THE subject of this obituary notice was sixty years professing the Redeemer. She was one of those to whom the labours of Mr. Donald Stewart, Evangelist, were blessed. She was married and had two children when awakened to see her lost state in view of eternity. I am not in a position to say anything about her Christian experience except that she led a life consistent with her profession of religion. She was for twelve years infirm and for six years confined to bed. She often spoke of a minister who was at Tarbet many years ago, by name Maclean, and also Mr. Davidson who was Free Church minister at Manish after the Disruption. It seems that even after she began to fail with the infirmities of old age she could hardly be kept from going to the House of God, although sometimes losing her way owing to loss of memory.
This showed clearly that her heart was in the means of grace where God’s honour dwelleth. When collectors called for the Sustentation Fund she used to say that God’s Cause would have to be kept up whatever they went without personally. It is to be feared there are not many so unselfish as to put God’s Cause first in their accounts. She was only typical of a generation in regard to this matter. All those who feared the Lord made sure of the funds of the Church before their own luxuries or even necessities. At Communion times she would be especially restless in spirit because she could not get out. She often spoke about the Lord and had a wonderful memory for the Scriptures although she could not recognise her own relations. At the time of the New Year before she died she was very ill and prayed to be left for a while.
She was left till the next October before being taken away to her eternal rest we firmly believe, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Sometimes before death or illness among her relations she had a presentiment of what was to take place, but when she spoke of what was passing through her mind, her remarks were looked on as senseless until they were verified by the actual facts when the things referred to took place. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him.” When the Most High is removing His witnesses it is a cause of grief and anxiety especially when so few are being raised up in the room of the fathers and mothers in Israel. The subject of this sketch was well nursed by her daughter, whom she asked the Lord to bless, on recognising the messenger of death. After severe pain she fell asleep in Christ on 17th October, 1940.—D. J. MCA.