THE subject of this obituary was born in Braes, Isle of Skye, in 1860. Like many other boys, he was fond of adventures and in after years he had to acknowledge the Lord’s goodness in preserving him when in danger. He had a reverence for divine things all along.
In his childhood, education was not so common as it is to-day, and it was when he came to manhood that he learnt to read. He had an active mind, and was keen to work, so he started his working life as a boy cook on a fishing boat. He had the advantage of meeting on the East Coast godly men from different places and these he remembered and admired.
The means of grace attracted him and at Communions in Portree and Raasay he noticed that the Lord’s people had sad faces, when to his mind they had reason to be joyful. This was before the separation took place in 1893. But after the Free Presbyterian Church was formed, the faces of these good people changed. They were now glad and rejoicing in the stand made for truth and vital godliness. Like many of the Braes people, he joined the Free Presbyterian Church and although efforts were made to keep the school from them, in due time they got the use of it for worship.
At the age of 23 he married Mary Nicolson, herself a native of Braes, and she proved an excellent help-meet during the 53 years of their married life. She was a good Gaelic reader and was now not only wife but teacher. With her help and his own keenness he was soon able to read the Gaelic Bible. He had a retentive memory and was storing up what he read and heard. Reading his Bible and the writings of Bunyan, Baxter, etc., he found profitable, for he was now taking a greater interest than ever in his Bible and used to pray in a secluded spot on the hillside. It was about this time that he came to know experimentally the cleansing power of the blood of Christ in his soul. He profited much under the sermons of the Rev. D. Macfarlane and the Rev. N. Cameron, St. Jude’s. Sometimes under the preaching of the Gospel he would be so overcome that he could not stand on his feet.
He was afraid to ask baptism for his first child, feeling his own unworthiness, but at last got courage to appear before the Session, and they granted the privilege at once.
Although feeling inclined to take the next step by coming to his Lord’s table, he was afraid, for many mountains seemed to bar the way. Several communions passed and he was greatly perplexed when the words of Queen Esther came to him urging her to appeal to the King for the Jews: “I will go in unto the king, if I perish, I perish.” This strengthened him and he came before the Session in Portree. They were satisfied with him when one of them—Peter Macleod asked him: “Did Christ die for you personally?”
This staggered him and he said he would need to get time to answer the question. He also remarked that he was willing to postpone coming forward, but Rev. Mr. Macrae would not allow this and gave him the token there and then. With some difficulty he came to the Table on Sabbath and immediately after Satan began to suggest to him that he had no right to communicate because he could not answer Peter Macleod’s question.
This gave him great trouble and in an exercised state of mind he went to Broadford Communion. Hector Macpherson was asked to speak on the Friday fellowship meeting and he mentioned how difficult the believer often found it to say that he believed Christ died for himself although he believed he died for others. This gave great relief to our friend and he returned home much refreshed in his soul.
He was a yachtsman for several years and had to protest against unnecessary work on the Lord’s Day. On one occasion he was asked to unfurl the sails of a small racer attached to the yacht on which he served, on Sabbath and he said it was unnecessary work. It was pointed out that the sails were damp and unless they would be spread out they would be ruined and be a big loss. He then with great reluctance boarded the racer and began to loosen the sails when he fell into a swoon, feeling guilty before his Maker. He prayed that he would be given strength to rise and declared he would never do this again. In a little he was on his feet and returned to the yacht. A new difficulty now faced him. They were told to get ready for sailing and his companions watched him with sneering faces to see what he would do but the Most High relieved him by causing a dead calm so that it was useless to hoist the sails.
After this when being engaged he made it a condition that there would be no Sabbath sailing. On one occasion the bargain was not kept and he left the boat, but soon after got another job. Several owners, however, were very considerate and he was happy in their service for he had opportunities of hearing the Gospel on Sabbath when with them in different places.
After the death of the late Alexander Macaskill, Missionary, Braes, he succeeded him although feeling his own unworthiness for the work and latterly became missionary in Broadford, taking up his abode providentially in the house of his old friend, Hector Macpherson.
The infirmities of age forced him to retire from mission work but he kept services when necessary almost to the end.
He loved the testimony of the Church and was a “Mr. Standfast” all through. The troubles arising in the Church grieved him much and he had no hesitation in condemning the trouble-makers.
Having entered his eighty-fifth year, he knew his end could not be far off, but continued and was not depressed about it, for his confidence was in Christ His Saviour and Lord.
On the day before he passed away, which was a Sabbath, he conducted family worship in the morning for the last time and, although weak, pleaded earnestly for the Cause of Christ and for the strengthening of His faithful witnesses. He never complained during his illness and about 4 a.m. on Monday he seemed to fall asleep gently and entered in the joy of His Lord.
May his widow and family be animated by that great hope through grace which sustained him for many years who has been taken from them in order that he may be made perfect in that kingdom which shall never fade away.—D.M.M.