Ged a tha luchd eachdraidh nan laithean ‘san robh Mr Mac Cathail beo, a toirt cunntas mu fhulangasaibh agus a bhas, gidheadh, cha ‘n eil mi a faotainn a h-aon diu, ta ‘g ainmeachadh aite a bhreith, a dh’ aon chuid gu ‘m bheil e dearbhta gu ‘n d’ rugadh e o pharatan diadhaidh agus eireachdail ann an sgireachd Libbertoin fagus do Dhuneidin; agus gu’n do chuir iad gu moch air leth e, gu seirbhis Chriosd ann an dreuchd na ministrealachd. Bha e comh-arrachte mar sgoilear, agus dh’ fheuch e gu soilleir, ann an laithean oige, le eolas air fior dhiadhachd, gu ‘m biodh e na ard mhinistear an Tiomnaidh Nuaidh. Mu ‘n robh e fichead bliadhna a dh’ aois bha e na shearmonaich, agus na fhear teagaigis ann an teaghlach an Ridir Seumas Stiubh-ard triath Choilteanais a bha ‘n uair sin na mhorair proth-aist mar, theirear ann an Duneidin, duin’ uasal a bha ainmeil, airson a dhilseachd da saorsa thiomail agus spior-adail. Anns an teaghlach so fhuair Mr Mac Cathail eolas air maithibh mora, a bha cliuteach na ‘n linn; air son an gradh agus an eud do eaglais na h-Alba; b’ iad sin Marcus Eara-ghael, Iarla Loudon, agus Morair Bharriston, maille ri iomadh eile de ‘n t-seorsa cheudna, o ‘n d’ fhuair e lethid do eolas air naduir ceud-faithean na h-eaglais sin, agus a rinn deonach e gu bhi call na h-uile sochair aimseireil, chum ‘s gu ‘n seasadh e firinneach air a taobh.
Ach cha robh na h-amana sona so gu mairsinn fada. Nuair a bhasaich Crombhail, agus a thugadh an dara Righ Tearlach air ais chum a chruin; bha e na ain-tighearn ro an-iodhdmhor agus fuath do-chiosnaichte na uchd an aghaidh a Chumhnant a rinneadh san riogheachd, air son cumail suas aobhar Chriosd agus maith na ducha. Bha e air a bhrosnachadh gu sin le sgaom de easbuigean papanaich, agus le ‘n comhairle thilg e eaglais Chleireanach na h-Alba bun os cionn agus mar sin chaidh na ceudan do mhinstiarean dilis fhogairt amach o ‘n tighean, ‘s a ‘n cothion-ailean, gu ‘n aite, gu ‘n aiteach, ach air an geur-leanmh-uinn mar fhiadh-bheathaichean air na beanntaibh. A measg chaich, bha ‘n Ridir Seumas Stiubhard a fulang; oir ged a bha e cairdeach, toirbheartach da ‘n Righ ann an laithean a dheuchainn agus a thrioblaid, gidheadh cha robh ach beag cuimhne air sin a nis. Chaidh a ghlacadh maille ri duine uasal eile, agus a chur na phriosanach ann an Caisteal Dhuneidin, le ordugh’ an riaghlaidh, agus pain-eachas chuig ceud punnd Sasgunach a leigeil air an tois-each, agus an deidh sin mile, suim mhor ‘s na laithibh sin; deich uairean ni bu mho, na lethid sin do shuim an diugh.
