The Southern Presbytery resolve to place on their records their deepest sense of the great loss sustained through the death of their beloved brother-minister, Rev. Donald Beaton, who had been a member of this Presbytery for about 18 years, when he tendered his resignation, for health reasons, on the 21st September, 1948, of his pastoral charge of Oban Free Presbyterian Church Congregation. After his resignation, Mr. Beaton went to reside with his son-in-law, Rev. F. Macleod, Evelix, Dornoch, and, though in failing health, yet he continued as Theological Tutor of our students right on to the last year of his life.
Mr. Beaton was a most useful minister of our Church, and since its formation showed by the positions he held with much acceptance that he was one the Church could ill do without. For about 60 years he was Theological Tutor, for 14 years Clerk of Synod, and for 28 years Editor of the Free Presbyterian Magazine.
During the 18 years he was in this Presbytery very serious and difficult problems were dealt with and he ungrudgingly took his full share in having these problems solved. His experience, his patience, and steadfastness proved an invaluable help and his brethren looked up to him as one who gave wise counsel and right guidance.
Mr. Beaton’s whole life was devoted to the interests of the Free Presbyterian Church, and there is much cause to render thanks to the Head of the Church for the faithful witness he bore right on to the end of his life to the principles for which the Church contends. We believe the words of the Apostle may appropriately be applied to him: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Mr. Beaton was a brilliant scholar and the wielder of a facile pen. Such as are competent to judge considered him one of the most authoritative historians of Scottish Church History. He wrote many books, pamphlets, and articles, all of which go to show that he was scholarly, cultured and spiritually minded. To his sorrowing daughter, Mrs. Macleod, to his sons and to Rev. F. Macleod we extend our heartfelt sympathy and pray that the Lord of His great mercy would comfort them all in their sorrow. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”