At a time when ungodliness abounds and the love of many wax cold, the Church of Christ has reason to mourn the departure, even though it be to a “better country,” of those whom the Lord endowed with special gifts and by His grace made faithful witnesses for the truth in their own generation. Pastors and teachers are among the gifts which Christ gave to His own Church, and these He gave for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ. This noble work, committed to faithful men who will be able to teach others also, must be carried on in this world until the whole elect attain “unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Scotland during past centuries has had her liberal share of the gifts above referred to. The Church was graced with a galaxy of men and women whose reputation for piety and learning is recorded not only in the annals of the Scottish Kirk but also in the book of God. We are sure that the Scottish Reformers, the Disruption worthies, and last but not least among them, the fathers who founded our own Church, will shine as the stars for ever and ever. They were men who, like Paul, proved that they were prepared to suffer the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. The Disruption worthies resisted the attempt to rob Christ of His rights as King in His own Church. In 1893 the stand was made against a more subtle form of attack: an attack on the testimony of the Church.
The Declaratory Act opened the door for heresy in the then Free Church of Scotland, and we in this present generation see the baneful fruit of that infamous act. At the risk of being ridiculed by some who may read these remarks, we assert that the religious condition of Scotland to-day would be very much worse were it not for the noble testimony raised in the Free Church Assembly in 1893 against the same act being made a law of the Church by that eminent servant of Christ, the late Rev. Donald Macfarlane.
With these introductory remarks we proceed to give an outline of the life of the late Rev. Neil Macintyre, who was intimately associated with Mr. Macfarlane and the movement culminating in the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church. To Mr. Macfarlane and the Church he was a faithful friend.
Mr. Macintyre was born at Lochieside, in the parish of Kilmallie, Inverness-shire, on 15th February, 1867. His parents were James Macintyre and Mary Macmaster. The latter was the sister of the godly Donald Macmaster, Strontian, of whom an obituary from the pen of the late Rev. Neil Cameron appeared in the Free Presbyterian Magazine, vol. ii., page 186. To this godly uncle Mr. Macintyre often referred. One particular incident he used to relate of him was the occasion when a number of the friends were on their way back from a communion season. When they arrived at the place from where the steamer would take them to the mainland, they discovered they had time to take a meal. As they were finishing their food the warning was given that the steamer had arrived, and as it was necessary to get to the mainland that night, the minister in the company, who we are told was the Rev. John MacQueen, Daviot, asked if there was anyone present who could compass time and eternity in a few minutes. One of the friends pointed to Donald Macmaster, who in response to the minister’s request returned thanks somewhat after this manner, “The glory is thine, the debts are all paid and the receipt is in the bosom. Amen.”
Mr. Macintyre was one of a large family of sons and daughters of whom he himself was the last. Some other members of the family were enabled to make choice of Christ as their Saviour. His brother, Captain Macintyre, was a well-known figure in the Free Presbyterian Church. The family was reared in a Christian atmosphere, and, moreover, Mr. Macintyre was from childhood in touch with the everlasting gospel. In his young days the people of Lochaber, like other parts of the Highlands, had the gospel faithfully preached to them, as well as having a host of truly pious men and women living among them. We are unable to give details of his conversion but we were told by one who knew Mr. Macintyre well that when he was admitted to full membership in the Church, the Kirk Session would not examine him, though he expressed the desire they should do so. Mr. Macintyre himself told this to the late Donald Mackenzie, North Tolsta, Lewis, when the latter was labouring under a temptation derived from the fact that he himself was not examined by the Session when received into Church membership. In divulging this to his friend, Mr. Macintyre said the matter was often the occasion of a great temptation to him also. To hear this was a great relief to the saintly old Christian. We mention this for two reasons:—(1) How ready Satan is to seize his opportunity to tempt the Lord’s poor ones; (2) We believe the reason why neither of those men were examined before being admitted to membership was that by their walk and conversation they gave their spiritual rulers sufficient proof that they had undergone a saving change.
The Rev. D. Macfarlane above referred to was minister of Kilmallie when Mr. Macintyre was a young man, so that he had the privilege of being under the pastoral care of that eminent servant of Christ. Whether his conversion was through the instrumentality of Mr. Macfarlane we cannot say, but the influence of the latter was bound to have played a salutary part in the formation of his Christian character and would account for his close association with Mr. Macfarlane when it devolved on him to lead the Church in difficult times. We know that Mr. Macintyre was a great support to his former pastor, and later brother minister to the end, and the friendship was not a merely sentimental one.
