THE last member of the late Rev. D. Macfarlane’s Session was recently removed from our midst when the late Mr. Samuel Fraser was called away to his rest early in the morning of November 28th, 1949, at the age of 76 years. His death was not unlooked for, but the end came much sooner than was expected. He had serious illnesses in the early part of the year, when he contracted a severe chill which brought on serious complications. He recovered wonderfully after a period, but fell ill again, and although, on recovery, he was able to attend Church services and move about with a measure of comfort, he never recovered the state of health which he had in previous days. During the weeks of autumn, his health became increasingly precarious, and by the second week in November, on the Harvest Thanksgiving day, there was evident cause for much anxiety. It was hoped that he might be spared for a prolonged period, if he confined himself to his home. But it was not to be. All that could be done in the way of nursing was lovingly done. The writer saw him daily during these closing days, but little passed between us in conversation owing to his increasing physical weakness. He behaved himself, as the Psalmist says, with quiet spirit and mild, and was, in tender submission to the Lord’s will, like child of mother weaned. He made a remark on one of these days on our need of the fountain opened for our sin and uncleanness. And a most refreshing remark it was. The infinite fulness of Immanuel and His finished work was deeply precious to his soul. Despite his extreme weakness, it was possible to allow a few of those elders, whom he knew so well and so long, to stand at his bedside before the end came. Such were Mr. John Grant and Mr. F. Beaton, from Inverness, and Mr. Finlayson and Mr. A. MacLennan, members of our Session. On the Wednesday following the 28th November, the mortal remains were lowered by relatives and brethren into their last resting place in the Fodderty cemetery, until the heavens be no more. There was a large gathering of those who knew him in business, and especially of our church-people from Inverness and the surrounding districts, and of friends from the North, and West, and South, who were of one mind with him in the Lord. It was generally felt that a great blank was made in the ranks of our congregational and Synod elders in his removal by death. While profound sympathy was, and is, felt for his bereaved widow and the two daughters in the homeland, and for Mrs. Sutherland, Glenshiel, the sole surviving member of his home circle, yet special sympathy went forth to the son, the Rev. James S. Fraser, who labours in the Shangani district of Southern Rhodesia. Suitable expression was given to this feeling by the Rev. John Tallach, Oban, at the funeral service. He, more than anyone of the friends present, could feel for Mr. Fraser when news would reach him that he would not see his beloved parent any more in time.
The late Mr. Fraser was, according to Session records, from the year 1924 an elder of the Dingwall congregation. Previous to his coming to Strathpeffer, he learned the drapery trade in Glasgow, and while there, became a member of St. Jude’s congregation and Clerk of their Deacons’ Court. He was also one of their preceptors. He was well-skilled in music, and well qualified to teach others in psalmody. At the time of his coming to Strathpeffer and joining the Dingwall congregation, the late Mr. Macfarlane had as his members of Session, the late Messrs. John Mackenzie and Murdo Urquhart. In due course, Messrs. Donald Macrae—who removed to Inverness and died there—and Alex. Mackenzie became elders. By 1924, Messrs. Kenneth Maciver, Kenneth Matheson, and Samuel Fraser were ordained to the office. These three all became lay preachers, although Mr. K. Maciver was not so much in the habit of going from home to supply congregations as the other two were. The late Mr. Fraser thus comes in as the last of Mr. Macfarlane’s members of Session. His death marks the close of a period in the history of the Dingwall congregation. These men served their Master with love and faithfulness in their day and generation, and as to their souls, have entered the city of which Bunyan says that it shone like the sun, and over its gate was the inscription, “Blessed are they that do His commandments that they may have right to the Tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Mr. Fraser was one of the youngest members of a family of thirteen. He was born in the parish of Killearnan, where he spent his youth, until he went south, as indicated. Two of his brothers, Donald and Angus, were at first, in church circles, much better known than he. This, of course, could not easily be otherwise, as they were considerably older than he. Both Donald and Angus were elders in St. Jude’s congregation. Mr. Donald Fraser spent his latter years at Strathpeffer. He was a weighty man in prayer and much esteemed by the godly. One could not have a more pleasant and profitable companion in visiting homes and conducting worship than he. Wherever the minds of others might be, it was manifest that the late Donald Fraser’s mind and heart were occupied with the truth. Even the world could take knowledge of Donald Fraser that he was with Christ Jesus. His brother Angus was a most useful man in the Church, acting as missionary in Stratherrick, Plockton and Kyle, and in other places as required. Mr. Samuel Fraser came more into prominence as others older than he passed away, or were labouring away from Dingwall. According to Session records, an arrangement was made in 1925 for the elders to help Mr. Macfarlane in conducting services, as he was becoming so frail. They were to do so, each in rotation, when at home in Dingwall. In later years, owing to the death of Mr. Maciver and then of Mr. Matheson, the whole burden came to fall on his shoulders in the absence of the minister, although it is due to record that, for a time, he had the help, for a Gaelic service, of our worthy brother, Mr. Hector MacLean, whom we greatly missed when it was needful to remove elsewhere. Mr. Fraser, for many years, as need arose, supplied various congregations and stations within the bounds of the Presbytery—and all this was done gratuitously, as in the providence of the Lord, he could do so. He frequently gave the portion of the Word on the Friday of a Fellowship meeting, and he could be relied upon to give what would be suitable for such an occasion. While we omit many things which might profitably be mentioned concerning him, we would not like to omit stating that he had much more labour in attending to the affairs of the Dingwall congregation, as its Treasurer, than one can realise. He was often the representative Prebytery and Synod elder, and was, as Synod members know, a most capable pleader on behalf of supporting the funds for the well-being of the Church at home and abroad.
His last occasion of conducting a service in Dingwall was at the weekly prayer meeting on the 15th September. He spoke from the words of David in II Samuel xxiii, 5, and he doubtless felt that these words set forth all his own salvation and desire. He was with us at one of the Harvest Thanksgiving services on 10th November, when his appearance gave rise to grave anxiety. On the 19th, we were informed of the rapid change which was taking place for the worse. During the closing days, while able, he continued to conduct family worship. It was noticed that, on one of these occasions, he gave thanks with a measure of confidence unusual for him, for having been redeemed from the power of the enemy—quoting the words in Psalm cvii. On another occasion, he remarked, “The public means of grace have been specially sweet to me since I have been unable to conduct services myself.” At another time, when he was feeling the sickness and weariness of his physical condition, a certain remark was made to him, to which he replied, “My trouble makes me feel dry and unspiritual, but it is not how a man dies that matters, but how he lives—but His merits are all-sufficient.” A few hours before the end came, he said to those around him, “See that you will be diligently reading the Holy Word of God, while you have the mental capacity.” These were about the last words spoken by him. The loss sustained by us as a congregation is real indeed, and will not easily be made up. Those sorely bereaved, and we all, who knew him, have however, the gracious consolation that surely of the godly the latter end is peace. “The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection,”—D. A. Macfarlane.