THE subject of this memoir was taken away, we believe, to her everlasting rest a few months ago. It is a cause of grief that so many of the Lord’s dear people are being hastened away to eternity at this time, as it is evidently from the evil to come that they are taken. “Merciful men are taken away and none layeth it to heart.” From early youth she was drawn to the means of grace. When awakened to her lost condition she trembled physically and could not sleep. The preaching of Donald Stewart, Ense, who was a famous evangelist, seems to have been blessed to her, as she always spoke of him with warmth and related many anecdotes about him. She and others who are still living made good use of their youthful days in seeking the Saviour from one means to another until they found Him according to His promise, “I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall find me.” It is to be mourned
that the rising generations today have no such thirst for Christ, but rather serve the devil and their lusts, than be concerned about their souls and their eternal welfare. Huge crowds were attracted by the fervent appeals of Donald Stewart. He aptly compared those who were affected but turned back to ships that set out to sea but turned when they encountered rough weather, whereas those who remained unmoved he compared to ships that never put out from port at all. He was a fiery preacher of the law of God and his voice could be heard a great distance away. Some of his converts did not endure as they had only a superficial work but Mrs. Macdonald was not of those who turn back but of those that believe to the saving of the soul. She kept the robe of her profession unspotted to the end and was a credit to the cause of Christ in South Harris.
Often cast down in mind and soul by the tempter she would question her interest in Christ, and would be afraid she had nothing that would stand the test for eternity. She was joined in marriage to an outstanding godly man who often held services very acceptably. A friend taunted her with the remark that if she was so dejected about her salvation it would not be of marriage she would be thinking. She replied that everyone had to go through what Providence ordained for him, and that she had obtained a man of the Lord. She survived him by many years as he died comparatively young, and his usefulness in the vineyard was cut tragically short. She belonged to the class of Miss Much Afraid and Mr. Fearing in John Bunyan’s allegory, who, nevertheless, were excellent pilgrims, and quite as safe as other Christians who were not harassed so much as they were by the enemy. A friend of her youth informed me that she professed the Saviour publicly in her early teens.
When I visited her she often conversed about those whom she knew of the godly who were now in Heaven. She always showed high regard for our ministers, and was very affectionate to the Lord’s people. Christian love was exemplified in her as in all the fathers and mothers in Israel, who cast in their lot with the
Free Presbyterians at the beginning. There is so much of Heaven removed from earth when the old, godly men and women are taken away to eternal glory, and we cannot help feeling sad at their departure from the church below, although it is their unspeakable gain to be added to the Church of the Lamb above, “Who shall lead them to living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more.” We extend our heartfelt sympathy to her sons and daughter and relatives, hoping that her example will be blessed to them. May the Lord heal the breaches in Sion!—D. J. MacA.