THIS person, better known locally as “Seonaid,” was a very humble but remarkable and outstanding Christian. She finished her earthly course on Friday morning, 5th March 1920, and her body was, on 8th March, interred in Gairloch Church-Yard. Her maiden name was Sarah Macpherson. She was born at Port-Henderson, Gairloch, and was named after a godly relative, Sarah Macpherson. Of that relative, Rev. Lachlan Mackenzie, Lochcarron, said that there was no one in the whole of Gairloch so godly.
She could not actually say when she was born again, but she was conscious from her youth that she hated sin. As a child she accompanied her mother to Gairloch and to Aultbea Communions. In her youth her piety was noted by many.
She was often consulted by many Christians, especially those in distress. One was in deep anxiety about her husband, who was at sea during very boisterous weather. She spoke to Seonaid, who replied—”Why seek ye the living among the dead?” The husband, who had encountered severe storms, soon returned home. On another occasion one had a sister in hospital, for whom there was great concern. Seonaid was consulted. Her reply was—”Loose her, and let her go.” The sick one was thereafter soon restored to health.
The late Mr John Mackenzie, Boor Farm, Poolewe, Elder, along with Miss Macdonald, Kerrysdale, visited Seonaid. In her company they had warm Christian fellowship. Seonaid prepared a dinner of potatoes for them. The guests declared it was one of the sweetest, if not the sweetest, repasts they ever had.
Mr Torquil Paterson, Elder, Melvaig, deceased, generally conducted the services in the Free Presbyterian Meeting-House, Melvaig. Seonaid, in her own dwelling, knew the portion of the Scripture from which at that moment he was making his remarks.
The minister of the congregation was appointed to minister in the South of England, to the Royal Naval Reservemen. When Seonaid heard of the appointment she said to an intimate friend—”I get him all right to London, but I have the greatest difficulty in getting him out of London.” In London the minister met with a serious motor accident. He had a most miraculous
escape from death. The minister visited Australia as a deputy. Seonaid, in her mind, and with her prayers, followed him during his absence of eleven months, till he arrived in London. To a friend she said—”When I got him to London, I gave him his liberty” (“Nuair a thuair mi do Lunnainn e thug mi dha cead a dha chas.”)
On one occasion, after the Communion season at Gairloch, as she was returning on foot to her home at Melvaig, 10 miles distant, a violent storm of thunder and lightning came on. She was in such intense fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that she was unconscious of the storm that raged around her.
In her lot in life she was poor, and kept poor, but in and by the grace of God her soul flourished. She was like the tree of righteousness, planted and growing in God’s House, and bearing much fruit. She was eminent in prayer, in her spiritual knowledge of the Word of God, and in her child-like, implicit confidence in the Most High. In the midst of many discomforts, she was a living, beautiful, and attractive object of real, solid contentment. If there is perfect contentment on this side of the grave, Seonaid had it. In her many trials, her contentment and her sweet resignation to the will of God were so conspicuous that much soul comfort was conveyed to those who visited her. It was a real spiritual tonic to visit her. Her dwelling was an old thatched house, and, although it lacked comfort, it was a Bethel. A kind friend asked her if she was afraid of being alone in case anything might come over her. She meekly answered that she had full confidence in her gracious Lord, that He, who had done so much for her in the past, would tenderly look after her till her dying breath. Her confidence was not misplaced. Seonaid showed that her uncomfortable surroundings were, by the grace of God, made comfortable. Her very countenance and manner betokened a restful spirit. She was poor, but made many rich. “Contentment, with godliness, is great gain.”
Seonaid’s case was like one at Strathconon, when Mr James Maitland Balfour of Whittinghame, Haddingtonshire, was proprietor of Strathconon. He and his wife, Lady Blanche Cecil Balfour, sister of the late famous Marquis of Salisbury (1830-1903), were the parents of the present Earl Balfour. Lady Blanche Balfour was a pious and humble lady, who recognised the grace of God in one in the humblest circumstances in life. “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Peggy Matheson, who lived about 1855, was
a noted but poor Christian, who lived at Strathconon, in a small thatched house. It was so low that one could hardly stand in it. The door of entrance was so low that one had to bend in order to get admittance. Lady Blanche Balfour often visited Peggy Matheson, and had rich spiritual fellowship in her company. Her ladyship frequently infused tea for herself and Peggy, and both partook of their tea, sitting on a bare, hard chair or stool. She offered Peggy a new house. Peggy gratefully thanked her; but said—”If this house is good enough for the Master, it is good enough for me.” It is said that Strathconon is noted for its honey. It certainly was at one time celebrated for its spiritual honey.
A collection was announced for the Free Presbyterian Shieldaig (Torrifon) Building Fund. Seonaid was penniless at the time. She happened to visit a sick woman, and brought her a small basket of potatoes. The woman placed a sixpence in her hand. The sixpence went to the Shieldaig collection. On another occasion a Christian lady visited her on a Sabbath morning. She found her on her knees praying to the Most High to bless the preaching of the Gospel in the meeting-house and throughout the world. After the private devotions were ended, the two had happy Christian fellowship together. Seonaid gave her 2s or more to put in the church door collection.
One happened to make some remark about the faults of some Christian professors. Seonaid replied—”I would gather in my apron every fault I had against the Lord’s people, and place them under the ground.” She once visited a certain house. When asked why she went there, her reply was—”That I might see the difference between the wicked and the righteous.” Of Seonaid, the late worthy Torquil Paterson, Elder, said that he was greatly helped in his spiritual exercises by her presence in the congregation. After the godly elder’s home-call, she herself had a keener desire to depart and be with Christ. Mrs Mackenzie, 12 Altgreishan, was a kind and attached friend, and had many spiritual feasts in her company. One suggested to her to quit her house for a better one. She replied—”I shall soon be in the house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. God has been very gracious to me in this hut. I had many a rich spiritual feast in it. I shall not leave it till my blessed Saviour calls me to the eternal feast above.”
She was confined to bed about eight days before death emancipated her soul from her body. The Lord was graciously present with her, not only during her
life-time, but during the days she was confined to bed awaiting the home-call. She died, as she had lived, a bright, humble Christian, adorning the doctrine of her Lord and Saviour in all things. In the 86th year of her life she breathed out her soul to the Jehovah of her life. Her husband predeceased her by a few years.
A very great blank in the congregation of Gairloch has been made by her death. She had a number of sympathising Christians with whom she had fellowship in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “The memory of the just is blessed.” D. M’K.