ANGUS FRASER was born at Tore, Black Isle, Ross-shire, in April, 1860. His father was a farmer and a very orderly and sober man, according to reports, and his mother was a truly godly woman. She was a daughter of the late eminently godly man, Donald Duff, who was well known throughout the northern Highlands of Scotland, especially at communion seasons. The inscription on his tombstone is as follows:—”In memory of Donald Duff, Free Church Catechist, first at Alvie, latterly of Dingwall and Stratherrick, and otherwise in the service of the Church for 45 years; a living epistle of the Master whom he delighted to commend to others. He lived beloved, and died lamented, at Inverness on the 9th January 1885.” We have inserted this inscription for two reasons—(1) because we fully believe that it gives a true idea of Donald Duff as a servant of Christ and of the Church, and of the estimation in which he was held by all friends of truth and righteousness; and (2) because of the resemblance that existed between his character and that of his daughter, Mrs. Fraser, Angus Fraser’s mother.
Such an eminently godly mother as she was would do all in her power to instil the doctrines and principles of God’s law and gospel into the mind of her children, the fruits of which training appeared after many days in several of them. But grace does not run in the blood; neither does godly upbringing change the nature of the fallen and corrupt sons of men. It requires the almighty power of God, the Holy Ghost, to create a sinner anew in Christ Jesus.
Angus Fraser came under serious convictions of sin under the preaching of his grandfather, Donald Duff, when he was a young lad; but although the experience through which he passed then prevented him from indulging in the pleasures of sin like others, he was still ignorant of the only Saviour of lost men, Jesus Christ.
Angus Fraser came to Glasgow when he was about nineteen years of age, and served his time in a warehouse in the city.
He attended Hope Street Free Church, and sat under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Urquhart, who was truly a messenger sent from God to sinners in Glasgow. After Mr. Urquhart was removed to his everlasting rest, Angus continued his connection with Hope Street Free Church. He became a member in full communion with the Church, and also a deacon during the fourteen years he continued there.
Soon after the Free Presbyterian Church was formed in 1893, Angus, from a sheer sense of duty to God, to his own soul, and to the souls of his fellow men, joined it. Many years after he told the writer that, although he was even a deacon some time before he joined the F.P. Church, it was after that took place that the Holy Spirit applied the truth as it is in Christ and Him crucified to his conscience and heart. This was true in the case of many who were even preachers of God’s Word for many years before they were truly converted, such as the Rev. Roderick MacLeod, Snizort, and Rev. Norman MacLeod, North Uist, etc. He acted as a deacon in St. Jude’s since he joined it in 1893 till the year 1911. There was an election of office-bearers that year, and he was elected to the office of the eldership by a large majority of the members. On account of the number of places to be supplied Sabbath after Sabbath, the elders of St. Jude’s have been called upon to help in overtaking the work, which they willingly did some times at great inconvenience to themselves. Angus was now called upon to help, which he cheerfully did to the satisfaction of all our people and to that of the Church.
In the year 1913 he retired from business and devoted his whole time to the preaching of the gospel to our congregations and preaching stations. He would not accept of any salary from the Church for his work; all that he would accept was his board, lodgings and travelling expenses. He served for some time in so many places that none of our laymen were so well known as he was throughout the most of our congregations. He was in our London Mission several times—in all about two and a-half years, and gave great satisfaction to our people there. He was at Plockton and Kyle of Lochalsh during two years, and did much
to help that station. He got a very good hall built at Kyle and collected all the money to pay for it, so that when he left it was free of debt. During the War he supplied our congregation in Ullapool in the absence with the forces of Rev. A. Sutherland, and was highly thought of and appreciated by them. He was there for three years. He was at Stratherrick for four years, where he endeared himself to the people, not only on account of his amiable and obliging manner and condescension, but much more for his faithfulness to God’s truth and to their souls. He had for years a great desire to visit Palestine, so in order to go there he left Stratherrick to the great grief of our people there. The fact that Donald Duff had been there for such a long time—the last fifteen years of his life—and that he was loved and revered by most of the people, also that the fragrance of his memory was fresh in the minds of the aged, of which the young were well aware, caused that Mr. Fraser was very acceptable to the people as being the grandson of their departed great favourite. But he endeared himself to them by his gentleness and amiability, combined with firmness and integrity both as regards temporal and spiritual concerns, showing no more partiality to the rich than to the poor. This was made very clear by his efforts to put a stop to Sabbath desecration in Stratherrick. If those who were remonstrated with did not reform, Angus, their own consciences, and the Law Giver and Judge, will be swift witnesses against them on the Great Day. It was not with any desire for ostentation or for praise from his fellow men he acted so, but from love to the fourth commandment; from a sincere concern for the people, for fear they would follow the example set before them, and also from a desire that those who profaned the Sabbath might cease to do so. Such zeal for God’s glory speaks volumes, while such as are afraid of saying or doing anything that the men of this world might call uncharitable or too narrow or austere, shows the spirit of Gallio rather than that of the Christian.
