THE subject of this obituary was the wife of the late Neil Nicolson, of whom an obituary also appears in this issue of the Free Presbyterian Magazine. She belonged to Melbost, a village near the town of Stornoway; and her father died when she was only twelve years of age. She was a Macleod before she married, and belonged to a highly respectable family. For many years she was working in London, and was there when the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland opened a place of worship there, now a congregation with a settled ministry. Annabella Macleod, as she was then, took a great interest in the venture to provide services in the Metropolis, both in English and Gaelic, for friends from Scotland. She highly appreciated these services, and benefited for eternity by them. It was through the Mission in London that she became interested in our Church, of which she eventually became a member in full communion. While home on holiday she attended our Church in Stornoway, and it was in this way that she met her husband for the first time. While in London she got to know some of our students and others who conducted our services there. Among these was the late Rev. M. Gillies, who was later her minister, and to whom she was warmly attached.
Mrs. Nicolson was of a very gentle disposition, and thus adorned with grace made her a noble member of the Church of Christ. She was a true helpmeet to her husband, and being of the same mind, where spiritual things were concerned, they lived happily together. She was an invalid for thirteen years; during this time she was bed-ridden. During her illness she was subject to fits which rendered her unconscious for days. Her illness, however, was borne with Christian fortitude and great patience, having her comfort in the Truth.
In her illness she was tenderly nursed by her daughter Joey, to whom as well as to her other two daughters, we extend our sympathy in this sore bereavement. Mrs. Nicolson passed to her everlasting rest nearly two years ago, and it was evident enough even then that her husband would not survive her for long. While he was confident that she had only gone a little before him to the house of many mansions, the blow sustained by her departure was too much for him. The large number of people who attended the funeral was an indication of the high esteem in which Mrs. Nicolson was held by the community in which she lived. The Lord is taking away His people from the evil to come, and few lay it to heart. To the daughters and relatives of this God-fearing couple, we offer our sympathy in their great loss. May they also be made partakers of the same precious faith.—D.C.