THE call went forth of old, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” It was a time of threatened judgments. Divine judgments were to be executed upon a people of many privileges. Abused privileges ripened them for the terrible visitation. Whatever betides, the Lord has such regard for His people that none of them will perish. It frequently happens that when He designs to visit a land with desolating spiritual and temporal judgments, He summons His people to enter into the chambers of everlasting felicity. “The righteous man is taken away from the evil to come.” Our signs at the present time are ominous. There is much wickedness in the outside world. There is much ungodliness in the professing Church. Few seem to be awakened to the stupendous realities of eternity, and those who have been living examples of the power of godliness are, one by one, called away from us. Another instance of these we sorrowfully have to record in the pages of this Magazine in the person of Mr. Peter Macleod, our missionary at Staffin, Skye.
Peter Macleod was born at Kildonan, Flashadder, about seventy years ago. Like many of those who afterwards became subjects of saving grace, he was, in his boyhood and early manhood, proverbial for his careless and reckless habits. His manner of life at this time resembled the biblical description of the wild ass. We are not aware that he gave way to singularly mean or base habits, but he was an object of terror for his hasty temper and for his disposition, when roused, to decide the question in debate by a hand to hand duel. In those pugilistic exercises he was everywhere regarded as chief; but underlying this apparently rough exterior, which resembled the badgers’ skins that covered the ark, there was an undercurrent of real kindness, that showed itself very distinctly in better days.
He married early in life, but he was still unconcerned about his highest interests. He followed no settled occupation. He was, however, enterprising, and turned his attention to occupations of a general character. As a workman his diligence was marked. His conscientiousness secured for him a foremost place among his fellow-workers, and during the erection of the old pier at Portree he acted in the capacity of foreman. He afterwards temporarily resided at Stoer Point in Sutherlandshire, where he was employed in connection with the erection of the lighthouse that commands that prominent headland. Although still apparently as careless as ever, he there gave indications of cherishing an un accustomed regard for the people of the Lord. He was in the habit of visiting
an eminently pious woman in the district, who, becoming accustomed to his smart manner of walking, often on his approach made the remark, “I hear the sound of his feet coming.” This godly woman predicted better days for Peter.
Some time after he removed with his family to Aberdeenshire. He there held the position of foreman of a squad of workmen in a quarry. It was during his sojourn in Aberdeenshire that he seems to have been in reality awakened to a sense of his condition as a lost sinner. It was brought about by terrible things in righteousness. While engaged in blasting operations he incurred, for some unaccountable reason, the deadly hatred of an Irishman, whose duty it was to set fire to the fuse that connected with the powder, and to issue a note of warning to all concerned to withdraw. One day the Irishman, maliciously, and seemingly on set purpose to commit a terrible crime, did not, on occasion of setting fire to the fuse, give timely warning to Peter, who was engaged in the middle division of the quarry; but when he esteemed himself out of danger, and reckoned that Peter could have no time to escape, he cried out to him from the upper division, “Flee, or you shall be in hell in less than five minutes.” With these words Peter found himself enveloped in a cloud of smoke, and chips of blasted rock fell like hail round about him. He marvellously escaped without the slightest scratch. But his indignation was so roused that, when the smoke cleared away, he hastened to the top flat, fixedly determined to take away the Irishman’s life. When, however, he reached it, the first object that caught his eye was the Irishman’s dead body, who was himself killed by the explosion by which he craftily sought to cut off the life of his neighbour. The solemn affair made a deep and lasting impression on Peter’s mind. He thought of the possibility of his being at that moment in hell, and of the certainty that the soul of the Irishman was there. There ensued a long, dark night of conviction, during which he endured unspeakable mental agony. The terrors of God set themselves in array against him. His conscience was so awakened that he felt as if coals of juniper burned within him. His spirit was torn with pain and grief. He reeled to and fro like a man at his wit’s end, and he staggered like a drunken man. Overwhelmed at the terrible prospect of never-ending misery, he was so reduced in bodily strength that when engaged in the exercise of prayer at family worship, he needed his wife’s assistance to resume his seat. He felt, like David, consumed by the blow of the Lord’s hand. He was a living example of the reality of the experience—”When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth.” He was not at this time able to do much more than to put in an appearance at his work. His superiors treated him kindly, and in view of his enfeebled strength, he was allowed the privilege of leaving his work for home an hour before the other workmen. Notwithstanding, they overtook him, and reached their homes considerably in advance of
him. He now devoted much of his time to reading the Scriptures and to secret prayer. He read and re-read the Bible from beginning to end, but his feeling was that it contained nothing for him but wrath and fiery indignation.
