WE regret to have to record in these pages once again the passing away of one of our outstanding office-bearers in the North. Alexander (better known as Sandy) Mowat was born on the Caithness sea coast in the district of Whaligoe. We are not in a position to say when the great change came, but that he manifestly underwent a very thorough work by the Holy Spirit was evident to all who had any understanding in these matters. There was one preacher, to whom we have heard him refer again and again with much warmth of feeling, and continual repetition of remarks made by him in the pulpit, that led us to believe that, if he was not the instrument used by the Holy Spirit in Sandy’s conversion, he was at least his spiritual guide in the days when all things became new. This was the Rev. David Campbell, Free Church minister of Dunnet, a servant of Christ whose preaching was deeply relished by the people of God in the northern parts of Caithness. Time and again we have heard Sandy Mowat quote passages from Mr. Campbell’s sermons bearing on the covenant of grace, and it was with loving delight and glowing enthusiasm the precious, garnered grain of days of sacred memories and hallowed associations was brought forth. The covenant of grace with its precious messages to sinners and its encouraging hopes was not to him merely a theological dogma to be discussed as a part of a system, but something infused with life, and opening up to perishing sinners who believed in Christ a glorious future. In his Christian experience he had been deeply taught the deadly and corrupting nature of sin, and the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. In private conversation and in his public addresses he laid tremendous stress on the Redeemer’s words to Nicodemus: “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” There was a freshness in his presentation of the truth, and a certain originality that held the attention of his hearers when he spoke to “the question,” or presided at the meetings in the minister’s absence. Possessed of a strong individuality, and gifted with a forceful manner in presenting his thoughts, he was an attractive, interesting, and edifying speaker.
During his last illness he was sometimes sore distressed by manifold temptations, and beset with many fears. He confided to the writer his dread of the steady progress of the malady that was to end his earthly career, as if he saw death clearly marching up to the citadel of life, but these were but passing clouds, and the Sun shone through, giving him light and warmth. In such moments of freedom he would speak with warmth and rapture of the loving kindness of his God, who, not for works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us.
We express our deepest sympathy with his widow and family in their great bereavement, and with the congregation in the loss it has sustained.
D. B.