ONE cannot help having sorrowful feelings when writing about beautiful Christian characters. One would fondly wish that nothing could be written of them in these pages for many years to come. We rarely meet now-a-days with those who make Christ crucified their daily study and constant delight. “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.” The Lord has taken His people away so that there is nothing left but the gleanings of the vintage, and it necessarily follows that “the wicked walk on every side.” One can enter a little into the feelings of the Blacksmith Bard of Harris when he gave expression to the following in his
A Desiderium.
“Cha chluinn mi guth a’ cholumain chaoin
No eomhradh eaomh nan uan,
Mu cheusadh Chriosd no air a ghaol
Cha chluinn mi aon ‘to ‘air’ luaidh
A thogadh m’ aigne ‘s m’ fhonn le saod;
‘S chan fhaic mi ‘n raon mo chuairt
Chuile bhruit no lion na smuide caoil
Ri ‘n cleachduinn saors’ ear uair.”
The subject of this short and imperfect sketch was one of those beautiful ones whom the Lord was pleased to take. Her memory is fragrant by all who knew her, and she shall be “in everlasting remembrance.”
Simona MacIver was born at Scorraig in the year 1868. Her parents were eminently godly. Her father was the noted John MacIver, Scorraig, who passed to his everlasting rest in February, 1927, at the patriarchal age of 101 years. A biographical sketch by the late Rev. Neil Cameron, Glasgow, appeared in volume xxxii., page 427, of this magazine. Under the roof of such parents Simona was early taught to remember her Creator. The Lord said of Abraham: “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord,” and we firmly believe that her father was like Abraham in this respect. When Scotland was privileged to have within her borders godly parents who conscientiously felt it their duty to God to teach their children, as well as a duty to the children themselves, the power of godliness was not decaying as it is to-day. The family is the nursery of the Church. The knowledge thus imparted to Simona by her parents, at the fireside, no, doubt, had a great influence over her, by the blessing of God, in moulding her after life.
It is not known, however, how the Lord was pleased to lead her to Himself, but of the fact that she was thus led there can be no doubt. She had sufficient knowledge of the law and of its spirituality to feel that she was a sinner in need of the Saviour. She was concerned for her soul. The Holy Ghost took of the things of Christ and showed them to her. The portion of Scripture He chose was: “He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” In the words “in no wise,” she said her soul found a “great spoil,” and she rejoiced in it. Thus she got an earnest of the inheritance she is now in possession of. Her life, walk and conversation amply proved that her affections were set on things above: “Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ . . . written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.” She was like Doreas of old: “Full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.” Not a few, like those widows who wept for Doreas, showing the coats and garments which she made for them, can recall many of Simona’s kindly acts. Her gentleness, friendship and hospitality in her home endeared her to every one. She was indebted to God’s grace for all she was, for it was God who worked in her “both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” There was none more dependent on grace than she. She was always conscious of her spiritual poverty which made her cleave more and more to her Saviour and say: “To whom shall I go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” She was of a reserved nature which may have been partly due to the feeling she had of her own unworthiness.
About nine months before her last illness began she underwent an operation in the Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness, from which she really never fully recovered. For a period of about three months before the end came she suffered excruciating pain, but she bore it all with Christian patience. It was through fire and water that the Lord was pleased to conduct her to the wealthy place. He was with her in them according to His promise: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flames kindle upon thee.” Her affliction was light to her when she had the great consolation that it was but for a moment. This world was indeed a valley of tears to her in the end, as if the Lord was making her more willing to leave it. She was ultimately called from it to rejoice in the love of her Saviour, to taste of the hidden manna and the rivers of pleasure that flow in His presence. Death was a chariot to carry her hence on 29th February, 1936. Four days after her dust was laid to rest with that of her kindred in Dundonnel Cemetery, at the head of little Lochbroom, until the last trumpet will sound when the dead in Christ will rise first.—A. B.