He continued in this distressing condition during the whole time he was in Aberdeenshire. He afterwards removed to England. Some incidents are related of him that furnish an index to the state of his mind before relief came. It was his lot one day to ride a horse that was marked for its invariably calm and quiet behaviour. On passing through a wood that lined both sides of the public road, it became unaccountably restive, and strenuously exerted itself, as if bent on trampling its rider to death. Peter recognised in this incident a satanic influence. It confirmed him in the conviction that the mouth of hell gaped after him for its prey. He believed that he was more worthy of hell than Satan himself, and he had the feeling that his heart was more wicked than that of devils. He became such an object of terror to himself that he thought it did not conduce to safety that he should be allowed to be at large. He accordingly presented himself at an asylum in the district, pronounced himself mad, and requested admission into the institution. He did not, however, appear to the officials there to be such a character as he represented himself to be; and, in spite of his repeated avowal of insanity, they respectfully dismissed his petition, on the ground that they required a more authoritative pronouncement on his mental condition than his own susceptibilities.
It is not definitely known when he experienced relief from the spirit of bondage under which he long laboured, but it is supposed that it was soon after he declared himself insane. That his experience of the freedom of the Gospel was in proportion to his experience of the bondage of the law goes without saying. This fact was patent to all who had the privilege of listening to him. At the fellowship meeting on sacramental occasions he usually made a deep and solemn impression. His statement of Christian experience was unusually rich. It wrought the conviction in the minds of intelligent hearers that, not only was his experience of law work—as it is commonly called—deep, but also that his experience of the efficacy of the blood of Christ to pacify the conscience and to lead the soul into the enjoyment of that peace that passes all understanding, was richly attended with a sense of the melting influences of the love of Christ, producing a profound sense of personal unworthiness before God. These impressions of him deepened with his growing years, and the earnestness of his appeals to sinners never abated.
It was after passing through these experiences that he went to America, where he had a somewhat chequered career in providence. But amidst all the vicissitudes of his lot, his burning zeal for the honour of Christ’s name proved him to be no ordinary man. After working for a short time in a quarry in Canada, he was
promoted to the position of a travelling foreman on a railway that was under construction. In his new position he had several hundred men under his charge, most of whom were Red Indians. At this time he had a somewhat amusing experience with a Roman Catholic priest. For the convenience of the workmen a tent was erected, capable of accommodating about 400 men. In a terrific storm of thunder and lightning, accompanied with torrential rain, the priest breathlessly hastened to the tent, and, trembling with fear, humbly pled with Peter for the favour of affording him shelter from the raging storm. Peter expressed his willingness on condition that he would conform to the rules of the tent, adding that, if he dared to stay without conforming, he might have to make effective use of his rifle. The priest, terrified at the storm without and at the rifle within, was only too glad to submit to any terms for shelter, and he was hospitably entertained by Peter. When the storm subsided, the priest pretended that he had to go to a certain place in the vicinity to perform Mass, and Peter, dreading that a plot was about to be formed to kill him, insisted on accompanying him. The priest objected, but Peter prevailed, and carried out his purpose. When they returned, Peter informed the priest that he had now to perform his Mass, and he called the whole company to worship. Peter’s worship was too much for the priest. At prayer he was particularly uneasy, and before the end of it he withdrew to bed. Peter afterwards upbraided him for his breach of contract, and reminded him of the punishment to which he was entitled. He, however, allowed him to go his way on the following day, and, in parting, gave him a salutary advice. The priest was favourably impressed. On reaching home he sent a glowing account of Peter’s sterling uprightness to the papers, testifying that he never met his equal, and intimating that, for Peter’s sake, a hearty welcome would be accorded at the district hospital to any of his workmen who needed medical treatment.
