THE subject of this obituary notice was 86 years when he passed from this life to a better world. He was late in life before he made a public profession of his interest in the Saviour, but his talents in leading the praise of the sanctuary were well-known and acceptable long before he became a member in full communion. His life was sober and godly since his youth, being much given to prayer and reading God’s Word. Yet he often wrote hard things against himself, and was afraid he would be lost and appear on the left hand of the Judge at last, after all the days he got in this world. Deeply exercised in self-examination, he often complained of Satan’s wiles, but looked forward to that place where Satan will not harass the children of God.
He often prayed for the nation during the war, and said if only the Almighty would arise, He would soon put to flight our enemies. One of his prayers was that Mussolini would be turned into worms like Herod. This was at the time the former invaded Abyssinia. Once in prayer, referring to Jonah, he said it was a wonderful submarine that Jonah had. Being original in prayer, he held the interest of people above many, and he was never tiresome in his petitions to the Throne of God. Although for many years bedridden, he was useful in pleading for the Cause.
As regards private prayer, he told the writer, shortly before he left this world, that he had places in the rocks where he went to seek his Maker. Not content with praying in the house, he frequented the rocks, I suppose, to have the power of eternal realities more impressed on his mind or to obtain greater secrecy. He said there were some recesses where not a drop of rain would come on a person although he were prostrate before the Almighty in prayer. His wife used to inquire where he had been, but I suppose she would not get a direct answer. There are plenty of rocks and secret places in Harris and woe betide those who never use them as he did.
It is to be feared that on the Great Day the rocks will witness against many who never called for mercy when they were on this earth. Having lost a child in infancy, he said he often felt rebellion in himself against the Most High for leaving him childless. Having survived his wife, he was well nursed by his sister and her family. When she died, after only a week’s illness, he was heard asking God to prepare him for the journey to eternity as he had now lost his nurse. His death-bed was remarkably peaceful and serene. There was no struggle with the last enemy. “Mark thou the perfect and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace.”
—D. M. A.