By Rev. John A. Macdonald
The late Murdo Matheson, Deacon, Fort William
The subject of this long overdue obituary was born in Strond, Harris in the year 1888, where his late father was a highly respected missionary. One of the meek of the earth, Murdo himself was a diligent business man, who had the welfare of the people at heart. He retired to Fort William seventeen years ago, and made his home with his only beloved daughter Mrs MacNicoll. The congregation there was numerically weak then. In the person of this worthy man they found a willing hand to carry some of their weighty burdens.
While yet young, God began a good work in Murdo’s heart, like Abijah of old, in whose heart good was found toward the Lord God of Israel. This was very obvious from his modesty, exemplary life, and conduct. A truer replica of the late Kenneth Maclean, Breaslete, we cannot think of as far as this is concerned, that he would never speak evil or take up an ill report of anyone. Like the good man spoken of in Psalm 15, verse 3:—
“Who doth not slander with his tongue,
nor to his friend doth hurt;
Nor yet against his neighbour doth
take up an ill report.”
We often thought that his conversion must have been like that of Lydia whose heart the Holy Spirit opened thus drawing her secretly and lovingly to the blessed Saviour. Certainly, our friend had all the marks of her hospitality, and zealous attachment to Christ’s cause and his people
in the world. All who knew him could verily say “Yes, indeed, the invitations addressed by godly Lydia to the Apostles were often his”:—”If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, Come into my house, and abide there.”(Acts 16:15.) Often people from far and near were entertained in his hospitable home in Stornoway, and the amazing thing is, there was always enough and to spare.
Not long after the writer came to the Fort William congregation dear Murdo made a public profession on the Lord’s side for the first time, then in his eightieth year. In the midst of mutual tears he told the Kirk Session:—”I hope the Lord Jesus Christ betrothed my soul to Himself while I was yet very young.” It was a moment of unspeakable joy when the Minister handed him his token. Murdo thanked him, and quoted this truth:—
“For this God is our God for ever
and ever: he will be our guide even
unto death.” Psalm 48:14.
He then shook hands with all the elders, wiped his tears, and walked solemnly towards the door. We lived to see this truth fulfilled. He was ordained a Deacon in 1970, an office he carried with solemn dignity. If at all possible his place in the Deacon’s seat was never vacant. In his declining years, it was beautiful and very touching, to watch him making his way slowly through the Church to his usual place.
Like his late brother Rev. D. J. Matheson, he was an out and out Free Presbyterian; or as the late eminent servant of the Lord, Rev. J. P. MacQueen would put it, “An hundred per cent Free Presbyterian.”
The touching and solemn account as to how the Declaratory Act Free Church dealt with the eminent servants of the Lord, Revs. Donald MacDonald and Donald MacFarlane in putting them mercilessly out of their Churches and Manses, because of their faithfulness to the Truth in 1893, we often heard him relating with tears. When anything seemed to infringe on this noble and God-honouring stand, Murdo was on the defence, come what may. He always quoted that sweet truth, “If God be for us, who can be against us.” How Mr MacDonald preached in the open field in Shieldaig, known as the Cos (the nest), as he found himself churchless as well as without a Manse, was particularly sweet and wonderful to Murdo and he would often say, “O what grace can do.” The congregation often noticed Mr MacDonald endeavouring to shelter the Holy Bible by spreading both hands over it, thus preserving it from heavy snow showers on a cold Winter’s morning; while with his lips he declared the pure and unadulterated gospel to poor perishing sinners.
Yet, notwithstanding such Arctic weather, we often heard it said, that no one ever suffered through being there. Yes, ‘the Lord preserves the faithful’ still. Psalm 31:23. Murdo ever admired them for their faithfulness. That our friend is with them in Glory, singing the praises of Him, who bestowed the grace of faithfulness so richly upon them, we have no doubt. Moreover, he had a firm grasp of the pure doctrine of God’s Word; hence his apparent dread of the sophistry of ecumenicalism, in the face of logic, honesty and truth.
