Mrs. MacAskill, Totarder House, Struan, Bracadale, was born at Fernievequire, Glendale, Skye, on 8th February, 1871.
Her father, Mr. John MacKinnon, was a professing member in the Free Presbyterian Church, having followed the noble testimony raised in defense of the Word of God in Scotland by the late Rev. D. MacFarlane, Raasay, in 1893.
Her parents, John MacKinnon and Marion Campbell diligently brought up their large family in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They taught their children to study the Bible and Shorter Catechism, to be diligent in the means of grace, and to observe the Sabbath carefully.
The stamp of this early training and example never left Mrs. MacAskill. She often used to refer to the catechising by the late Rev. Neil MacIntyre and others. In those days the young girls used to carry the Shorter Catechism with them when they walked any distance to their work. They were eager to learn the doctrines of the Word of God.
Except for a short period at service in Glasgow, Mrs. MacAskill was at home with her parents until her marriage in 1907 to Mr. Malcolm MacAskill, who farmed at Uillinish. He was a widower with a family of six. Leaving Uillinish shortly afterwards, the family stayed for a time at Glenvicaskill Farm and afterwards moved to Ebost about 1914. There, in 1927, their daughter Flora died, aged nineteen years. The Holy Spirit made Christ precious to Flora in the days of her youth. Her obituary appears in the Free Presbyterian Magazine.
We are unable to say when the Lord began to deal savingly with Mrs. MacAskill, but we do know that she never recovered from the loss of a beloved and gracious daughter. The Lord often brings His people into affliction when He means to reveal Himself savingly to them, or afterwards for their profit. “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early” (Hosea v. 15).
After the loss of their daughter, the parents removed to Lyndale Farm, near Flashadder and, in 1939, they came to reside at Totarder House, Struan. Mr. Malcolm MacAskill died there in April, 1945, at the age of 86 years. Of him we may say that there was hope in his death. A year previously—in April, 1944—Mrs. MacAskill was received as a member in full communion in the Bracadale congregation. After the death of her husband she had several slight shocks, and her strong constitution began to break down. She felt very much not being able to attend church for a few years before her death.
Although she began to suffer from loss of memory, yet she could repeat the Shorter Catechism answers in Gaelic, and quote the Scriptures, especially the Psalms, quite accurately till her last illness. The clarity of her mind in this respect was quite remarkable. She daily mourned over a corrupt heart, thereby evidencing clearly that she had been given a spiritual view of the majesty of God, of her own guilt and corruption, and of the glory of Christ in His love, power and suitableness to meet with all her need. Often, when speaking with her we thought of the words, “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord” (Zeph. iii. 12). Mrs. MacAskill was one of the poor who trembled at the Word of the Lord. She was most exemplary in her life and conversation. Her home was a haven of hospitality.
The Lord’s people were her company. She often referred to the late Mr. Duncan MacKinnon, Struan, and to others who followed Christ and to whom she was deeply attached. Her constant prayer was, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm li. 7). Her eye was on the blood of the Lamb of God that cleanseth from all sin.
Shortly before she died, Mr. A. Beaton, missionary, Struan, asked her if she had a good hope for eternity. “Yes,” she replied, “a hope that the world will not take from me.” On 2nd December, 1955, she entered into the joy of her Lord, aged 84 years. Her step-daughter, Mary, lovingly nursed her during her last illness. Her body was laid to rest in the Old Cemetery, Dunvegan, to await a glorious resurrection. A most melodious singer of the Psalms, she now sings the praises of the Lamb in heaven, where nothing shall ever interrupt the happiness of Christ’s children. “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away tears from their eyes” (Rev. vii. 16, 17).
To her daughter, Mrs. Charles Beaton, Totarder House, Struan, we tender our most sincere sympathy.—M. M. S.