MISS MANSON, familiarly known as Isa Manson, passed to her rest on the 30th June at a ripe old age—upwards of eighty years. She belonged to an esteemed family, now passed away from the town of Wick. Her mother, Mrs. Manson, nurse, and her sister, Margaret, were much respected by all who knew them. Margaret was a Christian of very marked piety, and scrupulous to a degree in all matters of religion. Her blameless life and walk were a constant sermon to all.
Isabella, of whom is this notice, was also a quiet, unobtrusive follower of the Lamb, adorning the doctrine of her God and Saviour. In her was truly exemplified that adorning of which the Apostle speaks—”the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” Her meekness was of a heavenly origin, and her character was strengthened as well as beautified by the work of God’s Spirit within. For while she had something of the fairness of the lily in her piety, there was also something of the strength of the cedars of Lebanon. She was not easily moved to and fro by every change and by every doctrine. Her steadfastness to the cause of truth was a striking feature of her character. In her younger days she had come under the influence of the late Rev. Jonathan R. Anderson’s preaching, and though she cast in her lot heartily with the Free Presbyterian Church, yet there were distinct indications that she had never forgotten those early years. She was exemplary in her attendance at the means of grace, and even during the weakness following a severe attack of influenza, she made an endeavour to be in God’s house until her strength failed her. The end was not unexpected by those who saw her from day to day, and marked the sure advance of death. A constant prayer of hers was, “O shelter me from the power of the adversary”—a prayer which seemed to be answered ere she left this world, for on the night preceding her death she turned to a friend, and asked her to remain with her that night, at the same time saying, “I will be under the shelter of His mighty wings before the break of day.”
A friend who knew her well has sent us the following notes, which help to give a fairly clear idea of her Christian character:— “Miss Manson was a Christian who possessed rare natural talents as well as genuine piety. She was naturally wise and witty, and a flavour of originality was about everything she said. Some who could not but admire and esteem her for her piety, might be disposed to consider her old fashioned in her ways, and in some things she certainly was old fashioned. But it was not her religion which was old fashioned, as it was quite intelligible to everyone ‘born again,’ no matter how much they might differ from her in years, rank, and upbringing. It was in matters that belonged to this world that dear Isa was old fashioned, if we might call her so at all. As an instance of what we mean, we may say that she was very reluctant to avail herself of the results of medical science. She would sometimes say with a smile, ‘I dinna believe in a doctor.’ But if one spoke to her of the Great Physician, she knew Him, and had proved His skill. One could hardly meet a more humble believer; she was nothing in her own eyes. She continually mourned over her sinful condition by nature, declaring that she had nothing. One day, being very weak, she was asked if she had any hope. She replied that she had, but added, ‘It’s masel’, ye ken’—meaning that it was not her prospects for eternity which gave her most trouble, but her inward shortcoming and corruption. The words of the Saviour were very applicable to her when He said, ‘Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh.’ Her consciousness of sin was something far deeper than the shallow feeling of sinfulness which produces merely the assent that we are sinners. She was convinced that it was a terrible fact that she was a sinner. It was a daily source of anguish of spirit that in herself she was ruined and undone. And although she had learned to look away from herself to Jesus Christ for salvation, yet she never ceased to see and feel her personal sin and helplessness. She was very much harassed by Satan; he was not a myth to her. Many a bitter sigh she gave over Satan’s devices. Natural men do not understand or feel these things. They are hid from their eyes by the world, the flesh, and the devil; and they go on unconcerned on the way that leads to hell. Miss Manson also sorrowed over the low condition of the cause of Christ in the land. She often spoke of the days of her youth, contrasting them with her latter years, and one could not help feeling that it was no wonder that she, who had seen such a number of the godly, complained of this poor, blind, self-righteous generation. She was like Hannah, ‘of a sorrowful spirit’ because of the barrenness of the once ‘fat land’ of her youth. She loved the society of God’s people, and expressed her happiness to see them under her roof. She loved the young, especially if she thought they knew the Lord; and more than one of our students will have cause to thank the Most High that ever they were privileged to see Isa Manson.”
D. B.