OUR congregation at Chesley has been called upon to part with a “mother in Israel.” On Monday, 1st April, Mrs. Jane Maclaggan was sitting in her room reading the Bible. The summons came; she bowed her head upon the Word, and so departed. Thus was she found by her daughter, Mrs. Gray, with whom she lived, when she went to call her to her mid-day meal. And as her head thus pillowed in the sleep of death upon her open Bible, so had she borne abundant evidence that upon the Word of God’s testimony her soul rested for eternity.
She was one of those who profit by the example and instructions of godly parents. Her father, who, attaining a ripe old age, predeceased her by almost a score of years, was an earnest lover of the good old way, and walked in it. She was a devout and diligent student of the Word, and followed on to know the Lord. She did, therefore, cleave to the path of heavenly wisdom, firmly convinced of the sufficiency as of the inerrancy of the Word. She was a woman of sound judgment, and of no mean capacity. So she did not belong to that large body of professors against whom the Lord brings the charge: “Their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” To her the Word of the Lord was a precious treasure. Anyone acquainted with her, by visiting her in her home, could see that it belonged to her to say, “It is my study all the day.” She was not ready to lay bare the exercises of her soul under the providence or Word of God.
Her social qualities are not here to be emphasised or to be enlarged upon. The affectionate regard for her manifested by such as were well acquainted with her, and especially in her family circle, bears best testimony here. Yet her earnest concern for sound gospel teaching in the community told of how much she had at heart the highest interests of her fellow-citizens. She valued truth for herself, for her family, and for her fellowman. For this she stood with quiet but persistent firmness. Alas! that so few to-day perceive the value of truth—truth in doctrine, truth in practice, and truth in the inward parts. These are the salt of the earth. They are to be loved. Their memory is to be cherished.
Our congregation has sustained a loss indeed. We all feel it as a personal loss. Yet let us not forget whose is the banner and the cause, then we’ll seek unto Jehovah who builds up Jerusalem, and we’ll not grudge the witness of fourscore years her entrance into rest. To all her family circle, and especially to her daughter, Mrs. Gray, we extend sympathy sincere and warm. W. M.