Natural men prefer not to believe that there is a God that judges in the earth, whose eyes behold the nations, and who takes notice of the actions and dispositions of all men, high or low, rich or poor. Nevertheless it is abundantly evident from the Scriptures that the God of heaven has a special interest in his own redeemed ones in this world, however poor or despised they are or may have been in the eyes of men of influence or wealth. This is true still in 1979, although darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people. For He declares in His word “I am the Lord, I change not,” and it is written in Psalm 102 “But from all changes Thou art free, Thy endless years do last for aye.” He alone is the proposer and disposer of all things. I hope the following narrative will help to bear this out. The writer is well-acquainted with the places named, having been brought up on a neighbouring farm.
In the parish of Moy there was a farm by the name of Tullochclury. It was most picturesquely situated. Standing in front of the farmhouse one could see the whole length of Loch Moy with its twin islands. At the further end of the Loch, a distance of some two miles, was the home of the MacKintosh of MacKintosh, Chief of the Clan Chattan, and proprietor of the very large and extensive estates of the Moy Hall of those days (1861), of which Tullochclury was a part.
The tenant of this farm was said to be a very godly man, and, as far as can be gathered, a successful farmer. In the providence of the Lord he suffered a mental or nervous breakdown, and as there were no facilities in those days to help anyone suffering from such an affliction we cannot say how long it continued. But there were always plenty of other people able and willing to work for and help out any who were indisposed.
In the year 1861, however, the proprietor, the MacKintosh of MacKintosh, decided that he would dispossess this man of his farm. He had another man by the name of John Smith, who farmed in the parish of Daviot, also on the Moy Hall estate, lined up for the tenancy.
The Reverend Archibald Cook was minister in Daviot in those days. He also had the oversight of the parish of Moy, as that charge was vacant. Mr Cook, anxious for the welfare of the godly but sick farmer of Tullochclury, went to the MacKintosh to plead on his behalf, but he would not listen to his entreaties, and all the more so since they came from a minister to whose denomination he owed no allegiance. He declared that he would have him out, as he was not going to have a madman within sight of his residence, also saying that he could do what he liked with his own property. On his saying this Mr Cook reminded him that it was not his own, but that he was only a steward of all he possessed, and would yet have to give an account of his stewardship when he appeared before the Holy One of eternity. But such talk fell on deaf ears.
Mr Cook then went to see Mr Smith, and pleaded with him not to be a party to dispossessing the godly man of his home. He consented that he would not take the tenancy of Tullochclury, whereon Mr Cook said, “Now give me your hand that you will not do it.” This he did, and thus they parted.
Whether Mr Smith was prevailed on to change his mind, or thought it too good a prize to lose we cannot say, but he went back on his solemn word to Mr Cook, and agreed to take over the farm on the 28th of May, 1861, the sick man having to be out by 12 o’clock on that date.
The MacKintosh, at the time of Mr Cook’s visit to him, was in good health, and well able to discharge the duties of his vast estates. His sons were strong and healthy boys — the elder coming into his early teens, and everything promised fair for a long time to come, humanly speaking.
It is written that the days of man are determined upon earth, and the One who decreed this visited the MacKintosh of MacKintosh with the last messenger. An illness overtook him affecting his body to such an extent that nursing him was most unpleasant. He also became so deranged in his mind that it required two men in constant attendance to keep him confined to his room and bed. His language was said to be “awful”. He passed away on the 26th of May 1861. The funeral was arranged for the 28th at noon. So that when the godly man of Tullochclury was leaving his home and farm, the MacKintosh’s funeral was leaving Moy Hall, the one in sight of the other. . . . “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwellings of the righteous: spoil not his resting place.”
Mr Smith proceeded to take up the tenancy of Tullochclury, but it seems he never had any pleasure in it. It is said that he had great remorse for what he had done. Eventually he became ill, but nobody knew what was really the matter with him. This illness proved to be his last, and on his death-bed when asked if he had pain, all he would say was — “I have no pain but in the hand I gave to Mr Cook”, although nobody could see anything wrong with it. He passed away in 1864 at the age of 40, and an only son was born to him one month after his death . . . “Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
His widow kept the farm going until the son was able to take over. Although he was diligent enough and hard-working, yet with crosses and losses he was unable to make ends meet, and was compelled to sell out and to leave the district. The farm was never again let, parts of it being planted with trees. The widow stayed on in the farmhouse and died there in 1899, being 68 years of age. After her another widow occupied it, and finally another family. It is now uninhabited in the midst of a forest, while the land that remained unplanted was sold to a neighbouring farmer.
“Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.”
W. McQ.