THE Lord of the harvest is mowing down our fields as a Church and taking home His heavy sheaves. The Stornoway congregation, which had during the last few years to lament the removal of several of its office-bearers, has again to mourn the loss of two elders—Mr. George MacLeod, Swordale, and Mr. Murdo Morrison, North Tolsta. They were both faithful and steadfast men, and their death is a severe blow to the congregation and to the cause of Christ.
MR. GEORGE MACLEOD, SWORDALE.
Mr. George MacLeod, who died on 12th March, 1920, was born at Swordale, Knock, Parish of Stornoway, in the year 1844, and thus died in his seventy-sixth year. His father, John MacLeod, who was a notable Christian in the congregation of Garrabost, died by drowning. It is related of him that on the day on which he was drowned he went in the morning to another township to help his son William in building a house. As he was about to leave for home, he said to his son, “Proceed with the house, but I will not be with you to roof it.” When he arrived home, his wife had dinner ready, and wished him to partake of it. “No,” he said, “I have something else to attend to first.” He then took his two sons, Kenneth and George, to the barn, and with his hand on the head of each, he prayed that they might be children of “The Covenant.” He then took his dinner, and went out with his crew to fish, but never returned.
George, after his father’s death, lived like his careless companions, having no hope and without God in the world. When quite a young man he married a very pious young woman, to whom he was much attached. She died at the birth of her second child, and George, though still a stranger to the power of saving grace, had some precognition that she was to be taken away. This caused him great mental agony, and he was pacing the floor wringing his hands and exclaiming, “Lord, I am not submissive to Thy will.” As he was in this distressed condition, the Rev. Mr. MacCrichtie, who was then minister of Garrabost congregation, happened to come in and heard George’s confession. “No,” said Mr. MacCrichtie, “Natural love will not be submissive, and it may be even difficult for grace.” The sad death of his wife, however, was the means of awakening his conscience to a sense of his lost condition. For a whole year he was in great agony of mind, and often walked on the brink of despair. One day he set off to Alt-na-gaul, near Bayble, to end his miserable life, but that was the day and the place that the Lord was pleased to deliver him and visit his soul with “the peace that passeth all understanding,” or to put it in his own words, “I went there a devil and came away a believer.”
He had a very acute and penetrating mind, but lacked the power of expression in public. One could not accurately judge him by hearing him speak to the “question,” or in prayer. He was an honest, straightforward man, who did not fear the face of man, and held firmly to his convictions. He was a staunch Free Presbyterian, and was much grieved when he heard of some forsaking the testimony they once upheld, but would add, “I did not follow men, but what I did was in obedience to God’s Word and to that I will adhere.”
During the last few years his health, which was never very robust, was declining, so that he could not but on rare occasions come to church. His last illness came on suddenly. The first day he was confined to bed he told his son that he was not to recover. The reason, he said, he had for coming to this conclusion was the force with which the words—”But he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”—spoke to him. He suffered much pain during his last days, but in the midst of his suffering was heard repeating continually, “However severe it may come, keep me watchful.” He was also heard repeating often Ps. lxxix. 3—”Mine eyes do fail while for my God I waiting do abide.”
Some days before he died, he expressed a desire to see us. A few of the office-bearers went and our arrival greatly cheered him, as he had been severely tempted that none of the Lord’s people cared for him or would visit him. In course of conversation we remarked that we hoped to see him yet in Stornoway. He sat up in bed and said, “Have you any authority for saying that?” We replied that we had not, but only our opinion. “Well,” he said, “you shall never see me in Stornoway, and I would ask of you and other friends not to be pleading that I should be left here, for I wish to depart and be with Christ.”
Shortly before he died, he called the family to his bedside and solemnly exhorted each of them “to seek the Lord while He may be found.” May his fatherly advice be heeded and his prayers answered on their behalf!
We extend our sincere sympathy with his sorrowing widow and family, and express our regret for this delayed notice.
N. M.
MR. MURDO MORRISON, NORTH TOLSTA.
Mr. Murdo Morrison, elder, North Tolsta, Lewis, died on 4th March, 1920, at the ripe age of eighty-six years. North Tolsta was highly favoured in the past in having men and women who were notable for their piety, and even now this favour is still vouchsafed, as there are several young men raised up to take the place of the fathers. The members of the old Session, who were so much respected for their piety and prudence in conducting the affairs of God’s house, were removed one by one, until the late Murdo Morrison and Donald Mackenzie (who is still living) were the only two left. It was very touching to notice the strong and childlike attachment which existed between these two. We might give one instance. A certain member of the congregation, who had been accustomed to engage in public prayer, was suspended from Church privileges. At the time of the Stornoway Communion, all the male members usually attended there, so that the two old men were left alone to conduct the services at Tolsta. Having no other help they called upon this man to pray. The matter being reported to us, we explained to the two old elders that it was contrary to the laws of the Church that such a person should be called upon to engage publicly. “Yes,” Murdo said; “I knew we were wrong, but you asked him first, Donald, and when I saw that you were liable to be brought before the Session, I called him also so that we would be both under the burden.” This attachment continued until they were separated by death.
Murdo was one of the most humble and loving Christians that could be met with. His admiration for and attachment to the Free Presbyterian Church, and to those who firmly held by the testimony raised in 1893, could not be excelled. He was not a gifted speaker, but his remarks, either speaking to the “question” or praying, always showed both penetration and meditation. We may give one of his remarks. After the congregation on one occasion had sung Ps. li. 5, etc.—”Behold I in iniquity was formed,” etc.—he was asked to pray. “No wonder,” he said, “though the form is what it is, but glory to God’s name we have another form—’the truth in the inward parts,’ and if the first form was strange, the second is wonderful.”
The District Nurse, who was exceedingly kind and attentive to him during his illness, said to him one day, “Are you going to the Stornoway Communion? But perhaps it is too far away for you to go.” He replied, “I hope to go much further away than Stornoway soon; I expect to go to heaven.” On another occasion, as she was dressing him, she said, humorously, “Wait you, Mr. Morrison, and I will make you a swell.” “I will never be a swell,” he answered, “until I get to be with Christ.” One of the office-bearers asked him if he were longing to go away, and added, “But you may find the boat difficult to get under sail.” To this he replied, “Christ is worthy of waiting patiently for, and when He comes it is not an open boat He will have, but a closed ‘drifter,’ and the thieves won’t get into her.” His last audible words were, “Now I am ready, and longing to go.” Thus passed away Murdo Morrison to be with Christ in the hope of a glorious resurrection. His place in the house of God, which was never vacant while he had strength to walk, will now be empty, and his genial presence will be sadly missed by all. May the Lord hear the prayers of the destitute and heal the breaches made on the walls of Sion! With the family and friends we express our sincere sympathy.
N. M.