BY GEORGE FORREST.
M R. Roderick Kennedy, Strome Carronach, Lochcarron, Ross-shire, died on the 20th day of March, as has been noticed already in the Magazine for April.
We have not been able to ascertain the period of his life at which he underwent a saving change, but all who knew him were fully satisfied that he was a pious man. His father was a godly man, whom the Rev. L. MacKenzie called “the private Christian.” Undoubtedly, he would have instructed his family in the fear of God. This was not lost on Roderick, for he seemed to have had sharp convictions when very young. He went, when a young man about twenty, out to Australia, where he spent nine years of his life. After he came back it was evident that the concerns of his soul were upmost in his mind.
Twenty years prior to our separation from the so-called Free Church, he had lost confidence in her ministers to such an extent that he went to hear only the few who stood faithfully by God’s truth. He went always to Dingwall at Dr. Kennedy’s communion seasons, and went to hear the Rev. Alexander MacColl, Lochalsh, as often as he found it possible owing to distance and strength of body. These two men he greatly admired and esteemed; but such was his extreme modesty and humility that he never spoke to either of them. While admiring firmness for truth and conscience in others, and while possessed of a goodly measure of that spiritual fortitude which caused him to abhor compromises, or surrender, in matters of truth and conscience, he found it extremely difficult to speak or pray in public. Once, at the Shieldaig Manse, the Rev. D. Macdonald pressed him to return thanks after dinner; he begged to be excused, and as Mr. Macdonald persisted, he began to weep, which left an impression on all present that he was a man who realised the gravity of approaching God.
He grieved at the advance of irreligion, Sabbath-breaking, and Popery in the land, and declared that bitter fruits would be reaped of our backsliding from God and Reformation attainments. He mourned after the Lord’s people when he heard of the death of any of them, and took particular notice of how few were raised from among the young to fill the gaps thus made on the walls of Zion. But he had a good hope through grace. Speaking of true faith, he said:—”Those who have true faith find themselves often on their back, and at such times, O! the need they feel of the Spirit’s breathing, as faith is the gift of God. Though my faith is often exceedingly weak, I would not give it up for the whole world.” In speaking of the old and new heart, he said:—”The old heart will not accept the Christ of God; but the new heart will receive Him.”
The last year of his life he scarcely ever spoke of the things of this world. Last October he asked to be assisted out of doors. He was assisted, and when he looked on the surroundings, he said:—”Do you not see a beauty on the works of God’s hands; O! the beauty of the hills as the sun shines upon them.” He then spoke a while about Jephthah’s daughter. He died on Sabbath, 20th March, at the age of seventy years. He was buried in the Lochcarron Churchyard on the 24th. “Thy brother shall rise again.” N. C.
Memoir of Rev. D. Macdonald.—Orders for this memoir may now be sent direct to the Rev. D. Macfarlane, F.P. Manse, Craig Road, Dingwall. The price is 2s. 6d. per copy, postage 3d. extra.
The readers of the Magazine will be pleased to learn that a beautiful tombstone has been erected at the grave of the late Rev. D. Macdonald, Shieldaig, by his widow. Mr. Macdonald’s remains were buried at Applecross. We beg to thank Mr. Bain, the Applecross estate manager, for the great kindness and heartiness with which he assisted its erection. N. C.