The late Mrs MacKenzie, Dunballoch, Beauly
It is befitting that notice should be taken of the removal by death of the late Mrs Mackenzie, Dunballoch. She departed this life on the 23rd December, 1964. Her maiden name was Ann
Cameron-Mackintosh. The family of which she was a member was large—the home being at Midmorile, Tomatin. The members of it were greatly privileged in having the example and instruction which they had from their infancy. Family worship was lovingly kept in that home, and the Lord’s Day—which has the twofold end of being a memorial of the Sovereignty of God as Creator, and also of the consummation of the work of redemption of the Saviour in His resurrection—was evangelically observed. If this double aspect of the use of the Sabbath-day were cherished, by grace constraining precious souls, then how young and old would dig for treasure which thief cannot steal. There is not much which can be told as to the experiences which the late Mrs Mackenzie underwent in her soul. She made known that in hearing the late Rev. Neil MacIntyre preach on an occasion, she was blessed by the Holy Spirit with the peace of God which passeth all understanding. She became a member in full communion in the year 1915, and was indeed, to the glory of her Lord, a shining example to others in her life and conversation. She married a farmer—the late Donald Mackenzie to name—who died at Dunballoch, in April, 1931. This was a sore bereavement to her, being left with four young children. It happened in the holy providence of the Lord that her brother William, who is still with us in the Beauly portion of the congregation, was able to act as manager for her until the children grew up. During these years until the end, on the 23rd of December, 1964, she was exemplary in her life and attendance on the services of the house of God. Toward the close of 1953, she underwent an operation, and for a time there was little expectation of recovery. She was restored in the kindness of the Lord to a measure of health, but we believe that she was never afterwards in health as she was prior to the serious illness. It was verily a cause of wonder how she latterly attended the church services as she did. She required to be helped in and out of the church. On the last two communion occasions when she was taken to church, she was taken to the Communion Table in a wheeled chair. This was at Beauly Communion last July, and then at Tomatin on the following Sabbath.
When unable to be taken to the services during these closing months, she had sermons of C. H. Spurgeon, and of the late Rev. Neil Cameron, and of others, read to her. We would like to record that the home at Dunballoch was one where friends gathering on Communion occasions were made welcome. One of these—now an aged elder of the Inverness congregation—Mr Robert Watt, was present at her funeral and able to preside at the service conducted at the home. She was near her seventy-sixth year when the Lord called her to her everlasting rest. Her
remains were laid to rest in the Kirkhill Churchyard on the 25th December, 1964. May the Holy Spirit bless the bereaved children and relatives with the boasting in the Lord Jesus which was bestowed on her soul.
D. A. Macfarlane.