The late Mr Alex. John Davidson, Helmsdale
As time passes so changes come. This is so noticeable in rural communities. Our Communion Roll proves this. In the last few years a number of our members have gone home. This can be also said of adherents who showed a true heart interest in the Christian way of life. We believe our loss is their gain.
It was the custom of the church to write an obituary to those who were outstanding in piety. We believe, that this could be said of Mr Alex. John Davidson. His memory deserves to be held in the highest esteem and his removal caused a real blank in our congregation and kirk session.
He was born in Portgower, Helmsdale, on the 24th November, 1884 and had the privilege of a Christian upbringing. He died in the Migdale Hospital, Bonar Bridge on the 24th January, 1978. Alex. John, as he was affectionately called, was an upright and highly respectable man before he made an open profession on the side of Christ. As he was of a reticent disposition I am not in a position to give details of his conversion. But that he adorned that profession in his life no one who formed his acquaintance could doubt.
In June 1939 he became a church member. Shortly afterwards he was ordained an elder in the congregation. In this office he served His Master faithfully. In the Church Courts one could see how his words were marked by a calm wisdom. As a man given to secret prayer, he had the secret of the Lord. This he showed in his gentle and peace loving manner. But he was a solid and judicious Christian whose presence was a real source of strength to the brethren. He enjoyed fellowship with those like minded. His meditations were much in the Psalms and in public prayer he would so often repeat the words of David — “Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.”
The childlike simplicity and reverence with which he presented his petitions to the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus made a striking impression on us. It was so evident he had been with Jesus. He felt his need and was satisfied with the Gospel way of salvation.
Alex. John was so conscious of his responsibilities as an office-bearer thus showing that he did not take his vows lightly. In private his conversation was edifying, interesting and instructive. On his last visits to our home he recalled the days of old and the worthy men and women he had known. After his brother James died in 1971, Alex. John was a lonely person but publicly he mourned the lack of gospel fellowship in our time.
He had trials in life but these he wisely kept to himself. Others could see the pleasant smile and hear the kind word but he bowed submissively under it as coming from a loving Father’s hand.
Till the end of his life he showed much concern for Church and State. Often he spoke of the dark days ahead. His attachment to sound Scriptural teaching kept him from being tossed to and fro in sifting times. By grace he remained faithful and endured to the end as a witness who was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
During the last few months of his life he was well cared for in Migdale Hospital, Bonar Bridge. It was there he told me that the time of his departure had come and not to pray for his recovery. The end came suddenly and without pain; he fell asleep in the Lord. His remains were laid to rest in the family cemetery in Helmsdale. Although the weather was bitterly cold a number of people from diverse places attended the funeral. Among them were a number of Gospel ministers who knew him intimately. It could be observed that the feeling on that occasion was that a great man had fallen in Israel. As we feel that one of our intimate praying loyal friends was taken we say — “Arise, O God, plead thine own cause”.