“THE righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.” From time to time there appear in the pages of the Free Presbyterian Magazine obituary notices of those whom the Word of God designates the “salt of the earth” and “the lights of the world,” but it is to be feared that, so far as many privileged to read them are concerned, few are considering that “the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.”
This month the solemn tidings from the Stornoway Congregation are that recently three of its office-bearers were summoned home to be for ever in His presence, and that within the short period of eight weeks of each other. While these visitations and great breaches should produce awe and trembling in the congregation itself, they should cause more than a passing thought and concern throughout the whole Church—the loss of three office-bearers to one congregation at almost one sweep. Should one be able to say, that it is as evident, the sons and daughters are rising to take the places of the fathers and mothers, as it is that they are not, we should not even manifest the callous indifference we seem to do. But if the Lord should mark iniquity, who could stand? “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance,” and it is a privilege as well as a duty to be able to swell the cloud of witnesses. Alas, how few of them, whose mortal remains we may accompany to the dust, dare we number among those who had hope in their death!
It is with the deepest regret we have to offer the following short and humble tributes to the memory of our three beloved friends. Kenneth Maclean, deacon, was called away on the 27th of February last, and Duncan Macleod, elder, was summoned home the following evening, while Alexander Murray, elder and missionary, followed them within eight weeks.
KENNETH MACLEAN.
Kenneth Maclean, Mor-thireach, “Mainlander,” as he was familiarly called, was a native of the parish of Poolewe, where he was born some eighty-four years ago. In those remote parts of Wester Ross educational means were very inadequate, but Kenneth was naturally bright and able, and with but very little tutoring he came up to what in those days was called a good standard of education. It appears that for the past sixty years or more he took a keen interest in church affairs, and took a deep and intelligent grasp of all the ecclesiastical controversies concerning the Free Church and the Highlands from the time of the Disruption in 1843. The history of the Disruption he had at his
finger ends, and few indeed in the Highlands in the present generation could quote and relate the same like him.
He came to reside in Stornoway some thirty-four years ago—shortly after the demise of the late Mr. Rose, minister of Aultbea, to whom Kenneth was seemingly much attached. And, being a member, he joined the Free Gaelic Congregation (Mr. Greenfield’s). He was a staunch constitutionalist from his earliest interest and concern in the Church, and his duty in the crisis of 1892-3 was quite clear to him. He stood by the standards and constitution of the Church and became one of the Committee who formed the Free Presbyterian Congregation at Stornoway, and heartily supported the Protest and Deed of Separation of the Church. His loyalty to the cause he then espoused can be expressed in his own words. When the minister left the congregation and the Church in 1905, there was a meeting called to hear what the office-bearers had to say on the situation, and Kenneth said, “I was a Free Church man from my birth, and in order to retain my identity I was obliged to become a Free Presbyterian, and as I still wish to retain it, and that the causes of my separate position are not removed, I have no alternative but to remain a Free Presbyterian, so that so long as I receive strength to come to this house, it will be my place of worship, while there is a layman of my own mind to open the Book, and should the Church be not able to give us of ministerial services more than the dispensing of the communion ordinances, I will be quite content and satisfied.” He was rewarded in seeing the congregation stand true, and the forsaking of them proving a gain rather than a loss.
Kenneth had his ups and downs in the world. He experienced several sore bereavements in his family. His estimable and amiable wife, a promising son (a divinity student), and three grown-up daughters were taken from him. These chastisements he got strength to bear with a great measure of Christian resignation and submission. On the occasion of his daughter Kate’s death, however, he was severely tried with a spirit of rebellion, which did not leave him (upon his own confession) until he was brought to his senses through the means of a much harder dispensation in the neighbourhood. He lived with his son John, who is married. He often expressed his wonder at the provision made for him in his latter days. His daughter-in-law, he said, could not do more for him, and he often feared that he did not sufficiently realise the value of her tender care and nursing. He was unable to attend church during the last ten months of his sojourn here, and he frequently dreaded the onslaughts of “the adversary,” when alone on the Sabbaths, and this made him most desirous of being visited by friends on Sabbaths with whom he could converse of the things of God.
The writer bade him good-bye the evening before he died, and he said “I have nothing for eternity but my trust in the finished work of Christ.” He left three sons and a daughter to mourn his loss, to whom we extend our deep sympathy.
DUNCAN MACLEOD.