At this time Peter formed a close acquaintance with a notable man, who was popularly called “Black Hector.” They were natives of the same township in Skye. Hector emigrated to Canada early in life, and lived a life of remarkable nearness to the Lord. It was in the backwoods of Canada that he was first visited in mercy. When he was awakened he betook himself to the woods, fearfully distracted with the terrors of the Almighty, and could not be prevailed upon to take shelter under the roof of any house. He was noted in the neighbourhood for the severity of his language in condemnation of the Roman Catholic system. A number of Roman Catholics came across him alone one day in the wood, who threatened to take away his life. His request for permission to pray before they committed the terrible deed was granted. When he concluded his prayer he sprang to his feet and, giant-like, defied them all, uttering the words with terrific vehemence, as if under a mighty, divine influence—”They
compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.” The effect was marvellous. The Roman Catholics, esteeming him mad, trembled with fear and speedily fled. Hector pursued them until he was satisfied that they would not molest him again. He was much given to prayer, but it seems that it was his unhappy lot to have a very worldly wife and family. On a certain morning in spring he had unusual freedom at family worship. He prayed too long for the patience of his worldly sons to hold out to the end. One after another hastened out and betook themselves to the fields, where their thoughts and hearts were. His wife was equally impatient, and when the worthy man finished she sarcastically said, “May the day never come that you will cease praying!” to which remark his prompt rejoinder was “Amen.” Peter accompanied “Black Hector” on a certain occasion in winter to a Communion in the neighbourhood. They intended to return after the evening service. All the sledges, however, had returned after the mid-day service except one, the driver of which told Peter that as all his seats were engaged, he could have no room for him or for any other. Hector, however, arrived, and addressed the driver, “You shameless fellow! are you refusing to give me a drive with my own Father’s horses?” The driver, unexpectedly taken aback, replied, “I did not know that they were your father’s horses; come in.” So Hector went in, and he got room for Peter also.
It was now Peter’s lot to meet, in providence, with times of adversity. The railway contractors, in whose service he was, became bankrupts. Notwithstanding, Peter remained at his post with his workmen, thinking that, as the railway was a Government concern, the Government would pay him for his work. This, however, they refused to do, with the result that he was reduced to great extremities. He thought of going to the United States, but before finally deciding on this course, he deemed it his duty to consult “Black Hector.” When he told him about his circumstances and purpose, Hector said, “Wait until I come back from the barn.” Hector came back and could say neither yea nor nay. He went to the barn a second time, and when he returned on this occasion he said to Peter, “You may now go to the United States: the Lord will grant you prosperity; and I shall see you again.” Hector’s prediction was fulfilled. Peter went to the United States. The Lord granted him a measure of prosperity in his new sphere. He saw “Black Hector” once more, although it was after a long interval of years. It was on occasion of his paying a visit to Canada after he had returned to pass what remained of his days in his native island.
In the States he was the same uncompromising witness for Christ and His truth that he had elsewhere been. His stern denunciation of sin embittered many against him. He denounced, in unsparing language, the practice of Sabbath desecration among Protestants and Roman Catholics alike. He keenly felt the
roguery of the priests, and for his plain speaking he was subjected to a good deal of persecution. He kindly took to a Presbyterian minister in the district, whom he esteemed to be the most consistent minister in respect of doctrine and worship known to him there. He associated himself with his congregation, in connection with which he conducted a Sabbath School and held religious meetings. He made himself generally useful in the congregation, and when a new church was needed, Peter liberally contributed towards its erection. The minister, however, married, and a new element entered into the work of the congregation. The minister’s wife ridiculed the exclusive use of the Psalms of “old David,” as she expressed herself. She strongly contended in favour of the introduction of an organ into the church, in regard to which she would remark, “Oh, how I love you!” drawing the antithesis from Peter, “Oh, how I hate you!” The minister’s wife prevailed, and Peter dissociated himself from the congregation. He was sorely grieved at the state of religion in the place. His feelings found expression in the words of the Psalmist, “I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. I watch, and am as a sparrow alone on the housetop”; and he ultimately decided to return to Scotland. He returned about the year 1886, and sometime after he leased the farm of Borve, Flashadder.
