It is with feelings of sincere sorrow that we record the death of the worthy Miss Mary Bain, which took place in her home, 39 Gatliff Buildings, Ebury Bridge Road, London, on Saturday night, the 22nd February, at the age of 82 years. Miss Bain was a native of Gairloch, Ross-shire, which she visited periodically, though she had been resident in the South of England for about the latter half of her life. She was the oldest member of our London congregation, and has been, more or less, associated with our cause in London since almost its inception. Her removal has left a blank in our congregation, which is very keenly felt, and which will not be easily filled. Our loss is her great and everlasting gain.
Till about thirteen years of age, Miss Bain, according to her own account, was like others, full of all the vivacity and light-heartedness of youth. At that age she met with an accident, from the effects of which she was not expected to recover, and for more than a year suffered excruciating pain. Though she ultimately recovered, and was restored to what appeared normal health, the accident left her more or less afflicted in body for the rest of her life. Thus, frail and afflicted in body, thin almost to emaciation, she gave no promise of living to a ripe old age. It was to this bodily affliction, however, sanctified by the grace of God, that Miss Bain traced the origin of that concern for her precious immortal soul which eventually led to her passing from spiritual darkness to light, and from the power of sin and Satan to God in Christ. Since she first made a profession till she breathed her last, Miss Bain’s consistent life, walk, and conversation, manifested unmistakably that she had been with Jesus and had learned of Him. She was thus in her daily life an open epistle of Christ known and read of all who came in contact with her.
She was very reticent in her manner, and by some she might be considered cold, distant, and even morose, but this attitude arose entirely from a cautious prudence, as she was not inclined to expose herself in intimate friendship with strangers in an ungodly world and generation. When, however, she found herself in congenial company, and one had gained her confidence, she was most amiable and pleasant, and would freely express herself regarding her troubles and experiences.
She had her share of the afflictions and tribulations which are the appointed lot of God’s heritage in their passage through the sinful wilderness of this world to eternal glory. One of the sorest trials of her riper years was the death, at the comparatively early age of 49 years, of Mr. Donald Sutherland, whose generous hospitality and home she shared in London. Mr. Donald Sutherland, along with Mr. William Grant, now F.P. minister in Halkirk, was the one who started the Free Presbyterian Mission in London, and who continued the mainspring of its activities till his lamented death in July, 1917. An obituary notice and sketch of his life by Rev. D. Beaton, and the late Rev. Neil Cameron, appeared in the September, 1917, issue of our magazine. This severe blow was followed by the death of Mr. Donald Sutherland’s widow, being Miss Bain’s niece, in April of 1920, leaving behind an only daughter, about seven years old. An obituary notice of Mrs. Sutherland by Mr. W. Grant, appeared in the F.P. Magazine, vol. xxv. Miss Bain was thus deprived of one who had been brought up with her from her earliest years in Strath, Gairloch, leaving her, as far as human relationship was concerned, sad, sorrowful, and lonely. Miss Bain and her niece were deeply and warmly devoted to one another.
When our denominational distinctive Scriptural testimony for an inspired and infallible Bible was raised in 1893, Miss Bain had no difficulty in casting in her lot with the despised but noble remnant, “the cream of Scottish Highland Christianity,” who “esteemed the approach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” From that noble position she never swerved but remained a loyal uncompromising Free Presbyterian to the end. Though of a meek and retiring disposition, naturally shrinking from controversy, when Christ’s cause and truth were assailed she was as firm and immovable as a rock. She, in all things, sought first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and would not compromise or surrender whatever the cost, when the glory of God was involved. She simply lived in the atmosphere of prayer and faith, and all our ministers have, by her death, lost a true and faithful praying friend. Her loyalty and regularity in attendance would delight any minister, and it had to be a real necessity to keep from her accustomed place on Sabbath and week-day prayer-meeting. Even during enforced absence from the sanctuary her weekly contribution to the collection plate was never omitted, such was her keen sense of duty. In this connection, as in others, her example is worthy of emulation.
Her presence in London during the terrible aerial bombardment was a real source of strength, support and comfort to the rest of the congregation. During one of the worst periods of bombing, she lay helpless in bed with sciatica for months, but when one visited her after a night of terrible bombardment, her calm composure and characteristic stately dignity rebuked one’s nervousness, as one could see reflected from her bright, though solemn facial aspect, that her strength and confidence were in God alone.
Before her final illness, she told the writer that one of the severest trials of her life, if not the severest, was approaching. When she was asked her ground for this conclusion, she replied that the following truth in Isaiah xliii. 2 spoke to her with unusual and extraordinary power: “When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” When it was pointed out to her that that passage was preceded by a “Fear not,” she smiled approval, but added, “I believe it will be my end in this life,” a forewarning that proved its Divine origin in its fulfilment.
When it actually came, she requested the writer, and others, to pray that the Lord would take her away soon, as distinguished from former illnesses in which she asked us to pray that God, if in accordance with His will, would bless the means used for her recovery. She further requested us to pray that she would not be taken to hospital, as she wanted to die in her own room, where the Lord’s people would have free and uninterrupted access to her bedside to the last, and as a final request she asked us to pray that the Most High would preserve all her faculties intact to the end. Above all, she pled that however much she might suffer in body, mind, or soul, the Lord would keep her from bringing reproach on His cause by either her word or action. Her reconciled God and covenant Father in Christ graciously condescended to grant all these requests, for though she suffered much in body, and sometimes from the fierce assaults of Satan, she maintained her characteristic external composure and quiet stately dignity till she passed peacefully away, having had occasional foretastes and glimpses of the land that is far off and of the King in His beauty.
Her remains were laid to rest in the parish churchyard of Morden, beside those of her sister, Mrs. MacLean, and her worthy niece, Mrs. Sutherland, there to await a glorious resurrection. Friends from London, with her nephew, followed the remains to their last resting place. We take this opportunity of thanking those of the London congregation and others who were so kind to Miss Bain; her nephew, who carried out all the funeral arrangements, and her grand-niece, Nurse Jessie Sutherland, who so competently, so efficiently, and so kindly, tenderly and sympathetically nursed her to the end. May her grand-aunt’s, her father’s and mother’s God be her covenant God in Christ. May He also bless the nephew and all the friends and relatives. We sincerely sympathise with them all in the loss of a praying friend, the best friend in the world.
This is the second member of our small congregation who has passed away since the recent war broke out, the worthy Mrs. Miller, 74a Thornton Road, Miss Bain’s like-minded generous and hospitable friend, having died in November, 1939. Mrs. Miller, though her membership extended only to four years, manifested, till she passed away at the comparatively early age of 56 years, that Christ, His cause, church and people, were her chiefest joy. When the many young men and women from the Highlands to whom she extended hospitality, would ask her what form the gift they would like to give her as a token of their appreciation, should take, she would invariably reply: “If you will promise me that you will attend Eccleston Hall as long as you are in London, I shall be amply rewarded.” Thus she manifested her loyalty and regard for the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. If I may strike a personal note, I shall ever treasure the memory of their personal friendship as one of my most precious possessions.—
J. P. Macqueen.