IT is with sincere regret that we record the death of Mr. James MacLeod, an elder in the congregation of Raasay, who passed away to his everlasting rest on 5th December last. Physically, he was strong and robust; but when the Lord’s time had come, strength and life ebbed away under the pressure of a severe malady in about a week. He filled a useful place on the walls of Zion; and in an age in which faithful witnesses for truth are rapidly diminishing, his removal creates a real blank, and he will long be sorrowfully missed.
He was born at Torran, Raasay, about 74 years ago. He was brought up in an atmosphere that richly savoured of genuine piety. Under his parental roof he saw the practice of godliness exemplified in an eminent degree from his childhood. In his boyhood, and even after he had entered upon manhood, there were a goodly number of men and women in the north end of Raasay who were noted for their piety. The seed sown by pious teachers and catechists, and afterwards watered under the solemn and unctuous ministrations of the late Rev. W. S. Macdougall, had, through the blessing of the Lord, resulted in the springing up of a crop of very worthy witnesses, whose influence for good was felt throughout the whole island. James, however, apparently grew up careless and thoughtless about eternal realities, and he was long settled in life before signs of real concern were forced on the attention of others. He was in the habit of attending the communion services at Lochalsh during the ministry of the late Rev. Alexander MacColl, and there he formed a strong attachment to a saintly man, a Christopher Mackenzie, who lived at Ardelve. On an occasion that Mr. MacColl had great power, during the delivery of the action sermon, in setting forth the fearfulness of a sinner’s lost condition for ever in hell and also in exhibiting the excellencies of Christ as an all-suitable and all-sufficient Saviour, able to save the chief of sinners to the uttermost, James’s attention was mightily arrested, his conscience was awakened with alarming apprehensions of the wrath of an infinitely righteous God burning against him, and eventually he was enabled to rest on a crucified and risen Christ by faith in the promise of His word. When struggling with the excruciating pains of a malignant disease that soon put an end to all his troubles, he was asked if he enjoyed a degree of comfort in view of the apparently approaching dissolution. He replied with great emphasis, “He is faithful that promised.”
As a speaker at the Friday fellowship meeting of a communion season, he was always lively. His words were few, but pithy and to the point. He was naturally possessed of considerable wit, which he exercised to good effect. He could administer an effective rebuke to the careless, and from the pleasing manner in which it was delivered, it was usually taken without offence. He was held in high esteem by all, and when tidings of his removal had gone forth, expressions of sorrow were heard on every hand.
He was genuinely loyal to the testimony of the Free Presbyterian Church, and never wavered in his attachment to the position taken up by the Rev. Donald Macfarlane in 1893, who was then minister of Raasay. He was unmoved in his adherence to truth and principle. In his zeal for the cause that he had so much at heart, he endured his own share of sufferings, and in its interests he sacrificed no small measure of earthly comfort. He had a desire to have his life prolonged, for the only reason that he might yet do what, hitherto, he was not able to do for the cause; but he was resigned to the will of the Lord. He honourably finished his course and was faithful unto death.
He acted as ferryman at Clachan, Raasay, for about 17 years. Afterwards he removed to the north end of Raasay for a few years, and latterly he came to Portree where he passed the last few years of his life. We extend our sincere sympathy to his sorrowing widow and family in their bereavement.
“Help, Lord, because the godly man
Doth daily fade away;
And from among the sons of men
The faithful do decay.”
A. M.