THIS worthy man was born at Griamachdary, near the northern borders of Sutherland. His father, George Grant, was an eminent man, who feared the Lord and observed His commandments above many in his own day. In the latter’s youth he served his country as a soldier, and lost an arm in her defence; but, although he lacked one of the arms of his body, the Lord gave him the arm of a good hope through grace, and the arm of saving faith, whereby he was enabled to embrace Christ in the offer of the Gospel, and fought the good fight of faith to the end of his life below. George Grant had a brother living with him, who also feared the Lord. In this Bethany many a wayfarer found shelter, and the only restrictions imposed upon them were that they would attend family worship, not leave the house on the Sabbath but for the house of God, and not work with knives (such as cutting tobacco) on that day. To prevent them being tempted to break these rules he took all these instruments, such as pipes and knives, from them late on the Saturday, to be delivered early on the Monday. We know that many in our day will laugh at this, and call such as did it narrow-minded bigots; but we make no apology for stating these facts, as it reveals the living conscience that moved in the breasts of eminent men of by-gone days. We may be sure that many a tramp would be angry at being thus dealt with, but George Grant was a man who knew what it was to be under discipline and to keep it.
The mother of the subject of this memoir was also a woman who feared the Lord, and was likeminded with her husband. She survived her husband by many years, and lived with her son, Alexander, in Lower Evelix. The regard for the Sabbath so pronounced in the parents, manifested itself also in the son. For example, once the latter left the farm-stock on the Saturday night, he never went near them except in cases of necessity and mercy until the Monday morning. The writer knows that the deceased pled with the Lord to keep everything worldly from his mind on the Sabbath.
I am not in a position to state when or how the Lord began to deal with his soul, but that He dealt with him in reality early in life and carried on the good work until the day of his departure to be with Himself, no one who knew him will deny. About forty years ago he tenanted the farm of Lower Evelix, in the parish of Dornoch. This change caused him many thoughts, and sent him even to his knees. On more than one occasion he stated to the writer that in his perplexity the word of the Lord came to his rescue, namely—”And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns” (Genesis xxii. 13). This he took as an indication to him the Lord would support him even in the things that pertain to this life. He was wont to state in his own solemn way, “That promise is being fulfilled to me to this very day; it has never failed.”
In the beginning of his Christian course he had a temptation that a certain person whom he knew would prove a great enemy to him if he would profess Christ publicly. After having professed Christ publicly, he would say, “Now that person never did or said anything to hurt me.”
Alexander did not throw in his lot with the Free Presbyterian Church in 1893. What keen discernment in this respect failed to do, a famished soul compelled him to do. We remember well the first day he joined us in Birichen Schoolhouse.
As regards his public duties as an elder of the Church, all his ministrations were characterised by simplicity, sincerity, and brevity, to the edification of all who thirsted for the truth. As long as David Ross and Angus Murray lived, Alexander took third place. Of him it might be said in truth he took the lowest room. For David Ross, who lived some years after Angus Murray, he had the greatest regard, and when David became too infirm to walk to church, his neighbour’s white horse starting off from David’s home on the Sabbath morning would make Alexander smile, saying—”Ah! he is coming himself to-day yet.” It was well his part to love David, for many a prayer David put up for him. Oh! to see younger men loving older men in the Lord as Alexander Grant loved David.
As he drew near his end he became daily more like his Master in affection to and pity for his fellow-creatures. Before he took his last journey (for he was advised to proceed to Glasgow to undergo an internal operation) he visited all his neighbours, and bade them farewell, saying, “I may come back if they (the doctors) cannot do me any good. I would rather die in my own home. I have nothing to complain of. I am past the allotted span, and the Lord has been good to me; but if I do not come back, I have the hope through grace that the Lord will have mercy on me and take me home to Himself.”
Thus he proceeded to Glasgow, but the earthly career of Alexander Grant was finished there in a few days. His remains came back to Evelix, and were followed to the grave by a large concourse of people from all parts who knew and respected him. To his widow and family we extend our heartfelt sympathy, and may the Lord God of their father bless them. We desire that the Lord would raise up each of them to bear witness to the truth as it is in Jesus according to the example of their father.
E. MACQ.