THE subject of this sketch was born at Luib, Isle of Skye, thirty-two years ago, and a number of these years were spent in the world without God and without hope. The first time the writer met him was at the Greenock Communion in April 1928, and although at the time we were strangers to each other, Donald’s conversation revealed that his mind was set on the things of eternity. He appeared to be in great distress of mind during the week-end of the Communion. On Monday morning he had to go on board the yacht in which he was working, and promised that if he could see his way clear that he would come to the Glasgow Communion, which was on the following week. On the Thursday of the Communion he came up to Glasgow for the evening service, but he had to return that night to Greenock.
On parting with him I asked him, “what was his greatest fear in view of eternity?” He answered—”My greatest fear is that I would be separated from Christ.” He returned on the Saturday and stayed for the week-end. After leaving Glasgow a letter arrived, which showed that in the interval he had received the liberty of the Gospel. The passages of Scripture which appeared to have given relief to his wounded heart were—”Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” (Jer. viii. 22); and “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Heb. viii 5).
Donald was very much troubled with the amount of unnecessary Sabbath work which was going on on board the yacht. And in an interview with the captain he told him that he was not going to do any unnecessary work on the Lord’s Day, and if that did not suit him he had plenty of time to look for another man, as he was not going to put any more guilt on his conscience for any one. He was not paid off, but eventually he left of his own accord before the end of the season. That he was a faithful worker was testified by the fact that the captain sent for him the following year, but he did not go.
To all who came into contact with Donald Maclean it was evident that he was a lively and much exercised Christian. He knew much of the wiles of Satan and the deceitfulness of his own heart, which caused him much grief and kept him in much dependence on grace. He was naturally of a cheerful disposition, but since he was savingly changed his conversation could truly be said to be well-seasoned with salt. He became a member in full communion at Shieldaig last June, and it was hoped by those of God’s people who knew him that he would be spared to be yet useful in the vineyard, but man’s thoughts are not the thoughts of God.
For some time previous to this he had been suffering from some internal trouble, but at Shieldaig it took rather a serious turn, and under medical advice he proceeded to Glasgow to undergo an operation. In a week’s time, after being admitted to the Royal Infirmary, he was operated on, and at the time the operation appeared to be successful. But in a few days a change for the worse took place, and on Saturday evening, 27th July, his case became critical. He realised himself that death was not far away, and to friends who came to
see him he mentioned that he would like his remains to be sent home to Skye. A short while afterwards he sang:—
“O thou my soul do thou return
Unto thy quiet rest;
For largely, lo, the Lord to thee
His bounty hath exprest.”
(Metrical Psalm cxvi. 7).
He sang with quite a strong voice, and then repeated—
“The Lord’s my shepherd I’ll not want,
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear none ill;
For thou art with me and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.”
(Metrical Psalm xxiii. 1, 4).
To another friend who called later in the evening, and who asked him what he had in view of death, he said, “Thy people shall be my people and thy God my God” (Ruth i. 16). His last words were: “My grace is sufficient for thee” (II. Cor. xii. 9), and “I will be made perfect in holiness at the end.”
He was conscious to the last, although he was unable to speak for over an hour before he passed away. At a quarter to eight those standing at his bedside noticed a change coming over his countenance, and when the doctor was called he pronounced life extinct. Donald Maclean thus passed away into eternity, and we fully believe to enjoy the eternal pleasures that are at God’s right hand. His remains were taken home on the following Tuesday, and were laid to rest in Broadford graveyard until the sounding of the last trump, when, “the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
To his bereaved parents and brothers we take this opportunity of extending our heartfelt sympathy.—
D. B. M.
God accepts the will for the deed, only where the impediments and hindrances are impossible to be removed—Richard Sibbes.
Mis-spent Sabbaths and their Harvests.
A FATHER, whose son was given to riding out for pleasure on the Sabbath was told that, if he did not stop it, his son would be ruined. He did not stop it, but sometimes set the example of riding out on pleasure himself. The son became a man, was placed in a responsible position, and entrusted with a large amount of property. Soon he was a defaulter, and absconded. In a different part of the country he obtained another responsible situation, and was again entrusted with a large amount of property. Of that he defrauded the owner, and fled again. He was arrested, tried, convicted, and imprisoned. After years spent in solitude and hard labour, he wrote a letter to his father, and after recounting his course of crime, he added, “That was the effect of breaking the Sabbath when I was a boy.”—The Little Gleaner.