He enjoyed his visit to Palestine in more ways than one. The land and its towns in the light of the Bible records regarding
scenes and events of the long past were deeply imprinted on his mind. But what made a deep and lasting impression on him were the places which our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, frequented both in Judea and Galilee while He tabernacled among men. The garden of Gethsemane was the place that seemed to make the deepest impression upon him. Concerning it he wrote to his brother, Mr. Sam. Fraser :—“ I walked alone to Gethsemane. I had a pleasant, but very sorrowful afternoon and evening there. A very deep and awful valley. Old olive trees there yet. Saw the place of His agony. Ascended the hill, and returned again. Hope I may not forget this solemn evening. Whatever is before me, I am greatly privileged in seeing, what I hope, humbled me for my sins. May He bless His dealings to such a poor, vile sinner.” “ I remember you all in my unworthy petitions morning and evening, and yet, I am often afraid of something happening to any of you. I hope the Good Shepherd will bless you all, and keep you from all evil. If I could go to the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat and plead for each of you in faith, surely this would keep me from such apprehensive fears. . . I felt Mr. MacLean’s death very much. I will soon follow. May He have mercy on a poor sinner! I do feel very sinful and barren. We all need His grace and His pity.” He sent the writer three olive leaves from the garden of Gethsemane, which he keeps with care.
When it was decided by our Church that the writer should visit our Mission in S. Rhodesia in the year 1921, Angus Fraser was requested to accompany him, which he did with all his heart. The services held on board were such that we could not attend them, so we held two prayer meetings every Sabbath. This was a cause of real thankfulness to me that I had a man with me who was not only a true friend, but also a man who showed real piety in the midst of such ungodliness and sin.
During our stay in the Mission a prayer meeting was held about six every Sabbath morning, and again at the same hour on Thursday morning. Angus gave a short address at each of these meetings. He also gave addresses in three of the
heathen kraals—Rev. J. B. Radasi interpreting. These services were much appreciated by the people. Some of them urged on him to stay with them. This long voyage to Rhodesia and back again caused that the sincere friendship which existed between him and the writer became more confirmed and continued so to the end, and may it be true that it will continue to all eternity.
After we returned Angus was continuously employed north and south as has been noted above. He remained mostly in the south after his return from Palestine. He was for nine months in Oban, since Rev. D. A. Macfarlane went to Dingwall, till Rev. D. Beaton was settled there. When the Rev. Duncan MacKenzie, late of Kames, was removed to his everlasting rest, Angus supplied Kames congregation from the month of September till the end of December. He came up to Glasgow for the New Year, and became unwell with a pain in his chest on the afternoon of New Year’s day. He called to see the writer that evening and complained of the pain in his chest. The writer told him not to go to Kames next morning unless he felt quite better. But so faithful was he to his duties that he went on Saturday notwithstanding he was far from being well, and this also against the advice of his sister, Miss Fraser. During Saturday night his chest pain increased. On Sabbath morning the doctor was sent for, who, after examining him, diagnosed his case as congestion of the lungs. The elder who took the service in the church called when the service ended to ascertain how he was. Mr. Fraser asked him what was the portion of the Word he had spoken from. When he was told that the words were—”Behold the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sin of the world,” he said these were the words from which I intended to speak. His pain was not so severe then, but during the evening his strength was manifestly declining. He passed away to the rest that remains to the people of God about six o’clock in the evening. So the earthly house of his tabernacle was dissolved in order that he should be clothed with his house which is eternal in heaven. This took place on Sabbath, the fourth day of January, 1931. His remains were buried on the eighth day at
Redcastle, Black Isle, Ross-shire, there to await the call of the Judge to “let His saints be gathered to Him” on the last day.
As a speaker, Angus Fraser was impressive, earnest and serious. He had a good grasp of all the doctrines of God’s Word, and could state them very orderly and also in well selected language. One of his hearers at Stratherrick wrote after she heard of his removal:—”We in Stratherrick are mourning for him as he has left a fragrant memory behind him. As for myself, I loved him next to my Saviour, as he was the means used by the Lord to take me out of great darkness into marvellous light.” He was also given much to secret prayer, of which I became convinced when we went to South Africa.
Angus Fraser was a very true and faithful friend. He would put himself out of his way to oblige men such as might be his enemies, but his friends, especially the Lord’s poor, were never forgotten by him. This was not done to gain praise, but as a matter of duty to the Lord’s command and also to His people and cause in the world. He was a man of peace and did all he could to maintain it.
He was also a very intelligent, conscientious and faithful Free Presbyterian, and continued so to the very last. All the movements that took place in our Church found and left Angus unmoved. He knew very well why the separation took place, and that while the reasons for having taken the step remained he should and would hold to it. So the Free Presbyterian Church lost one of her truest and faithfulest elders, and one who prayed much for her being kept faithful to God’s truth and to the Westminster Confession of Faith. We greatly mourn our loss, which we believe was his great gain. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them” (Rev. xiv. 13).
We express our sincere sympathy with his brothers and sisters in their time of sorrow, and also with all who mourn our loss.—N.C.