THE appalling disaster which occurred on New-Year’s morning, 1919, at the mouth of Stornoway Harbour, when the “Iolaire” was wrecked with the loss of about two hundred brave Lewis men, caused much sorrow and misery throughout the whole Island, and sent a thrill of horror through all the kingdom. Those of us who were eye-witnesses of this sad event will ever remember the terrible scenes witnessed during the days following. It is not, however, with the history of the disaster itself we are, in these short articles concerned, but with the lives of two young men who were cut off in their prime of life and usefulness to the cause of Christ, especially in North Tolsta.
JOHN MACIVER.
John MacIver, or, as he was locally known, “Iain Mhurchaidh Bhig,” was born in the year 1872. His father was a God-fearing man and one of the deacons in the Tolsta congregation and also acted as precentor, a position for which he was well qualified, being an excellent singer. No doubt such a father brought up his children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, but no outward training or godly example will change our nature, and this was evident in the case of John MacIver. Like many of his companions, he lived until he was about 28 years without any serious thoughts of his soul or eternity. After he married he set about building a house for himself and left his father to finish it while he himself went away to the East Coast fishing. During his absence he got the sad news of his father’s sudden death. This was the means the Lord took to send the first arrow of conviction to his conscience. Sometime after his wife contracted trouble which ended in death, after four years of married life, and left John with two young children. During her illness she spoke much about the sad state of sinners going to a lost eternity. Her solemn words added fuel to the fire already burning in his bosom. How long he was left in this condition we are not able to say, but that he was delivered out of the horrible pit and placed on the Rock of Salvation no one who knew him could deny.
When he thought of performing his vows to Him who delivered him in the day of his distress, he was much harassed by Satan’s temptations, for after leaving home with the intention of coming before the Session to be examined, he had to turn back owing to a strong temptation. He was, however, delivered and much comforted by a sermon preached by one of our ministers and was enabled to go forward to make a public profession of Christ.
Being a Royal Navy Reserve man he was among the first to be called up when the Great War broke out. He was more fortunate, however, than many of his companions, being placed on shore duty at the Boom at Portsmouth. Here he remained during the whole time of war, for which privilege he and others were thankful, as he was not exposed to the same dangers as other poor fellows were. He greatly appreciated the services held by the Church at that port, and often expressed the hope that they would be continued during the war. He usually led the singing at these meetings with much acceptance and appreciation.
We all looked forward to his returning home, but our thoughts were not the Lord’s thoughts. As already stated, when returning home on the ill-fated “Iolaire,” after being discharged, and expecting to enjoy the comforts of home, and see his family, he was suddenly called to be with Christ which is far better. The last words he spoke to companions after the vessel struck, were: “I pity those who are not prepared for eternity,” and the last seen of him was on his knees on the deck praying. His body was not found. He was a most sterling upright man, yet very loving and approachable, and it is not in disparagement of the other excellent young men in North Tolsta that we say few had the same authority among the people that he had.
He married a second time, and to his sorrowing widow, who was greatly attached to him and his son and daughter, we tender our sincerest sympathy, and may the last words of the husband and father be fulfilled to them that they may be prepared for eternity.
DONALD MACLEOD.
Donald MacLeod (Domhnul Callum) was thirty years old at the time of this disaster. He and others were looking forward to enjoy peace and rest after passing through the horrors of war, but the Lord purposed otherwise in His inscrutable providence.
Donald, who was naturally of a lively disposition, lived “according to the course of this world,” with no thought of the state of his immortal soul until he was about twenty-three years. In the summer of 1896 he went to the East Coast fishing, and while there he made up his mind to consult a palmist for the purpose of finding out his “luck” regarding the fishing. On his way to the wicked woman’s house the words of Elijah to the messengers of Ahaziah came forcibly to his mind—”Is it not because there is not a God in Israel that ye go to inquire of Baal-Zehub the God of Ekrom?” (2 Kings i. 3). These words made him pause and turn home. He, however, made two other attempts to accomplish his purpose, but on each occasion he was prevented by the same passage of scripture. The Lord, whose ways are in the deep, made this message to be as burning coals in Donald’s conscience, and for many weeks he was in terrible agony of mind, but before the end of the fishing season it pleased the Lord to set him free and to place his feet on the Rock, and put a new song in his mouth. He thus returned home a different young man from what he was leaving and the change was soon made apparent to all.
The approach of the Spring Communion of 1914 was a trying time for him. On the one hand, he was pressed forward by passages of Scripture to make a public profession of Christ; on the other, Satan and unbelief did all in their power to prevent him, but faith had the victory and he appeared before the Session and was readily received as a member. That same year he was again at the East Coast fishing, and he also being in the Royal Navy Reserve, had to obey the call immediately when the memorable war broke out, and had to proceed direct to his Naval port. He was evidently wonderfully sustained at that time by the truth, and expressed to some of his companions his desire to depart and be with Christ.
Shortly after he was ordered to join the Naval Brigade sent in defence of Antwerp. This Brigade suffered extreme privations and Donald had bitter recollections of that particular time. It was a marvel to him how he escaped, being made prisoner. When retreating, the one end of the bridge over which he and his mates were crossing was blown up by a German shell, while he was stepping off at the other. He told us afterwards though he suffered so much outwardly he would willingly go through the same again if only he would enjoy as much of the Lord’s presence.
As in the case of John MacIver, we looked forward to his returning with much expectations that he would be a useful member of the congregation, but the Lord purposed otherwise.
His remains were recovered and buried in North Tolsta. To the sorrowing father, who lost another son also in the sad disaster, and to the members of the family we offer our sincere sympathy in their sore bereavement. May the breaches in Sion be healed by the Restorer! N. M.
The late Mrs. Neil M’Kinnon, Portree.
MRS. M’Kinnon passed to her eternal rest, we believe, about the 6th of May, just two years after the death of her worthy husband. She will be much missed by a wide circle of friends who enjoyed her Christian fellowship and hospitality.
For many years she suffered much, but through it all she was a model of Christian submission, patience, and meekness. The loss of her husband was keenly felt by her, and many thought she would be taken away before him, yet she was left to face the trial of his removal and this discipline was no doubt blessed to her. The Lord weans His people even from their dearest in the world in order that they may be more dependent upon Himself.
Mrs. M’Kinnon was a remarkably wise and judicious woman. To her late husband she was a great support in all that he did for the cause. She took a deep interest in everything that pertained to the welfare of the Church, and was delighted to hear of any progress made at home or abroad.
During the last three weeks of her illness she was very weak, but her mind was constantly dwelling on the Word of God, for it was her support to the last. She had her conflicts with sin and unbelief as every exercised believer will have, but her death was the death of the righteous, and her latter end was peace. During her illness she was devotedly nursed by Miss M’Leod, her niece.
Her removal is a great blank in the congregation of Portree, and we would here express our deepest sympathy with her surviving relatives in their great loss. “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” D. M. M.
An t-Urramach Eonghas MacMhaoilan.
Searmoin II.
*This sermon was preached on a Sabbath appointed by some churches to commemorate the Reformation in Great Britain.