IT is with deep sorrow we record the death of the Rev. Donald Urquhart our respected Missionary to the Jews which took place in the Western Infirmary, Glasgow on 22nd January, 1943. Mr. Urquhart was born at Inverasdale, Gairloch, on 21st April, 1900. His father died when he was only eight years and was thus left to the care of his mother who diligently instructed him in the things pertaining to the interests of his immortal soul. The family removed to Glasgow in 1905. The means by which he was first awakened to seriously think of the realities of eternity was the death of his brother, John Duncan, who was killed in France in 1917. After passing through severe conviction of sin he was enabled by faith to accept of Christ as his Saviour. The passage of God’s word through which he got relief was “I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore, with loving-kindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. xxxi. 3).
He was engaged as a Clerk with a firm in Glasgow but in 1918 he was called up by the Military Authorities and was sent to the Rhine with the Army of Occupation. In 1920 he was demobilised and again resumed his office work. After returning he came forward and was received as a member in full communion by the St. Jude’s Kirk-Session. From the time he was brought to the saving knowledge of Christ he had a passionate desire to labour among the Jews in Palestine. With this object in view he took the necessary classes in Arts and Divinity and passed all his examinations with credit. He was licensed by the Southern Presbytery on 20th March, 1928, and the Synod that year agreed that he be appointed Missionary to the Jews in Palestine. He was ordained for the above mission on 25th July and sailed for Alexandria on 4th August accompanied by the late Mr. Angus Fraser. After arriving in Palestine he came to know the accomplished Hebrew scholar, Dr. Christie, who kindly offered to teach him the colloquial Hebrew. He visited Palestine twice and mainly on account of his health was appointed Missionary to Winnipeg where he laboured for over a year.
On returning from Canada he was appointed Missionary to the Jews
in Glasgow. Being somewhat reticent he would not divulge the difficulties he had in connection with his work but we know how keenly he felt how little fruit was to be seen of his labours, and it was evident that his bodily health was suffering under the strain.
On New Year’s Day he attended the service in St. Jude’s, Glasgow, and that evening he took seriously ill and was removed to the Western Infirmary where he passed away to his eternal rest on 22nd January, in his forty-third year. He no doubt received the joyful welcome from the Judge of all: “Come ye blessed of my Father and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Some of those present in the Hall of St. Jude’s on the last Sabbath of the year were very much struck with the portion of truth from which he spoke: “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall no more go out” (Rev. iii. 12). A public funeral service was conducted in St. Jude’s Hall by the ministers of the Southern Presbytery when a large number of friends attended. Mr. Urquhart was a staunch Free Presbyterian and the Church has lost one who earnestly pled at a throne of grace for her welfare and prosperity.
The following extracts from his private diary were sent me by his sisters—”All in this wilderness is vanity and vexation of spirit. But, oh! if the Lord were leading me to Himself I would come upon many pools of living waters in this valley of Baca.” “Oh! to have my name included in that everlasting covenant which is ordered in all things and sure; to be able to say: ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth.'” “These words have been very precious to me of late—’Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty, they shall behold the land that is very far off.'” “Last night I felt I experienced a blink of the love of Christ and that passage was made very precious to me ‘He receiveth sinners and eateth with them.'” “As I thought of precious Jesus condescending to have any dealings with a vile sinner like me, I could give vent to innumerable complaints concerning myself but instead let me praise the Lord for His abundant grace.”
We desire to express our sincere sympathy with his family in their sore bereavement and pray that He who sticketh closer than a brother will console and comfort them in their deep sorrow.—N. Macintyre.