Mr. D. G. Mackenzie was well-known to many of our Church people. During the latter years of his life he made it a regular practice to attend the Communion services in several of our congregations, both in the mainland and in Lewis. He was born at Scorraig, Ullapool, in 1885, one of a family of five, only one of whom survives. At the early age of five years he lost his father, who was drowned off the Lochinver coast. He therefore tasted, early in life, something of the bitterness and sorrow which sin brought into the world. To his mother was left the burden of bringing up a family, the youngest of whom was, at that time, but an infant of six weeks. She was evidently a worthy woman of known piety, and doubtless this fact stood her in good stead in her time of trial. “My grace is sufficient for thee,” is no empty, vain word to the Lord’s poor and needy people. In circumstances daily calling for hard work on a croft, as well as having the care of the children, she set an example of godliness which no doubt had its reward in after years. Notwithstanding the pressure of other duties, family worship, morning and evening, was never neglected.
In 1893 it was given to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland to carry on without interruption the Scriptural testimony of the Reformed Church in Scotland. From motives of conscience and devotion to the Word of God Mrs. Mackenzie wholeheartedly cast in her lot with this Church, and she saw to it that both herself and her children were constant in their attendance at the means of grace.
At the age of 14 years young Donald left home and crossed the Minch to Stornoway, where he entered upon his business career. At that time, notwithstanding the example and practice of piety set before him hitherto, he still remained careless and unconcerned about the higher interests of his soul. As with many other young men setting out in life, the attractions of the world held both his heart and his eye. But it appears there were better things in store, “those things which accompany salvation.”
In 1922 he passed through a time of serious illness which in some measure opened his eyes to the solemnity and nearness of eternal things, and after he recovered his health these impressions were not altogether “as the morning cloud and the early dew which go away.” In this frame of mind he removed, with his wife and young family, to Glasgow. At that time the Rev. Neil Cameron was pastor of St. Jude’s Free Presbyterian congregation in that city, and Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie enjoyed the great privilege of sitting under his ministry. The concern for spiritual things already begun in the soul of Mr. Mackenzie was much deepened by the searching preaching of Mr. Cameron. In addition to this, one of his boys became critically ill, and this further means was used of the Lord to bring home to the father his lost and ruined condition as a sinner. In this condition he waited upon the ministry of the Gospel, and he did not wait in vain. The portion which brought light and liberty to him was, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” What specially impressed Mr. Mackenzie was the word never, and all it implied for him. In expounding the passage Mr. Cameron dwelt particularly upon the force of this word, and in doing so made the everlasting nature of union to Christ very emphatic. This thought seems to have been a source of comfort and strength to Mr. Mackenzie ever afterwards.
Later, during a stay in London, he was elected and ordained an elder in the congregation there and was a great help to the mission while he remained in that city. He returned to Stornoway and was later elected and admitted an elder in the congregation there. His duties as elder he took seriously, and sought with diligence to carry them out, sometimes at considerable self-denial. His services as a precentor, both in Gaelic and English, were in constant request. He was specially interested in the young of the congregation and acted as superintendent of the Sabbath School for some years before his death. He regularly visited the hospitals in the town and the Home of Rest, and when services were held there on Sabbath and week-days was always a willing and acceptable helper.
Although his health had been declining for some time before his death, the end came very suddenly and unexpectedly. Mr. Mackenzie was attending the communion services at Uig, Lewis. In the church there on Saturday morning, the 14th of November, he led the singing of the 110th Psalm. Having finished singing the four verses asked for, he sat down; almost immediately thereafter he was seen to be unwell. As nearly as can be known his last conscious act on earth was the singing of this Psalm. He passed peacefully to his eternal rest later in the evening in the Stornoway Hospital. He was 68 years of age. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”
His presence and services are greatly missed in the congregation of Stornoway, as well as in the surrounding congregations in Lewis, where he was so well known and where his help was much appreciated.
We desire to express our sympathy with his widow and family and his one remaining sister. May the Lord in His mercy and by His blessing turn an earthly loss into an eternal gain. J. A. T.