The subject of this obituary sketch was born in Milivaig, Glendale, Isle of Skye, in the year 1878, and passed away at Mount Ousle Road, Fairy Meadow, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, on the 24th November, 1956, having thus attained to his seventy-eighth year. After his marriage he settled in Edinburgh for about ten years, when he emigrated to Australia in the year 1912. Due to the reserve and reticence that characterise Scottish Highland Christians generally relative to their spiritual experiences, we are not in a position to say when, where, or by what means, the great supernatural change, Scripturally known as being born again, took place, but his life, walk, and conversation were such as to make it unmistakably clear that he had been with Jesus, and had savingly learned of Him. His practically consistent life manifested him as an open epistle of Christ, known and read of all men. If the frequency and warmth of spiritual affection with which he spoke of the late Rev. James S. Sinclair’s ministrations during Mr. Shaw’s residence in Edinburgh were not the means of his conversion, it is at least very evident that he was built up and edified under that worthy minister’s faithful preaching. He was a more or less frequent correspondent with Mr. Sinclair till the latter’s much-lamented death in the prime of life.
Both the late Rev. Donald Beaton, Oban, and the late Rev. Finlay Macleod, Dornoch, with the present writer, wondered at the strange mysterious dispensation of Divine Providence that cast the lot of such worthy men as Mr. Neil Shaw, and the late Mr. Donald Beaton, King Country, New Zealand, in such extraordinary circumstances of isolation from a public Gospel ministry, as to render membership and office-bearing in the visible church impossible, though otherwise so eminently qualified for such an office in the church. Like other like-minded men in similar circumstances in our overseas Dominions, the Most High seemed to make up for them in such isolation, what was denied in public Gospel privileges and ordinances. Their uncompromising fidelity to the Bible, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, and their supreme standard of faith and morals; the Westminster Confession of Faith as their subordinate standard, and the distinctive Scriptural testimony of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland as dearer to them than their lives, are proof that supernatural grace is equal to maintaining the soul in a state of marvellous spiritual health in the most uncongenial environment. In thus writing, however, we are far from condoning deliberate abandoning of public Gospel privileges and ordinances for the most comfortable temporal circumstances this world can afford. If necessity, however, compels such isolation in the dispensation of Divine Providence, the Lord will make up in private what was denied in public.
Mr. Neil Shaw was as uncompromising a Free Presbyterian as one could meet. Its interests, at home and on the foreign field, were the main concern of his life. Being a deeply exercised Christian, the church at home and abroad, and especially our African Mission, lost a true praying friend the day Mr. Neil Shaw passed from time to his everlasting rest and reward. Though meek, gentle, and courteous, in his temperamental disposition, he was as firm as a rock where and when Scriptural principles were in dispute. While he could understand outsiders being prejudiced against the distinctive Scriptural testimony of our church, because of spiritual ignorance, he had no patience whatsoever with a professing Christian born and bred in the church who disturbed by disputation its internal peace and harmony, and that of our church courts. He always attributed such agitation to lack of spiritual discernment and consequent lack of appreciation of our unspeakably precious privileges as a church, in the midst of surrounding backsliding, and a prevailing flood of errors and heresies.
He was a frequent and liberal giver to the various funds of the church, but it is as a truly praying man and deeply-exercised Christian that he will be most missed. Though in failing health for a number of years, he had a heart attack a fortnight before the end, from which he never rallied, yet he remained conscious, and conducted family worship from his death-bed till the end. His mortal remain rest in Woniora Cemetery, Sutherland, near Sydney, awaiting the resurrection of the Great Day. We take this opportunity of extending to his widow, after fifty years of happy married life, to his four sons and three daughters grand-children, and other relatives, our sincere heart-felt sympathy with the sincere desire and prayer that his mantle, or even a double portion of it, may fall on them.—John P. MacQueen.