By REV. N. MATHESON, HALKIRK, CAITHNESS.
The following are short notices of three members of the Halkirk Free Presbyterian congregation, whom we believe entered their eternal rest. Though to a certain extent hidden from the world, they were not the least prayerful of the Lord’s people.
(1) The Late Mrs. William Bain, Halkirk.
Mrs. William Bain (or Isabella Miller) was born in Achanenies, Harpsdale, about the year 1827. In her young days she had the blessed privilege of being taught by her parents in the Word of God. With them and others who desired to hear “the word of truth,” she often went to the meetings held at the Achreny Mission, where the late Rev. Finlay Cook and other eminent servants of Christ laboured. More than once we heard her making reference to Mr. Cook’s powerful preaching and to how much she and others felt the influence of the Word preached. In her case we believe it was more than the natural melting of the heart and affections, for she manifested by word and actions that the Word of God was of more value to her than anything that perishes. She heard, she said, Mr. Cook on one occasion saying— (Bu chor dhut eisdeachd ris an t-soisgeil bho ghob eorn) “You should listen to the Gospel though it should come to you through the beak of a bird,” meaning, no doubt, that however insignificant the means might appear that the Lord would use to bring the Gospel to our ears, that we should listen to it. She was a diligent reader of the Bible and religious literature even in her old age, her eyesight, for which she expressed her gratefulness to the Most High, having kept quite good. Sometimes she would say—”What could I do without His Word?” It was her chief comfort in her loneliness. During twelve years she was mostly alone. Her husband predeceased her by that time, and there were no surviving children. When cast down as to her hope for eternity, she would look to the Lord’s Word for comfort.
A few years after the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church she joined the Free Presbyterian congregation of Halkirk, and remained a true and faithful friend of the cause to the last. These words, which came to her as an answer to prayer, “If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him,” were the means of making her decided as to her duty in joining the Free Presbyterian remnant in Halkirk.
At the time of her marriage about fifty years ago, her husband and she came to reside in Halkirk, where they showed in their home the greatest hospitality to strangers who came the way at Communion seasons and other occasions. These occasions, when she was privileged to meet with so many of the Lord’s true people, she confessed, were the happiest times of her life. Her niece, Miss Sutherland from New Zealand, kindly and dutifully attended on her for about a year before the end. She passed away on the 22nd of July, 1915, to her eternal rest.
(2) The Late Mrs. Donald Murray, Scotscalder.
Mrs. Donald Murray (or Christina Sinclair) was born at Leosag about 77 years ago. Her husband, who predeceased her by two years, and of whom a short notice was given in our magazine, was a truly pious man. Mrs. Murray was of a very quiet and reserved disposition, and on that account spoke but little of her spiritual experience. But she gave evidence by her life and conversation that she feared the Lord. She was an exercised, praying woman. The warmth of her heart towards the Lord’s people and others was more noticeable by her actions than by her words. Not only will her own family miss the tenderness and affection of a beloved mother, but all who knew her will miss her kind look and presence. Having been in feeble health for the last three years, she was unable to do hardly anything of her ordinary household duties, but was able to read the Bible and other religious books. She was particularly fond of Rutherford’s Letters. This showed the spiritual bent of her mind. One of her favourite Psalms was the 42nd, which she often rehearsed to herself. She passed away on the 24th of November last. A week after her decease, her sister, Mrs. James MacDonald, Rangag, Latheron, also a member of the Halkirk congregation, was removed from us by death. We regret we had very little acquaintance with her, Rangag being about 14 miles distant from Halkirk, but from what we knew of her, we believed her to be one to whom the Lord was made precious as her Redeemer.
We extend our sincerest sympathy to the relatives of both deceased sisters, and pray that the Lord would raise up their children and grandchildren to be living witnesses for Christ.
(3) The Late Mrs. James Sutherland, Toftingall.
Mrs. James Sutherland (or Jane Bruce) was born at Achshebster about 82 years ago. When quite young the family came to live at Toftingall, where they had a small farm which one of her sons still holds. Her husband predeceased her over 40 years ago. Notwithstanding that Mrs. Sutherland got but very little education when young, she was wonderfully familiar with the Scriptures of truth. The only school she ever attended was a Sabbath School held by the late Mr. James Macadie. “He took great pains,” she said, “in teaching the children the doctrines of truth, and would give them as a task to learn by heart the Scripture proofs bearing on the Shorter Catechism questions.” No doubt this training was the reason why Mrs. Sutherland was so well versed in the Word of God. In her young days she would walk long distances to the means of grace, Toftingall being situated in a kind of central place to the various places of worship in the county. She took liberty to go at Communion seasons, and on ordinary occasions to Achreny, Halkirk, Thurso, Bruan, and Latheron, where eminent ministers of the gospel were placed. This we take as evidence that she thirsted after “the water of life.” She remembered distinctly the Disruption of 1843. In her last illness, which lasted for a few weeks, she suffered very much, but was remarkably patient. She felt her need of the Lord’s strength in her weakness. She was heard saying, “I am weak, but Thou art strong.” When asked if she thought she would get over her trouble, she replied—”I am willing to submit to whatever His will is.” She departed this life on the 14th of December last, we believe, to be free from all sorrow and pain.
We extend our sincerest sympathy to her three sons and daughter who are left to mourn her loss. May the Lord be their comfort in their sorrow!