With the death of Alexander Beaton who passed to his eternal rest on March 1st. 1980, a link with the past has been severed. Born in 1892, and baptized in 1912, he remembered with intelligent interest that earlier period of the history of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. That he had a gracious and spiritual appreciation of that noble stand for the Cause of Christ and Truth in Scotland, none that knew him could doubt. He delighted to regale the younger generation with interesting and edifying anecdotes of his early years, and his older contemporaries. The Lord dealt savingly with Alasdair while still in the vigour of youth, and his grace and gift soon impressed the godly who saw that he was suitably equipped for office in the church. This meant that he came in contact with the fathers in Israel, and by the grace of God took his place beside much older men. As an elder, assessor elder and as missionary, he rendered yeoman service in the Cause of Christ. In Portree, in Bracadale, and wherever he could, he gave himself freely to the work of the Lord.
It is difficult to depict on the printed page the saintliness of this good man. His favourite theme was the redeeming love of Christ. His public exercises were conducted with a kind of serene solemnity, while his private converse with those that feared the Lord was bathed in the spirit of meekness and love. Especially at communion seasons in his hospitable home, one could discern the rare blend of graces in his character. The frailty of advancing years, accentuated by the residual effects of active service in the 1914-1918 war, failed to damp his joy in the Lord. Towards the end of his pilgrimage in which it was apparent that he was no stranger to the wiles of the devil or the deep seated corruption of the old nature, he was afflicted with a degree of deafness, which affliction shut him out from that fellowship with the brethren which he enjoyed so much; yet even this never changed the inner warmth of grace in his soul. He possessed in a remarkable degree that godliness with contentment which is great gain. His prayers breathed a true catholicity of spirit, and he commanded the respect of all godly men.
To his sorrowing widow and family we extend our sympathy, and pray that their father’s God may be their God for ever and ever. F.M.