SOME eighty-seven years ago the island of Boreray adjoining North Uist was a fruitful vineyard of the Lord, well watered with the dew of Mount Hermon. In it the late John Fraser, missionary, laboured, and he had many souls for his hire. Of the thirty-two families who resided there it has been remarked that each held family worship, morning and evening. It was amidst such pleasant scenes that the subject of our sketch saw the light of day.
Malcolm Macdonald was the fourth son of a family of six, and while yet a child he was deprived of his father through death. His mother, who appeared to be a gracious woman, reared her young family on the sincere milk of the Word, and she had the pleasure before she departed this life of seeing some of them making their choice of the one thing needful. Malcolm, who had the privilege of such a godly mother, was from his youth one that feared God and eschewed evil. While a young lad he became an apprentice to the carpentry trade, and after serving his full time he became a journeyman, and as such he visited various places on the mainland of Scotland, including Wick and Thurso, and in his latter days he could relate many interesting anecdotes connected with the scenes of his labours.
In the year 1871 Malcolm entered into the tenancy of Dusary Mill, better known to some of the older readers of our Magazine as the Disruption Mill, so called after Mr Duncan Maclean, who was evicted from it for the stand he took on the side of the Disruption. There are many of this worthy man’s descendants still living in Canada. Shortly after taking up his abode at the Dusary Mill Malcolm married Margaret Macdonald, daughter of Donald Macdonald, Kylis, and while it is true that grace does not flow in the blood, yet Mrs Macdonald’s ancestors, for many generations, were followers of the Lamb, and it is not to be wondered although Mrs Macdonald turned out to be a true and loving help-meet to her husband, for she also followed in their footsteps. In taking up his home at the above place Malcolm, during the first few years, worshipped in Clachan Free Church, and on each Sabbath morning with his wife he would be seen wending his way to the place of worship, singing as he went along:—
“I joy’d when to the house of God,
Go up, they said to me.
Jerusalem; within thy gates
Our feet shall standing be.”
(Metrical Psalm cxxii., 1).
In those days the late Rev. Donald Maclean was the minister of the Clachan congregation, and of him it could be said that “he was a burning and a shining light.” In his day the Clachan church was like heaven upon earth, and a birthplace of many souls. In the year 1893, when the Declaratory Act was put into operation in the Free Church courts, and the late Rev. Donald Macdonald, of Shieldaig, and the Rev. Donald Macfarlane Dingwall, both natives of North Uist, separated from that rationalistic body and unfurled the flag for truth and liberty, Malcolm, with a large number of his fellow islanders, rallied to their standard. Among those might be named the late Gaelic schoolmaster and missionary, Malcolm MacCorquodale, of happy memories; and Archie Stewart, Knockline; Alexander Macaskill, late missionary of Braes, Skye; Archie Maclean, Hougharry; Roderick Johnstone, Tigharry; Roderick Macaulay, Tigharry; Angus Macdonald, Middle-quarter; and John Mackenzie, Malaglate. These were men who adorned their profession in this world, and are now amongst the followers of the Lamb on Mount Sion above.
When the Bayhead congregation was formed there were found within it forty men who were mighty in the Scriptures, that could speak to “the question” at the Friday meeting, and in the old Craig Hastin days Malcolm, who was of a striking appearance, was a noted figure among them. To him and the rest of the Lord’s people these Communion seasons were as oases in the desert. When the present building at Bayhead was erected in 1899, Malcolm did not spare his means or labours in connection with it, he himself being the joiner, and the late Roderick Johnstone the mason. In his own home, and among his family, Malcolm was like Jacob, a wrestler with the Angel of the Covenant, and the Clachan Mor, situated near the mill, was the scene of many a shed tear and earnest prayer.
The Lord blessed Malcolm and his wife with a family of seven sons and four daughters. Five of them predeceased their father, and to their parents’ joy some of them gave a clear evidence that they were born from above. We have no doubt that the Vancouver readers of our Magazine will remember his son John, who passed away there rejoicing in the Lord. While Malcolm was thus tried in the fiery furnace by death, he was often heard to remark: “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job i., 21). This worthy man of God passed away from the realm of time to his eternal rest on Friday, 19th October, 1928, and on the Monday following his remains were followed by a large concourse of people to the Clachan Cemetery. To all present it was very evident that a prince and a great man had fallen in Israel. To his widow and to the surviving members of the family we express our warmest sympathy in the loss of a faithful husband and a loving father.—J. M.
Miss Marjory Cameron, 18 Crown Street, Inverness.
THE removal of this godly woman is another great break in our congregation. The change in her conduct and state came about through listening to the Word of God preached by Rev. John Macqueen, Daviot. According to her own testimony “he was preaching about the wise and foolish virgins, and I found myself that day among the foolish.” We may be sure that finding herself among the foolish was not easy. She went about for some time feeling herself among the foolish in time and afraid she would spend eternity with them. But the Lord, who had brought her into the wilderness, and made herself a wilderness to her, began to speak to her heart, and in a lonely spot where she bowed her knee a passage of His blessed Word was sent by Him that made her a new creature and that made all things new to her also. That night she listened to the late worthy William Macdonald, who finished his course at Elphin.
All along her life she manifested that the change she underwent was the work of God. For over thirty years we used to meet her at Communions, and during all that time we never doubted but she was a follower of the Lamb. If at any time we were long of visiting, she would have day and date when we were there last. She lived since we knew her with a niece and her husband, who are both likeminded, and it was a real pleasure to spend some time with them. Miss Cameron was a most discerning woman, and could show what did not please her. She was also a most warm-hearted Christian. To the Free Presbyterian Church she was bound with love to the very last. Her end came suddenly with a stroke, which deprived her of the use of her speech. To pray and sing beside her was all she wanted till she departed to sing among the rest of the ransomed host above. Her remains were laid to sleep in Dunlichity, where the dust of many of the Lord’s dear people sleep till the last trumpet shall sound. To all her friends we tender our sincerest sympathy.—E. M.
Mrs Macinnes, Castle Street, Inverness.
THIS worthy woman was born and spent most of her days in Lewis. It was in her latter years she came to reside in Inverness. In Lewis she was also born again, of water and of the Spirit. No one who knew her intimately would doubt that, although she had hard doubts herself at times. She came under the power of the truth very young, in the Parish of Uig. And the fragrance of what she then tasted of the word of life never left her. Her Bible, till within the last days, was her constant companion. Having a retentive memory, even to old age, she could discourse of the sweetness of some of the passages that came to her. She had often sharp temptations from the enemy of God and of His people, but the Lord came to her relief with His own Word, and when it came she would say:—”Nach robh duil aig a’ bhraid gu’n deanadh e ‘n gnothuch orm”—”Did not the thief think that he would overcome me.” To us she was one of the brightest women we ever met. The love of Christ and the scheme of redemption was her continual topic. For some years before the end she was confined to bed, the only thing she mourned for was that she could not join sweet counsel with the rest of God’s people going to His house. She longed for the company of those that feared the Lord, and now, we believe, she is with the Lord and His people forever.
Her daughter and her husband nursed her lovingly till the last, and when her end came what was mortal of her was sent to be buried in her native Isle. We do miss her and such as were likeminded. May the spirit that ruled in the mother do so in all her family.—E. M.