Ere he had come back to permanently reside in this country, most of the godly ministers known to him in his early days were called to their reward. Rev. Roderick Macleod, under whose ministry he was brought up, was at his rest many years ere then. Rev. Alex. MacColl, whom he had many opportunities of hearing at Lonemore, still lived, but he was in rapidly declining health. Mr. MacColl was then in Lochalsh, and in the hope of hearing him again, Peter went to the Communion at Plockton. He struck one at once as uncommonly fiery and zealous, and his unbroken rule was to stay in no house in which he was not satisfied that the worship of God was regularly conducted. With the state of matters religiously at Flashadder he was far from being satisfied. It was a Mission Station under the Highland Committee of the Free Church, who were content to have the Station served by somewhat indifferent probationers. Peter, however, determined that the ecclesiastical authorities would not have it all their own way, and he carried out his point in having on Communion occasions ministers noted for piety and faithfulness. It was in connection with one of these occasions that a long letter emanated from the neighbourhood, and was published in leading newspapers, giving the gist of the sermon delivered on Monday by the Rev. Donald Macfarlane, now of Dingwall. The sermon contained a scathing but faithful criticism of those in the Free Church who were responsible for leading the Church away from her original position in respect of doctrine, worship, and practice. The intention of the writer, apparently, was to bring the preacher into
disrepute among the Rainyite party—a party that had then assumed large proportions in the Church. His success, however, was not equal to his expectations, for the ground that he won in some directions he lost in others.
The affections of the people were becoming more and more alienated from the Church. Peter was exasperated at the attempt to bring infallible truth and imperishable principles into contempt. He had the whole-hearted sympathy of the overwhelming majority of the people in the district, and the question eventually arose—”Were they justified in maintaining communion with a Church that had ceased to hold doctrines and principles that were dearer to them than life?” The last cord that bound them to the Church was broken by the passing of the Declaratory Act in 1892. Flashadder then became the rallying-ground of the disaffected laity in the neighbouring parishes. Public meetings were held, at which resolutions, condemnatory of the Declaratory Act, were passed. Peter was a central figure in the work of organisation. The laity were encouraged by leading ministers of the Constitutionalists party, who reiterated their determination to lead the people en masse out of the Declaratory Act Church—as it was termed—if steps were not taken at the ensuing General Assembly to get the Act repealed. The Assembly had scarcely sat when a meeting of elders and other laymen took place at Achnasheen. Peter, along with other leading men from Skye, attended the meeting. He spoke to the point and with decision. The resolutions that were proposed, and finally adopted, had his hearty approval, and he and others went away resolved to be no longer associated with the Church, or with any party in the Church, if the Assembly did not take steps to rescind the obnoxious Act.
Developments that were not quite unlooked for took place after the Assembly. The Declaratory Act was confirmed as a “binding rule and constitution to the Church,” and the Church was rent. Peter faithfully performed his part in connection with the new order of things. A public meeting was convened at Flashadder on the 7th of June, 1893, over which he presided. His speech is reported as follows in the Northern Chronicle of 14th June:—”The Chairman, in his opening remarks, expressed his regret that there should be a reason given to occasion this meeting, that in this the Jubilee year of the Free Church cause should be given to have another disruption. We are met here to defend the Word of God and the subordinate standards of the Free Church of Scotland. Those of you who have been reading the newspapers could see the tyrannical and despotic power exercised by the Assembly in refusing to mete out for the Constitutionalists the slightest measure of satisfaction in regard to the Declaratory Act. The Constitutionalists have now cooled down and accommodated themselves to this inconvenience. There have been several meetings held at different centres in
the Highlands and Lowlands in opposition to the Declaratory Act, and the leaders of the Constitutional party were giving us great hopes, and telling us that, if we would stand by them and support them with our prayers, they would lead the way for us in defence of the truth committed to our care. It is now seen how they have carried these statements into effect. But we are determined, whatever betide us, to abide by the Word of God, and separate ourselves from a party who is, in our opinion, dishonouring some of the most distinctive truths contained in Scripture, and men who are undermining and destroying the constitution of our Church, and sacrificing the glorious principles of 1843 to suit this renewed agitation for Union and to pave the way for that end. Most of you remember Mr. Macfarlane’s stirring speech of August last, and his remarks on that occasion you can see fulfilled to-day. He was the only man that told us the real state of matters, and you know what treatment he received at the hands of some of our neighbours.” Peter spared no effort to carry out the sentiments expressed in this speech, and in the matter of Union with the U.P. Church, he saw his convictions come to pass well-nigh ten years before he died.