While on his death-bed, he asked the writer, “Are there such persons as lady missionaries in the World?” To which I replied, “As far as I know from the Word of God such a person or persons are not to be found under the canopy of heaven.” “This is my conviction too,” he said, 1st Timothy 2:12. One morning, as Flora, his daughter, attended him, he seemed so happy and composed in his mind. When he said, with that gracious smile on his face, “Isn’t Sion beautiful. I am now seeing the streets which are paved with gold.” He went on, “Flora dear, I have a promise from God for you all, ‘there shall not an hair of your head perish’ (Luke 21, 18).”
Six months or so, before the end came, he needed constant nursing. We believe the Lord shall abundantly reward his loving daughter Flora, Duncan her husband, and their daughter, Mary Ann for their unfailing attention to him day and night. At one time it seemed that hospitalisation would be necessary, but his dear ones persevered lovingly attending to all his necessities until his last breath. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is His saints death.”
On the 5th day of May, 1974, his remains were taken to the land of his nativity. Along with his most dutiful son Murdo Ian, and other friends, we accompanied that which was mortal of this our faithful friend, until we laid him in the Rodel Cemetery, beside his late beloved spouse, who predeceased him twenty-seven years ago. As a further token of their deep respect, people gathered from all over Harris and Lewis for his funeral. The Finsbay church was almost packed for the family worship.
To all his dear ones, as if mentioned by name, we tenderly say, Be ye “followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6, 12.
The first step towards attaining a higher standard of holiness is to realise more fully the amazing sinfulness of sin.
J. C. Ryle.
Gathan Glòir na Diadhachd
(Air a leantuininn bho t.d. 151)
Nis tha eagal oirne agus tha sinn a seasamh fodh gheilt a thaobh Dhé, air a leithid de dhoigh agus nach dàna leinn peacachadh na aghaidh; tha sinn a seasamh fodh eagal roimh a làthaireachd; tha sinn a seasamh fodh eagal roimh a naomhachd; tha sinn a seasamh roimh a mhaitheas, tha sinn a seasamh fodh eagal roimh a chumhachd, agus mar sin air adhart. Seadh, tha sinn gu’n eagal agus gu’n suim dheth, gu dàna ann a bhi peacachadh ‘n a aghaidh. Nis tha eagal roimh’n pheachadh mar a thà ifrinn air a faireachadh, seadh, thà ni’s miosa, seadh, gabhaidh sinn ‘n ar glacaibh e agus gabhaidh sinn tlachd ann. A ris, cia cho caochlaidheach ‘s a thà sinn ‘n ar ruinntean naomh agus na nithean a chuireas sinn romhainn. Rùnichidh sinn imeachd mar so agus mar le Dia, agus gu’n cùm sinn a leithid so agus a leithid so a dh’fhaire thairis air ar spioradan agus air ar slighean; gu bhi ni’s mothann an co-chomunn ri Dia, gu bhi deanamh malairt ni’s mothann ri neamh, agus a bhi deanamh an tuilleadh cabhaig a dh’ionnsuidh an dùthaich is fearr, agus mar sin air adhart; ach mo thruaigh! cia mar a thà na nithean sin a seargadh, ag atharrachadh, agus a bàsachadh an taobh a stigh dhinn, cha’n eil aon de mhòran dhuibh a dearbhadh iad a bhi seasmhach agus eufachdach; seadh, gu bitheanta cho luath ‘s a thà na rùintinn sin air an deanamh leinn, na n’ aghaidh, agus a bhriseas sinn bho Dhia ni’s mothann na rinn sinn roimh sin; a cheud bhuaireadh a thig tiunndaiddh e sinn bho ar rùn, agus theid sinn gu truagh air seacharan anns na dearbh nithean a bha sinn a rùnachadh mu thimchioll. Tha ar rùintean naomh air son a chuid is mothann dhuibh gu’n toradh air bith. “Ach phill iad, agus ghluais iad gu fealltach, mar an aithrìchean, chaidh iad a thaobh, mar bhogha fìar.” (Mar a tha Dia a gearainn a thaobh cuid) Salm lxxviii.: ‘S e gearin duilich a leugh ann an aon dheth na h-Athraichean. Bitheanta (tha e’g ràidh) gheall mì agus rùnich mì ath-leasachadh ach cha d’rinn mì e, ach a ghnàth thiunndaiddh mì air ais a chùm a pheacaidh agus a chùm m’aingidheachd a ghnàthachadh: chuir mir feadhan nuadh agus na bu mhiosa riubh. Cha d’rinn mì ath-leasachadh mar bu chòr dhomh. Agus na’r measg nach fhaod ann an tomhas mòr an dearbh ghearainn a dheanamh?