Air dha bhi air a cheadachadh le cleir Dhuneidin an soisgeul a shearmonachadh, rainig Mac Cathail, air an ni sin a bha riamh na bheachd, agus be sin, a bhi a searmonachadh “Criosd, cumhachd Dhe, agus gliocas Dhe, chum slainte.” Ach se ni araidh thatar gu bhi cumail a mach; fhulangais agus a bhas; air an aobhar sin cha teid moran tuille a chuir sios an so ‘de eachdraidh nan tioman fult-each sin. B’ ann o ‘n t-searmoin mu dheireadh a rinn e a liubhairt ann an eaglais ar Dhuneidin, a thoisich air tus fhulaingis. B’e a bhonn teagaig an la sin. Innis dhomh thusa d’ am bheil gradh aig m’ anam, c’aite an ionaltéair thu do threuda, c’ ait an toir thu orra luidheadh sios mu mheadhon la; oir c’ arson a bhithinn mar aon air faondradh am measg threud do chompanach” —Dan Sholamh, i., 7. O ‘n t-searmon so nochd e gu ‘n eagal, nach bu ni ur idir da ‘n eaglais, a bhi air a geur-leanmhuinn; agus ann a bhi soillearachadh a bhonn theagaig, thuirte, e, gu ‘n robh sin air a dheanamh roimhe so le Pharaoh air a chaithir, Haman anns an riaghlaidh, agus Iudas anns an eaglais, agus ged nach d’ ainmich e neach sam bith a bha deanamh sin gu pearsanta, gidheadh bha na briathran co freagarrach ri Easbuig Sharp, agus Diuc Lauder-dail ‘s gu ‘n do thuig iad gu soilleir, gu ‘m b’ ann mu ‘n tiomchioll fein a labhair e; air an aobhar sin bha e air chomharrachadh a mach mar neach, a rachadh a bheul a dhunadh. Chaidh buidheann do reisemaid each a chuir gu ghlacadh, a chuartaich tigh Choilteanais, ach air dha farbhanadh aithghearr fhaotainn, theich e as an tigh agus chaidh e gu tigh athair, ann an sgireachd Libert-tain, far an d’ fholach se e fein, gus an d’ fhuair e cothrom dol do ‘n Olaind’ a bha ‘n uair sin na h-ionad fasgaidh do na fogarach Albanach, a bha air an geur-leanmhuinn airson na firinn. Anns an duthaich shitheil sin, mheudaich eolas air an diadhachd, le dol gu foghlum ann an aon de oil thighean nan Duitseach.
Feumar cunntas aithghearr a thoirt an so mu thiom-chioll nan daoinn aingidh ud, mu ‘n d’ rinn Mac Cathail iomradh na shearmoin. Bha Seumas Sharp, Ard-easbuig Chill-ribhinn air tus na fhear aideachaidh mor, agus na mhinisteir ann an Eaglais na h-Alba; bha e cho measail aig na Cumhnantaich (be sin an t-ainn a thugadh da fian-usean Chriosd an Alba san am sin) ‘s gu ‘n d’ earb iad ris, maillle ri daoinn eile a dhol do Lunnuin a thagar an cuis air beulaobh an righ, san riaghlaidh, ach bhrath e ‘n cuis, air son deich mile fichead marg, agus fhaighinn a bhi na Ard-easbuig ann an Cill Ribhinn; bha e na namhaid fuiteach dha pobull an Tighearna, is ris na h-uile ole, ach fa dheir-eadh, fhuair pairtidh de sluagh na ducha a bha air am fog-airt, greim air, a dol troimh bhlar monaidh. Bha e fein ‘sa nighean ann an carabad, thug iad a mach as a charabad e ach ciod air bith bu chionfath, cha mharbhta le peileir-ean e, dh’ fhartluich orra toirt air urnuigh a dheanamh a chuir mor iongnadh orra; ach nuair a thug Burli mar bha (Colneil Balfour Iain Mhannduich) tharruing e chlaidheamh agus bhuaile ‘m peir dheth,—am peirceil sin as an tric a thainig mionnan eithich; dh’ fhag iad marbh an sin e: ach mo thruaighe, bu lionmhor bas a thar na long: neach sam bith nach abaradh gu ‘m bu mhort a bhas, bha sin gu leor gus a’ neach sin chuir chum na croich. Ach leis mar bha bheisd le foill agus foirneart, a’ geur-leanmhuinn sluagh an Tighearna, cha robh neach air bith, ach a chuid-eachd fein, a theireadh gu ‘m bu mhort a bh’ ann; ach breitheanas an Tighearna.
