A CHARGE DELIVERED TO THE CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF ARGYLL AND THE ISLES, AT THE SYNOD HELD IN THE CATHEDRAL OF THE ISLES, On Tuesday, September 15th, 1885. BY THE RIGHT REVEREND J. R. ALEXANDER CHINNERY - HALDANE, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles. X Edinburgh: ST. GILES' PRINTING COMPANY, JOHNSTON TERRACE. 1885. 10050.22. THE CHARGE. MY REVEREND BRETHREN,--Another year has passed away since we were last assembled in Synod, and we are now once more gathered together in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, under His protection, and hoping for His Presence and His Blessing. May the Holy Spirit, Whom He has sent unto us from the Father, that Holy Spirit in Whose honour this our Cathedral Church has been founded and dedicated, be with us, to cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, and to enlighten us with His Divine Light! No events of exceptional importance have occurred in this Diocese during the past year, and yet I hope through the Grace of God, His work has made steady progress among us. The beautiful Church at Portree, erected as a memorial to our late revered Bishop, has been opened for Divine Worship, and, though not yet consecrated, is already in constant use, and is becoming more and more important as a centre of Church work throughout a wide district. That the able and energetic Priest by whom, and under whose direction that work has been carried on, seems likely soon to leave us is, from our Diocesan point of view, a matter for deep regret. At the same time, we must feel that the call Canon Maclean has received from the Archbishop of Canterbury to superintend another, and an even wider, sphere of work in the East, is one which he could not have disregarded. An earnest and like-minded successor, to carry on what he has so well begun, is what we must hope and pray for, if pàst labour is not to be lost. At S. Finan's Kinlochmoidart, a new Incumbent has been appointed. The church there, however, unfortunately stands in need of considerable repairs, to complete which, an appeal has been made in order that local effort may be supplemented. In the meanwhile several beautiful memorial windowshave been inserted, including one to Mr Robertson Macdonald and his wife, the founders. At S. Mary's, Strontian, moreover, a very beautiful memorial reredos and a stained glass window have been erected in memory of Sir Thomas Riddell, whose zeal and care for the maintenance of God's worship we must never forget. At Fort-William, during the past year, a handsome Baptistery with a mosaic floor has been finished and dedicated. This costly offering now completes an edifice begun and ended for the glory of God, one which has been, we may humbly hope, accepted by Him, as was of old, the alabaster box of precious ointment. At S. Adamnan's, Duror, considerable improvements have been effected, including a reredos and altar-cross of carved oak. I may add too, that in order to provide for our dayschool lately commenced in connection with this charge, it is hoped that a school-room will soon be added in close proximity to the church. At Ballachulish, a new school-house and a residence for the teacher were formally opened, and taken into use last Candlemas Day. At Portnacrois, the old church has been entirely remodelled, its new altar having been consecrated last September; and in Glencreran, additions have been made to the parsonage, which adjoins S. Mary's, Fasnacloich. In the Island of Mull, I regret to say that the two charges of Lochbuy and Salen are vacant, yet through the aid and zealous exertions of Colonel Gardyne of Glenforsa, frequent services both in Gaelic and English have been held at the latter place. At the Bunawe Granite Quarries, in which a considerable number of Churchpeople are employed, a day-school has been opened, and the success that has followed this under taking warrants the hope that a new and permanent centre of Christian education may be formed there. At Cullipool, notwithstanding the temporary suspension of work in the Slate Quarry, our Church School which has been hitherto attended by about fifty children, promises to continue as useful as ever. At Inveraray, through the goodness of God, a new prospect of increased usefulness seems to be opening before us. An earnest and zealous priest, the Rev. J. F. Scholfield, (late Missionary Priest of Cumbrae), has been appointed, and has been working with success since last January, his labours having included the pastoral care of a number of our Churchpeople in the neighbouring quarries on Lochfyneside. A site has been granted in the Town Avenue of Inveraray, and plans have been prepared for a permanent church, to take the place of the present temporary building which, during a considerable period, has done such good service. Toward the building fund a considerable sum has been promised locally, but without external aid it would be impossible to carry out the proposed scheme. An appeal, therefore, has been made, which I trust will meet with a liberal response. Our Church at Campbeltown has also enjoyed, we have reason to hope, God's special blessing during the past year, and more particularly since the institution of the present Incumbent, the Rev. Charles Wakeham. Unity and zeal seem to have been granted there in answer to many prayers that have been offered. The congregation of S. Kiaran's are exerting themselves to the utmost to build a suitable residence for their Pastor, and when this is completed they hope to provide a church, more worthy to be called the House of God, than is the present structure. But it has been thought desirable to accomplish the smaller undertaking first, in order that the more important work of building the new church may be proceeded with, unhindered by any further considerations. As at Inveraray, so also at Campbeltown, external help is |