THOUGH an account of this worthy elder is long overdue, it is not too late to send a notice of him to the Magazine. Norman Morrison was born in Ness some time about the year 1859 and he lived without any true hope for eternity till he was about 50 years of age. He was a talented man and composed many secular songs in the days of his ignorance. He even used Scripture themes to exercise his poetic talent and his finished effort would be so conformable to the Word that, as he would say, “The plane could not take a shaving off it.”
In the year 1910, it pleased the Lord in His sovereignty to awaken Norman Morrison to a knowledge of himself as a sinner and he spent that year as one of the doves of the valleys upon the mountains, bemoaning his own iniquity. The means God used to bring home his guilt upon him was his witnessing one very nearly related to him going forward on a communion Sabbath in Ness to make her first public witness for Christ. The servant sent to loosen our friend’s bonds, under the hand of the Holy Spirit, was the late Rev. Donald Graham, Shieldaig. Mr. Graham preached a sermon in Lionel, Ness, on John iii., 16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever-lasting life.” God’s peace came into the heart of Norman Morrison that day so that he walked in the joy and comfort of it for many days, and it kept his heart and mind to the end of the journey.
It is both unscriptural and dangerous for those who have reason to conclude that Christ has become precious to them as a Saviour, to put off making a public profession of their faith in Christ and obedience to Him. Norman Morrison, or the “Bard” as he was commonly styled, found it so to his cost. He had allowed the opportunity to pass and no sooner was it passed than his guilt for neglected duty took possession of him. That awful Scripture: “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you” (Acts, iii., 14) brought gall and wormwood into his spirit, and his only relief was to make a solemn vow, that if he were spared to see another communion season, he would venture on the path of duty.
He was duly elected to the eldership but it was only after much persuasion and delay that he consented to take office. He adorned the office while he was spared in it and earned the obedience and respect of old and young. We did our best to persuade him to undertake the duties of a missionary, after the decease of our revered friend, Mr. Malcolm Macleod, but without success. Though a man of great gifts and of fluent expression, which made him excel in public prayer and speaking, he had a humble view of his own ability and grace, which caused him to court retirement.
He suffered a long illness on his death-bed, but the Lord’s mercies were abundant during his last days on earth so that he “went through the river singing.” He exhorted his family to follow God’s truth and to seek a personal interest in the Saviour, and continued in prayer for them and for the Redeemer’s cause on earth till he fell asleep. He passed away to be with Christ on the 5th November, 1932. May his example and faith be followed by his family at home and abroad who are left to mourn his loss.—Malcolm Gillies.