IN recent years death has made several blanks in the ranks of the office-bearers of the Inverness congregation. The latest to be removed is Angus Stewart. Born on 26th February, 1859, at Badscallie, Coigach, overlooking the noted Horse Island and the Summer Isles, at the mouth of Loch Broom, Angus Stewart was the eldest of a family of three children,—two boys and a girl. His father, who was a crofter-fisherman, was a man of prayer and eminent for good works. His mother, Ann MacKenzie, a native of the same district, was like-minded with her husband. Angus’ father died suddenly when Angus was four years old and his brother, the youngest child, was only four months. In these trying circumstances Angus’ mother’s sister (also a widow) came to reside with them, while her brothers tilled the croft for them. The children were privileged in having a godly example set before them. They were instructed in the Scriptures and were given the schooling provided in the district.
His first employment—he left home in his teens—was with the Free Church minister of Rosehall, a Mr. Falconer, who took great interest in him and helped him to improve his education. From Rosehall he went to Inverness where he became a clerk with Singer’s Company. In Inverness he attended the Free North Church of which the evangelical Dr. George Mackay was minister. Soon afterwards his sister died. This was a sore blow to him. A year later death claimed his young brother. Under these strokes and the challengings of an awakened conscience, Angus was brought so low that it was feared he would not survive. “When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth; surely every man is vanity.”
At this time he lodged with a Mrs. Dreghorn, whose father, Mr. Ross, was an elder in the North Church. This worthy man helped and encouraged him in his time of trial. “Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning,” and in due course the morning of deliverance came. At one of the Communion season services, while sitting in the gallery of the North Church—sad to relate, now a model lodging-house—the preaching of the gospel by Dr. Kennedy was made to him the voice of the Son of God, proclaiming liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. There he was given “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” This took place, as far as can be ascertained, in 1883. To the end, his admiration for Dr. Kennedy was manifest whenever he spoke of him.
After several years’ residence in Inverness he brought his mother to reside with him, but a year thereafter he was transferred to Nottingham. A stranger in a strange land he searched for the pure gospel but searched in vain. He pined for the bread of life. “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord.” His health broke down; he left Singer’s service and returned to Inverness where the Lord answered him in the day of his distress. During his absence events had moved rapidly in the Free Church. Discipline, correctly handled, safeguards the other defences of the Church yet is itself, unless watchfulness prevents, vulnerable to subtle attack. For these reasons discipline is the first of the Church’s defences to be assailed, usually indirectly, by the wreckers. Secure in the knowledge that their friends had rendered discipline largely ineffective, the sappers and miners, as they were called, burrowing underground for years, like moles, had undermined the fundamental doctrines of the faith, such as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Scriptures, the sovereignty of God, the nature and extent of the atonement, etc., and now, confident that they could capture the fortress, they came out boldly in the open. Supported by their friends they made, in the Declaratory Act, a combined attack upon the Confessional interpretation of the Scripture doctrine of election with the result that organised opposition on the part of the leaders of the Constitutional Party collapsed, and the once noble Free Church basely surrendered. That surrender was the signal for the faithful remnant within the Church, who had not so learned Christ, but had bought the truth and would not sell it, to go forth without the camp bearing Christ’s reproach, carrying with them the Constitution intact, in 1893, to set up joyfully, though not light-heartedly, the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
With this faithful company Angus Stewart took his stand. To them the Lord was bountiful. He had visited His people with the dayspring from on high. Communion seasons became times of rejoicing. The society of the godly was refreshing. This change of scene and company brought Angus return of joy and health. This happy period, however, did not continue long in the Inverness congregation. Trouble arose, and with the loyal section of the congregation Angus Stewart withdrew to worship in the Margaret Street Drill Hall.
In 1900 the present Church was built and Rev. J. R. Mackay became pastor. Angus much enjoyed and benefited by his ministration. While hearing him preach one Sabbath morning, Angus received so much of the presence of the Holy Spirit that his body became so weak that it was with difficulty he walked home after the service. He felt keenly Rev. J. R. Mackay’s separation from the Church when he left it.
On recovering his health after his return from England, Angus carried on a tobacconist’s business for a short period. Then he became assistant in a grocery business which later he owned until he retired in 1922. He was ordained an elder in December, 1912, and in subsequent years acted on several occasions as representative elder of Kirk-Session to the Presbytery and the Synod. The judicious and godly Mr. Angus Clunas, the first General Treasurer of the Church, and also Treasurer of the Inverness congregation, would have Angus Stewart assist him in counting the congregational collections. At the time of Mr. Clunas’s death Angus was given the Scripture “Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head this day?” from which he inferred that Mr. Clunas’s end was at hand and that he would be called to act as congregational Treasurer in his stead—and so it proved. This was in 1915. In September, 1918, he was appointed Clerk of Kirk-Session. He carried on both offices until indifferent health and failing eyesight compelled him to relinquish them, the Session Clerkship in 1930, and the Treasurership in March, 1931.
In 1918 he began to act as supply for the surrounding Mission Stations. Later he was appointed missionary for Tomatin which he supplied with acceptance for twelve years. During part of that period he acted as supply for Daviot every third Sabbath. Having undergone eye operations in 1932 and 1933 he lost his sight. This was a sore trial. It brought his missionary work to an end. However, in the minister’s absence he continued to the last, when able, to conduct services in the Inverness Church.
He had the melancholy experience of seeing three ministers in succession in the Inverness congregation, separate from the Church. The troubles of the past three years weighed heavily upon him but he was greatly encouraged by the promises of the Most High given him—promises which he mentioned at the time to his brother elders for their encouragement also—which showed that the Church would be brought safely through her troubles, and that the congregation would survive. He was especially encouraged by Psalm, xvi. 1-2 given him in April, 1938. This same promise was repeated to him early in June and was now enlarged—in the metrical version—to include the first four stanzas (in prose verses 1-5), from which he believed deliverance to be at hand.
Never very robust in health and of a retired and sensitive disposition he was much subject to Satan’s assaults with the result that he had many ups and downs in his spiritual experience, now mourning without the sun and now rejoicing in gospel liberty. This was noticeable in his exercises in worship. He used to relate with relish an expression used in prayer by the late prayerful Alexander Mackenzie, Inverarnie, with whom he stayed when supplying Daviot—”Jeremiah complained that Thou wast as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night; but, Lord, we would be glad to get a glimpse of Thee as a bird on the wing.”
Equally at home in English and Gaelic, and well versed in Scripture, his presentation of truth was ready and apt. Nevertheless he often pleaded unfitness when called upon to conduct the weekly prayer-meetings, but however low he might feel at the beginning, he soon warmed to his subject, forgot his fears, and rejoiced in the great salvation ere he concluded. During the troubles of the last three years the Lord gave him many promises for the Church, and during the last three months of his life He gave him several promises for himself. His last illness was short. He was tenderly cared for during these closing years when he became blind by most sympathetic housekeepers. This was in itself a great kindness from the Lord in His holy Providence. May the blessing of the Lord rest upon them! To a brother elder who visited him he said he would not like to be left long. Although not then seriously ill, his friend knew by that answer to his enquiry after his health that the end was not far distant. He died a few days later on 16th October, 1938, aged 79, and was buried in Tonnahurich Cemetery. “Be ye also ready.”—F. B.