During the period between his leaving school and resuming his studies with a view to the ministry in the Free Church of Scotland, Mr. Macintyre took up a seafaring career and served for a time on David Macbrayne’s steamers. The Lord, however, had need of him for a better service, and consequently, in response to the call of a higher Master, he gave up seafaring and applied himself to the arduous work of studying. In due course he entered Glasgow University. At that time the Declaratory Act controversy was raging in the Free Church, and he indicated that he had a good mental grasp of the points at issue. It is interesting to note that on one occasion while travelling on one of Macbrayne’s steamers he was arguing with one who favoured the Act and its accompanying innovations. Nearby there was a gentleman listening to them, and when they parted the gentleman spoke to Mr. Macintyre and said he agreed with what he (Mr. Macintyre) was saying against the Act. He also expressed his approval of the stand that was made against the downgrading movement in the Free Church. The gentleman turned out to be the Bishop of Liverpool, Dr. Ryle, a well-known defender of the truth. Mr. Macintyre felt quite thrilled at meeting this eminent churchman and expressed the desire to shake hands with him. This was readily granted by the bishop, who wished Mr. Macintyre and the cause he represented well. He took up his position by those who proved their faithfulness by action rather than fair speeches.
When Mr. Macfarlane tabled his famous Protest against the passing of the Declaratory Act into a law of the Church at the Assembly of 1893, Mr. Macintyre was present, and consequently was an eye-witness of that historic event. Mr. Macintyre had no doubt in his mind about the significance Mr. Macfarlane attached to that protest, namely, that it was intended to separate him and such as would follow him from the Declaratory Act Church. When a different view was expressed afterwards he was profoundly amazed as the following quotation from the Commemoration Paper he read before the Synod on May, 1943, may show. The quotation is as follows:—”It is rather strange to find some among us now who hold that it was when Messrs. Macfarlane and Macdonald and Mr. Macfarlane, Elder, Raasay, constituted themselves as the Free Church Presbytery of Scotland that they separated from the Free Church.” And the following is the important part of the quotation:—”That certainly was not Mr. Macfarlane’s view when he tabled his Protest.” After the above event Mr. Macfarlane agreed to go to Millhouse, Kames, for the Sabbath, and on his way there he spent the Friday night with Mr. Macintyre at 147 Albert Street, Glasgow, where he met some of the students who were in sympathy with him in the step he had taken, and who laboured with him afterwards in the Lord. Mr. Cameron, afterwards the noted minister of St. Jude’s, Glasgow, was one of those students. Rev. Donald Beaton was an arts student with Mr. Macintyre, and a friendship was forged between them which all the changes and trials of the wilderness only strengthened. They were beautiful in their lives, and in their death they were not divided. It is generally known by our people that the Kames congregation was the first to cast in their lot with Mr. Macfarlane, and that may, at least in part, be accounted for by the fact that they had a man like Archibald Crawford to enlighten them on the momentous issues at stake when the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures was not only questioned but condemned.
Mr. Macintyre was well acquainted with Mr. Crawford. As may be seen from the March, 1954, issue of the F.P. Magazine, he, along with others, ceased to prosecute his studies with a view to the ministry of the Free Church as then constituted. Public intimation of this was given on 2nd November, 1893. Nevertheless, after completing his arts course, he studied theology in the Free Presbyterian Church under the scholarly tutorship of the late Rev. J. R. Mackay, D.D., and the late Rev. Donald Beaton; and he was licenced to preach the gospel by the Northern Presbytery of the same Church at Portree on the 9th of August, 1899. On the 11th October of the same year he was ordained and inducted to the pastoral charge of the F.P. congregation of Durinish, Isle of Skye, making Glendale his headquarters. His name, for the first time as a ministerial member of the Synod, appeared in the report of its meeting of November, 1899. The Durinish congregation at the time was among the largest in the Church, and the duties on the minister must have been tremendous. The congregation, like others at the time, had to build a manse and churches, and the people were not wealthy. To help them to clear the debts necessarily incurred, Mr. Macintyre collected money as circumstance permitted, and when he left Glendale the congregation had a manse and church. We do not wish, however, to dwell on the mundane aspect of his work there. Energetic and full of zeal for the Lord, he worked hard breaking the “bread of life” for his people, preaching, teaching, exhorting and catechising them.
He was held in the highest esteem and respect not only by those of his own congregation but by such as had no sympathy with the Free Presbyterian Church. He commanded the respect of the whole community, because in him they recognised a Christian and a gentleman.
