WHEN death breaks in upon a family circle, there is sorrow among the bereaved, and the deeper the affection the more bitter the sorrow. There is a family “in the world, but not of the world,” from whose midst members are constantly being removed to a better country. They go to join the Church triumphant. To them the removal is “great gain,” but the Church militant feels poorer, and thus the cry is heard: “Help, Lord, because the godly man doth daily fade away, and from among the sons of men the faithful do decay.” It pleased God to remove in recent times some such who were associated with our London Mission, and of two of these a brief account may here be given:—
THE LATE MRS. DONALD SUTHERLAND.
The subject of this notice was born in England, but spent several years with an aunt in Strath, Gairloch. Her early training in that Highland home had beneficial results in after years. She was modest and exemplary in character, of a reserved and kind disposition, yet there was at that time no indication of a renewed nature. Outward respectability was clung to as a substitute for the imputed righteousness of Christ, and so Catherine MacLean (her maiden name) was, like others, “without God and without hope in the world.” Her widowed mother and other members of the family resided in the South of England. Catherine and her aunt removed from Gairloch, and subsequent years found them for the most part together in England. She highly valued her aunt’s companionship, which she was privileged to have to the end.
The year 1914 marked an all-important period in her life, for as she attended our London Mission services in the Conference Hall (former address), the Holy Spirit applied the truth. The Rev. W. Matheson, now in Chesley, Ontario, was at that time officiating, and the Scripture, “Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?” arrested her mind. Prior to that she went on one occasion to a place of amusement. Conscience upbraided her, but now sin became sin to her, not merely as an evil existing in the world without, but as a fatal disease possessing a death-grip of her soul. Her one desire and prayer now, might be expressed in the cry of the Psalmist, “Heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.” The great Physician heard her cry, and healed her soul.
Some time after this she became the devoted wife of a worthy husband—the late Donald Sutherland, 201 Lavender Hill, London—of whom an obituary appeared in the September, 1917, issue of this Magazine. Her husband’s illness, and difficulties arising therefrom, his death in July of the year mentioned, leaving her with a fatherless child, provided deep trials. She showed commendable patience and resignation, and in this school of adversity she was taught to profit. Outward difficulties were frequently accompanied by spiritual conflicts. One source of temptation and grief to her was the going back to the world of an acquaintance who professed to be the Lord’s. Should these lines meet the eye of that person, let the command be heard: “Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?” Men may be deceived, but God cannot be.
On the first Sabbath of April last the annual Communion Services in the London Mission were conducted by the Rev. A. Mackay, Oban. To Mrs. Sutherland that was an eventful season. Unbelief was busy. Satan tried to prevent her commemorating the death of Christ. (She became a member about 1915.) Saturday was a day of weeping, but Sabbath morning found her rejoicing. She had a feast of love that day. The end was near, for that Sabbath fortnight, at 6 a.m., she closed her eyes in death, after a sudden attack of influenza and pneumonia, at the age of thirty-one years. Thus, in early life, she followed her beloved husband to, we believe, the eternity of the righteous. The last Scripture she quoted was Psalm xviii. 16:—
“And from above the Lord sent down,
And took me from below;
From many waters he me drew,
Which would me overflow.”
May God, who is the orphan’s help, abundantly bless their young daughter, now lovingly cared for in the home of friends! To the bereaved mother and family, to the sorrowing aunt, and other mourners, deep sympathy flows. The double removal of Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland from our London Mission has left a much-felt blank there, but “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” W. G.
THE LATE MR. JOHN J. HOGG.
It is written concerning those who are of the “household of faith,” that by their fruits ye shall know them. Fruits were seen in the case of the late Mr. John J. Hogg, of 46 Manor Road, Stoke Newington, London, which indicated membership of this household.
He was born at Ramsey, Isle of Man, and in a home where he was taught the Scriptures. Early in life he became acquainted with a Mr. Campbell, Customs House Officer at Ramsey. Mr. Campbell, who was a native of Tarbert, Loch Fyne, was known to many as a truly pious man, and as a supporter of the testimony of the late Rev. J. R. Anderson, Glasgow, and having no sympathy with the Anti-Scriptural tendencies of the churches around him, he held regular meetings in his own house. To those meetings John Hogg regularly resorted, and there, it is believed, the Holy Spirit opened his heart to receive the truth. Under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, he was made conscious of the depravity of his nature, and learned something of the plague of his own heart. He was led to apprehend the mercy of God in Christ, and rest his hope for eternity upon the finished work of Calvary.
