DONALD MacSween belonged to Strond near Leverburgh. His father and father’s brother were looked on as leaders in the religious life of the village. So it is likely he saw a good example of vital godliness in the days of his youth. He was nourished in the evangelical traditions of the Harris Blacksmith, John Morison, who is reckoned to be the most godly man that ever arose in Harris. His hymns are unsurpassed by uninspired bards. The subject of this sketch was early brought to a saving knowledge of Christ in the truth. As a young man he felt urged to abandon his work at times to go apart for secret prayer. His calling was that of a stone-mason, but like Peter, he left it to be a builder of another kind in God’s Temple. For several years he served the Free Presbyterian Church in Braescleite, Lewis, where his services were highly appreciated. He was also at Uist, and then finally retired to his native place as missionary. He did not confine himself to Strond, although he was feeling the effects of old age and infirmity, but continued up to the end of his pilgrimage to travel round Harris, and supply the various stations from Geocrab to Sheilabost as occasion demanded. He was endowed with a melodious voice, and was pre-eminent in leading the praises of God in the sanctuary. He often sang by himself when alone.
As an expounder of the Word he was greatly relished by the Lord’s people, as he had the faculty of entering into their feelings and expressing them suitably. He was one of the most talented laymen we had in the Church, but was not well-known outside the bounds of Lewis and Harris, as he did not go abroad much to communions outside the Islands. In disposition he was inclined to peace and goodwill. If he happened to hear any gossip he would not carry tales, so he was enabled to keep apart from quarrels. “Proverbs” tells us that “he that meddleth with strife is a fool,” but “he that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.”
As an elder in our session he will be missed, as his counsels were never rash or ill considered, but weighty and useful, in regard to all the interests of the congregation, and the cause of Christ in general. As regards his private, Christian experience he was not given to throwing pearls before swine, and rarely referred to his spiritual history, as some can do at great length, whose fruits are not all that could be desired. He was quite ready to discourse on any topic of Scripture. His conversation was not only of earthly things. One of the early Magazines of the Church was his favourite pocket companion. He died suddenly at Finsbay in the house of his friend, Angus Ross, where he had often enjoyed hospitality.
—D. J. Macaskill.