MALCOLM FRASER was born over eighty years ago in the parish of Golspie. His parents came to live at The Mound when he was about five years of age. His mother was noted for her piety, and his father gave ample evidence that he, too, feared the Lord. This was a great blessing to young Malcolm, as he saw daily the reality of true religion in the home from his childhood. He had also the privilege of seeing many of the Lord’s people in his father’s house at The Mound. He used to relate how he would be sent with James Matheson, Clashnaerave, to accompany him home as James did not wish to be alone on the road at night. James was a noted man in Israel, and the true people of God often got a portion from him. He knew, as few did, the powerful assaults of Satan, and this kept him a needy sinner at a throne of grace. Malcolm had a great regard for him, although he was himself ignorant of the faith for which James Matheson earnestly contended.
Malcolm was, like the rest of our race, “without God and without hope,” and ignorant of the awful consequences of being in this state, until the Lord’s time came to reveal to him that he was “born in sin and shapen in iniquity” and “dead in trespasses and sins.” We cannot say who the instrument was whom the Lord used to awaken him to a sense of his lost and ruined state. It was, however, very evident, that the Holy Spirit convinced him of his sins, and brought him to a saving knowledge of the glorious way of salvation.
The Free Presbyterian Church was formed in Scotland in 1893 to maintain the integrity and infallibility of God’s Word, which is the basis of the profession of the Church of Christ. The worship and practice of the New Testament Church was again established and all professing the Christian faith brought to conform to it. This was a great relief to the Lord’s people and a number in the parish of Dornoch formed themselves into a congregation in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church. From that time Malcolm Fraser worshipped every Lord’s Day in the parish of Dornoch, first at Berichen, and afterwards at Evelix, where a church was built. He was early taught by example and precept the duty incumbent on all to attend the means of grace. He was a regular hearer every Sabbath and he used to notice how seldom he had any real difficulty on account of stormy weather when in the path of duty.
It was when the Rev. D. A. Macfarlane was minister of the four parishes in Sutherland that Mr. Fraser came before the Kirk Session to be admitted to the Lord’s Table for the first time. From references he made afterwards to this particular time, one could gather that he was greatly exercised in his mind regarding the solemn duty before him. Some years after he became a member he was elected to the Eldership. This caused him deep exercise of mind, and were it not that he received a portion of truth to guide and strengthen him, the acceptance of an office in the Church of Christ, with the responsibilities attached to it, was sufficient to overwhelm him.
When the congregations of Dornoch and Rogart were, by the Synod, united under one Kirk Session, Mr. Fraser was appointed Session Clerk. It is not too much to say that he daily prayed for the prosperity of the congregation. He was yearly elected to represent the congregation in the Presbytery and Synod. The meetings of these Courts he attended as often as circumstances permitted him.
It was with difficulty he could be prevailed upon to take the services on Sabbath or week-day, especially if any other was present to take them. His humility was very real, always eager to take the lowest place. He felt the fellowship meetings a heavy responsibility. The marks of grace that he was expected to give, he knew, could not be given unless he had them himself. When, however, he rose to speak, one felt that he knew in his own experience that to him religion was not a name, but a living reality.
He gave liberally of his means to advance the cause of Christ in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church. To the poor among the Lord’s people, he showed real kindness. The love which he manifested to the Lord’s cause at the beginning, continued unabated to the end of his days in the world. It may be said of him, also, that through grace he continued faithful to the end—he kept the faith and received the reward. “The archers have sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated him; but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel.”
For a number of years he conducted the services in Rogart every alternate Sabbath. On the 5th April last he conducted the service as usual and after he had given the last psalm to be sung, it was evident to the congregation that he was not well. He was brought home, and received every attention but he passed away to be with Christ on the Wednesday night, and was buried in Golspie on the Saturday. In his death our Church has lost a warm-hearted friend and a consistent office-bearer who looked well to his words and actions in the world. His house at The Mound had always an open door for the Lord’s people and others. It was a pleasure to visit his home and the kindly reception awaiting friends from Mrs. and Miss Fraser (his sister) and himself leaves one with a feeling of regret that the house is now closed (at least, as far as they are concerned).
To his sorrowing widow and sister we desire to express our deep sympathy. His death has left a great blank in our midst, and may we be enabled to please that the Lord will raise up Jacob when he is small.”—Finlay Macleod.