that the Commission would now be meeting as its own Bills and Overtures Committee and that the public should leave. This was opposed by the Rev John A Gillies who spoke of the seriousness of the proceedings and that matters were already public. In response the Clerk mentioned the threat of litigation and that the normal practice of committees was to meet in private. This he proposed and it was carried by a huge majority. We were out. The doors were shut behind us. One felt that it was a token of things to come. Was the fate of the Free Church to be decided "in the dark"? Given the notorious events of recent years which had largely brought us to this point, perhaps it would be fitting. In the kindness of the Lord we were able to assemble downstairs in the hall. It was a place we would become familiar with as the next twenty-four hours unfolded. God gave us help in our perplexity and turned our hearts to Himself. "Hear, Lord, my pray'r; unto the voice of my request attend: In troublous times I'll call on thee; for thou wilt answer send" (Ps.86:6-7). A prayer-meeting was conducted by the Rev Hugh Ferrier which proved a blessing to many. Following this the Assembly Clerk descended in order to summon ministers, including Mr Ferrier, to appear upstairs in connection with their libels. He also announced, to the disappointment of many, that the Commission had indeed decided that the remainder of the business would be taken in private. On the Thursday while there was a closed session above there was intercession below. Three prayer-meetings were held with over a hundred gathered. Men enjoyed liberty as they poured out their hearts before God. There was also precious fellowship during the intervals as we sought to bear one another's burdens and to encourage ourselves in the Lord. What would His answer be? Even when the commissioners emerged during a break in proceedings in the early evening they had no knowledge as to the eventual outcome. It was not until after nine o'clock that the drama occurred. A great stamping of feet from above was the signal to us that the majority had accomplished something that was to its satisfaction. A faithful minister appeared to tell us that men were going out. A throng quickly gathered at the main door of the church. Minutes later a dignified procession, led by senior ministers, emerged from St Columba's. The people parted in their honour. Someone suggested the singing of Psalm 46 and soon the air was filled with those familiar and comforting strains: "God is our refuge and our strength, in straits a present aid; Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid".
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