We were but a short time in the North Harris congregation when Mrs. Bella Macdonald was called, we believe, to her everlasting rest. Although suffering intense pain some weeks previous to her time of departure, she fondly expressed her deep gratitude to those who engaged with her in the worship of God. We are much indebted to a Christian friend from Kyles-Scalpay for supplying us with suitable information regarding the subject of this obituary. The narration forwarded to us is as follows:—
“It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.” Happy are all those who are given to understand and to believe, in a saving sense, this solemn truth in a day of God’s infinite power and mercy.
Mrs. Bella Macdonald, whose maiden name was MacInnes, was born and passed the whole of life’s journey at Kyles-Scalpay, Harris, from where she passed, we believe, to her eternal rest on the 11th April, 1954, at the ripe age of 85 years. She was a member in full communion, prior to the admirable stand in defence of the Truth by the Rev. Donald Macfarlane in 1893. As she was not given to relate much about her own experience, we are not in a position to give much information concerning the means used of God to take her out of the awful darkness of a natural state. Her reticence on this point does not prove that she had none to give.
Mrs. Macdonald’s home was at No. 7 Kyles. At No. 6 resided Mrs. Macleod, a God-fearing and an exceptionally fine woman, who would be about the age of Mrs. Macdonald’s mother. Of this God-fearing and sagacious woman we have often heard her speak, and when she did so it was not necessary for one to be very discerning to understand the love and respect she had for her. Seemingly Mrs. Macleod, with her mature experience, was, under God’s Hand, her mainstay in the days of her soul trouble and anguish, out of which God, in His appointed time, delivered her. Mrs. Macdonald was of a bright and happy disposition; she had the grace, as well as the common sense, to keep her troubles to herself, taking them to Him who promises, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” She suffered much during her last illness, which she bore with exemplary Christian patience and fortitude. In the Providence of the Most High she was attended to in her last illness by her own family. May her God be their God, and may He arise and fulfil the promise, “Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion; for the time to favour her, yea, the set time has come.”
During her 61 years of Christian experience as a member in full communion with the Free Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Macdonald never expressed regret for the step she took in separating from the Declaratory Act Free Church, when many in our land turned to idolatry and the weeping Jeremiahs were few. With Christian, cheerful alacrity this lover of the Cause, thirsting after the Word of Life, used to walk five miles to the House of God at Tarbert. At the close of public worship, refreshed by a sweet morsel from the Gospel table, she, resembling the Ethiopian eunuch, went on her way rejoicing.
We extend our sympathies to her sorrowing family and relatives. May each of them be enabled by grace to say as Ruth said to Naomi, “Thy people shall be my people and thy God my God.”—A. MeK.