THE Cause of Christ in general and the Free Presbyterian Church in particular has been deprived of a true friend and labourer in the removal by death of the Rev. John MacLachlan, North Uist. Mr. MacLachlan was born about the year 1876 in the Fort-William district, his father having been a merchant in that town. He had the sad experience of losing both parents at an early age, a loss which was grievous but in some measure made up by the kindness of relatives and especially of Miss Macmillan, Fort-William, by whom he was brought up.
He came to Glasgow about the age of twenty, and soon after beginning his career there, the Holy Spirit brought him face to face with the stern realities of sin, death, and judgment and his absolute need of a Saviour. That the change initiated at this time was permanent and saving, no one who knew him had the least doubt. He began to study with the permission of the Southern Presbytery in 1913, and in 1922, he was licensed and ordained by the Western Presbytery to the charge of our North Uist congregation, among whom he laboured for eleven years.
Mr. MacLachlan had a special aptitude for the pastoral work of the ministry, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him on this account. The Synod would place on record their sincere respect for his memory, their regard for his example as a devout and humble Christian, and their admiration of the unselfish manner in which he devoted himself to the service of Christ’s cause. They would, in particular, express their appreciation of his unwearied attendance upon the duties of pastoral visitation and fervent prayer, in which he excelled. He was only a fortnight confined to bed during his last illness, although he had been failing in health for some time previously. He was called to his rest on Friday, 12th August, 1933, and
his remains were laid to rest in Kilmallie Cemetery on the following Tuesday.
The Synod deeply sympathise with the North Uist congregation in their pastorless condition, and would pray that the Chief Shepherd would make up their loss. They would also extend their warmest sympathy to the surviving relatives.