THE North Harris congregation, in common with other congregations throughout the Church, has been made poorer by the hand of death. During the past few years members who gave evidence that they served the Lord have been removed to a better land. They all attended diligently the “public means of grace,” and their example in that and other matters may be profitably followed by all concerned. The following members have not been noticed hitherto in these pages: Annie MacKinnon, Tarbert, who followed the means beyond her native place while she was able; Mrs Morrison, Lewisville, Tarbert, a kind neighbour and a diligent member occupying her place Sabbath and week-days as long as bodily health permitted her to do so. Mrs MacCuish, Leacklee, Stockinish, and Mr Murdo Macleod, our late missionary; Kyles Scalpay, deserve to be remembered also.
Murdo Macleod was born in Kyles Scalpay eighty-six years ago. He was ordained deacon in 1896, and elder in 1911. He was also our esteemed missionary in his native district until no longer able to conduct services through ill-health. He endured in the furnace of affliction, for he lost his partner in life many years ago and during the last year of his life he was much disabled. On one occasion, at least, he came into collision with his employers over Sabbath desecration. He stood his ground and lost his place—which under the circumstances was no loss. On Sir Edward Scott’s yacht he sailed around the British Isles and along the Mediterranean Coast. In the latter region he saw to advantage the workings of the Man of Sin’s deluded devotees.
Even Protestant money seemed tainted with evil spirits, and the first thing the deluded tradesmen did on receiving any such money in their hands was to breathe upon it in order to drive away evil spirits adhering to it. Mr Macleod spoke several times on this and other branches of delusion common in those parts of the world. It is the heart and not the cash that forms the centre of attraction for evil spirits; to cleanse them out of their habitations the breath of heaven is absolutely necessary. Mr Macleod dwelt much on the experiences of Paul the Apostle, and saw in them God’s means to further His own glory and raise His servant to greater blessedness. He had seen many praying people in Kyles Scalpay in former years and mourned that they were much fewer to-day as far as can be seen. Both his grandson and his wife were very kind to him in his old age. To them both and all the Kyles Scalpay people we desire to commend the Lord who saved His servant, and the Holy Spirit who quickened the truths that comforted him, and the Throne of Grace he plied to in his time of need.—D. R. MacDonald.