At the beginning of his ministry Mr. Macintyre had the very great advantage of having in his congregation many of the Lord’s people, some of whom were outstanding in piety and discernment; notable among them was the saintly Norman Macleod, to whom he often referred. There were others also, men and women who adorned the profession of God our Saviour. Transport facilities were comparatively primitive in Skye in those days, and having three stations to supply, in addition to the calls on him from beyond his own congregation, one can imagine what fatigue he must have suffered, when almost every day and sometimes in very inclement weather he had miles to cover either on foot or in an open cab. In this connection we would record the services rendered to him by his most loyal friend, the late John MacRaild (Ian Sheumais). Mr. Macintyre never forgot John, and even in his latter days spoke affectionately of him. This man, like a prophet’s servant, placed himself and his horse and cab at the minister’s disposal, and for years rendered this service of love, taking Mr. Macintyre to Vatten, Waternish and other places beyond. They are in heaven from the parish of Durinish, who praise the Lord that in the Divine providence Mr. Macintyre laboured in the gospel there. His preaching was a saviour of life unto life to many, not only within the bounds of his own congregation but throughout the whole island.
In 1902 he married Miss Annie Mackay, a sister of Mr. Hugh Mackay, well known to our people in the Fearn congregation. Mr. Mackay was a loyal Free Presbyterian. He died a few years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Macintyre were happily married for over fifty years and had a family of two sons and two daughters, all of whom are still spared. After serving the Master in Durinish, Skye, for nearly nine years, much to the grief not only of his own congregation there but that of all who knew him, Mr. Macintyre accepted a call from the Stornoway congregation of our Church, and he was inducted there on 17th June, 1908.
While in Skye he had the congenial and able help of his brother minister, the Rev. Alexander MacRae, Portree, also a man of revered memory in the Island of Skye. When Mr. Macintyre went to Lewis, he was the only Free Presbyterian minister in the Outer Isles. This gives one some conception of the magnitude of the task confronting him; and to make matters more difficult for him his health was beginning to deteriorate, due to a stomach condition which later on in life resulted in a perforation which almost proved fatal in his case. Our people in Lewis very warmly received him. They were recovering from the shock caused by the desertion into another Church of their former minister, and they were greatly encouraged when Mr. Macintyre became their minister. He was not long in Stornoway when both the authorities and the people generally discovered they had a man of no ordinary administrative ability. The result was that he was soon elected a member of the school board and eventually became its chairman. He served in this capacity when the late Lord Leverhume became proprietor of the island, and consequently Mr. Macintyre had occasion to meet this business magnate on several occasions. From incidents related to us we deduce that his Lordship formed a very high opinion of Mr. Macintyre as a man of high principle. “Let your light so shine before men that they may glorify your father which is in heaven.” That Mr. Macintyre’s light shone before men with whom he came in contact, all who knew him would admit. There were many of the Lord’s people in Lewis when he went there, and his ministry was deeply appreciated. Many were brought to a saving knowledge of the truth through his preaching there. We understand it was through the preaching of Mr. Macintyre, Captain Macleod came to be a member in the Free Presbyterian Church. He was a recruiting sergeant in Stornoway when Mr. Macintyre was minister there and started coming to hear him preach. He ultimately became a most loyal member and office-bearer of the Church, and an outstanding Christian he was. Another remarkable example of conversion under Mr. Macintyre while in Lewis was that of Angus Maclean, the blind man, at the age of at least 70 years. He was a notorious sinner, having no word about eternity until one Sabbath evening his wife persuaded him to go to hear Mr. Macintyre preaching. That night the arrow of conviction pierced his heart, and he needed no persuasion ever after to go to the means of grace. In fact he became a very bright Christian. We could give several more examples but we forbear only to say that we met them in Lewis and some outside the Free Presbyterian Church, who owe it, under the hand of God, to Mr. Macintyre’s preaching that they have a hope for eternity to-day.
For a period of 15 years he served the Church in Lewis, and when the time for him to leave came the people, especially those who feared the Lord among them, felt the wrench keenly and every lawful means was used to persuade him to stay, but he, deeming it his duty to move into another sphere of labour, left Stornoway to be inducted in the Edinburgh congregation on 31st May, 1923. His new congregation was small compared to his former charges, where he had nearly a thousand souls committed to his care. His task in Edinburgh was mainly to build up the congregation, which had been without a pastor for 18 years. To the work of building up he applied himself wholeheartedly, encouraged by many loyal friends who co-operated with him in the work. The congregation was paying off a debt incurred by the purchase of a church building, and he contributed his share in the effort to clear the debt. Captain Macleod was in the congregation when Mr. Macintyre came to Edinburgh, and the former was a great help to the latter. Mr. Macintyre’s services in Edinburgh were much appreciated and we believe blessed to not a few. Several strangers joined the congregation during his pastorate. It seemed at one stage that the end of his ministry in Edinburgh was to coincide with its beginning, for a few days after his induction he was laid dangerously ill in a nursing home after an operation for the perforation already referred to.
