AS one after another of the godly men who took their stand on God’s Word in 1893 are taken away to their everlasting rest, the words of the Psalmist come often to our mind—”When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me; for I had gone with the multitude. I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” Yet, even in feelings of loneliness and sadness, after the Lord’s dear people are taken away, we have the same cause of thankfulness that another had long ago in the fact that “the Word of the Lord endureth for ever, and this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.” However little value some may perceive in the Gospel, others feel that if it should, in God’s judgment be taken away, gross darkness leading to the blackness of darkness would cover our beloved country. This darkness advances as the lights of the world, the Lord’s people, are removed. “The form of godliness, denying its power,” which prevails in our midst, instead of dispersing light among the people, helps to cause the darkness to advance with speedy strides. This should make us solicitous in retaining the memory of men who walked in the light of God’s truth in their day, as it may open the eyes of some to see the difference between these and the carnal and world-like walk of the professors of our day.
The subject of this brief obituary was born at Askernish, South Uist, in the year 1839. He had the great privilege of having had pious parents, who took pains to instruct their children in the fear and Knowledge of God. But, as has been often the case, Mr James Macfarlane remained without God until he was thirty years of age. How the Lord visited his soul with the day-spring from on high, or by what means that light shined into his heart, we are not in a position to say, but no one who knew him could doubt the genuineness of his piety and integrity. This did not appear so much by any gifts he was possessed of as a speaker, though he was not without gifts, but from the whole tenor of his daily walk and conversation. It can be truly said of him that he “lived soberly, righteously, and godly in the world.” The Lord’s promise was fulfilled in him—”Their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.” The seriousness with which he approached the Lord’s mercy-seat in prayer gave evidence that he realised that it is with reverence and godly fear our God is to be worshipped. The same seriousness characterised him when speaking to men concerning their duty toward God and their fellow-men. One outstanding characteristic of him was the carefulness with which he kept the Lord’s Day holy. He often spoke in public and private of the evil consequences of Sabbath desecration, both as regards individuals and nations. In doing so, it was evident he did it from love to God’s law and to the souls of men.
He became a missionary of our Church a few years after the separation of 1893. He was for some time at Lochcarron, Ross-shire, where he was very highly respected by our people, but especially by the Lord’s people. The most of the time he laboured in that capacity was at Broadford, Luib, and Elgol. These three places were some distance apart, and were it not for the kindness of the MacInneses, Fordhill, Broadford, he could not have continued so long to officiate in these places. He was very sensitive to this great kindness, and often spoke to the writer of his great indebtedness to them. Their hospitality and assistance rendered to him in his old age, as well as to many others, were highly appreciated by the Church. One of his sons died at Portree a few years after James became a missionary. His death made a deep impression on his sensitive, fatherly feelings. Another son, who was a pious young man, was killed in action towards the end of the Great War. This son’s death was a severe blow to him. He bore it with absolute resignation and without one murmur against the Lord’s ruling in His holy and wise providence. But the effects became discernible in several ways. While he was able he continued to attend to his duties as a missionary, but had to retire several years before the end came. During this latter part of his life he resided with a married daughter in Dunoon, Argyllshire, where he received all the attention that could be desired from his daughter and her husband. He went North for eight or ten weeks every year, except the last, to communions, making Luib his headquarters. Each year since the remains of his son were brought from France and buried at Portree, Skye, he went there to the communion in August, and on Monday, after the conclusion of the services, went to the burying-ground to see the graves of his two sons. It was a very affecting sight to see him going along the road to the graveyard, and, after spending some time there, to meet him, as the writer did more than once, quite composed on his mind and without even passing a remark upon his great loss. His conduct was a real comment upon the words in the 39th Psalm—”I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it.” He died towards the end of last year, at the good, old age of eighty-six years. His remains were laid to rest beside his two sons at Portree, there to await the coming of his Lord to judge the quick and the dead on the last day.
The writer would express his deepest sympathy with his brother, the Rev. Donald Macfarlane, Dingwall, who has passed his ninetieth year of age, and his fiftieth year in the ministry of the Gospel, and to his brother, Roderick, who lives still at Uiskiva, Benbecula; also to his two daughters and their husbands, and his only surviving son in Ontario, Canada. “Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised, out of their sleep.”—N. C.