THE subject of this brief sketch was born in Tanera in 1832. His father’s name is still fragrant in the district for his piety. William had thus the inestimable privilege of a pious example. We had no personal intercourse with him regarding his youth, but we gleaned that the Spirit of God did strive with him; and when a young man he frequented the rocks at the sea shore for secret prayer. His first public appearance in prayer demonstrated that he was endowed with great gifts. His burning eloquence at the fellowship meeting on the Friday of a communion season could rarely be surpassed, and his striking mode of expression, along with his ability in handling divine truth, arrested the attention of almost every individual in the audience. The gift of utterance, which he possessed, was not allowed to lie dormant.
Many who had taken “shield and spear” against the declensions of the Free Church returned like the “fearful and afraid” in Gideon’s army never to lay hold of them again in such a cause, yet a few remained steadfast to the cause of Christ. They formed in 1893 the Free Presbyterian Church. The relief brought to the godly then caused them to say, “The Lord hath done great things for us.” When the Free Presbyterian congregation was being organised in Lochbroom, William Matheson took an active part. He conducted divine services in Coigach. His indefatigable efforts to be present on the Sabbath continued till he was seized with an illness at the beginning of October. After being confined to bed for a few days, his spirit returned to God, and his remains were interred in Badscallie Cemetery, to await the coming of the Lord with ten thousands of His saints. May the Lord in mercy arise and plead His cause in our midst! A. S.