He was in the captain’s house when he took ill. It was all so arranged by the Lord that he might receive the medical attention needed. In this dispensation of Divine providence it was clear that the Lord had a special care of him. The operation was very successful and resulted in a new lease of life for him. His health gradually improved so that he was able to labour for 27 years in his third and last charge, and his labours were not by any means in vain, for although the original F.P. minister in Edinburgh left the Church, and also left the Edinburgh Free Presbyterian congregation reduced to its minimum strength, Mr. Macintyre left it well organised and established.
Hitherto we have confined ourselves to Mr. Macintyre’s labours within the bounds of those congregations of which he was pastor, but his ministerial activities were carried far beyond his pastorates. He took a prominent part in all the departments of the Church’s work, and his matured knowledge and experience were of great value to the Church. He was a member of the Northern Presbytery when there were only two Presbyteries in the Church. He was clerk of the Western Presbytery for a number of years. And to use the words of a brother minister, who was for a long time associated with him in the courts of the Church, he was very careful in his work, and in difficult cases always acted wisely. He was also clerk of the Southern Presbytery for a number of years, but relinquished that office after he was appointed convener of the Foreign Missions Committee. He succeeded the late Rev. Neil Cameron in this capacity and served in it for many years, taking great interest in the work. He was also convener of the Colonial Committee for a time and served faithfully on it.
His services at communion seasons throughout the Church were often in demand, and they are yet living who remember some of those occasions who feel like the Psalmist, “When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me, for I had gone with the multitude. I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with the multitude that kept holy day.” Until within a short time of retiring Mr. Macintyre assisted annually during communion seasons in the congregations of which he was once pastor, thus maintaining a connection between himself and the children of those who were his flock.
As a preacher, Mr. Macintyre was clear even when handling profound doctrines and delivered his message with unction. In the pulpit his manner was engaging, free from affectation; his style was interesting while making profitable use of a store of anecdotes to illustrate his point. With this lucid style of preaching he held the attention of his hearers as he expounded the word of God, faithfully warning the careless and encouraging the poor in Zion. He rightly divided the word of truth. A favourite theme of his was “the Person of Christ,” and few could handle the subject in a more efficient manner. It would be wrong to insinuate that he concentrated on one doctrine to the exclusion of others. He preached very acceptably all the doctrines of the faith and appeared in the pulpit with his subject well arranged. Until within a comparatively short time of retiring his memory was good, although towards the end of his public ministry it showed signs of failing him.
During Mr. Macintyre’s long ministry the Free Presbyterian Church passed through severe trials, testing the faith of many, but he was always steadfast and never wavered in his attachment to the principles and standards of the Church. The departure to another Church of some of the ministers in 1917 was a particularly sore trial to him. To quote his own words, “We lamented the departure of these men and especially some of them.” Notwithstanding the sifting processes that occurred at different periods, he had the satisfaction of seeing the Church advancing at home and in our Rhodesian Mission. In his 84th year, on account of the infirmities of old age, he found it necessary to resign the charge of the Edinburgh congregation, but continued to live in retirement there until his 87th year. During that time his health was remarkably good. His memory was better and his interest in the Church’s activities continued unabated. Having in view Mrs. Macintyre’s own impaired state of health, we felt often concerned about them, until he indicated that there was no need for worry as the Lord would take care of them. Since hearing this we felt sure no ill would befall either of them.
And so it was that when the saint of God had a cerebral haemorrhage he was in bed at the time. That was early in the week, and on Friday evening, 11th September, 1953, a few of us gathered to conduct worship with the family, all of whom had come to be at his bedside as he waited his end. As Mr. Pottinger, who was one of his elders for years, was asking a blessing on the word to be read, Mr. Macintyre’s soul passed away to join those who worship before the throne of God and the Lamb in heaven. We all felt a sense of awe as well as one of loss and could only say, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof.” After a pause we concluded the worship. On Tuesday following his body was laid to rest in the Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh, where the dust of many of the Lord’s servants lie, “until the day break and the shadows flee away.”
The funeral was attended by many friends, including several of the ministers of the Church, and a tribute to his memory was paid by the Rev. D. M. Macdonald, who had been for many years associated with him in the work of the Lord. Thus ended the pilgrimage of an outstanding servant of the Lord, an able minister of the gospel, and a man dearly beloved. The foregoing is but an outline of his life; and we take this opportunity of thanking those who have helped with the collecting of the necessary material. To Mrs. Macintyre and the other members of the family we extend our sincere sympathy. May the God of their father be their God.—D. Campbell.