The greater part of this obituary notice has been supplied to the writer.
Mrs. Campbell was born on January 3rd, 1871, in the parish of Duirinish, Isle of Skye. She was one of a family of six and her father died when she was very young. It would seem that she did not remember ever seeing him in health but she well remembered his death as there happened to be a severe storm on the night of his death. What fixed that storm so indelibly on her mind was the fact that the roof of the house was partly blown away, with the result that it was necessary to evacuate the house.
It was a dark night in more ways than one for the widow and the fatherless children, but the Lord, who is a father to the fatherless and the widow’s stay, adequately provided for them. As might be expected at the time, the children had to earn a living as soon as they were able to do so, and Flora, the subject of this obituary, left home for employment when she was very young.
She was in service at Tarbert, Harris, when the Free Presbyterian Church was formed, and she cast in her lot with those who in that village separated from the Declaratory Act Free Church and shared in the persecution suffered by them for truth in that place. When she left the Free Church she did not know what her mother and the rest of the family were intending to do, but as her duty was clear to her she therefore did not confer with flesh and blood. On leaving Tarbert she went home to see her mother, and when the first Sabbath came they both left home for church. The mother had not said anything to her daughter about the churches, presumably hoping that the daughter would accompany her to her own church. However, when they came to the place of parting they were not to worship together, the daughter went to the Free Presbyterian place of worship, the mother going to the Established church. The mother was vexed at the time but Flora, being a most dutiful daughter, she admired her faithfulness to her principles. To these principles the daughter adhered faithfully all her days. Although at that early age she showed such zeal for the testimony raised for the truth by the Free Presbyterian Church in 1893 yet it was after she had reared her family that she made a public profession.
She was married to Mr. Alexander Campbell in December, 1896, and this union continued happily for 45 years. For ten years of this period her husband lived in the U.S.A., and although this circumstance relieved his wife of financial worries at the time yet she had the responsibility of rearing a large family. It must be acknowledged by every member of her family that she most faithfully discharged her duties. As soon as they were able to attend the public means of grace she brought them there and instructed them in the doctrines of God’s Word. Families which have had a sound Christian upbringing have much to account for if they despise what has been done for them.
As far as we can ascertain it was about the time of the birth of her last child that she was brought to a saving knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.
After that she manifested a great desire for the word of life, attending the means of grace regularly, although this was not easy for her, having a large family in her care. She was for years an evident witness for Christ before she made a public profession, and when she did this her friends in the Lord rejoiced. It was years after she left the Glendale congregation that she made a public profession but she chose to go before that Kirk Session to be examined for membership. As far as we can ascertain her reason for doing this was that it was while under the spiritual rule of that Kirk Session that Christ was made precious to her.
In 1920 she came along with her family to live in Bracadale, where for many years she enjoyed the preaching of that godly man, Mr. Duncan MacKinnon, Struan. The Bracadale congregation was small in those days and Mrs. Campbell, with others likeminded, earnestly prayed for its prosperity. She saw her prayers answered in some measure before she left this world in the provision of office-bearers and in a considerable addition to the Communion Roll. Just before she died the congregation was preparing to call a minister. These were developments which brought joy to her heart.
She was one who had much of the sorrows and trials of this world. Many a day she had to say, “I am full of grief.” She set a good example, earnestly desiring to see her family and others making choice of the Lord Jesus Christ. She had a sore temptation that she would become insane before she died, and when trials came she prayed that the Lord would leave her reason with her. That this was a temptation is evident from the fact that she retained her mental powers intact unto the end. She also earnestly desired to be reconciled to the will of God in all things.
Among her friends was a Mrs. MacInnes, her neighbour, a godly woman. This Christian lady she treated as a mother in Israel, although the latter survived her by several years. They often conversed of what the Lord did for their souls, like the godly women of Bedford, of whom Bunyan wrote.
She was in indifferent health for many years before the end, but she continued to attend the means of grace until absolutely unable to do so.
In 1940 her son Peter was lost at sea through enemy action. She felt this bereavement sorely, and, grief-stricken, she awaited her own end. Her end came suddenly but very peacefully on April 23rd, 1941. For her to die was gain because for her to live was Christ.
Her husband, who has attained a ripe old age, still survives her. Her family of several daughters and two sons, one of whom is the Rev. Donald Campbell, Edinburgh, have been highly privileged in having a mother who feared the Lord and who laboured for their eternal good by prayer, godly counsel, and example. May the Lord be their covenant God.—M. McS.