For the 63rd and 64th chapters of Isaiah he seemed to have a special love, and in prayer would often be led to the question, “Who is this that cometh up from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?” The wonderful condescension of God to man was a theme he delighted in.
While yet a young man, he removed from Ramsey to Glasgow, and there attended the meetings in the John Knox’s Tabernacle, where the Rev. Jonathan R. Anderson, who was then at his rest, had ministered. Mr. Anderson’s sermons, along with others, were read at these meetings. Mr. Hogg highly appreciated the teaching of the sermons, and had a great regard for Mr. Anderson’s memory.
Leaving Glasgow, he took up employment in London, where he married and resided for the remainder of his life. His devoted helpmate took an active interest in things pertaining to the cause of Christ. Although much occupied in a responsible position, Mr. Hogg was able to read extensively, and took special delight in perusing the writings of John Calvin. The Bible was his standard in all controversy, and while he loved peace, he did not seek it at the expense of truth. He genuinely appreciated the testimony of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
It was a source of regret to him, and others, that his residence was so far distant from our Mission Hall in London that he was unable to attend on Sabbath. His regard for the Fourth Commandment prevented him from travelling by car or train on that day. He was frequently at the weekly prayer-meetings. He was present a week before the sudden call came, and engaged in prayer, afterwards remarking that he felt a breath of the Holy Spirit that night.
Suddenly, on the evening of 14th October last, while in apparently good health, the unexpected summons came, and in a few minutes Mr. Hogg passed into eternity in his fifty-seventh year. To Mrs. Hogg and their only son we extend deepest sympathy. They have lost a God-fearing husband and father, and our London Mission an attached friend. May God arise and plead His cause in the hearts of the children of to-day, and fill the gaps made in many places by the removal of the fathers!
W. G.
The late Pte. Robert D. Livingstone
(OF BUENOS AYRES AND SCOTLAND).
IT is often matter of sorrowful reflection that so many young men of Christian promise fell in the recent Great War. God’s footsteps are mysterious. He doeth according to His will among the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth, and it is our place to seek grace to say, “Thy will be done.” One of these young men is the subject of the present sketch. He was posted as “missing,” along with his officer and comrades, on the 10th April, 1918, and as nothing has since been heard of him or them, the sad but inevitable conclusion is that they fell in the fierce struggle which was then proceeding.
Robert Duncan Livingstone was born at Rothesay on the 20th July, 1887. He was the only son of the late Mr. Duncan Livingstone, a native of the district of Cowal in Argyll, who was known to friends in various parts of our Church. Mr. Livingstone, senior, was for several years a member of the John Knox’s Free Presbyterian congregation in Glasgow, and frequently took part in its prayer-meetings. He died, we believe in the Lord, in the Northern Infirmary, Inverness, on 10th January, 1917, and his remains were buried beside those of his wife at Old Monkland Churchyard, Coatbridge.
Robert, as a child, attended the Academy at Rothesay, and showed at his first beginnings that he possessed no ordinary mental abilities. At the early age of eight years his Bible knowledge was so marked that the Rector said that he had more knowledge of the Scriptures than any other pupil in the school. At a later date the family were for a time in London, and, when at school there, he was granted a special prize for religious knowledge. Afterwards they came to Glasgow, and there became connected with the writer’s congregation. Robert was a quiet, gentle boy, and took pleasure in attending all the Church services. He was also a regular and diligent member of the Bible Class, and, when he was only in his teens, he came forward with a view to admission to the Lord’s Table. The Session, though they regarded his testimony as good, advised delay on account of his youth, but, at the end of six months, they cordially admitted him to membership. He bore testimony that it was through the Spirit’s application of divine truth, as stated in the Larger Catechism (which was the text-book of the writer’s Bible Class), that his soul was enlightened in the knowledge of Christ, and that he humbly believed he passed from “death unto life.” His after walk and conversation were consistent with his Christian profession. In fact, he grew up a solid, serious lad of great intelligence, who was an example to his fellows. Owing to circumstances of work, the family removed to Coatbridge, where Robert was engaged in the office of Messrs. Stewart & Lloyd, Clyde Tube Works. Here he attended night classes and rapidly acquired a knowledge of the German language, and by private study a knowledge of Spanish, and here also his devoted mother died in September, 1907. He frequently walked from Coatbridge on the Sabbath, a distance of nine miles, to attend our services in Glasgow.
