SEVERAL circumstances have occasioned that no notice has been taken in our Church Magazine of the death of Mr. Finlay Macdonald, who departed this life in 1936. The death took place while the minister of the congregation, Rev. D. MacLeod, was away in Canada as the Church’s Deputy. Shortly after Mr. MacLeod’s return he himself was called away to his everlasting rest with the result that no one took up his pen to write an account of the life of this godly man.
As one who knew Finlay, as he was familiarly called by friends, since the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church, I have been appealed to by some friends to write a sketch of his life for our church Magazine. While I agreed to this request I am quite conscious of my inability to do justice to his memory. An account of the lives of many eminently pious men and women have appeared in our Magazine and we feel that the name of Finlay Macdonald is worthy of having a place among that great crowd of witnesses. Personally we find it both pleasant and profitable to read and re-read the lives of these men and women who were pillars in our Church.
The times in which we live are ominous and alarming. The Lord has risen to shake terribly the earth with His righteous judgments for the sins of nations. We read: “When thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Is. xxvi. 9). But alas! there are no signs that we as a nation are learning righteousness though His judgments are so heavily upon us. The Lord has been removing from our midst, from the evil to come, His own people who wrestled at a throne of grace for poor sinners and for our beloved land. It was from these devastating judgments which have overtaken us that Finlay Macdonald was taken away to his everlasting rest.
It was more than once remarked in our magazine that while the Cedars of Lebanon were numerous the cutting down of one did not affect the view of the landscape but when they were few the blank was very discernible even when one was removed. The removal of the subject of this notice has left a wide breach not only in the Sheildaig congregation but throughout the whole Church especially on the West Coast.
Finlay was born in 1860 at Ardheslaig where he lived all his life. His parents, especially his mother, were godly people. He possessed very acute mental powers which he used in advancing the interests of Christ’s cause and in opposing and exposing the evil designs of the enemies of God’s truth. He also took an active part in public affairs being a Parish Councillor for many years and a member of the School-Board and later of the Education Authority.
It is difficult to say when the Lord dealt with him savingly but it must have been when he was young. He used to visit Inverness in connection with his trade (he was a shoemaker) in the days of Dr. Mackay, Free North Church, and one would infer from his great love and respect to the Doctor that he was the means in the hand of the Spirit in bringing him from darkness to light. He also held Mr. MacColl, Lochalsh, Dr. Kennedy and Mr. Macdonald in the highest estimation. A very remarkable incident took place in his experience on one occasion. When a young man he fell into great darkness regarding his interest in Christ. He decided to go to the Gairloch Communion and prayed that if the words “verily, verily, I say unto thee, etc.” (John, iii. 3) would be given out as the “Question” on Friday he would take that as an indication he had grace. On Friday Dr. Kennedy presided. A portion of Scriptures was given out but not the one Finlay looked for. This greatly distressed him. The Doctor, however, rose and said that the passage was a very difficult one and asked the man who gave it out if he would have any objection if he himself (the Doctor) would give out a passage. The man replied: “No! No! No!” The Doctor then gave out the words of John, iii. 3. This very wonderful answer to his prayer had such effect on Finlay that it caused his nose to bleed. When referring to that occasion to friends he would add that he would never advise any one to do what he did. The above shows that his conversion must have taken place early in life. Dr. Kennedy died in 1884 and Finlay would be then 24 years and this event must have taken place some years before the Doctor died.
He and his brother Angus were ordained Elders in the congregation years before the Separation of 1893 took place. As proof of the respect in which he was held as an Office-bearer he was appointed as representative elder by the Presbytery of Lochcarron to the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. The late Rev. D. Macdonald was greatly attached to Finlay’s brother, Angus, and another young man, Duncan Mackenzie. They both died young. Mr. Macdonald expressed the desire to be buried between them in the churchyard of Applecross. That request was carried out as can be seen in Mr. Macfarlane’s life of Mr. Macdonald.
When Rev. Donald Macdonald took his noble stand in defence of God’s Word and conscience, Finlay encouraged and supported him. It was not a leap in the dark he took nor blindly followed a man whom he revered, but because he had an intelligent grasp of the doctrines and principles which he solemnly vowed at his ordination to assert, maintain and defend, and which he now saw were trampled under foot by the Rainy party in the Free Church.
He was a very useful member in our church courts being well versed in church law and procedure. He was of an uncompromising nature and would hold by his opinions in face of all opposition unless he was convinced that he was wrong. He was for some years before his death part-time missionary for the North Coast of Applecross, and when at home held a meeting on Sabbath evening at Ardheslaig. In the absence of the minister he invariably took the services at Sheildaig. The death of his only child (a daughter) was a severe blow to him and to his wife but we believe they both sought to be submissive to the will of Him who gave and took away.
To his widow, who was in every respect a real helpmeet for him and to his two sisters we tender our sincere sympathy. Our prayer is that the Lord will be a husband to the widow and the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother to the sisters. May the Lord raise up in the Sheildaig congregation men and women who would take the place of Finlay Macdonald and stand faithful to God’s Word in this day of blasphemy and rebuke.—N. M.