JOHN Campbell was born seventy years ago, in the village of North Tolsta, Lewis, where he saw from his childhood vital godliness. His piety, however, was not by tradition, for he gave every proof that he possessed that godliness, which “is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” He was married to Catherine Macleod, a true follower of the Lamb and who predeceased him by about a year. They were a couple truly married in the Lord, and John deemed it his duty not only to provide for his wife in material things but to minister to her spiritual needs. This was evidenced by the fact that he, when at communions made a special effort to convey home as much as possible of what he heard from the Word to his wife, who was for many years confined to the house by a prolonged illness. In this way the Bible was much spoken of in John Campbell’s house. We are informed that seeing his wife going to the Lord’s Table for the first time was the means of bringing himself to a realisation of his need of a Saviour; and after some time he also was enabled to embrace Jesus Christ as his only Redeemer. He made a public profession not long after, and was ordained an Elder in the North Tolsta Congregation in 1936, an office which he nobly held unto the end. As an Elder, the duty of conducting services often devolved on him and this he did with much acceptance to his hearers. By a walk and conversation becoming the Gospel, he endeared himself to the Lord’s people and won the respect of all who knew him. His integrity one could not question for one felt that in John Campbell he had an Israelite indeed in whom there was no guile. His exercises at Fellowship Meetings were particularly fine and helpful to the Lord’s people. For on such occasions he was given the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to them that are weary. Logically and with beautiful simplicity he would describe the work of the Holy spirit in the soul, holding his hearers with rapt attention as he led them to consider that most solemn crisis in a man’s life, when these words are fulfilled in him, “the commandment came, sin revived and I died.” In the same masterly way he would describe the sinner being enabled to exercise faith for the first time on the Lord Jesus Christ; the hope engendered and the love brought forth. These comprised John’s theme when speaking to the question and the hearer felt convinced that here was a man who was speaking from experience. He was not, however, ignorant of Satan’s devices as the following incident, which the writer received from an intimate friend of John Campbell, shows.
During a communion season in Ness, he and one of our missionaries walked across the moor from North Tolsta to Ness and stayed in the late Malcolm Macleod’s house, where they were most warmly received. After retiring for the night the visitors were strongly tempted to believe that their host, in spite of the warm welcome he gave them on their arrival, found their presence a burden. The temptation was so severe that the visitors spent a sleepless night and were not aware that both had the same temptation. When they discovered that their experience was identical, they came to the conclusion that their impressions must be well grounded and this added no doubt to their perplexity. On their way to the Prayer-meeting the following morning they called in a certain house and the people of the house told them that Malcolm Macleod had called very early—about seven o’clock—that morning. Being questioned regarding his early visit he replied that such was his great pleasure and joy in having two of the Lord’s people in his house that he was unable to sleep the previous night. The two visitors now realised that the tempter had done his utmost to break the sweet bond that existed between them and their beloved friend but unsuccessfully, as a most happy fellowship was enjoyed on that occasion.
Another incident is related of him when his mother was dying. The communion happened to be at the time in Stornoway but it seemed as if it were not meant that John could attend owing to his mother’s low condition. However, on Friday his friends agreed that John might go to the Fellowship Meeting to Stornoway but by the time this was agreed to he had only a few minutes to get ready before the bus was due to leave. Nevertheless, he was resolved to go and began to get ready. The bus started from its garage, about half a mile from John’s house, at the appointed time but only went a few yards when it stopped. The driver, who had assured himself before leaving that everything was in order, was greatly surprised at his bus stopping but being left with no alternative but to come out and investigate the cause, did so, and after a time managed to start the engine, only to go for a few yards when it stopped again. Still more puzzled by this unusual behaviour of his engine, the bus driver came out to examine the engine a second time, and managed to start it again. After proceeding for some yards the bus for the third time stopped opposite John’s house with engine trouble. By this time John was seen running along from his own house to the bus and when he arrived he said to the driver, who was busy working at the engine, that he was praying the Lord would delay him until he was ready. “Well,” said the driver, “if the bus will go now without further trouble till we reach Stornoway we shall conclude that your prayer was answered.” The bus did go. John Campbell was a man of prayer. He was of a quiet and reticent disposition and bore witness to Christ more by his practice than by his tongue; and his expressed desire was that Zion would again be built in this land.
He served in the Navy during the First World War, and joined the battleship “Queen Elizabeth” when it was commissioned, serving in it until he was demobilised. While in the Navy, he met those of our ministers who preached to our men in Portsmouth and other naval stations. He used to give what help he could and also conducted prayer-meetings with the men whenever the opportunity arose. After the war he was approached by the Church to become a missionary but declined the offer, considering himself insufficiently talented for the work. He would find few, however, to concur with him in that estimate of himself. By his death, the church militant has sustained the loss of a man who watched and prayed. That only a week should expire between his death and that of our dear friend, the late Donald Thomson, Ness, and since then the death of Murdo Morrison, a worthy Elder of our Stornoway congregation, has depleted our Free Presbyterian ranks in the Outer Isles.
May the Lord, who gave them grace to witness for him in a dark and cloudy day, raise up their sons in their stead. To his son and daughter-in-law, who affectionately attended to his needs in health and in sickness, we extend our sympathy in their great loss. May their father’s God be their God.—D.C.