ONE is happy to meet God’s people at a Communion season, and after they leave for their homes, our hearts go out after them. We feel a blank, but what a blank is felt when any of them are taken away from our midst. Such a blank was felt when Mrs Donald Mackay, Portgower, Helmsdale, was removed from our midst in September of this year, at the age of 77 years. Mrs Mackay was born at Portgower, and lived there all her days. She was a sister of the late highly esteemed dear Mrs Johnstone. We are unable to say when and by what means the great change took place in Mrs Mackay’s soul, but we know truly that she was of the household of faith. She was a member of the Free Presbyterian congregation in Helmsdale from its beginning. The Lord who led her into the faith, enabled her to love and follow the truth, and when the notorious Declaratory Act was passed, she cast in her lot with those who desired to uphold the truth. She was a loyal Free Presbyterian; she loved to hear the truth in its purity and to taste of its preciousness in her own soul. After having a talk with Mrs Mackay one felt somewhat encouraged. She had, however, a very humble opinion of herself. She would feelingly say—”Oh, it’s Himself alone that can do us any good.” Shortly before she was taken away she told them that she was going home, and repeated the 23rd Psalm, and also the following portion of the 34th Psalm:—
“The lions young may hungry be,
And they may lack their food;
But they that truly seek the Lord
Shall not lack any good.”
Her body now lies in the Loth burying-ground, there to await the resurrection of the just, and in the home and congregation there is a vacant place. We pray the Lord to be pleased to fill the vacant places in our midst as a congregation. To her husband and family we extend our sympathy, and trust that they may be enabled to follow in the footsteps of the flock.
J. A.