Duncan Macleod, elder, as stated, departed life the following evening. He was among the first elders ordained on the island in the Free Presbyterian Church. He was a native of Melbost, near Stornoway. A gardener by trade, he kept the Castle garden for a long period, until three years ago failing health compelled him to retire. Duncan was very reserved, and one could not get much out of him regarding himself. But his consistent and upright life and his deep and genuine concern for the things of Christ bore abundant evidence of his having come to the knowledge of Christ many, many years ago. He was of a modest and retiring disposition naturally. As an elder he performed his duties with sympathy, tenderness, and care, and at the same time with faithfulness to truth and principle.
While it could not be said of him that he was keen of leadership, he would not refuse to take the services in the absence of the pastor, but would insist on his brother elders taking their turn as well. A stranger visitor, who might be called upon either to lead the meeting or engage in prayer, had a warm reception from Duncan. He was fond of the prayer meeting and believed in devoting it to the exercise of prayer, while there were present men to be called. On the Sabbath, when he was leading, his lecture would not exceed fifteen minutes. The congregation often regretted this. They felt that he was able profitably to continue longer, if he would. On the Fridays at Communions he would be even shorter, but so pithy and so much to the point, that strangers were certain to enquire “Who was the little, stout, dark man that spoke to-day?” He was a great admirer of the late Rev. Peter Maclean, of Stornoway, and often quoted from him.
At the time the congregation was left by their late minister, Duncan’s encouraging counsels contributed much to the faithfulness of the congregation to the Church. He had no hesitation in expressing his conviction that, if they stood true, the Most High would amply and richly provide for them, and that their loss was more apparent than real. He was able after this to come but seldom to church, yet he lived to see his conviction realized and the congregation thriving under their esteemed new pastor. Duncan was unknown to the church on the mainland excepting to visitors to the island. Many of them are known to the writer as those who have pleasant recollections of their profitable acquaintance with Duncan Macleod.
He had conflicts in his mind, especially since he was laid aside from public attendance upon the means. “Do you know,” he said, “I am meeting with things now that I never expected?” But the Keeper of Israel preserved him and brought him through all in triumph, so that he died in hope at the age of seventy-six. Of him it could be said, that he believed, to die the death of the righteous, he must live the life of the righteous. A widow and
son and daughter survive. And may the example and counsels which they enjoyed so long not be against them at the great day!
ALEXANDER MURRAY.
Alexander Murray, elder and missionary, as stated, was called home within eight weeks of Duncan Macleod’s removal. He came early in life to a knowledge of the truth. He was born at North Tolsta, but lived at Melbost, near Stornoway, since his marriage.
Murray was a member of the Free Church Congregation of Garrabost, and shortly after the passing of the Declaratory Act he became a Free Presbyterian, and joined the congregation at Stornoway, where he was made a deacon and subsequently an elder. Up to the time he became a Free Presbyterian, he was recognised but as an ordinary rank-and-file man. Circumstances, however, came round that necessitated Murray taking active part in the services, which revealed that with him were gifts and abilities that ought not to lie hid under a bushel. In due course Sandy (as was his familiar name) found his way to the landward stations, where he made many friends. Eventually he was called to stations and congregations in Skye, Harris, and on the mainland where he was much appreciated. Few laymen were more eloquent and abler than he. He showed a great acquaintance with the Scriptures, from which he always substantiated his doctrine and points. The copiousness, freedom, and aptness with which he could quote authorities such as Owen (in whom he seemed to have a special delight), convinced one that he not only was possessed of the gift of a strong and retentive memory, but of the new heart that understood the things of the Spirit of God which the natural man cannot understand. He could keep up the interest of his hearers in what he said, so that when he would exceed the time limit (which he often did) the congregation was not wearied.
During the last three years he was unable to come to church, but was for most able to be out of bed, and when the weather permitted herded a little on his croft. He delighted to get outside where he could meditate and pray aloud, out of reach of hearing. Some friends, who found out this, would come up unawares and profitably listen a while before accosting him. If they were in a mood to converse of the matters of God and eternity they were very welcome; but those not interested in such things might go as soon as they liked. A visitor from any place where Sandy Murray laboured was invigorating to him in his retirement from active service, and for weeks after, he seemed revived after some such visits. He was seventy-eight years of age, and left a widow, son, and daughter. The son and daughter are members of the Church.
“Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”
A. M.