WEE Frees

[Red_Hamish]

Hello Gerald,  you asked in your post

Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:35 pm    Post subject:    

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OK Walter,
Inlighten us in the colonies, I know a Kirk is a Church but pray tell what the "WEE FREE" is?
Regards,
Gerald  

a short definition on Presybyterianism within the Scottish kirks. There was after the reformation the Church of Scotland but in the early 1900'2 a breakaway group of ministers started the Free Church of Scotland predominently in the Western Isles and the NW of mainland Scotland. As they occupied the former manses and churches of the C of S there was a period of  resentment and adjustment where the two vied for position. Ultimately the Free was the smaller congregations and hence the WEE Frees became known.
Major difference is the Wees sit to sing and stand to pray and through  the sermons which are more stearn and most still observe the lords day of rest. Whereas the C of S is more open and although still quite strict we still stand to sing and sit to pray and the lords day is not respectednearly as much.

A potted overview which may help to enlighten those colonials.

cheers

Jim

p.s. my late afther-in-law was the C of S minister at the chuch a few miles up the road from where we now live.
p.p.s. my wife is now a Bhuddist  

[sandystrone]

Hi red hamish,
we had two free churches in our locality, and after the second world war they were abandoned and one became the village hall, and the other became a pottery!

Its only recently that Caledonian Macbrayne vessels started to operate on a Sunday in the Outer Isles rather than offend the Church.
The Stornoway mail boat used to be timed to sail at one minute past midnight on a monday morning!
                                                   A.T.

[Red_Hamish]

Hello Sandy, thanks for clearing that up. I apologise openly if I have caused any offence to anyone at all. When I was younger I went out with a girl in N.W. Sutherland who was a member of the congregation of the Free Church and my view of that time has possibly jaundiced my view. Then a French woman who was a Eco warrior and a humanist. Therefore it is ironic that I married a daughter of the Manse.

All the best

Jim

p.s. I used to enjoy working out in Lewis  and Harris and Benbecula a week at a  time every eight weeks. Made moving to Shetland an easy choice  

[sandystrone]

Hi Jim,
I come fropm Clydeside where the church never had a strong influence, and I married a girl of French descent,  say no More!

Can I ask what are your connections with Edinburgh  model boat club?

I am the secretary of the Tynemouth model boat  club (1893)
We like to put that bit of date in as we are proud of being an old club, mind we have a few elderly members in it - possibly from 1893 themselves!     Sandy

[sandystrone]

Hi Jim,
I come fropm Clydeside where the church never had a strong influence, and I married a girl of French descent,  say no More!

Can I ask what are your connections with Edinburgh  model boat club?

I am the secretary of the Tynemouth model boat  club (1893)
We like to put that bit of date in as we are proud of being an old club, mind we have a few elderly members in it - possibly from 1893 themselves!     Sandy

[Red_Hamish]

Hello Sandy you posed a very good question "what are my comnnections with the EMBC? "

I have been a member of EMBC for a few years as it was equally as convenient when I lived in Aberdeen to shoot down the dual carriageway and motorway to Edinburgh as it was t go to Tarlair. The reason I joined was to participate in their scheduled events as in regattas, themed sailing days, tug towing competitions etc. Also as they were offering a good level of insurance covering any waters where permission to sail had been granted. As a pro-active club within the Scottish Federation that also brought benefits to our members.
In saying that I was also prepared to travel to virtually any open day if it were within a days driving distance in Scotland and our family diary allowed.
You are obviously aware of the benefits of being a club member in the sense of cameraderie and the good friends you can make.

All that I'd suggest to any club who is reading this post; Get out and promote to the general public what is a very relaxing and enjoyable hobby which is not only for the retired set.

I hope you have many more years of enjoyment from your hobby.

cheers

Jim

p.s. Now to see if there is a non sail oriented club up here in Shetland  

[steamboatmodel]

Thanks Jim,
The Presbyterian Church aperantly was going through quite a change at the beginning of the century, over hear we had the founding of the United Church about that time, as quoted from their web site
"The United Church was inaugurated on June 10, 1925 in Toronto, Ontario, when the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, and 70 per cent of the Presbyterian Church in Canada entered into an organic union. "
Regards,
Gerald

[AlistairD]

There are actually several free church groups in Scotland. The Wee Frees are the Free Presbyterian Church, which are stricter than the Free Church.
Because of the Wee Free influence in Leis, there is still no Sunday ferry to Stornoway, where at one time they locked the swings in the children's playground on a Sunday, so they would not defile the Sabbath
Alistair


a short definition on Presybyterianism within the Scottish kirks. There was after the reformation the Church of Scotland but in the early 1900'2 a breakaway group of ministers started the Free Church of Scotland predominently in the Western Isles and the NW of mainland Scotland. As they occupied the former manses and churches of the C of S there was a period of resentment and adjustment where the two vied for position. Ultimately the Free was the smaller congregations and hence the WEE Frees became known.
Major difference is the Wees sit to sing and stand to pray and through the sermons which are more stearn and most still observe the lords day of rest. Whereas the C of S is more open and although still quite strict we still stand to sing and sit to pray and the lords day is not respectednearly as much.

A potted overview which may help to enlighten those colonials.

cheers

Jim

p.s. my late afther-in-law was the C of S minister at the chuch a few miles up the road from where we now live.
p.p.s. my wife is now a Bhuddist



Enjoy life and the world of Radio Control Model Boating at www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk and www.edinburghmodelboatclub.org.uk

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[Red_Hamish]

Hello Alistair, thank you for the clarification. I tend to lump all of them together forgetting just how strict the different outlooks are.

cheers

jim