By the REV. JAMES MACLEOD, Greenock.
THE writer met Mr. MacKay 45 years ago in the Island of Raasay, and from the first day to our last meeting in the month of August last year, we were on the most friendly terms and enjoyed christian fellowship which was of inestimable value during the distressing times through which our Church, its Courts and its loyal people had to pass owing to the vacillation of ministers, elders and members who disturbed its harmony and peace, in Dornoch, Inverness and Glasgow, which were activities calculated to destroy the testimony raised in defence of the Truth of God in May, 1893. It is quite possible that most of the followers in these episodes were as ignorant of the true facts as they were bold in defence and support of their misguided “he-goats.”
Mr. MacKay was a man who could be relied upon. He was naturally intelligent, well read in Church History, Puritan Theology, the Confession of Faith, and above all he was a humble student of his Bible till his last day in the world. Few in his generation knew his Bible better than Alex. MacKay. He was wholly dependent on the Holy Spirit to lead him into the truth as it is in Jesus. He detested irreverent speculation and fanciful interpretations of the Word of God, discerning them to be of the flesh and not of the Spirit of God. He had the most extraordinary insight into the depravity of human nature with which we ever met! This man was taught of God. “Behold, I am vile: what shall I answer Thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.” Many an hour this poor sinner spent on his knees, pleading for his own soul and the souls of others—far and near. In public his manner of approaching the Most High God, through Jesus Christ, was by confession of sin as fallen in Adam, and of actual transgression together with the unholliness of his nature and always ending by seeking, like a poor beggar asking for alms, for cleansing in the blood of Christ. “He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer” (Ps. cii. 17). He was not like the religious men who pray as if they were pure and holy without sin, and ready to praise God for how “good” they are, and “thank thee that I have no consciousness of my fallen nature and depravity.” If such hypocrites will not know and understand their lostness as fallen in Adam and transgressors of God’s most holy Law, they will lie down in sorrow and eternal death where there is no remedy. There is an eternal realisation of sin in Hell, but it is too late. Mr. MacKay was an eminent man of prayer—solemn, sincere, earnest and humble. Our discerning people had confidence in this man as a true and faithful witness of Jesus Christ. Our Staffin congregation looked to him as a father among them. This was true of others also outside of our own people. The whole parish respected him as a man who walked according to his profession of the Gospel. He fearlessly and constantly exposed sin in the actions of the people. Dancing, drinking, swearing, taking the name of God in vain, Sabbath desecration, immorality, theft, adultery, obscene literature, painting the face, immodest attire were all duly, cautiously but sternly rebuked; and the consequence of moulding the body or mind according to the manner of the world leading down to a lost eternity was faithfully pointed out. His solemn warnings were often resented by the graceless and frivolous, but, in their conscience, they knew very well that his whole aim was their eternal good. “A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness will utter lies” (Prov. xiv. 5). It was but natural that he would make bitter and vicious enemies. He was telling me that on one occasion a certain “gentleman” gave him a lift in his car. The “gentleman” asked our friend how far was he going? “To Staffin,” was the reply. “Do you know of a man MacKay there—a lay preacher, who denounces old Highland songs, dancing and piping?” “I am the man you mean.” “If I had known that you were ‘that man’ you would not get inside my car!” Mr. MacKay told the “gentleman,” “If that is the nature of your kindness, stop your car and I will be out of it.” The Devil has strong and powerful advocates for his service, clever, subtle and bold; men who will not hesitate to speak for their father the devil and who will write volumes in defence of Satan and his wicked work. If they can smear it over with religious sentiment the bait is sweeter and the poison will go deeper and be more deadly in its effects. Mr. MacKay understood the subtlety of Satan in this branch of his machinations and believed that it was his duty, before God and his fellow-men, to expose and rebuke the unprofitable works of darkness. As he saw the bright light of the Gospel disappearing by the removal of God’s people and the dark night of superstition, idolatry and the resurrection of the evil customs of ancient days, advancing, he witnessed against it as long as he was able to stand before the people. May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless