While the Saviour was on earth we read that there were many women “which followed Jesus from Galilee ministering unto Him.” The names of some of these women we know, such as Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Joses and the mother of Zebedee’s children, but the majority are not known to us, although to Christ they were well known. They served Him by Divine grace in a quiet and unobtrusive way. Such an one was the worthy lady whose name appears at the head of this notice and who was removed from the Church below to the Church above, in August of last year.
Flora Matheson was born in Drumbuie, a small village a few miles from Kyle of Lochalsh, in 1879, the twin daughter of Donald Matheson, who worked a croft and followed the fishing trade. This Donald Matheson was a native of Kishorn, while his wife, Jemima MacLean, came from the parish of Applecross. The family consisted of three girls, the eldest of which was Mrs. MacKay, the mother of Rev. A. F. MacKay, Inverness, who finished her earthly course in Kyle some years ago. Flora’s twin sister, Bella, shortly after marrying Mr. Dan Moir, emigrated to New Zealand, where she died about two years ago.
Flora’s mother died when she was about two years old and the girls were sent to Deriner, accross the bay from Shieldaig, to stay with their mother’s brother, Angus MacLean, with whom they were brought up. While residing there, they attended the ministry of the late Rev. Donald MacDonald, Shieldaig, who stood so faithfully and steadfastly with the late Rev. Donald MacFarlane against the Satanic infiltration of the God-dishonouring doctrines of the Declaratory Act in 1893. On the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church, Mr. MacDonald was evicted from his Church and Manse and came to live with Angus MacLean until new buildings would be erected. Flora’s knowledge of this eminent servant of Christ was gained both in the home and from the pulpit and she became very attached to him. This she showed by her many references to the quick actions which were so characteristic of him, the way his face would light up when he would meet a friend, and especially his habits of secret prayer. It seems that it was under Mr. MacDonald’s preaching that Flora received her first impressions of the value of her soul, the solemnity of going to Eternity in a Christless state, and the necessity of being prepared to stand before the Great White Throne. She did not engage in the play of the other children of her own age, but preferred the company of the Lord’s people, especially that of an old godly woman near her home from whom she received much sound and gracious advice.
In her early teens, Flora, as many Highland girls did, went to Glasgow to secure employment. While there she sat under the ministry of the late Rev. N. Cameron. It appears that she had not yet tasted the liberty of the everlasting gospel although deeply conscious of her spiritual needs. One Sabbath morning, however, while sitting in St. Jude’s listening to Mr. Cameron preaching that truth came powerfully to her mind, “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” (Heb. vii. 25). Here, she evidently saw the fulness and willingness of Christ to save her guilty and sin-defiled soul in such a way that she was united to Him for Time and Eternity, and came to enjoy the peace with God which is through the Blood of the Covenant. To Mr. Cameron, she was deeply attached and through his preaching, the Holy Spirit often spoke comfort and counsel to her soul. In 1910, she was enabled to take up a public profession on the Lord’s side and through all the years she was granted grace to keep the garments of her profession clean.
In 1920, she was joined in marriage to Mr. Kenneth MacAskill and of the marriage, Mr. Cameron, who performed it, was known to have said, that he felt the occasion more like that of a Communion than a marriage, so many present being of the household of faith. Her home at 395 St. Vincent Street was an open door for the Lord’s people and, for a time, some of the students of our Church held a prayer meeting there. On one occasion, Mr. Cameron gave this meeting a lecture from the words, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matt. x. 16). Mrs. MacAskill was present and greatly enjoyed the lecture. The students presented her with a book as a token of their appreciation of her kindness, which she greatly valued. After the death of Mr. Cameron, all her desire and interest seemed to be lifted from the city and when her husband retired from the Glasgow Police Force, they decided to make their home in his native place at Ose in the Isle of Skye, where she passed her remaining years.
Mrs. MacAskill was one of a quiet and gentle spirit and sought in all things to adorn the doctrine which is according to godliness. She was a woman of prayer and her presence in the public means of grace was a comfort to all who sought the Lord. To those who sought her counsel in spiritual things she was able to give seasonable and wise advice. She was a true friend to the Cause of Christ and gave many proofs of her deep attachment to the Free Presbyterian stand and witness.
Her last illness was mercifully of short duration and took the form of a stroke. After being laid aside for a time at home, where the Bible and Mr. Cameron’s Memoirs were her constant companions, she was removed to Edinbane Hospital, where she quietly passed away to be with Christ and the glorious company of the redeemed, some of whom she knew on earth and loved them as they loved her.
To the bereaved husband, an elder in our Bracadale congregation, we extend our sincere sympathy in the loss of a true help-meet, and trust that the Lord, Who is the God of all comfort, will sustain and uphold him. Likewise, we desire to sympathise with the other relatives, including her nephew, Rev. A. F. MacKay, Inverness, to whom we are indebted for much of the information making up this brief notice of one who desired to “show forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” (1 Pet. ii. 9).
D.M.