THE pages of our Church Magazine already have a goodly number of memoirs of good women, whose hearts throbbed with holy enthusiasm for Christ and His Gospel, which announced itself in their godly lives. In the camp of those dear ones who loved the Redeemer, and who performed their part in His battle in a backsliding day, is to be found the subject of this short sketch.
Mrs. Macdonald was born at Scorraig, a hamlet on the shores of Little Lochbroom, in the year 1862. Her father was Kenneth MacIver, a good man, and well known among many of the older people of our church. Her husband was Finlay Macdonald, of Ardheslaig, in the Shieldaig congregation, who was an elder when the Rev. Donald Macdonald of that congregation made his famous stand against error in the Free Church, and took up a separate position. In Finlay Macdonald, this pious minister had a strong supporter in the Free Presbyterian cause, who continued so to be until “God took him” in the summer of 1936. In the autumn of that year, his widow, our subject, removed to Gairloch to live with her cousin, Mr. John MacIver, Strath. Here she lived for the rest of her pilgrimage. She had one daughter, her only child, who died at the age of eight years, whom she never ceased to mourn. The presence of children always brought to her memory her own little one, of whom she would affectionately speak in terms that would betray her lasting grief.
Mrs. Macdonald was naturally reserved, consequently we are not in a position to state anything about the Lord’s dealings with her in her early years. Those, however, who knew her intimately, could characterise her as a woman of solid understanding in religion, and prudent more than ordinary and faithful to Christ in an unfaithful age. She bore the fruit of saving grace, as one in whom God by His Spirit fulfilled his promise: “I will put my laws in their mind, and write them in their hearts.” The new nature is the choicest talent that the children of men are entrusted with, and Mrs. Macdonald diligently traded with this talent during the twenty-nine years of her public profession, and before. The new nature moved her to mind, love and seek after heavenly things as a public witness for Christ. We know from conversation with her that this old witness was not feeling secure from the old adversary she carried about with her. The contrary principle in her still retained some life and vigour, though much abated. But in the spirit of the royal Psalmist her eye was directed in faith to the God of all grace, praying: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”
Mrs. Macdonald reached a good old age, being about 87 years when she died. She was tall and erect and had a fresh complexion, and greatly concealed her advanced years. Her only drawback was her eyesight, which hindered her from doing any reading for some years previous to her decease. She was able to walk to church till near her end. Her time on a death-bed was short. Her illness she bore with Christian patience firmly, “leaning upon her beloved.” When death came on the first Monday of the year 1949, we firmly believe she was ready to enter into the joy of her Lord. Her own wish was to be buried at Applecross, where lies her husband’s dust, but the inclemency of the weather and the snow-blocked Bealach prevented it. Instead, her remains were laid to rest in her parents’ burying ground at Dundonnél. To her Covenant God we commend her sisters and brothers.—A. B.