Bha Diuc Lauderdail na dhuinge anabarrach ain-diadhaidh. Bha e air aon de ‘n t-seachdar a thug Mr Carigil diadhaidh thairis do Shatan aig Torr-na-coille, aite fagus do Shruileadh, far an robh a’ mairtearach ainmeil sin a searmonachadh aig an am sin. B’ iad na daoinne a rinn e iomasgaradh an la sin, an dara righ Tearlach, Diuc Monmoth, mac diolain an righ, Diuc Lauderdale, Diuc Rathais, Seumas Diuc Uorc, brathair an righ, an ridir Seoras Mac Coinnich Rosabhach, agus Senalair Dalsiel nam Binn-ean. Nuair a bha ni sin thairis, thuit Mr Carigil ris an t-shluagh, mu bhasaicheas a h-aon de na daoin’ ud a dh’ ainmich mi, bas nadurrach dhaoin’ eile, bithidh sin na chomharrra dhuibh nach eil an Tighearn reidh ris a’ ni a rinn mi, ach ma ‘r faigh a h-aon diu bas nadurrach, bithidh sin ag innseadh gu bheil Dia reidh ri mo sheirbhis an diugh; cha mho na sin a fhuair a h-aon diu bas nadurrach, bithidh sin ag innseadh gu bheil Dia reidh ri mo sheirbhis an diugh; cha mho na sin a fhuair a h-aon diu bas mar dhaoin’ eile. Bha ‘n duine so na dhuine bha anabarrach bruideil, ‘na mhigseir, na gheocair, na fhear neo-ghloin, agus na h-uile ain-diadhachd; bha e na chomharrra cianail air staid na rioghachd, gu ‘n robh an cuisean air earbsa ri leithid do bhruid dhuine. Bhasaich e na shuidh air an t-shoitheach sheomar, an deigh eiridh o dhinneir, ‘s cha robh neach an Alaba, a thireadh, oich.
Thainig Mac Cathail aig ceann chuig bliadhna air ais o ‘n Olaind, ach fhuair e cuisean moran ni bu mheasa na ‘n uair a dh’ fhalbh e. Bha ‘n eaglais an deigh sa milleadh. Bha na gearra-easbuigean—sa bheurla, curates—ann an aite na ‘m ministearean diadhaidh, a chaidh thilgeadh a mach as na h-eaglaisean; agus b’ iad na gearraich ain-diadhaidh aineolach, neo-fhoghluinte a chuireadh ‘nan aite; agus do bhrigh nach sguiradh na ministearn diadhaidh, deth bhi cuir an ceill sgeul aoibhneach na slainte, anns na h-uile aite anns am faigheadh iad an cothrom bu lugha, bha iad air an eigneachadh gu bhi a’ siubhal faondrach air na beann-taibh, is anns na glinn bu chianail, agus a gleidheadh tear-uinnteachd anns na craigean a b’ fhiadhaich a bha san duthaich. An deigh do Mhr Mac Cathail tighinn dachaidh, bha e a fuireach mar bu trice ann an tigh athair, ach ged a bha a laithean air an caitheamh ann an leth-fholach cha robh iad a dol thairis ann an diomhanas; bha e dol a mach a dh’ ionnsuidh ‘nan glinn, a chumail comhluadair agus coinneamh urnuigh maille ris an t-sluagh a bha mar chairich gum bhuaichail agus dhoibh so, bha na h-amana sin, ‘nan amanaibh urachaidh oir thug iomadh dhiu fianuis gu ‘n robh e maille ri Iosa, teachd air aghaidh ann an eolas, agus ann am fior naomhachd; agus air dha na cuisean sin a thighinn gu cluasan ‘nan gearraich, bha ‘m fuath nimheil a cinntinn ni bu treise, is ni bu treise ‘na aghaidh. Threig tir a dhuchais a bha uaireigin na Beulah—posda ris an Tighearna—anis a Dia; uime sin smaoinich Mac Cathail gu ‘n robh e na am iomchuidh airson caoidh, trasgadh, agus urnuigh, Chaith e aon la de ‘n t-seachduinn gu h-iomlan ann an dordadh a mach amhghar anama ri Dia ann am bron diadhaidh, airson truaigh na rioghachd; agus bha beachd sonruichte air a ghabhail, gu ‘m b’ ann ‘an long a chleachdaidh sin, a bha cuibhrionn phailt do ghras, agus do neart