THE Oban Congregation, like the majority of the congregations of our Church, have to mourn for their dead. The subject of this brief sketch departed this life on the twenty-sixth day of April last, but we consider that her memory should be perpetuated in these pages even at this late date. The most of what follows was supplied by one who knew her intimately.
Mrs. Gillanders was born at Tassag, Torridon, Ross-shire, in November, 1838, and was the youngest of a family of seven daughters. Her mother was a pious woman, who used to take her children along with her when she went to private prayer, and Mrs. Gillanders related how she was thus early taught to pray. When she grew up in Tassag she followed this godly example, and often retired to the caves of the rocks near her home, there to seek after God. But she did not come, however, to have evidence of real fellowship with God till some years after her marriage. The Scripture which gave her relief and light and joy was Zechariah iv. 7-9.
It was in the twenty-first year of her life that she got married to John Gillanders, a pious young teacher, who was a native of Kishorn, Lochcarron, and who had come under the influence of the truth under the Rev. John Kennedy, Redcastle. The Gaelic Society had sent Mr. Gillanders to Torridon, and in addition to his duties as teacher he had to conduct religious services.
Shortly after her marriage Mrs. Gillanders removed, along with her husband, to Arrol, Lewis; and from there, a few years afterwards, they removed to Staffin, Skye. From Staffin the Society sent Mr. Gillanders to Geocrab, Harris, where he remained till his death in 1886. In Harris Mr. Gillanders had to conduct services every Sabbath, and all who knew him testified of his piety and wisdom. Mrs. Gillanders acted as Bible woman in Harris, her duties being visiting the sick and reading and praying with them. She also taught many of the people to read Gaelic, thus enabling them to hold family worship for themselves. She acted in this capacity in Harris for upwards of twenty years, and was very highly esteemed for her works’ sake.
In 1893 she cast in her lot with those who followed God’s Word, and was to the end a faithful and sympathetic member of our Church wherever she went. In 1910 she left Harris, and came to live with her youngest daughter, who was appointed teacher in Heaste, Skye. When this daughter got married Mrs. Gillanders came to live with her at Oban, where she resided till within two weeks of her end, when she removed to Glasgow, hoping the change might benefit her health. But these hopes were not realised, as she died in the house of another of her daughters in Glasgow on Sabbath evening, 26th April last, as already stated, after an illness of six days’ duration.
During her last illness she seemed always in the attitude of prayer, and often quoted the words, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God?” Mrs. Gillanders was a woman who had seen many of God’s real people and had heard eminent preachers, and knew the difference between what passes in our day under the name of religion and what she had been acquainted with and had by experience felt. She deplored the low state of the cause of Christ in our land, and we believe she was earnest at the throne of grace that His kingdom might come. She was greatly interested in our Church at large, and the Oban Congregation have lost not only an esteemed member but one who took a deep interest in its spiritual welfare.
Mrs. Gillanders left behind her three daughters, who mourn her loss, and to whom we desire to extend our sincere sympathy. Her only son died in America about a year after her husband’s death. Her remains were conveyed from Glasgow to Harris, and interred beside those of her husband. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”
A. M.