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Home » Publications » Free Presbyterian Magazine » 1940 » May 1940 » The late Alexander Mackenzie, Deacon, Inverasdale, Gairloch

The late Alexander Mackenzie, Deacon, Inverasdale, Gairloch

IT is a year on the 10th of last December since this aged man was called away. He was born at Loch a Druing, a place not now inhabited, and situated inland between Inverasdale and the extreme west of the Parish. From there his people removed to Inverasdale when Alexander was young. His father, also Alexander, was a good man, and noted among the “men” of his day. The old people, who still remember him, love to tell some of his pithy sayings; and especially what they used to hear from him on Friday of the Communions when giving marks of grace in the soul. The son inherited his native wit. We would expect that such a worthy father would bring up his children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Alexander, however, did not show any signs of being on the Lord’s side until he was old, notwithstanding his exemplary upbringing. It is not definitely known what means the Lord took to bring him to a knowledge of his Saviour but the change was apparent. All were not called and sent to work in the vineyard at the first hour; some were called at third hour, others at the sixth, others at the ninth, and some at the eleventh. God has His several times of calling souls to himself. Evidently, Alexander was called at the eleventh hour. He was about eighty-one years of age when he first sat at the Lord’s table and he lived about seventeen years after that to give full proof of the reality of his conversion. He was in his ninety eighth year when the Lord called him to be rewarded with those who “have borne the burden and heat of the day.” He was made a Deacon in 1930. Though he was old when sent to labour in the vineyard the Lord continued to give him strength and years above the ordinary. Like another “his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.” All his senses and faculties were unimpaired to the end and this enabled him to continue his usefulness in the public. In fact he prayed in the Inverasdale meeting-house about a week before he died. In his latter years he chose to live beside the meeting-house and gave up his old home which was a considerable distance away. His wife predeceased him by many years and he lived alone. His family offered him a home with themselves but he preferred to live within reach of the public means of grace. His neighbours were kind to him. His last illness did not last much more than a week. The removal of such old men leaves a blank that is not easily filled. “Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the wall of Jerusalem.”—A. B.

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