Ach aon uair eile, Cia cho caochlaidheach ‘s a thà sinn ann ar slighibh agus ann ar n’imeachd? Cia cho neo-chòmhnaidh agus neo-sheasmhach ‘n ar gluasad? Tha cridhe againn a thà gràdhachadh a bhi dol air seacharan (mar a thà Dia a labhairt mun timchioll-san bho shean. Ier. xiv.10) Oh!
na tionndaidhean a thaobh, agus Oh! na pillidhean air ais dhà bheil sinn ciontach ann ar gluasad maille ri Dia! Oh na bearnaidhean, agus na stadan, agus na casgidhean a tha ‘n ar n’ùmlachd! Bu chòr dhuinn a dhòl air adhart ann an ùmhlachd naomh shuidhich-te; ach mo thruaigh! tha sinn a mach ‘s a steachd, air ‘s dheth bitheanta gach latha, seadh gach uair dhe’n latha; seadh iomadh uair dhe; seadh iomadh am dhe, tha atharrachaidhean obunn agus mòr air fhaotainn ‘n ar spioradan agus ‘n gluasadan a thaobh Dhé, agus sin air son a chuid is miosa. Bheir mìl dhuibh aon seadh, agus cha toir ach aon, dhe so, ann an duine ainmichte naomh, seadh, a bu chòr na uile a chur air chrith, b’e sin Ieremiah. “Seinnibh-se do an Tighearna; molaibh-se an tighearna oir shaor e anam a laimh nan aingidh. Mallaichte gu robh an latha air an d’trugadh mise; an latha air d’rug mo mhàthair mìl, nar robh e beannaichte. Mallaichte gu’n robh esan a thug fios a dh’ionnsuidh m’athar, ag ràdh, thà leanabh Mic air a bhrèith dhuit, g’a dheanaibh ro aoibhneach.” Ier xx. 13, 14, 15. Gabhaibh beachd, guidheam oirbh, ciod e’n t-atharrachadh Mòr a bha air a dheanamh ann an spiorad an duine mhaith so, agus sin gu h-obann; ann an rann 13 tha e’g amharc mar naomh a thainig a nuas bho neamh, a moladh Dhé air son a mhaitheas agus a shlàinte, agus a cur impidh air muinntir eile sin a dheanamh; ann an rann 14, 15, tha e’g amharch ni’s moth a mar neach air a bhriseadh fuasgailte a ifrin, dha mhallachadh, agus cha mhòr gach neach eile mu thiomchull. Anns an aon tha e’g amharc ni’s moth a mar aingeal na ri naomh neo-ìomlan; anns an aon eile tha e ni’s coltaich ri diabhal na ri duine leis cho mòr agus cho obann ‘s tha’n t-atharrachadh ‘n a spiorad. ‘Nuair a bha e ann an rann 13 a moladh Dhé, agus a bha (Mar gu’m b’eadh) air a thogail suas gu neamh, ‘s e ‘n naigheachd a chluineas sibh air, gu’m bheil e lán mallachaidh agus gu flinnneach mar so tha sinn uile caochlaidheach ann an so. Oh! cia cho obann air iomadh uair a dh’atharraicheas sinn agus a thuiteas sinn bho na suidhichidhean agus na giulleanan an làthair Dhé? Bho ghràdh gu fuath; bho chreidimh gu eas-creidimh; bho eagal naomh gu sochair fheolmhor; bho ùmhlachd gu ceannaire; bho thlac an Dia gu bhi deanamh dìmeas Air, agus gu bhi gabhail sgios dhe shlighibh agus dhe làthaireachd. Oh! biodh-maid air ar ‘n ioraslachadh air son ar ‘n atharrachadh barachta agus ann an sin ar mì-choltas ri Dia ann na neo-chaochlaidheachd.
(R’a leanntuinn)
Sanctified civility is a great ornament to Christianity.
Matthew Henry.
A close-up photograph of a person’s hand holding a small, yellow, rectangular object, possibly a piece of paper or a small book. The hand is positioned in the lower right corner of the page, with the thumb and index finger visible. The background is dark.