THE October number of our Magazine recorded the death of Mr. Malcolm MacCorquodale, who laboured faithfully and assiduously as a Free Presbyterian Church missionary at Claddach, Kirkibost, North Uist. We now propose to give a brief sketch of his life, for his name is worthy of being held in remembrance.
The subject of this memoir was born at Carinish, North Uist, about the year 1821. He thus died in his eighty-first year. At that time those parts of the Outer Islands which were not held under the iron heel of Popery were enveloped in the darkness and ignorance of Moderatism. Many forms of wickedness prevailed, and especially the careless manner in which the Sabbath was observed. Malcolm, though then an unconverted man, was horrified to see how the Lord’s day was desecrated by the people. We were informed that this was the means of first bringing him to think seriously of his own lost condition by nature.
The godly Finlay Munro, whose labours were so abundantly blessed throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, visited North Uist while Malcolm was still comparatively young, and was the means of casting an arrow into his heart which went deeper than even his horror of Sabbath desecration. Not only was he led to see himself a guilty, lost sinner before God, but also that “God might be just, and the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus.”
Shortly after this the Rev. Duncan Maclean and the well-known Rev. Alexander Macintyre visited Uist. They were strongly opposed and persecuted by the Moderates. Malcolm was much cheered on their arrival in Uist, and at once set about to erect a tent from which the strangers could preach. The ground officer, who was much opposed to the evangelists, called on Malcolm’s father and threatened that if his son would put up the tent he would be evicted from his croft. The father replied that he would not prevent his son from doing what his conscience told him was right.
After the Disruption of 1843 some eminent ministers came to North Uist, among whom were Messrs. Francis Macbean and Alexander Macintyre. Their labours were greatly blessed among the people. Their keen discernment observed in Malcolm talents above the ordinary, and that should be used for the edification of others. He was accordingly sent to get a thorough knowledge of the Gaelic language.
After being examined by Dr. Begg and Mr. Martin, secretary of the Gaelic School Society, which examination he successfully passed, he was appointed Gaelic teacher of the island of Tiree.
From Tiree he was sent to the parish of Slet, Skye, where he remained for ten years. In this place his services were much owned by the Lord, and there are still living in Slet some who can testify that through him they were first led to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.
About the year 1870 he was removed from Slet to his native place, Carinish. The cause of this removal was a disagreement which arose between himself and the Free Church minister, Rev. J. S. Macphail. At that time the question of union between the U.P.s and the Free Church was causing much agitation. Malcolm, who was one of the meekest and most unobtrusive of men, would not suffer his gentleness and modesty to come between him and the cause of Christ, and being convinced that the principles of the Free Church would be sacrificed in that union, he firmly opposed it and faithfully warned the people of the danger of giving it their support. Mr. Macphail, who favoured the Voluntary side, was so much displeased at Malcolm for warning the people that he had him removed to Carinish. While at Carinish his wife, who was a helpmeet indeed, died.
After labouring in this place for three years he was removed to Claddach, Kirkibost. While here he married his second wife, who attended him with great care and tenderness till his death. In Claddach he spent three years, labouring indefatigably in the service of his Master, and was then sent back again to Carinish, where he remained for five or six years, after which he was brought back again to Claddach, where he spent the remainder of his days.
There is reason to believe that the Lord was pleased to acknowledge his services in Uist also. He was a man on whom the cause of Christ lay heavily, and was much troubled at the many declensions of the Free Church. A friend who had the privilege of knowing him well tells us that he felt the passing of the Declaratory Act, in 1892, so keenly that he was confined to bed for some time on account of it.
Malcolm was a most intelligent Christian, and had a firm grasp of the principles and doctrines of the Free Church. He was much cheered by the testimony raised by the Free Presbyterian Church in 1893, and had no hesitation in casting in his lot with it.
He was a man of deep Christian experience. Of him it might be truly said that he mounted up to heaven and went down again to the depths, and his soul was melted because of trouble. The state of his health for some years before his death was very precarious. It was seldom he was permitted to attend the church at Bayhead, yet although weak in body he always conducted his own weekly prayer meeting at Claddach until the very last. He was for about six months before his death confined to bed. In his last days he longed much “to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” To a friend who often sat beside his deathbed he would say, “Oh, how I long to get to my Father’s house.”
His daughter was married to Mr. Alexander Macaskill, one of the deacons of the congregation. Of her he spoke frequently the night he died. “I am afraid,” he said, “that poor Alexander will shortly lose his wife.” At this time Mrs. Macaskill was in her usual state of health. Twelve days, however, after her father’s death she was taken seriously ill, and in a few hours died. Mrs. Macaskill had many of her father’s qualities, and was a true friend of the cause of Christ.
We sympathise much with Mrs. MacCorquodale and family and the congregation of North Uist. They have lost a dear husband, a loving father, and a true friend. We have also much reason to mourn our own loss as a Church. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.”
N. M.