THE subject of this brief sketch, notice of whose death appeared in a recent issue of the Magazine, was born in the parish of Resolis, near the village of Jemimaville, on the 22nd January, 1850. When still an infant his parents, of whom it can truly be said that they brought up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, removed to the parish of Contin, where his father was manager of the farms of Achilty and Kinnahaird. He was educated at the parish school of Contin, and often in after years did he speak with affection and regard of his worthy schoolmaster, the late Mr. MacGlashan, one of whose outstanding characteristics appears to have been punctuality, and no doubt the good example thus set was not lost on the pupil, who, throughout life, displayed a like characteristic.
An incident of his boyhood days in Contin caused him to ponder seriously eternal realities. One day, along with a few companions of his own age, he went to bathe in a pool in the river which flowed near his home. He appears to have gone beyond his depth, and was soon in difficulties. His companions, instead of going to his assistance, became so bewildered that they fled for help. James would, doubtless, have been drowned were it not for the providential arrival of a strong young man who happened to be passing that way, and went to his rescue. What doubly impressed this incident on his memory was the fact that a short time afterwards his rescuer was drowned at the very same spot. On leaving school he started his apprenticeship with a local mason, and assisted in the building of the many schools which were erected in country districts after the passing of the Education Act of 1872. It was while thus engaged in Strathconon that he first met his future partner in life, who for over fifty years has been a true helpmeet to him, and who still survives to mourn his loss. As a young man in his father’s home, he was privileged to hear from time to time such worthy ministers as the Revs. Dr. Kennedy, Dingwall and Mr. MacDougall, Fodderty, of whom he always spoke with the greatest affection and regard. When his father retired and went to live in Conon, his opportunities of hearing Dr. Kennedy became more frequent.
While following his occupation as a mason he had occasion to go to Alness, where he heard a sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Fraser, Rosskeen, who, he used to say, was a very godly man. It appears that Mr. Fraser’s preaching in the hands of the Spirit was the means of bringing James Campbell under conviction of sin. In trouble of mind, and in concern for his soul’s salvation, he now visited his uncle in the Black Isle, the godly John Campbell, who proved most helpful to him in his time of distress. While his uncle lived, James was a constant visitor to the Black Isle.
Nearly fifty-five years ago he came to Inverness, and one of the first jobs he was engaged on was the building of the Town Hall for a south country contractor. Shortly after this he went to work at the building of a shooting lodge in a lonely glen in a remote district of the Highlands. While on this job he had as his companion another mason named Simon Campbell, who is still remembered by many as a man of strict principles and outstanding godliness. The remainder of the workmen on this job were evidently very wild characters who had no regard for the sanctity of the Sabbath. On this day their usual occupation was to climb to the top of the steep hills on each side of the glen and roll huge boulders down into the loch in the valley below. Simon Campbell remonstrated with them regarding this practice, and told them that if they would not cease from their ungodly behaviour some judgment would surely befall them. The night after James Campbell and his companion left the job, Simon Campbell’s words came to pass. During the erection of the new building the men employed on the work were living in the old lodge, which was built of wood, and on the night in question one of their number rose about two or three o’clock in order to catch a boat for home, and before leaving he lit a fire and cooked some food for himself. He was evidently not too particular about the fire he left burning, with the result that the building was soon ablaze, and so quickly did the flames spread that the men had no time to do anything but jump out the windows for their lives, not even having time to take their clothes. The whole of the wooden structure was very soon reduced to ashes, and the men lost everything they possessed, including their clothes, tool-kits, and money. We mention this incident as a suitable warning at the present time when Sabbath desecration is so prevalent.
About the age of 28 he started work on his own account and made his home in Inverness, where he succeeded in establishing a flourishing building contractor’s business. He married shortly afterwards, and the home of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell at 6 Ardross Place, Inverness, has since been an open door for hospitality to friends of the cause throughout the north and elsewhere. He was prominently associated with such worthy men as Alex. Fraser, Angus Clunas, Alex. MacLean and others, who made a stand for the truth in Inverness in 1893. He never wavered from the position then taken up, and in him the Free Presbyterian Church always found a generous and loyal supporter and wise counsellor. As an elder in the Inverness congregation he frequently conducted the services in the absence of the writer, and always with much acceptance. Until recent years he also ably conducted one of the classes in the Sabbath School.
About ten years ago, after retiring from business, he, along with Mrs. Campbell, took a trip to Canada to visit members of their family there. As recently as three years ago, at the age of 79, Mr. Campbell accompanied Rev. R. MacKenzie, Gairloch, to Australia. They went via Canada, where Mr. Campbell’s eldest son, Duncan, joined him. On seeing Mr. MacKenzie safely to his destination, he visited a son in Queensland, and later crossed to New Zealand, where one of his daughters is married. He returned by Ceylon, the Red Sea and Mediterranean, visiting Egypt and Palestine en route. At the latter place he spent some time with Rev. D. Urquhart, the Church’s missionary there. He never tired of telling about his visits to these two places, so famous in sacred and secular history. Possessed of an excellent constitution, Mr. Campbell rarely, if ever, required the services of a medical man, and not until less than a year of the end could one notice signs of the tabernacle of clay beginning to crumble. As is so often the case with those who have scarcely ever experienced illness, when decay sets in, it usually spreads rapidly—so it was with Mr. Campbell. All that medical skill could do on his behalf was done, but the end came peacefully on the early morning of Thursday, 25th February last. He is survived by his widow and family of five sons and five daughters. To every one of them we extend our sincerest sympathy.—E. MacQ.