SUCH has been the depletion which has taken place from time to time in the ranks of those who were properly styled the “Men” and who were prominently identified with the witness made for the Truth in Scotland in 1893 that very few of them survive amongst us to-day. Some there have been whose affected and trumpeted zeal at the beginning of things has been seen to end otherwise than to the honour of the cause which at one time they would make it appear they espoused with such fervour and heat. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (I. John ii. 19).
The situation which emerged as a result of the passing into law of the notorious Declaratory Act of 1892 by the Free Church of Scotland caused grave anxiety to those whose convictions were based in the firm belief that a change so serious had been effected in the constitution of the Church as to warrant distinct separation from that body. It was while the decisive step of separation was being taken by a goodly number of people throughout the Highlands and elsewhere and which eventually culminated in the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland that the subject of this notice being one of a number of office-bearers and members called upon the Free Church Minister at Tarbert—Rev. John Maclean—to inform him of their intention of severing their connection with the Free Church. On that occasion it appears that our departed friend seemed somewhat to waver as apparently he was impressed with the gloss which the minister put on the Declaratory Act and the reasons which prompted the Rainyite party in sponsoring this piece of legislation. His attitude on that occasion, as we have heard from his own lips, caused him a few sleepless nights until on the following Sabbath he joined company with those who for the first time assembled together in public worship outside the pale of the Free Church. From that day onwards there was no wavering nor regret for the stand then made. At that time there were not wanting, among professors, false prophets who unblushingly predicted the speedy downfall, if not the immediate extinction, of the newly-formed denomination whose avowed determination had been that they would not brook the violation of principles dearly held by themselves and their forefathers as the abandonment by them of those principles were believed to be subversive of the doctrines contained in the Confession of Faith as founded on the Word of God. About this time on a Sabbath morning that passage in Scripture, Deut. xvii. 21,22, came with such power and comfort before his mind that the recollection of this experience was fondly cherished in after life.
John Macleod was born in Tarbert in the Parish of Harris in 1858 and finished his course there on 2nd August, 1935. In early life he followed the building trade. After serving his apprenticeship as a stone mason he latterly became a building contractor. In addition he was successful in other lines of business. From early youth he was the subject of deep religious convictions and appears to have embraced Christ as his personal Saviour while quite a young man.
For some time Mr. Macleod was seriously considering his duty as to making a public profession of his faith in Christ. But such was the sense he had of his unfitness that not until after a searching self-examination he decided first to approach his minister by way of private consultation before appearing before the Kirk-Session. The result was that for some years prior to the Separation of 1893 Mr. Macleod was a member of the then Free Church.
As the numbers of those who adhered to the ‘old paths’ were being increased, provision, if possible, was required to be made for their accommodation in some place for public worship. Our worthy friend was not slow in making available for this purpose the first floor of a large store which the Congregation had the free use of until the present Church was built. Then again the problem of erecting a Manse was definitely considered and here again Mr. Macleod made himself responsible for the completion of this building on terms so favourable to the Congregation as we believe it would be difficult to find a parallel elsewhere.
Mr. Macleod was elected to the Eldership in 1911, and he conscientiously discharged the duties of that office with propriety right up to the end. In his capacity as Presbytery and Synod Elder he was diligent in his attendance on these Courts. As a speaker to the “Question” he was always brief and concise but none the less acceptable on that account. His reference on the last occasion he spoke to the “Question” when he remarked that the longer the believer lived in the world the more he felt his need of the publican’s prayer will be remembered by many who listened on that occasion.
During the last illness which was of a slow and lingering nature and which was borne with fortitude and commendable patience his chief complaint was that he felt the fiery darts of the Enemy more virulent than ever he did in his life-long experience. Notwithstanding he was deriving comfort from the Word: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” His end was peace.
The demise of Mr. Macleod has caused a blank in our Congregation which we fear will not be made up for many a day. A wide circle of Ministers and Men who were hospitably accommodated by him at Communion and other times and the few besides whose privilege it often was to hear his godly converse so apt and varied in anecdote of eminent worthies of bygone times join in expressing their sincere sympathy to the surviving widow and family.
“Woe’s me that I in Mesech am
A sojourner so long.”—N. MacK.