No one can read the history of Jesus in the gospels without perceiving how, in the days of His earthly ministry, He had among His most honoured followers devout women not a few, whose rich gifts he did not despise, and whose devoted love He did not reject. Who was it that complained of the expenditure of a very precious box of ointment? It was the disciples, but the woman poured it freely on His head as a testimony of her affection, and the approval and reward of the deed, as declared by the Saviour, was: “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”
The congregation of Gairloch has had its noble band of women witnesses, who with all the tenderness of their nature, and the full consciousness of the place assigned to them in the Church on earth, served Christ with zeal and devotion. To this band, who now enjoy the pleasures that are at God’s right hand, the subject of this sketch may be added.
Mrs. Bain was born at Strath, Gairloch, and died there in March, 1955, when well into the 90th year of her age. Her mother was an outstanding witness on the side of Christ and His Cause in 1893, and stood firmly with those who formed the Free Presbyterian Church, when the Creed and Constitution of the Free Church of Scotland was changed by the passing of the Declaratory Act. She died in the year 1905. Her biographer says of her: Once pardon of sin was sealed upon her soul by the Holy Spirit, her concern then was that the rich possession she herself had received might be bestowed on her children.
Our deceased friend was then a child of many prayers, and was brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
In the providence of God she was married at the age of 21, and had a family of six daughters and one son. After her marriage she spent 60 years of her life in Isle Horrisdale, a small island in Gairloch, where about five families lived, who got their living, mostly, from the fishing industry of other days. That industry as carried on in those days is now extinct. In process of time one after another of the families removed from the island, so our friend, very reluctantly, had to remove also, and take up house in Strath, where she spent the last ten years of her life.
Mrs. Bain had her share of the afflictions of this life. She lost her only son, who was serving in the R.N.R., through enemy action in 1916, when he was drowned off the Shetland Islands, and what was mortal of him lies buried in the Island of Yell. A cloud then came over her mind, which lasted for about 18 years. She was always upright in her moral character and led a consistent life as becometh the gospel in her outward walk and conduct before she was thus visited. But outward consistency is not regeneration of itself. During this period of her life she was confined mostly to her home, and when she did come to the house of God she would be hanging on someone’s arm and her head and face almost covered with a large scarf or shawl. Her mind during this trying period was not unoccupied with spiritual matters: one would not be long in her presence till he would hear her whisper some petition or quote a portion of scripture; though she did not want to speak much to her fellow-creatures she did not lack conversation with heaven. This hot “furnace” was, evidently, Christ’s workshop on her case: “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
It was then that God began to discover his choice by working in the faculties of her soul. Affliction of itself does not work for good, but as sanctified and accompanied by the Spirit of God. If the affliction of itself, and by itself, would do it, it would do so always, but we see by experience it does not. We see often the same affliction that makes one humble makes another fretful and rebellious. The day of deliverance came, the dark cloud was lifted and she was like a prisoner set free. The Lord’s people will thank God in eternity for many things that are now very unpleasant to them in this world. It was then she came to the Kirk Session to be admitted to full membership. They admitted her. This was in the year 1934. She then began to attend the means of grace far and near, and distance was no obstacle. If any would remonstrate with her for taking too much out of her body in walking long distances she would invariably say, “I was a long time a prisoner and now that I am free I must make use of every opportunity.” She became a prominent figure at communions in many places. She was in London twice at communions. She crossed the Minch several times, and attended the communions near hand regularly. She was very courageous and would travel alone anywhere, even to old age when her friends would be very concerned about her.
Mrs. Bain was a fixed and grounded Christian woman, not like those spoken of by the Apostle: “Carried about with every wind of doctrine,” but like a house built upon a rock. A good Free Presbyterian who understood what her Church stood for, and had a good recollection of its contentions at the beginning and since. She kept to the principles of God’s word; sanctified every Sabbath, attended regularly on the public means of grace on Sabbath and weekday, performed family and secret duties as becometh a Christian professing to follow the Lamb. She was a reader of good books, and being blessed with a good memory, what she read she retained. She had such a memory that she could with ease repeat to children long stretches of the poetry she learned in school and would say a better selection of poetry was given to children then than to-day. But what she delighted most of all to “hide in her heart” was the word of God, of which she had a great store and could go before a reader, in a whisper, as her habit was, in almost any chapter or Psalm. She was naturally bright and her native wit was noticeable to all who came in contact with her.
She was very charitable, open-hearted and open-handed as far as her means could afford. She would only seek occasions to show kindness to others. She was physically strong, tall and erect, and a very nimble walker, so much so that no one would say she was bordering on 90 years. She often said, “When I stop going about outside I will be finished with this world,” and so it turned out. The illness which ended her life in this world was of about eight weeks’ duration. It started like a turn of depression, but physical troubles set in and she gradually went down, and her end came on 1st March, 1955. During her illness her mind was very much exercised in the truth. The 67th Psalm in English and the 34th Psalm in Gaelic were often on her lips, with other portions of the Scriptures. She was also given to prayer, one would hear her petitions offered to God lying on her bed. A petition she often had during her illness was, “Wash me and take me,” which was answered. If one happened to encourage her about getting better she would say, “I will never get better.” It is our loss when the Church on earth is bereaved of such excellent persons, but we must not mourn as those who have no hope, for our friend was “washed and taken” in answer to her own prayer. She left six daughters to mourn her loss, also three sisters, one older and two younger than herself, to whom our sympathy goes out.—A. B.