diadhaidh air a bhuileachadh air, gu bhi co-pairteachadh solas ri muinntir eile, agus a gabhail misneachd dha fein, air an robh na h-uiread do fheum aige an deigh sin. Cha b-ann gu diomh-ain a thuirt spiorad an Tighearna gu bheil “ruin an Tighearn aig an dream d’ an eagal e,” oir bha iomairt ann an ueidh Mhic Cathail nach fhaigheadh e a chuir uaith, gu ‘n tuiteadh e la-eigin ann an lamhan a’ naimhdean, ‘s gu ‘m basaicheadh e na fhianuis airson na firinn. Cha do chuir beachd dhe sin, fo dhiobhail misnich air bith e, oir le fiosrachadh taitneach a “thread bbig” bu chleachdach leis a bhi coinneachadh, ann an aite uaigneach, thaisbean e dhoibh, mar aon a teachd o’n fhasach “mar stuaidean deataich, cubhraidh le mirr agus tuis, le uile mhin-dhus ceannaiche nan spiosraidh.
B’ ann a nuair a bha tamh ann tigh athair, a thoisich na trioblaidean, sa gheur-leanmhuiinn ‘n taobh an iar na h-Alba. ‘S bu chionfath da na deuchainnibh so, an ain-iodch a dh’ fheuch sa chleachd an ridir Seumas Mac-an-Tuairneir air sluagh na ducha, le bhi brosnachadh a shaigh-dearan gu gniomhara foirneart, agus ain-iodch a bha gu ‘n ughdarras on ard-chomhairle agus mar an ceudna gu ‘n fhios doibh, air an donaid. Chaidh an ridir a chuir air tus, do ‘n chearnaidh sin de ‘n rioghachd chum an t-shluaigh eigneachadh, gu dhol a dh’ eisdeachd nan gearraich; ni a dh’ fhartlaich air a dheanamh. Bha ‘n sluagh gu mor air an saruchadh le foirneart an airm, agus air am brosnuchadh gu eiridh chum iad fein a dhion. Thachair ni sonruichte anns an am sin a thug cothrom dhoibh gu sin a dhianamh; b’ e sò e—Bha na saighdearan air la araidh a dol a rostadh seann duine bochd, nach rachadh a dh’ eisdeachd nan gearraich, air griodail mhor dearg teith, nuair a dh’ iarradh orra le ceathrar do dhaoine na ducha sgr de ‘n duine bhochd; le so, thug na saighdearan droch fhreagrachd, agus thoisich iad air an duine phianadh; chaidh daoine na ducha san eadruigean, bhuinneadh na h-airm deth na saighdearan, agus chaidh an duine bochd a theas-airgin. Le eagal ‘s gu ‘n tigeadh a chuid eile de na saighdearan orra a dhioladh masladh an companaich de ‘n do bhuineadh na h-airm, chaidh an ceathrar dhaoine, agus thionail iad buidhean lionmhor de sluagh na ducha, a bhun na h-airm de na saighdearan uile, gu ‘n bheud a dheanamh air neach dhiu, ach a h-aon a chaidh a mharbhadh, a chionn nach geilleadh e. Ghabh sluagh na ducha misneach, agus le eagal gu ‘n tigeadh a chuis gu cluasan Mhic-an-Tuairneir, ‘s gu ‘m faigheadh e tuille daoine, ‘s gu ‘m biodh aicheamhail throm air a deanamh, chaidh iad air an aghaidh gu Dunphris; rinn iad priosanach de Mac-an-Tuairneir, agus bhuin iad na h-airm de na h-uile saighdear a bha aige. Mar bhall sneachda dol le bruthach, bha sluagh na ducha a tional le cuid is cuid maille ri ‘n cairdean, gus an robh armaitl mhor aca. Runaich iad dol air an aghaidh gu Duneidin, a toirt leo Mac-an-Tuairneir na phriosanach; bha cuid diu an geall cuir as da; ach thearnadh a bheatha le Mr Neilson, duine uasal diadhaidh, air an d’ rinn Mac-an-Tuairneir iomadh foirneart agus ain-iochd roimhe sin. Bha ‘n duine uamhasach gu mor air a phianadh le coguis chiont-ach fad an rathaid, oir bha eagal air gu ‘n gabhadh iad a bheatha, ach leig iad cead da, ‘s cha bhi tuille air a radh mu thiomehioll.
