The Countdown

Arran, along with the islands of Milport and Rothesay, are part of the Brute Shire at the mouth of the Clyde River and at that time, belonged to the Duke of Montrose. Meg's grandfather, Willie Young. was a farmer and lived at Lamlash. He was a Sabbath-keeper who belonged to the Church of God. He raised Margaret and she attended the Church of God which held services at Whiting Bay, about three miles from Lamlash. Services were held on Friday evenings after sunset, Saturday mornings, and again in the afternoon. Members did not attend all three, but chose the time that suited them best.

The Church was simply known as the Church of God, with members on all three islands.

Also on the island were members of other churches. All business was closed on the Sabbath. There was one full-time minister, Ebenezar Muchie, and three elders who were not employed by the Church. One was John McDonald. Meg cannot remember the names of the others. The building where the congregation of about 200 met, was made of sandstone and built with donated labour on a farm. Services consisted of songs, a sermon expounding the scriptures, and lasted about one-and-a-half hours.

The Passover was kept, and the Night to be Remembered was kept in individual homes. Unleavened Bread was observed and homes were unleavened before Passover. Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement (also known as the Fast Day), Tabernacles and the Last Great Day were all observed. However, no one travelled off the island to keep the Feast. Baptism was by immersion, unclean food were not eaten; although some pigs were raised and sold to nonmembers. The only part of the pig used was fat to grease the boots. There was a saying that "that was all a pig was good for."

It was clearly understood that man's destiny was to be born into the family of God at the resurrection, if one remained faithful, where one would be a son of God. The Church knew that Britain was Ephraim, the U.S.A. - Manasseh, and parts of France - Reuben, Holland - Zebulun, Belgium - Asher, Sweden - Naphtali, and they believed Scotland to be Simeon.

They also understood that Germany descended from Assyria. While they knew of other Churches of God in the Ukraine, Scandinavia, Chile, and China, they were unable to establish contact with them, as they wished to remain isolated.

The Church knew of Jeremiah coming to Ireland with two of Hezekiah's daughters, a harp of special significance, and King David's coronation stone. At Jeremiah's time there was a land bridge connecting Ireland to Scotland called the Giant's Causeway. Jeremiah walked over to Scotland and taught the people there. This was dismissed as myth by people outside the Church.

A form of tithing was practised, a member paid according to his resources and what he considered fair. There was no hard and fast rule. The money was put into a large wooden box in the Church building on the Sabbath. The income was used to pay Church expenses and to help the poor and those in need. There was no "Social Security" in those days. No money meant no food or medical treatment. The Church members kept to themselves, considering the people on the mainland as deceived and "in the world."

It was in this environment that Meg grew up, accepting everything she was taught as the truth. In 1934 at the age of eighteen she married Hugh McKenzie. Hugh owned Auchenrowen farm, about a mile from the Church at Whiting Bay. His whole family were Church members. Hugh and Meg had six children: Hugh, Marion, Jack, Ann (1941), Mary (1946), and Avril (1948). It was a unhappy marriage, as Hugh was an alcoholic. Meg was baptized in 1936 at the age of twenty.

In 1949 Meg inherited 6,000 pounds from a relative and left Hugh, moving to Loch Gilphead

Where there was a Church of God with about sixty members. She met a member there, Duncan Turner, whose brother had migrated to Australia. Some years later, Meg contacted

the brother where he was living at Box Hill, a suburb of Melbourne. His name was Jimmy Turner. At the time, he was still keeping the Sabbath on his own, as he found no Church of God to attend.

About 1951, Meg divorced her husband, who subsequently died around 1953. She met Alexander Whemond McCormack, then working for British Electricity after serving for twelve years in the Royal Navy, and surviving fourteen ships sunk beneath him during World War 11, an astounding story in itself! She had known Alex for years and they were married, having one son, whom they named after their father. Alex (senior) then took a job in forestry preservation so he could be at home. In 1959 they migrated to Australia, arriving in Fremantle on the 26th of August of that year.

Alex was then employed by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) and his job caused them to move to Shepparton, a town in Northeast Victoria. Alex was a Presbyterian, and Meg accompanied him to church on Friday nights for a while, but he was not very happy about doing so. He left the Presbyterian church after being told by the minister not to take any notice of the Bible, except for the Gospels. Meg then just kept the Sabbath at home, until she heard Garner Ted Armstrong on the Radio Church of God.

