As the short winter day drew to a close, on the afternoon of Sabbath, December the first 1957, the earthly course of one, whose day had by no means been short, likewise drew slowly to its close. We refer to Mr. Murdo Macaulay, Elder for so many years in our South Harris Congregation, who, on that day, we fully believe, entered into the presence of His Lord, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. His going coincided with the going down of the sun, but for him, the earthly sun was changed for the sun that shall no more go down, the trials and tribulations of the wilderness for the peace and prosperity of the heavenly Jerusalem, and the long witness, so faithfully and lovingly borne unto the end, for the welcome home of the heavenly Master.
We are unable to say when or how this worthy man came to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, but that he was inwardly and deeply taught of the Holy Ghost, was abundantly clear to all who knew him. He was of a very retiring disposition, not given to talk of his own spiritual experiences, but toward the end of his sojourn it appears that he confided in a friend that he was going back in his mind more and more to the place where he had first cast anchor and was thus resting upon this precious word in Psalm cxix 49 for strength and comfort in the dark valley
“Remember, Lord, thy gracious word
Thou to thy servant spake,
Which, for a ground of my sure hope,
Thou causedst me to take.”
In this respect, he was like the great Reformer, John Knox, who also, upon his deathbed, asked for a portion of Scripture to be read to him, saying to his wife, “Go, read where I first cast anchor”—in his case the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of John, the precious intercessory prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Thus often does the Good Shepherd lead His flock back to the pastures in which He first fed them, by way of preparation for the last solemn journey.
Our late friend served the church faithfully, as deacon and elder, for over sixty years, having been, as far as we can ascertain, an office-bearer in the Free Church before the separation of 1893. He attended the courts of the Church regularly over this long period, as occasion required, but it was perhaps, within his own congregation that he served best the Cause which he loved, by his invaluable help, so ungrudgingly given, in conducting the services of the sanctuary, over many a long year.
His last illness set in during the autumn and winter months of 1956. From that time until the end, he was tenderly nursed by his only daughter, and although suffering, at times, much physical pain and discomfort, his spirit was nevertheless cheerful and bright. His comfort lay in prayer and secret meditation and his conversation then was, to a greater and greater degree spiritual and heavenly. The end came peacefully on the above mentioned day, and all that was mortal of him was laid to rest on the following Tuesday, in the old Kirkyard at Rodel, in hope of a glorious Resurrection.
“Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” I Thessalonians iv. 14. The blank caused by his removal is still felt among us very keenly, and our earnest desire is that others might arise to follow in his steps. We would extend to his bereaved family of two sons and one daughter our deep sympathy, and earnest prayer that their father’s God might be their Covenant God, both now and for evermore.—A. M. C.