Ri lean tuinn.
The Late Mrs McColl, Oban.
MRS McCOLL, who was for many years a worthy member of the congregation here, was removed by death early in this year—on the second Sabbath-day of the year, to give the precise day, she entered into the joy of her Lord. I expected the Rev. N. Cameron, who knew her much better than I could possibly have known her, to put on record some few things concerning this consistent and straight-forward follower of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As this was left with me to do, the account appears somewhat later than one would wish. Mrs McColl was born in pre-Disruption days—almost five years indeed before that great event—in Morvern. She was brought at an early age to Oban, and in Oban she passed her days. The chief matter of interest bearing on her early life is her attendance on the ministry of the Rev. Mr Macdonald, who laboured in the Church of Scotland here. From all we hear, this man’s name is worthy of being kept in memory. It is told of him that no one was spared a rebuke, whatever denomination they might be of, and especially for the sin of Sabbath-breaking. There were spiritual awakenings under his ministry, and Mrs McColl — who was by this time married and with her husband attending his Church— was one of those who was born again in Oban. She saw by the teaching of God’s Spirit the Man who told her all things that ever she did, and became a servant of the Lord, to go no more out of His house forever.
She adhered for quite a period to the Church of Scotland, but on the introduction of innovations, she felt more and more a stranger among them, and ultimately left them, becoming a member in the Free Presbyterian Church Congregation. For many years she was unable to attend the house of God, but she had the cause of the Lord very much at heart. We think that what was especially true concerning her, was, first, her low esteem of herself and how wonderful the goodness of the Lord was to her. She wished, also, to know how those whom she loved in the Lord were in health—she invariably was glad to hear concerning them, and lastly, she was much interested in the maintenance of Protestant truth, as against Papal superstition and will-worship. Doubtless this interest was much increased by the repeated visits to the town of Rev. J. Primmer and of Rev. Thomas Connellan once. Mrs McColl passed away at the advanced age of 86 years. She was tenderly cared for in the weakness of old age and bodily frailty. The loss of their beloved mother was a sore one to the two daughters, and to us all who knew her. She left an excellent example, and may God in His tender mercy bless us for this world and for Eternity with like precious faith and grace to be strong in the Lord Jesus! We shall not then be put to shame before the great White Throne.
D. A. MacF.
The Late Mrs Gunn, Kinlochbervie.
THE death of this excellent woman, Mrs Gunn, took place on Sabbath morning, 26th September 1925, at the advanced age of 89. Her husband and several of the family predeceased her. Of the family who are still living, one son is in America, a daughter in Oldshore, and a son and daughter lived with the mother, and faithfully attended to her in her last days. Though in broken health, she was a regular attender of the means of grace, and was often there when very enfeebled. As to the time when the great change came from darkness to light we cannot say, but if we were to draw a conclusion from the way in which she spoke to us on one occasion it would appear that deliverance came to her from Ps. cxviii. 17, 18—”I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore: but He hath not given me over to death.” She was a member in the Free Church long before the separation in 1893, but did not hesitate to cast in her lot with the few who raised the banner of truth. She was not the one to despise the day of small things. She acknowledged to us many times that some of the happiest moments she had on earth was in the little church at Kinlochbervie. She had her trials and troubles in life, but during the last eighteen months she passed through fiery temptations from the enemy, but she got the victory in the conflicts through Him who overcame. When some one expressed wonder that such a person as she was should be so tried and troubled, she replied—”Though I am tried, yet I know my Redeemer liveth.” It would be well for all to lay to heart that the righteous are taken away from the wrath to come.
H. M.