THIS God-fearing man was born in Glen-Urquhart. In his unregenerate days he served as a piper to the late King Edward, and travelled far in connection with his occupation, but when the Lord began to deal with his soul, he immediately gave up piping, and to his death he did not want any one to remind him of the fact. On being asked on one occasion if he was piper to the Prince of Wales, he answered, “I was piper to the Evil One.” The writer is not able to state how the Lord began with him, or how long he was under law work; but anyone who knew him as a changed man would understand that he knew much of the law. But that he knew the power of the Gospel was equally clear. For a time after he gave up his first work he served as a gamekeeper. When the writer knew him first he went by the name among “the Men,” “Macdonald the Keeper.” His home was then at Daviot. From there he came to Inverness, and his home was in Cawdor Road, beside the late Mr Lachlan Maclean, who was then an elder in the Free Presbyterian congregation. William was among the first to show that he would not be moved from the old foundations of truth and verity. He had no sympathy with those who were for sticking to stone and lime until the House of Lords or the House of Commons decided in their favour. The loss of a scriptural foundation was more to him than the loss of property. He was a Free Presbyterian, and he would be free. For well-nigh thirty years we knew William, but never did we feel that he wavered as to his duty in upholding that which he, through grace, along with others were enabled to uphold. A great lover of the Lord’s Day, and one who felt keenly the inroads made by Satan’s children on the day that commemorates the resurrection of our blessed Lord. That day was to him a delight, and honourable for the worship of the Lord; not seeking his own pleasure, as the majority do in our day. William Macdonald loved secret prayer, and delighted in having others join with him in a duty which was to him a pleasure and a delight. He was solemn in all duties in connection with the House of God.
A most steadfast friend to the last, and as he drew nigh the Delectable Mountains, he grew daily more affectionate. Many a time, on arriving home, we would hear a ring, and on going to the door our friend would excuse himself for troubling, saying:—”I have no message, but wanted to know how you are.” On visiting him at the Infirmary the week before he died, the writer said, “We will engage in prayer, not knowing that we may all meet again.” William put out his hand, saying, “Give me your hand,” and he kept our hand until prayer was ended; so we parted, to meet no more in the body. For some time he served as missionary between Beauly and Daviot, after the death of John Cameron. The people of Tomatin wanted William to supply them during the remainder of his life. So he regularly went there to expound the Word of God to his fellow-sinners. As he grew riper, he complained to the writer of his unfitness for such solemn work. His only son, to whom he was most dearly attached, died about a year and a-half before himself, and from that time our friend could be seen daily getting weaker. He continued his work till about a month before his death, and never would he allow any one say that he suffered. And now that he is gone, the cause of Christ in the Highlands lost a true friend, who loved the brethren and also loved the gates of Zion. He hated all manner of evil; although not perfect, according to his light, he shunned all appearance of evil.
To his two daughters who are left to mourn his loss we extend our utmost sympathy, and desire that the Lord, who is a Father to the fatherless, may uphold them, and may their father’s God be their God!
E. MACQ.
No man can be robbed of his delights whose joy is Christ. Eternal is his gladness who rejoices in an eternal good.—Augustine.