In 1965 the Constitution of the Society was re-written with a much stronger emphasis on a pro-Reformation stance in its witness. This simply means that the Society could well take the motto WE STAND WITH THE REFORMERS. Right down through the story of the reformation there is a wonderful connecting link with each phase and with each country it touched.

The origins of the Reformation are to be found long before Martin Luther. John Wycliffe was stated to be the ‘Morning Star of the Reformation’ because of the stand he took against Roman Catholicism in his day and also for the sterling work he did in the translation of the Scriptures into the language of the people.

Others followed Wycliffe as individuals and also as groups. John Hus in the former and the Lollard preachers as the latter. Reformation was in the air and the longings in the hearts of the people cried out for a part in this new teaching.

God raised up Martin Luther and through his personal experience of the grace of God, when he discovered that salvation was not a matter of beating himself of taking himself across Europe visiting the shrines of the Church to gain merit, it was a gift from God, given by faith in Jesus Christ alone as Saviour and Lord.

His defiant stand against the errors of the Roman Catholic Church brought him into conflict with the hierarchy right through to the Pope, but Martin Luther lit the Torch of Truth which was the blaze across Europe and every action and step was directed by God. It was the choice of men to lead the Reformation in their own land: John Calvin in Geneva; Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich; John Knox in Scotland.

The leading up work to Reformation, for example here in Scotland. Patrick Hamilton brought the message of Luther to Scotland and he himself was an evangelist bring the truth to Scotland; George Wishart in turn brought the Helvectic Confession from Switzerland to Scotland and he began to teach and instruct the people in the doctrines and principles set forth in this work. John Knox was not only a preacher and teacher he was an organiser and the burden of seeing the Reformation established in Scotland was due in a very significant way to the leadership of John Knox.

The Society follows in the train of these great men of God. We seek to be faithful to the witness borne by them,’according to the consensus of the Reformed Confessions.’