THE death of many worthy men and women has been recorded in our Magazine, and we consider that the memory of the subject of this brief sketch should be perpetuated in our pages. Mrs. Sutherland, who was the daughter of the late William Campbell, our respected Missionary in Wick for many years, ended her earthly pilgrimage in Edinburgh on 25th March at the ripe age of 86 years. Her husband, Mr. Charles Wood Sutherland, school teacher, died 39 years ago, leaving her with seven of a family to battle with the difficult problem of providing for them, but she faced these difficulties heroically with her trust, we believe, in Him who promised to be a father to the fatherless and a husband to the widow, and He did not fail her.
We are not able to say when the great and momentous change, “being born again,” took place, but no one who knew her could for a moment doubt but she was one who truly feared the Lord. Three of her sons served in the Great War, one was killed and another severely wounded. Being much attached to her family, this was a sore trial to her, and in the inscrutable providence of the Lord was the means of totally depriving her of her hearing. What was wonderful and beautiful concerning her was, that though she could not hear a word of what was said by the preacher, yet her place in the House of God on Sabbath and week days was never vacant. Nothing would prevent her from attending the means, and she would be the first person at the church and often before the door was opened. The last time she attempted to attend she collapsed on the way and had to be helped home. She always marked in her Bible the portion of Scripture spoken from, and it was rather a touching sight to see her wending her way to her bosom friend, the late Mrs. MacIntosh, Westhall Gardens, to give her the text, all that she had of the service. While it was impossible to carry on a conversation with her on any subject, yet being a very intelligent person and a constant reader, she kept herself well posted up in all matters that were taking place in the Free Presbyterian Church, in which she was so greatly interested and to which she was so much attached to the end. Mrs. Sutherland, we believe, was one who wrestled at the throne of grace for the prosperity of the cause of Christ at large. The congregation of Edinburgh has lost not only an esteemed member, but also one who took a deep interest in its spiritual welfare. She has left a fragrant memory behind her to young and old in her constant diligence in waiting upon the Lord in the means of grace, her love to His people, and in her steadfast and constant adherence to His Word in a blacksliding age. The night before she died she insisted on reading herself at family worship, and read the 3rd Psalm and the first chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians. These were the last portions she read of the Book which was her constant companion in life.
The Lord is taking His people home, to all appearance, from the evil which is to come and which may be very near, and they are to be envied who are taken away with clean garments in this adulterous generation. Signs of God’s judgments are clearly seen in that few are raised up in place of those removed.
We desire to extend our sincere sympathy to her daughter who nursed her so lovingly and tenderly, and also to her sons who mourn her loss. May the God of their mother be their covenant God. N. MacI.