Desirous of advancing his position in life, he went to London in October, 1909, and was for some months in the office of Messrs. Agar, Cross & Co., with a view to going out in their service to South America. In London he was closely associated with our Mission at Conference Hall, and with the friends who met there, and he looked back upon this short period as one of the happiest seasons in his life. In March, 1910, he sailed for Argentina, and was for four years with his firm in their offices in Buenos Ayres. In 1914 he entered the firm of Messrs. Harrods Ltd., in Buenos Ayres, where he got the appointment of General Superintendent. He had a very comfortable situation, and was happy in his work, but when the Great War broke out, and he saw that his native country was fighting for justice and right, he started to make preparations to come home, and join the ranks. He found it impossible, however, to leave owing to his responsibilities to his firm, until April, 1916. He then took his departure for this country, and in May he joined the 2nd King Edward’s Horse. For several months his regiment was in Ireland. It was during this time that Pte. Livingstone’s father took seriously ill, and he had the satisfaction, though a very sorrowful one, of getting leave to attend his sick bed, and afterwards, his funeral—providential circumstances that would not have happened had he remained in South America. The regiment was now sent to France, but as cavalry was not in requisition, it was disbanded along with others to supplement the foot forces, and Pte. Livingstone was attached to the Northumberland Fusiliers. He saw much fighting in the spring of 1918, being in the Somme field, and when writing to his eldest sister in Airdrie on the 7th April, he expressed himself as amazed that God had been pleased to spare him, when so many of his comrades were called. He looked forward to being home in a few days, as he was to report in London on the 10th April for his commission. But in the mysterious providence of God, other things were ordained for him, for his company was rushed up the line on the night of the 9th April, to take part in the great struggle for D’Estaires. Writing for the last time before going into action to a dear friend with whom he made his home in Buenos Ayres, he said: “Whether I survive this or not, all I ask is, that whatever God has in store for me, He may, by His grace, prepare me for it, so that He may cause me to bless His name.” As already stated, he was posted as “missing” on the 10th April, 1918. This is the pathetic yet honourable end on the present earthly scene of a young man of excellent worth and promise, at the age of thirty years.
Private Robert Livingstone was a truly God-fearing man. He greatly missed in Buenos Ayres the means of grace he was accustomed to in the home country, and he was sorely grieved to observe the fearful Sabbath profanation committed even by professed ministers of the Gospel, who were often found as referees at football matches on Sabbath afternoons after the Church service was over. He was also much pained with the godlessness he observed in the Army. The following extract from a letter, written by him in 1906 at Coatbridge, when he was in his nineteenth year, will give some idea of the spiritual exercise of his mind and of his knowledge of the depths, as well as the heights of Christian experience:—”The souls of God’s people often faint by affliction, but, like Hezekiah, they are enabled to say, ‘By these things men live.’ Illnesses are constant reminders to them that they are citizens of another country, and that their earthly tabernacle shall soon be dissolved. My own soul dwells in darkness like those that have been long dead. ‘Iniquity prevails against me’ continually, and I am like a dry stick. But Christ’s arm is not shortened. Although His people in the greatest depths of their affliction may say that ‘all men are liars,’ and think, like Jonah, that they are cast off from the sight of the Lord, yet they say it in haste. They are enabled by sustaining grace to look again to Him, hoping and waiting for His salvation . . . Remember me at the throne of grace.”
We extend our deepest sympathy to his three sisters—the surviving members of the family—and other friends in their great bereavement. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.”—J. S. S.