Lo, the righteous are taken and the merciful brought home;
Darkness gathers fast around us, ‘twould become us well to
mourn.
Mourn—for cedars fair and comely, blasted in their verdure
green.
Ah! the waste they leave behind them in this wilderness of sin.
Mourn—for gaps in Zion’s bulwarks which are widening day
by day,
And the walls which once were glorious crumbling down into
decay.
And the precious sons of Zion taken to eternal rest,
Truly happy are the children thus to be for ever blessed.
*This poem was sent to us for publication. It is the composition of the late gracious Miss Mary Mackintosh, some of whose poetical pieces have appeared in the Magazine. Kenny Mackenzie whose promising career was cut short by death, left pleasant memories behind him. An obituary appeared in the Magazine, iv. 148.—Editor.
Kenny’s place with us is vacant; pleasant was his life while here:
His the kindly word of comfort and the drooping heart to cheer.
Bright his smile to cheer the mourner, thoughts diffusing
fragrance sweet.
‘Twas his joy to lay soul-trophies at his loving Saviour’s feet.
Oh! unsearchable the wisdom, giving pain our wounds to heal,
With each pang He gives His children is His tenderness revealed.
Lord restore the walls of Zion; raise up Jacob, he is small.
Leave us not without a remnant on thy holy name to call.
For the Bond-maid’s sons are rampant but the sons of promise
few;
We resemble Mount Gilboa languishing for want of dew.
Like the gleanings of the vintage not a cluster to behold;
We may wail with Jeremiah with sorrow: dim is now the gold†
Leave us not our hearts to harden under dispensations great;
Lest death’s messenger will call us when repentance is too late.
Grant us grace to be submissive under each recurring loss;
Would you wear a crown with Jesus meekly learn to bear His
Cross.—Mary Mackintosh.
The late Mrs. Lily Mackenzie, Second Coast, Laide.
THIS worthy woman was removed by death to join the company of those in heaven on 25th January of last year. She was born at First Coast 89 years ago, and died at Second Coast—places in the vicinity of Laide. Apart from deafness her health continued good to the end. Of the means used by the Most High to open her heart and lead her to Christ there is
†Lamentations, iv. 1.
nothing known to us. Her claim to the hope of heaven was, however, the charter of the Word of God. She told one or two of her intimate friends that she found the last verse of the twelfth chapter of Isaiah: “Cry out and shout thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee,” a rich mine to her soul. In her anxious times she used to dig here again and remembering the years of the right hand of the Most High. Thus “from strength to strength” she went through the wilderness until in Zion she appeared before God. She was well on in years before she made a public profession, and this profession she adorned, being one of “the salt of the earth.” She digested the promises of God’s Word and gave expression to her faith by her patient continuance in well doing: “He that receiveth His testimony has set to his seal that God is true.” Her fidelity to the truth and to the distinctive position of the Free Presbyterian Church was not easily moved. She had been a widow for a number of years. She left five sons to mourn her loss, two of whom are in America. Two daughters having pre-deceased her.
The loss of such pious people to the church below is great, and in that respect there is cause to mourn; but otherwise, in regard to them there is no such cause, but rather rejoicing; for they inhabit the place where the “Lamb is the light thereof.” “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.”—A. B.
The late Mr. Duncan Matheson, Portree.
OWING to various circumstances the following brief obituaries were postponed till now, and although overdue, friends who knew our late elder and his worthy wife may be glad to read some particulars of their Christian Character.
The late Mr. Duncan Matheson was born in the Parish of Snizort, Skye, in 1853, and passed away at the advanced age of
eighty-four years. From early youth he appears to have been careful in his conduct and when a young man he went South like many other Highlanders to earn his living in Glasgow. We understand from information given by Mr. Murdo Matheson, Banker, Stornoway, his son, that he became a member of Main Street Free Church during the ministry of the late Rev. Evan Gordon, who was assisted for a time by the late Rev. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s, Glasgow. No doubt there are many still living who remember Mr. Cameron’s faithful exhortations in that Church.
About the year 1893 Mr. Matheson returned to Skye and took up residence in Portree and associated himself with those who formed the Free Presbyterian Congregation. Having made a firm stand for the integrity of the church’s constitution, which was changed by the Declaratory Act, and for the fundamental doctrines of the gospel, he adhered to that position faithfully to the end, unlike the children of Ephraim of whom it is written “that when the day of battle was they faintly turned back.” There is much need of the same firmness now when the Church is being assailed from different quarters.
We do not know what means were employed to bring him to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus but it was evident by his consistent walk and love to Christ’s cause and house that the gospel was precious to his soul.
Like many of the Lord’s people he had his share of afflictions, trials, and temptations, but he was delivered from them all. His exercises in prayer showed that he knew that it was grace alone that could deliver from the power of sin and knowing the plague of his own heart he was dependent on Christ for salvation and for strength to overcome spiritual enemies. One notable characteristic was his love of the means of grace. Like David he loved God’s ordinances and delighted in waiting on Him. This is a mark of all true believers. They feel it is good for them to be where the Saviour meets with those who truly seek Him and the means of grace are refreshing wells to their souls.
Our departed friend was ordained to the eldership in 1920 and diligently performed the duties of his office for over sixteen years. He was able to attend public worship to the last and was in this respect an example to old and young. After a few days illness he passed away peacefully to be, we believe, with Christ.
The late Mrs. Duncan Matheson.
THE late Mrs. Matheson, who died about six months after her husband, was born in Waternish, Skye, and like her husband went South early in life.
She became a member in Portree congregation during the ministry of the late Rev. Alex. Maerae and supported her husband in every good work they considered worthy of encouragement. Sometimes she had severe bodily illnesses which, we believe, had a mellowing effect and helped her to look upon the things seen as trifles in comparison with the great realities of eternity. That is what every child of God must realize in some degree and therefore, the salvation of the soul is to him of paramount importance.
Mrs. Matheson was of a modest and kindly disposition walking humbly before God and showing her regard for His cause by entertaining hospitably the Lord’s people at communion time. Careful in her daily conduct she set a fine example before her own large family and her neighbours. She passed away suddenly to enter the rest that remaineth for the children of God.
Very few of those who originally formed the Free Presbyterian Congregation of Portree are now left and the removal of these two worthies makes a decided blank in our congregational life. Those who remain should firmly resolve to be faithful to the testimony of their Church notwithstanding the temptations that may be put in their way by other denominations that are unsound in creed and practice. May the sons and daughters love their parents’ God as their God and through grace follow the Lord Jesus Christ through good and evil report.—D. M. M.