A NOTICE of this worthy couple of true hearted witnesses for Christ is long overdue. They were born in Leurbost in the year of the Disruption, 1843. Kenneth was six months older than his wife and he died six months before her, on the 17th of March, 1928. He made a public profession of the hope he had in Christ, in the year 1885, but those who knew him well, believe that the good work was begun in him many years previous to that date.
Kenneth was one who adorned his profession in much meekness and humility. To be called to speak to the question on the Fridays of communions was a great trial to him. The story is told of the friends seeing Kenneth and Oighrig arriving together at the Church in Stornoway on a Friday and going in at different doors. The day passed and Kenneth was not called to speak, and Oighrig was sure that the minister had something against Kenneth. When the congregation dispersed, Kenneth was not to be seen, but when discovered, he made the following confession:—”I felt when the words of ‘the question’ were read to-day, that if I could say a word on any passage of truth, it was on that verse of Scripture. But by the time the third man had spoken, all that I could say on the passage had been said already and I became so grievously tempted that I rose and went out. I found out however that if it was difficult to remain in the church, harassed with temptation, it was worse to be out.”
Having professed his interest in the Saviour at the age of 42, he lived a godly, consistent life for 42 years more, and when the time came for him to leave this world, his latter end was happiness and peace. He exhorted those he left behind to cleave to God’s Word and to its doctrines, and to have nothing to do with the modern views which would deprive them of the truth. “The hope of the believer,” he said, “is not something he can lay hold on at any time, or at all times. It is kept for him in a casket, and sealed till the hour of need.” He left this scene with the triumphant words of the Apostle on his lips: “I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.” Kenneth Maclean’s death was truly the death of the righteous.
Oighrig, his wife, was brought to the knowledge of the truth at the age of 16 years. She had gone to live with a married sister in Uig, Lewis, at the time Mr. Malcolm Morrison, missionary, was labouring there. The great respect Oighrig had for Malcolm, and the delight she had in speaking about him, cause us to conclude that he was the chosen instrument of blessing to her soul. From her early girlhood, until the end of her pilgrimage here, she was diligent in frequenting the means of grace, travelling long distances to Harris and throughout Lewis during communion seasons. At the age of 82, she walked from Leurbost to Breaselet, a distance of about 14 miles, in a storm of wind and rain to the communion there. Oighrig Maclean lived in the truth. One would not be long in her company without learning that she was feeding in the green pastures. She said to me one day, while living with friends at Achmore:—”What is the meaning, Captain, of that passage: ‘A bundle of myrrh is my Well-Beloved unto me’ . . .” “You will have to tell me something about it, yourself, Oighrig,” I said. She answered: “I was awakened out of my sleep at 3 o’clock this morning with that passage.” The people at Achmore had built a missionary’s house, and after the house was ready, it seemed for a time that no missionary could be got to occupy it. Oighrig went up to examine the house, and while she was looking in at the windows, God’s Word spoke to her. She came back and said to one of the men: “You will soon get a missionary, for God will provide a lamb for a burnt offering.” Though she lived far off from the centres where the burning questions of the Free Church’s declensions from truth and men’s duty in connection therewith were fully discussed, Oighrig’s heart trembled for the Ark of God, and she sought to know the Lord’s mind as to her own duty. That passage gave her no rest day or night: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” She made up her mind to go to Stornoway immediately to meet with the few that had separated for the cause of Christ and Truth. She got up very early on a Sabbath morning, before any in the village had stirred, and went off, with the words that were spoken to Lot, hastening her on: “Escape for thy life. Look not behind thee, and stay not in all the plain.” Coming near Stornoway, she met a woman of whom she asked: “Do you know where the few are gathered who separated for the cause of Truth?” “Yes,” she said, “You will find them in the Drill Hall in Lewis Street, and a big gun at the door.” She continued, came to the Drill Hall, and saw the big gun as the woman had told her. “The gun did not frighten me,” she said, “I went right in, and who should be conducting the service, but my dear Alexander Maciver, Lochs.” Oighrig cast in her lot that day with the Free Presbyterian Church, and her husband doing the same thing shortly afterwards, they both in their somewhat isolated position, gave their presence, sympathy and prayers to our Church to the end of their days.—K. K. MACLEOD.