This remarkable woman was born at Melvaig in the parish of Gairloch in September, 1858. She had God-fearing parents and in her home she enjoyed the inestimable privilege of a godly upbringing. She was specially favoured in the father she had, Murdo MacKenzie, a man of somewhat retiring nature, but a humble, exercised follower of the Lamb. On Sabbath he used to walk the 10 miles from his home to the Gairloch church and on occasion also to Inverasdale and Poolewe. When he returned home it was his practice to relate fully and accurately all that he heard in church and young Catherine, at such times, was an attentive hearer. She used to plead with her father to take her with him and was delighted when she was allowed to accompany him on these journeys. When she was about 14 years she was with her father in the “Leabaidd” listening to Dr. Kennedy preaching from the words: “And they sung a new song, etc.” (Rev. v. vv. 9 and 10. “I remember,” she said “as though it were yesterday how the Dr. said, ‘And they’ll be there (in glory) from the parish of Gairloch who never had a word of English on this earth.'”)
Her uncle, John MacKenzie who was Catechist during the ministry of Revs. Duncan Matheson and John Baillie, was another who influenced her for good. He was greatly attached to Dr. Kennedy, and would often make the long journey on foot to Dingwall to be at the communion. In his early days he attended the catechising meetings held by Angus Munro, the godly Catechist of the district, who was also his brother-in-law. After one of these meetings, as John MacKenzie prepared to set out on the long walk home, Angus Munro asked him: “Are you going home to-night? If so you will want to be well armed.” Before John MacKenzie reached his home that night he learned what the godly Catechist meant—that the armour intended was to be used against the spiritual assaults he had to contend with within himself. Her grandmother too was a God-fearing woman who often walked the long distance from her home in Melvaig to the Burn of Ferintosh for Communion seasons there. On one of these occasions she found herself sitting beside a godly old school-master, who after his retirement was in poor circumstances. On seeing that the poor but worthy man had a hole in his boot, she quietly covered his legs with her cloak to hide his poverty from any unkindly eyes—a demonstration of the “Cloak of Charity.” Though many of them were not well off in regard to this world’s goods, they were rich in grace and brotherly love flourished among them. Mrs. Cameron-MacKintosh would revert to this incident to lend emphasis to the caution that the Lord’s people ought to be careful what they allowed the world to see of the failings of believers lest the world receive a false report of the “good land” and the young, especially, in their tender years be discouraged.
As far as she could recollect no special means or any particular scripture was used in her conversion. Her father’s example both in life and doctrine gave a gracious turn to her mind and the truths of scripture as a whole seem to have been the means by which the Spirit revealed Christ to her soul. There was no doubt, however, of the reality of the work of grace which about the age of 18 years took place in her heart, for the marks of the Spirit’s saving work was discernible for all to see. She left home when about 20 years of age for Cawdor, Inverness-shire, where she enjoyed the preaching of Rev. Mr. MacPherson, and she spoke warmly also of a Bible Class which she attended conducted by a Mr. Rose, the youngest of 12 godly elders who gathered around him the young men and women of the district for most refreshing instruction in the Word and Doctrines of the Bible. She made a public profession of her faith and went forward to the Lord’s table for the first time when she was about 22 years of age.
About this time she made the acquaintance of the late Rev. D. MacFarlane with whom she enjoyed a friendship which was to last uninterrupted through life. She was present at Mr. MacFarlane’s induction to the Free Church charge of Moy and Dalarossie in 1879, and recalled that Dr. Kennedy in introducing the new minister to the congregation pronounced a solemn woe upon any one who would harm such a faithful minister of Christ. The following Sabbath she heard Mr. MacFarlane preach his inaugural sermon from the words in Zephaniah iii. v. 12: “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.” For Mr. MacFarlane she had a particularly warm affection and in turn he was deeply attached to her. It was a great grief to her when Mr. MacFarlane decided to accept a call to Kilmallie in 1889, as it was also to his devoted congregation, but many viewed his departure as of short duration and believed that his work in Tomatin was not yet done. This was true, for Mr. MacFarlane returned yearly some time later to assist at the communion in the congregation, which he continued to do till failing health made this no longer possible.
