OUR departed friend was well known by young and old in his native district. He was born and brought up in Lochcarron, the second son of a family of nine. His mother was a professing woman, and evidently was teaching her son in the days of his youth the way that he should walk in this world. It is told of him that as a lad, he was following the means of Grace, attending worship in God’s house, reading his Bible, and was a careful observer of the Sabbath day. When or how the gracious change came on John Macrae, we are not able to trace, but it was clear to all who knew him that he was seeking the things that are above, and his conversation was of such a nature, that one could see it had a heavenly origin. It is likely that strivings between grace and sin were carried on in his soul until about the forty-eighth year of his life. There was a noticeable change in his character at that time. From henceforth he went forward as a soldier under the Captain of Salvation, fighting the good fight of faith. Often his warfare was waged with unbelief, and the consciousness of his heart’s deceitfulness was a trouble to him many a day. In the days of the Rev. Mr. Forbes, who was minister in the Lochcarron Free Church, Mr. Macrae used to teach the Sabbath School, until the Declaratory Act became a source of trouble in the Free Church. He was much exercised in soul about this Act, and after mature consideration he left that Church and joined the Free Presbyterian Church, continuing in this body, faithful to the end. His insight into the Word of God was very keen, and he had a wonderful, retentive memory. During the late war, when lights were prohibited, John would recite the chapter in the dusk of the evenings, verse after verse, and make comments he had heard from noted preachers on the Word. His study was the Bible, and he had his place of retirement to hold communion with his God. A year last winter the influenza was very severe in the West. It attacked our friend and he realised the end was near. He passed away after being only a few days ill, we hope, to the blessed place where the inhabitants shall no more be sick. His faculties remained unimpaired to the end though he had reached the great age of 95 years. All that was mortal of him was laid to rest in Lochcarron Cemetery on the 4th day of April last year.
“The end of the righteous is peace.”
Lochcarron is the poorer by his departure. May He who is able to raise up children to Abraham, raise up sons in place of the fathers. To his widow, sons, and daughters, at home and abroad, we offer our sincere sympathy and would seek to commit them to the God of their father who has promised to them who seek Him, that they shall find Him.—D. McL.
I think, hope and love, woven through one another, make our absence from Christ spiritual torment. It is a pain to wait on; but hope that maketh not ashamed, swalloweth up that pain. It is not unkindness that keepeth Christ and us so long asunder.
—Samuel Rutherford.