MRS. CLARK, whose maiden name was Mary Macpherson though better known by the Gaelic designation of Bean Torra Dhàmh like many another young woman spent her youth in the pleasures of this world without any thought of the pleasures that are at God’s right hand forevermore. She was passionately fond of dancing “from which nothing human could win her.” She lived without God and having no hope she spent the years of her youth drinking from the cup of the world’s pleasures until her dancing days came to an end (at least as far as worldly dancing was concerned) by her leg being broken. As the bone had not been properly set she was dependent ever afterwards on the use of crutches. Some of our Gaelic readers are aware of the deep spiritual experience to be found in her poems though we cannot convey to our readers who are ignorant of Gaelic any idea of the spirituality and rich Christian experience in these poems. Mrs. Clark passed through deep waters before her feet were set upon a rock but at length the Lord’s time to set her free came and the Holy Spirit came with the words: “For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great
mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord, thy Redeemer” (Is. liv. 7, 8). Joy as one of the fruits of the Spirit was poured into her heart. So great indeed was her joy at times that she confessed to the catechist she danced with the help of her crutches. This is not the kind of dancing indulged in in the ballroom nor in private homes on festive occasions and if those who see no harm in dancing would betake themselves to the dancing indulged in by Mrs. Clark we are sure the Church would be very pleased to hear such a day had come over them though we take the liberty of saying that the gentlemen of the press, the world, and worldly minded Christians who are now lauding them to the skies for their broadmindedness would very likely regard them as fit for an Asylum. The friendship of the world never meant friendship with God and it will leave the true Christian friendless enough at last.
Mary Macpherson (Mrs. Clark)—Bean Torra Dhàmh—the Religious Poetess of Badenoch: Her Poems and Life, edited by Rev. Alexander Macrae, Monifeith. Arbroath: The Herald Press. Price 2s. 6d.
Mrs. Clark had not only to pass through deep waters before the light and joy of the gospel came but in the over-ruling providence of her Heavenly Father she had to pass through trying experiences. Her husband was taken away from her early and owing to her lameness she was ill-equipped to fight the hard battle. All her children left her whenever they could do anything for themselves except one daughter who was possessed of a devil and was a living sorrow to her mother for years. Her mother lived to see her brought to the feet of her own Saviour and who can tell how great her joy must have been. Poor as she was in worldly circumstances she had a generous heart. At a communion season she was asked how many people she could accommodate, to which she replied: “I have a barn that could hold twenty, and a heart that could hold a hundred.” Her worldly lot was greatly improved in the evening of her days. A daughter, well married, took her mother to reside with her and cared for her until her death at a good ripe age.