It is a solemn thing to possess a soul, and to die is an event of great solemnity. Happy are they who can in truth say, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. i, 21). We believe this unspeakable gain is now experienced by the subject of this obituary, “For the souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory.”
James Hymers was born in 1871 at Lybster, Caithness. While he was yet a boy his parents removed to the vicinity of Halkirk. He became for many years a farmer at Weydale and spent his retirement years in the village of Halkirk. The farm is to many a farmer his god, and as to the claims of higher things he says in effect as in the parable—”I pray thee have me excused.” This attitude was made sin to James. About mid-life he heard the late Rev. D. Macfarlane preach in Halkirk at a communion season, and was seriously impressed by the Word. As he heard of Ephraim bemoaning himself (Jer. xxxi, 18) and crying, “Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the Lord my God,” a cry came from his heart and a new activity followed. He later discovered that he was building on the covenant of works, but the entrance of the Word gave light and he was led to rejoice in Ephes. ii, 8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
In 1914 he made a public profession of Christ, saying with Ruth, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” He was much encouraged by the case of Mephibosheth sitting at the king’s table; lame on both legs and feeling utterly unworthy, but he was there for Jonathan’s sake. James, feeling as lame spiritually as Mephibosheth was physically, found that he had an invitation to and a place at the Lord’s table, altogether for the sake of another, even the Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1915 he had the painful experience of bereavement by the death of his wife after one year of married life. He was left with an infant daughter only 14 days old. In his sorrow he was given the promise, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be,” and he was enabled to acquiesce in the will of the Lord. Later in life he met with tribulations which brought him with a heavy and sad heart to the throne of grace.
In 1922 he was ordained to the office of deacon, and in 1936 to that of elder. He discharged the duties of office-bearer with marked devotion, and took a very active interest in the congregation. He was in this, and as a praying man, a strength to his pastor and others. The following was related to me by a member, “On one occasion that Mr. Hymers conducted a prayer meeting his mouth was as the Lord’s mouth to me. All that day I was tempted by Satan to come to the sad conclusion that because of unfulfilled promises and no appearance of being fulfilled, I surely did not know the Lord’s voice and was deceiving myself. In course of speaking Mr. Hymers said, ‘You may be here and thinking because you cannot see the promises you thought you got can now be fulfilled that you did not get them at all, but you leave them with the Lord, and He will fulfil them in the way He means and at the time appointed, which may not be according to your mind.'”
James followed with intelligent interest events concerning the cause of Christ in general, and particularly the contentions of our branch of the visible church for truth. He spoke of his having at one time the views that there were no obstacles to our uniting as a church with others who were separate from us, but, he added, “I came to see very clearly that I was wrong. Separation for truth’s sake was necessary and I thank the Lord for the stand made.” His parting words from his death-bed to one of our ministerial brethren who visited him was, “Stand fast. Present day tribulations will end well.”
The respect with which he was held in the county for integrity was obvious. His word, in any business transaction, was enough. He was, by the grace of God, steadfast in his principles, firm in his deeply rooted convictions and orderly in all his ways. During his last illness he spoke of Psalms 27, 141 and 115, but specially Psalm 40 as comforting to his soul. To an enquiry by the writer, he replied, “I am comfortable in every way, the Lord is not permitting Satan to tempt me, and I am hoping to get to my glorious home.” Yes, he could say as did another, “I am still here waiting for the ferry boat, and my conscience singing sweetly on the merits of Christ’s finished work.” He was taken to Raigmore Hospital for treatment and before leaving he gave full directions as to his wishes if taken away, and asked to read Romans 8 and Psalm 16. He returned after a brief stay and was spared until 29th April, 1952, when at the age of 81 he fell asleep in Jesus. This was preceded by the death of his sister, Mrs. Jas. Mackay, Edinburgh. She was a regular visitor to her devoted relatives at Olgrinbeg (Halkirk), and beloved and esteemed by many in this her native county and elsewhere as a witness for Christ. Their departure was followed since by that of the like-minded Miss Christina Murray, George Street (formerly of Olgrinmore) and Mrs. Gunn, Calder, both members for many years in our congregation. The removal of a gracious elder and these God-fearing women leave us with a sense of loss. When many among the families of the righteous live in ignorance of those things which were precious to their godly ancestors there is a special call to pray, “Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”
To all the bereaved we express prayerful sympathy.—W. G.