All his activities were directed to one end—the glory of God and the welfare of His cause on earth. All he did was to him labour of love. He wisely counselled the people; he usually presided at their religious meetings; and he was determined that they would not be long without a suitable place of worship. With this end in view he went to the island of Eigg, to confer with the proprietor for the use of the old Free Church school at Flashadder, which was built through the exertions of the late Rev. Roderick MacLeod. In the absence of title-deeds it lapsed into the landlord’s possession. Peter found him remarkably sympathetic, and he succeeded in his object. Since then, religious services have been regularly conducted in that house, which is now, through the landlord’s generous consideration, the property of the Free Presbyterian Church.
In the midst of these activities Peter was, in providence, visited with a sore bereavement in the loss of his wife. She was much devoted to him, and he had her loyal and sympathetic support in all his contentions. By her he had two sons, both of whom are doing well in America. His own health was now much shattered, and he had to consider the propriety of leaving Borve for a more easily conducted place. He eventually removed to Buness, near Portree. In January of 1898 he deemed it his duty to marry again. He was indeed well directed, for no one could attend to his comfort with more conscientious care than the object of his choice. During his residence at Buness he was a member of the Portree Kirk-Session; and notwithstanding occasional attacks of serious illness, he evinced his unflagging interest in the cause by holding services, with as much regularity as possible, at one or other of the local stations. He was fondly attached to the late
Norman Munro, Staffin, who was one of the most eminent Christians in his generation. In several respects there was a strong resemblance between them. In Norman’s extreme old age Peter often trudged over hill and dale, in weather fair and foul, to give him assistance at the Sabbath services. The question of returning to some landed property in the United States of America, which otherwise was likely to be misappropriated, and remaining in his native country, lay for some time in the balance; but the thought of enjoying the privileges of the Gospel at home outweighed all other considerations, and he decided not to go. After the removal of worthy Norman Munro he was appealed to, in the interests of the cause, to take up the work of the Mission station at Staffin, which, after much hesitation, he consented to do. He thus passed the last seven years of his chequered life there. Like the beloved Persis, he laboured much in the Lord. He was deservedly held in profound esteem by the people, and his services were highly appreciated. A little more than a year before the end—and when he was himself reduced to much physical weakness—it was the Lord’s will that he should experience another blow of His hand in the death of his second wife, who, although strong and vigorous, was cut off after about a week’s illness. He was resigned to the will of the Lord; but the heavy stroke hastened on the dissolution of the already rapidly-falling tabernacle. Although the outward man perished, it was evident that the inward man was renewed day by day, and on the second day of September last he slept in Jesus, to be for ever with the Lord. Besides the two sons already alluded to, he left an orphan boy of about ten years—the issue of his second marriage—to mourn his loss. We can express no better wish for them than that their father’s mantle may fall upon them.
Thus lived, and thus died, Peter Macleod. His name was familiar to most Skye men. Like Job, he feared God and eschewed evil. He had the measure of outward and inward trials that the Lord saw would be for his good. In contending for truth and principle he never budged an hair’s-breadth. He was bold as a lion, and feared the face of no man. He faithfully but lovingly warned sinners; he feelingly encouraged believers. We feel his loss, and in view of the constant breaches that are made on the walls of Jerusalem, we would desire to be imbued with the spirit of the Psalmist when he prayed—”Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”
A. M.
WE are strong Christians untried; but when we have trials to meet, we do not find it child’s play. We then may see that our standing is not in ourselves—that we need Him who said to the winds and waves, “Peace, be still”—and that it is when He keeps the heart, the enemies will not gain the victory.—
DAVID STEVEN.