THIS Christian passed away at her home in Badachro, in April of last year, at the ripe age of eighty years. She was born on the farm of Red Point, which is situated on the South West seaboard of Gairloch Parish. She was left motherless at the age of three days, but the Lord in his providence provided one who did a mother’s duty to her. This was her paternal aunt, Ellen MacLean, a woman of worth, who instructed her in the doctrine of God’s Word as she grew. This early teaching helped her ever afterwards to form a clear and consistent view of the Scriptures. Mrs. Macpherson had an older sister who also feared the Lord. She predeceased her by over fifty years. The two constituted the whole family of their father.
As far as we can ascertain, Mrs. Macpherson underwent a saving change many years before she made a public profession. She confessed that she had thoughts of coming to the Kirk-Session long before, with a view to come to the Lord’s Table, but was afraid that she would, some way or another be a disgrace to the Cause of Christ. This was evidently a temptation under which she laboured for many years. Satan roared but could not devour. This was only a way in which she suffered with Christ and implied the promise, though hid, that she would reign with Him. Satan’s bogey and her own fears were never realised. At last the snare was broken by a portion of God’s Word which she quoted freely to the members of Session when they admitted her. As a consistent Christian she was an epistle that could be seen and read of all men.
A grace that made its appearance very clearly in Mrs. Macpherson was humility and this grace can only appear where there is knowledge of one’s own heart together with a knowledge of Christ. An apprehension of infinite majesty, combined with infinite love made her shrink into the dust. One would not be long in her company till he would discover that she was of the complaining sort—complaining of herself. She was always “less than the least of all saints” and “of sinners the chief.”
She had a great desire to be in the house of God. This was the nearest approach to heaven with her. She left this good example to her family and neighbours. Though very incapable she continued to attend the public means till the last. The last time she was out, was at a prayer-meeting, and the infirmities of age were telling so much that she could not recognise some with whom she was familiar—for this she was annoyed at herself.
She was confined to bed for a time before the end came. When it did come, we believe, she was ready to enter into the joy of her Lord.
She left her aged husband and eight members of her family behind to mourn her loss. There were two others in the family but they died young.
A. B.