Mrs. Cameron-MacKintosh was married to Mr. John Cameron in 1884. She and her husband followed the developments in the Free Church which culminated in the Declaratory Act, with attention and great sorrow, and when this Act became part of the Church’s constitution by decision of the Assembly of 1892, she and her husband had no hesitation in deciding where their duty lay. They joined those who stood by the Word of God and the subordinate standards of the Church of the Disruption. They formed part of the congregation at Tomatin which included the most discerning and experienced Christians of the district, and continued to meet for worship in the Tomatin meeting-house under the preaching of the godly missionaries who were sent to them. This stand they never regretted. Mrs. Cameron-MacKintosh never went out of her way to speak ill of those from whom she had parted, nor did she indulge in strife for its own sake. She could, when the necessity arose, however, in a quiet and dignified way, state with firmness and exactness the causes which justified her actions. She had such assurance of scripture and doctrine that to any who asked she could give a clear and concise reason for the hope that was in her.
Some of our ministers to whom she was deeply attached, notably Rev. D. MacFarlane and Rev. Neil Cameron, and intimate godly acquaintances, she held deservedly in high esteem. She left her home and the family circle rarely except to attend communions and until strength failed she seldom missed sacramental occasions in Daviot, Dingwall and Inverness. It gave her great joy when able to attend at Glasgow and Edinburgh. One memorable occasion was in 1910 when, with a few friends, she was at Portree—Rev. D. MacFarlane had great liberty in preaching and doubtless seeing familiar faces before him, was ultimately exhorting the “Muinntir Moy” (the people of Moy) as if he were back in the old days of Tomatin. She enjoyed preaching where the preacher, in course of his remarks came over the inward experience which was known to no man. Once in Dingwall her close friend Harriet MacDonald told her privately of her desire to have a clear view by faith of the pierced hands. Rev. N. Cameron, during the action sermon remarked: “You are here who were saying before you came out, ‘If I could but discern the hands and feet, etc.’” Mrs. Cameron-MacKintosh, on hearing this, said to herself, “She is here beside me.” Mr. Cameron’s preaching was especially endeared to her by his facility for dealing with the case of the individual. On another occasion she was troubled on Communion Sabbath over the words, “These be thy gods, Oh Israel!” Mr. MacFarlane accurately came out with what had been passing through her mind and encouraged her by observing in effect: “If Satan cannot get you any other way, he will be after you by pointing to us poor ministers and saying: ‘These be thy gods, Oh Israel’; well, we are pointing to Christ crucified so pay no heed to his lies.” She was never again troubled with this particular trial.
Mrs Cameron-MacKintosh seldom spoke much about herself, but she did sometimes draw upon her own experience if it might in any way commend Christ or help others. Even to the last she had an extraordinary clear and retentive memory, quoting scripture so aptly for the occasion, recalling sermons either heard or read of Rev. D. MacFarlane or Rev. N. Cameron, recounting choice anecdotes about the godly men and women of the past whom she knew. Sabbath was her delight and she often spoke with wonder and admiration about the eternal Sabbath, frequently concluding by referring to some departed friends that they were not at their rest. She would often in speaking of a point of doctrine or experience enlarge on it and in doing so reveal the rock upon which her faith rested by such comments: “He has promised,” or “the truth says so and we can do nothing against the Truth for the Truth will stand.” She sought direction from the Word of God in her trials, but was most guarded in mentioning the occasions when the Word of God spoke to her; she did not care to hear ready and glib talk about getting such and such a scripture.
During the last two years of life, her sight failed and her delight was to have the Bible read to her. It was characteristic of her when near her end she was asked to choose a portion of scripture to be read to her, that she requested Mary coming to the sepulchre, and the place where it says: “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them,” and in each case she herself commented with simple precision on the bearing of the verse. She passed quietly and peacefully away on 28th May, 1956, to be for ever with the Lord. To her large family of sons and daughters who survive her, and to Dr. Johnstone, her-son-in-law, to whom we wish very gratefully to acknowledge our great debt for providing the information contained in this brief notice, we offer our sincere sympathy. We conclude with the words which the late Rev. D. MacFarlane, whom Mrs. Cameron-MacKintosh loved so much, used to quote: “Until the day break and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether”—Song of Sol. ii. v. 17.—A. F. MACKAY.