MRS MACKENZIE was born in the township of Mihol, Gairloch, Ross-shire, in the year 1841. Her father and mother were considered to be truly pious. The father was an elder and precentor in the Free Church congregation of Gairloch during the ministry of the Rev. Duncan Matheson, whose memory and sayings are still warmly cherished by the aged men and women there. Mrs Mackenzie consequently had the double advantage of having the instructions of her parents in the things that pertain to godliness at her home, and from the pulpit from Sabbath to Sabbath. So far as can be ascertained now, the Lord’s messenger to bring the glad tidings of salvation to her soul was the Rev. Alexander MacColl, late of Lochalsh. That eminent servant of Christ was to many in the West Highlands a “father in Christ.” Mrs Mackenzie held him in great estimation, and always spoke of him with appreciation for his faithfulness to God and men. She became a member in full communion in the year 1880, and continued to adorn her profession in her daily life and conversation to the end.
The writer went to Gairloch for the first time in November of 1892. He was informed that a certain Mrs Fraser was seriously ill in Strath, Gairloch, and took the first opportunity after his arrival to visit this sick woman, of whom he had an excellent report as to her piety. On entering the room where she lay upon her death-bed, he at once noticed from the expression of her face that she was sorely tried in her mind. After conversing with her for some time, he held worship with them all and left. Owing to the distressed state in which he found her, he called back after a few days. When he went to her bedside he saw in her face the expression of that joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. On being asked, how she felt now, she answered—”You did not arrive at the public road the other day when that precious portion of God’s Word came to me—’Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'” The effect of this truth was such upon her soul that, as she stated it—”I thought it carried myself and the bed out of this world of tears and sorrows.” She continued in that full assurance of faith and joy and peace in believing till she did enter into the joy of her Lord a few weeks thereafter. This much about the Lord’s infinite goodness and mercy towards this godly sister of the subject of this short obituary. “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”
When the writer met Mrs Mackenzie at the door the first day he called, he was struck with the uncommon intelligence and subdued dignity which her countenance betrayed. Her dark blue, steady eyes seemed to penetrate into the secret of one’s heart. The modesty and prudence of all her utterances, and the submission these manifested to the Lord’s holy, just, and good ruling in providence made a deep impression on the writer’s mind. The Rev. R. Mackenzie, the present minister of our church at Gairloch, corroborates the above impression. He writes:—”The impression she made on me was that she was one of the most refined of Christians I have ever had the privilege of knowing, being chastened and subdued, and giving clear evidence even in the midst of her darkness, of that trial of faith which is more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire, and which shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
Mrs Mackenzie had to pass through great trials in this world of tears and sorrow. Her only daughter died suddenly at the age of twenty-one years, about thirty years ago. This sudden bereavement and the grief it brought to her tender, motherly heart, impaired her physical force considerably, and left ever afterwards a solemn air of sadness on her spirit. The best way of expressing it is—”Be still and know that I am God, and I was dumb, opening not my mouth; because thou didst it.” Her own description of the spiritual fiery trial through which she then passed was:—”I have been seven and a-half years in Babylon with my harp hung on the willows. When I was in these depths it was easier for me to read in the book of Isaiah than in any other part of the Bible. The words in Psalm lxxviii. 22, were often precious to me. The words are—’God said, my people I will bring again from Bashan hill; yea, from the sea’s devouring depths them bring again I will.’ Towards the end of my affliction the words in Joel ii. 25—’I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent against you. And ye shall eat plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.’ These words came to me at first like a far-off whisper, but they were gradually coming nearer until I got a firm hold of them at last. The first time that Rev. — came after I passed through those trials, he gave out to be sung the words in Psalm lxviii. 22, and they were sweet indeed to me that day, and many a time I have sung them since. But I fear I will be again in the depths before my journey is ended, and if so it will be harder for me than before, for some of those who were praying for me then are now at their rest.” This unexpected change after being so long in the great depths caused surprise to every one, and to none more than to herself; for all had come to the conclusion that she would not recover her former happiness in the Spirit on this side of heaven. The things which she counted obstacles before, she now saw to have been great blessings. Her greatest delight was God’s Word and worship. She even sat up all night reading her Bible, praying, and singing Psalms. When asked why she did not go to bed, her reply was—”The night passed before I knew where I was.”
But, like Job of old, the thing of which she was afraid did come; for after being four years in real joy and peace, she was brought low again. This lasted more or less till the end. The writer called to see her at this time, and when he asked for the cause of her affliction, she said—”My affliction is not of the same kind as I had on the former occasion.” But it was evident that she was not so sorely tried in her soul. She was confined to bed entirely for eighteen months. During the last fortnight she was very weak. A few nights before her end came, she asked her son to read to her the 1st chapter of I. John, and the 27th Psalm. She was heard repeating the words—”O death where is thy sting! O grave where is thy victory! He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces . . . for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” She said on another occasion, “Thy hand hath made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Thy commandments.” Her last audible words were—”Lord Jesus Christ, Thy will be done; take me over Jordan.” He did so, to her everlasting gain and felicity.
The words in the 107th Psalm appear to the writer as being very applicable to her case—”They mount up to heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then they are glad, because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.”
Mrs Mackenzie passed into the great and everlasting eternity on the 23rd day of December 1922, at the ripe age of eighty-one years.
The writer desires to express sincere sympathy with her two sons (a daughter, a son, and her husband pre-deceased her), and especially to Mrs Mackenzie, who nursed her tenderly during her great afflictions of so many years’ duration, and to all who mourn after her.
N. C.