NORMAN MACKAY was born in Crowlista, Uig, Lewis, on the 21st May, 1864. His father, Neil Mackay, was an elder in the Free Church congregation of Uig. He was well known as an eminently godly man. His mother, Annie Macleod, was also considered a truly godly woman. In these circumstances Norman must have had the two great privileges of a godly training in the doctrines and principles of God’s Word, as set forth in the Westminster Assembly’s Shorter Catechism, and a consistent example in the life and conversation of his parents. It will not be fully known till the last day how much the youth of Scotland were benefited by the worship of God held by their parents in their homes, and by the indefatigable pains in teaching their children in the doctrines of the Shorter Catechism parents took in those days. Alas! the vast majority of parents in our day do not bring up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord; neither do they set a godly example before them, and the consequences are seen in the infidelity and reckless conduct of their sons and daughters. We are painfully aware of the fact that there are some parents who did their duty towards their children in these important concerns, and who have the heart agony of seeing them “walking according to the course of this world and that of the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” At the great day of judgment Christ will acquit such parents as having done their duty; but He will hold their children guilty of not having received the instruction given them and the example set before them, and of their sin in going on in rebellion against the light of their consciences in the godless ways of the world. We know some parents who endure this agony by the godless conduct of their children. We would tenderly warn all who cause this agony to consider seriously their final account and “to turn from the evil of their way to our God who will abundantly pardon.”
Norman Mackay walked according to the course of this world till he was twenty-six years of age. He left home for Glasgow in the year 1889, and became a hearer in Maitland Street Church, Cowcaddens, Glasgow. He was there about a year when the Holy Spirit convinced him of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. It does not seem that he was left long at the foot of Mount Sinai. The Scriptures that brought relief to his guilty conscience were—”Lo we heard of it at Ephratah, we found it in the fields of the wood” (Psalm cxxxii. 6) and—”Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us; and sent His only begotten Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (John iv. 10). He enjoyed extraordinary peace in his soul during a long period after the Spirit applied the above Scriptures to his heart. He became a member in full communion in Maitland Street Free Church. In 1893 he separated from the Free Church, and joined the St Jude’s congregation of the F.P. Church. To the F.P. Church he adhered steadfastly to the last.
In the year 1901 there was an election of elders and deacons in St Jude’s congregation, and Norman was elected a deacon. He attended very diligently and faithfully to all the duties of that office. Of him it could be said:—”For they that have used the office of a deacon will purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (I. Tim. iii. 13). He was a man that did his duty in all things, whether it was in worldly affairs or in that of the Lord’s cause with sincerity of conscience and with diligence. A man that could be implicitly trusted in all matters committed to his care. Beside all these excellent qualities, he was always serious and loved to converse with his fellow-men about God’s Word. This was not from ostentation: for he was far from seeking praise from men: but from the delight he had in conversing about the substance of the faith once delivered to the saints.
In the year 1911 there was an election of office-bearers again, and Norman was elected an elder. He then became very useful in many ways not only in the congregation, but also in the other congregations within the bounds of the Southern Presbytery, which were without a minister. His eminence as a praying man and as a public speaker become so well known that he was very often supplying some congregation on the Lord’s day. Of him it could truly be said that he did what he could to set forth law and gospel before men. He would not accept of any remuneration from these congregations, only his travelling expenses. He could afford to do this, because he had a good income as foreman with the Caledonian Railway Company. His grasp of the doctrines of grace was both scriptural and orderly, and the serious and solemn manner in which he expressed his thoughts in prayer or lecture left a deep impression upon the minds of all thoughtful listeners. He had complete control of himself even in very provoking circumstances. We never saw him in the least ruffled, but always calm, deliberate, and unflinching in what he considered right. He acted as Clerk of St Jude’s Kirk Session during several years, and gave full satisfaction to all the members of the court. He behaved like a real gentleman and Christian towards not only his fellow office-bearers, but also towards all with whom he came in contact. He acted as Gaelic precentor for a considerable number of years. Several of our ministers made the remark to us that none could take the volume of sound out of the congregation that Norman did. On account of the fact that he was so often away supplying for the Sabbath, and that the singing thus fell upon others, he resigned several years before he left Glasgow.
A prayer meeting was held in his house every Saturday evening, at which a goodly number gathered. This meeting is now held each Saturday evening in one of the rooms off St Jude’s Hall. Norman’s very life was bound up from first to last in spiritual exercises, whether in prayer meetings or services in public, or in private conversation his thoughts and conversation seemed to be always about the Word of God, the cause of Christ, and the everlasting concerns of immortal souls. He had a very happy way of introducing and maintaining a conversation about spiritual things equal to any one we had the pleasure of knowing. Let the company be carnal or spiritually minded, he was the same. If he found that he could not hold to profitable talk, he would not remain long in their company. A specimen of his edifying way of speaking to the question on communion Fridays has appeared in the F.P. Magazine for last April, and it shows that he knew what it is to be brought to Mount Sinai to hear the curses of the law of God against man’s sin, and also what it is to be brought to Mount Sion to hear the good news ” that God is in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself not imputing their trespasses to them.” It also reveals his opinion of so-called Christians who (like the young pigs which would not take oatmeal and milk mixed until the mixture was poured on the ground among dust and grease) will not take the things of the Spirit of God till they are mixed with carnal songs, etc., at social gatherings in connection with religion. Norman had no quarters for such sacrilege, neither can any others have who have tasted of “the fat things full of marrow and of wine on the lees well refined” of the gospel of the grace of God. All who are effectually called by the Holy Spirit, and justified freely by faith in the blood of Christ, have had more than enough of these carnal pleasures, and will be very careful that they will not go back to these husks of the swine again. This was certainly true of Norman Mackay.
Norman’s health showed signs that he was in the grip of that dangerous disease—Bright’s disease—several years before he gave up his work and left Glasgow. To begin with the case did not seem to be virulent, so that with medicine and a rest now and again for a short time he hoped that it might be put back at least for some time. This was hoped also by a large circle of friends. But the Lord’s thoughts and ways were not so. It became so serious after a long time of struggling with it, that the doctor ordered him away for some time to take a complete rest in his native air in Lewis. He returned much better and stronger and went back to his work. Many were delighted to see him back again seemingly strong and greatly improved in health. But the improvement did not continue long, so that he had to his own grief and that of his friends to leave Glasgow and the congregation of St Jude’s and to depart permanently for his native place. After he was some time there and feeling much stronger, he took up Mission work in Breasclete, which he was able to carry on for a few years. But his health became so seriously undermined that he had to leave the Mission and go to live in the town of Stornoway. He was falling deeper and deeper into that malady, with its many subtle ways of working on the human system, till he passed away to be for ever with Christ. Rev. M. Gillies, Stornoway, wrote us of Norman:—”We have lost a sincere friend and a faithful witness for Christ by the removal of Norman. He was the same during his short sojourn in Lewis as he was in Glasgow, a firm and steadfast defender of the truth, and an opposer of everything contrary thereto. He was one of the very few who carried the burden of the cause of Christ, and for sympathy and strength towards those who follow the Lord whole-heartedly, he has not left many his equal.” We fully concur in this estimate of Norman Mackay. We desire to express our sincere sympathy with his widow, who was truly a helpmeet for him in all his trials as regards spiritual and temporal concerns. May the Lord provide for her in all her needs, comfort her in her sorrow, and guide her to the end. Norman’s remains were interred on the 10th December 1928 in Balmore Cemetery, Carloway, Lewis. “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep (Job xiv. 12).—N. C.”