They wrote for all the literature offered and started to tithe, and commenced the Bible Correspondence Course. Around 1967 they were visited by Bob Fahey, a minister in the Church, and began attending the Worldwide Church of God at Ballarat, Victoria. In 1975, Alex was baptized for the first time and Meg rebaptized by Bruce Tyler.

As time went on, both of them became increasingly unhappy about the constant appeals for money and the hierarchal form of government; in particular Herbert Armstrong's claim to be God's chosen Apostle. Meg's two youngest daughters were also attending Worldwide.

After the death of H W Armstrong, the Church started massive doctrinal changes. By around 1990, both Meg and Alex had lost interest and confidence in the WCG and stopped attending. In January of 1992, Alex died, which left Meg greatly distressed as it had been a very happy marriage.

Meg and her friend Lily Morgan started to look around for a Church where they could still find the Truth of God. Both attended an offshoot of the WWCG for a short time, Meg only going twice. Then hearing of the CBC of God, they wrote for, and received, Care Packages, which they studied carefully. Meg attended the CBCG Feast of Tabernacles in 1994, her first for five years. Sadly, Mrs Lily Morgan's poor health prevented her from attending, and she died only a few days after then Feast, aged 83.

Here were two elderly widows, with little or no money, in bad health, who would not go along with the false teachings flooding into their Church. Rather than accept them, they chose to risk losing all their friends of many years, and "go it alone." This must surely be a fine example for those in the WCG who are willing to sit back and go along with false doctrines which are now being preached. I felt strongly that this story should be told. - John Morgan, January 26, 1995

Additional Notes

There has been a great deal of interest in the story of Meg McCormack and her life in the Church in Scotland. Here are answers to questions some have asked.

Q. Does the Church on the islands still exist?

A. Meg has never returned since she left in 1949, and has lost contact with the people there.

She was told that the Church building at Whiting Bay had been turned into a museum. About twenty years ago her daughter, Marion, did return only to find that the Church had been demolished, and there seemed to be no members left. It would also appear that there was no Church (which was a wooden building) left at Loch Gilphead, where Meg moved after leaving Arran.

Some time in 1994, Meg cut part of an article out of the Scottish Daily Record. It was about a family of 22 children on the Isle of Skye, 300 [150?] miles North of Arran. Unfortunately, she did not keep the whole article or record the date. However, what it said is interesting.

It reads: The family has been raised in a croft [small farmhouse] and when all the bedrooms were full, the children slept in caravans in the garden. Their Wee Free upbringing meant, among other things, no work or play on the Sabbath. The Church of God was also known as the Wee Free Church. ''Wee,'' because it was small, and ''Free'' from John 8:32, '' And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'' So it is possible that there are some members in Scotland today.

The problem was that the Churches kept to themselves. Meg had never heard of a Church on Skye, but she never knew there was a church at Loch Gilphead until she left Arran.

While living at Loch Gilphead, a Sabbath-keeper from the village of Machair Scarnish on island of Tiree, in the shire of Argyle, came to stay with Meg. He had travelled to Oban for medical treatment and wanted to be with Church of God people. His name was Neil McNeill, and has since died, but Meg believes his wife, Cathie McNeill is still living at Machair Scarnish.

Q. Was the Church persecuted?

A. Early this century, Arran was very isolated and the Church members made up a large part of the population, so they had things pretty much their own way. In the 1930s the Scottish and English education departments were amalgamated. The schools were then forced to open on Holy Days(with the exception of Atonement) and the children forced to attend, or risk being taken away from their parents.

Q. How long had the Church been on the island?

A. Church tradition has it that Jeremiah came over from Ireland and instructed the Scottish people. They believe that Jeremiah is buried in Ireland. As far as Christianity is concerned,Meg's father-in-law, Hugh McKenzie, Sr., said his family had been in the Church of God for many centuries. As far back as records, written or oral, go. Hugh McKenzie's family Bible had a list going back many generations.

Q. On what day did they keep Pentecost?

A. Meg cannot remember if it was Sunday or a Monday. She just grew up in the Church and accepted everything she was taught.

Q. Did they use the Hebrew Calendar?

A. Again, Meg has no idea. She just followed the teaching of the Church.

Q. How were the people baptized?

A. By complete immersion after counsel with a minister. People were around twenty years of age, or older, at baptism.

Q. Was foot washing done at the Passover?

A. Yes, foot washing was done at the Passover.

Q. As Meg's father was killed in WW 1, did Church members take part in war?

A. Her father, John McKay, was not a member. He was a Presbyterian from Broka in the Scottish Highlands. As far as Meg can remember, no one joined the military forces -the farmers were exempted from military service in WW2, and others joined the land army.