to our people in Staffin the many faithful and solemn warnings they heard from their beloved catechist, Alexander MacKay. He was (according to his means) good to the poor, the needy, the orphan and the sick. In the house of mourning his presence was a tower of strength to the bereaved and sorrowing. The people knew that his feeling and sympathy toward them was sincere. They went to him in their troubles and found his wise and cautious advice and counsel of the greatest help to them whether at home, in the city, or on the high seas. No wonder the people respected this man of God! He visited them in their homes, where he read the Word of God with them and prayed, taking such opportunity as the occasion would offer and circumstances would allow, to ask them about their soul’s salvation, life, walk and general conduct. His catechising methods were the scriptural practice of the old Puritans of England and of the godly ministers of Christ in Scotland. He did the work of a faithful pastor in the congregation though not ordained to administer the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Very few ministers in this generation worked so conscientiously among his people as our missionary in Staffin. He mourned bitterly in secret how few showed by their fruit according to the gospel that they were “born again,” although no doubt quite a few of the young men of his congregation would be applauded as eminent elders if in other denominations. Mr. MacKay believed that lost man must be born again before he can see the kingdom of heaven. In his doctrines Mr. MacKay was strictly Calvinistic. The Arminian he knew and kept that sweet-mouthed hypocrite at a distance. In this respect his theology was the Confession of Faith in all its sections, with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. He made a close study of the decretals of the Protestant Churches in this and other lands. He understood the cause, need, and reasons for the separate position of the Free Presbyterian Church as few did. He read carefully into the history that caused the separation from the Declaratory Act Free Church and never changed his position. He continued to the end to warn and exhort the young to adhere faithfully to the testimony raised in May, 1893. If any of the young depart from their Church for carnal and worldly reasons, the blame will be on their own consciences and souls.
At the “fellowship meetings” he was not a long speaker. He was brief and to the point. His marks of grace were those of Paul to the Galatians and to the Ephesians, while his exhortations were those addressed to Timothy and Titus. If those who professed to be born again did not come up to this Divine rule and Christian standard, he could not recognise them as the children of God. A favourite remark of his was a quotation from an old Divine: “Faith is the emptiness of the soul coming to the fulness of Christ.”
The Word of God was the constant rule of his own daily life. Let us assure the reader that he was not a narrow-minded bigot (as sincere and humble Free Presbyterians are often designated by bold religious libertines) but a man with a world-wide outlook, interested in the Cause of Christ in Spain, Russia and China as well as Britain. His interest in our Missions in Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, London and Scotland never wavered until his earthly tabernacle was dissolved. Our South African Mission lost a true friend at a Throne of Grace in the passing away of Mr. MacKay! Such men when they pass out of the world are a great loss not only to their own community and nation but to the whole generation. The world knows them not and cannot estimate their worth and value. But Satan knows them, and as soon as they are removed the works of darkness reappear. Evil spirits, false religion, dancing, immorality, the vain song (the concert hall crowded and the prayer-meeting deserted) begin to show their heads. The Bible is neglected, the Lord’s Day desecrated and the owls of the night begin screeching at their loudest in open defiance against God, His Law and righteousness! It sometimes happens that at some of these affairs the 23rd is sung to add sin to sin and to crown their blasphemy with a religious sop. Our late missionary, Alexander MacKay, continued to protest against this work of Satan to the end of his day. His hearers were not left in doubt as to where he stood, Whom he served, Who was his Master, and that if sinners did not repent everlasting death would be their portion. We mourn the loss of such excellent Christians. The Free Presbyterian Church was eminently blessed with such humble, sincere and witnessing lay-preachers from the time Rev. D. MacFarlane protested and separated from the Free Church. Alexander MacKay can be truly added to that galaxy of laymen who stood by the servant of God in defence of His Word in May, 1893. We conclude with the words of the Psalmist: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps. cxvi. 15).