FRIENDS who knew her well will have happy memories of the late Mrs. Mackay, Garafad, Staffin, who passed to her rest in June last year. She was born in Digg, a township in Staffin, and was the youngest of a family of eight, six sons and two daughters.
She left home while young for service with a farmer in Perthshire and after being there for some time got married to her first husband who was a godfearing man and lived at Crianlarich. They were not long married when he died and she returned to Staffin. There she married her second husband and was settled with him in Garafad for over thirty years.
From early years she had strong impressions of the realities of eternity, particularly the Day of Judgment but she was getting rid of them by attending “Ceilidhs” or house gatherings, where vain songs might be sung and dances indulged in. A time came, however, when the arrows of the Almighty stuck in her soul and she could not shake them off. She then realized she needed a Saviour and it was through the preaching of the late faithful minister of St. Jude’s, Glasgow—the Rev. N. Cameron—while assisting at communion seasons in Skye that she came to see that the Most High against whom she had sinned could be just and the Justifier of him that believeth on Jesus. She realized it was through faith in Christ a sinner could be justified and she was more and more established in the precious doctrine of Justification by faith to the end. Like Lydia of old her heart was opened to receive the truth and she had a place there for all who loved her Saviour.
For some time she kept a shop at Garafad but being anxious to give hospitality to the Lord’s people she gave up shop-keeping in order to have more room in the house for that purpose and more time to devote to it. She kept open house for Christ’s witnesses and it gave her much happiness to entertain them. At communion times her house would be packed; she, her husband, and family, readily giving up their own accommodation to others and putting up with a makeshift for themselves for the occasion. It is of interest to note that her second husband although not making a public confession of religion testified before the end that he was departing in the faith and longing to be with Christ.
During her last illness one of her friends at her bedside asked a few hours before she passed away what hope she had in view of eternity and what it was founded on. She replied saying she had a hope and it was established on Christ and nothing but Christ and turning half round remarked: “Why would you be doubting it?” This showed that she was resting on the “Rock of Ages”—the sure foundation of every believer’s hope. All who rest on Christ in His finished work shall be glorified with Him.
Christian meekness and modesty were conspicuous elements in her character while self-denial and love for God’s Cause were equally evident. Indeed in her continual exercise of self-denial she may have hastened her own end for she would insist on serving others although unfit for it and would rather suffer than give trouble to any about her.
In all afflictions she was sustained by her Saviour’s grace and He according to promise brought her safely through them all to a wealthy place. Mr. A. Mackay, our missionary in Staffin, obtained congenial lodgings under Mrs. Mackay’s hospitable roof and found her to be a faithful friend and wise counsellor.
Our wish for her surviving family of sons and daughters is that they may have her Saviour as theirs and so follow in the footsteps of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.—D. M. M.