Q. Did they have contact with the Church of God, Seventh Day in the United States?

A. No. As already mentioned, they kept to themselves. They did know of Churches of God in Europe, China, and South America, but were unable to establish contact with them.

Some of the Young Family, including Meg's uncles, migrated to Massachusetts in the U.S.A. During WW2, three U.S soldiers came to Arran to see where their family had come from, but their was no further contact after that.

Q. What was their belief in healing?

A. Meg said she was never sick. As far as she knows, one went to the doctor and called for the minister who prayed over the sick person. She is not sure if the minister anointed or not.

Q. Did members use alcohol, or not?

A. Some did, mostly in moderation.

Q. What type of Church government was there?

A. There was one full-time minister, on a very small salary, who lived in a Church house.

Three other ministers were unpaid, and there was a council of 24 elders. The council would meet to discuss Church matters, but under no circumstances could they change Church doctrines There was no ''hierarchy.''

Q. What happened to Meg's children?

A. All of her children came to Australia with her, and are living in the state of Victoria.

Her two youngest daughters attended WCG with her, but no longer go because of all the changes.

Q. Does the WCG know about the Scottish Church?

A. When Meg started attending WCG, she would tell people about it. Some did not believe it, and some would say, ''That was the Sardis era, and they were spiritually dead.'' After that reaction, Meg said very little. Alex McCormack did write to Herbert Armstrong telling him about the Church, but did not receive a reply.

Q. What did they believe about the fate of the wicked?

A. They knew of the First Resurrection at the return of Christ, and of the Second Resurrection for those who never knew the Truth.

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ; and shall DECEIVE MANY.

We were asked to read a book on the Passover written by an ex minister of the WWCOG and to see "what we thought." this sort of thing is happening quite frequently with religious material given to us from Scientists at work and from groups around the world.

The Author of this book has produced over 300 pages to "prove" beyond any shadow of doubt that the Passover is 14th Abib; by this he means, from his conclusions (pages 280 and 281) that the 14th Day is the correct day and that the 15th Day is in error. The Author boasts a BA in Theology and was ordained a minister of Jesus Christ and pastored Churches of God. On page x he states that --While the authors knowledge of Hebrew iis not as extensive as his knowledge of New Testament Greek, it is sufficient for the doctrinal and exegetical studies presented in the book.

The question is, does "The Christian Passover", prove the Passover is on the 14th DAY?

When authors start to use Hebrew to prove a doctrine we become very suspicious. We believe that the Bible (6.1 Billion bibles has been produced between 1815 and 1992) as it stands is sufficient for even a child to know God. Even a potato picker or a street sweeper whose value in life is very high, understands when Evening has come. Everyone is familiar with the sun, daytime and when night is about to come.

If we have any doubt about any meaning of Hebrew we would automatically consult with the Jewish Rabbis in London, it is of course their "native" language which the author seems to forget and we are sure they understand Greek. As you will find out, this was completely unnecessary.

We are highlighting (16) points/errors and feel that what the Author is in reality suffering from is, what could be classed as `Post Armstrong Mind Control'. For anyone to use over 300 pages to "prove" one day shows that he doesn't really understand the subject at all. As for being a scholar (one with a profound knowledge of the subject) well, in fact the book should carry a Spiritual Health Warning because the author gets himself so tangled up; but read on.

Authors comment; Page viii middle para (1) On the night of His last Passover, Jesus instituted the new covenant, beginning with the foot washing ceremony.......

OUR comment; So (1) the author states that foot washing was at the beginning of the service and that on page 204, 3rd para up; John 13:2, which reads: "And supper being ended..." doesn't really mean that but it means (at bottom of page) "As supper was beginning...". So ENDING, really means beginning. The author then goes on to page 205 para 2 saying that ---He RISES from supper and lays aside his garments---to wash the disciples feet. Then on page 228 he puts foot washing at the beginning again !!! Oh dear.

Write for The Countdown Magazine No 4 (A Church of God publication) this makes it clear that Christ washed the disciples feet AFTER supper, as many groups around the world are realising. It is like being baptised, first one accepts Christ as taking on our sins then, we are then washed in water to be spiritually clean.

Alex Cain

This is the first we have heard about the Church of God in Scotland.

A list of articles freely available, can be had on request.

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