For one reason or another, it is often a very difficult task to write the obituary of a godly man. Reticence and lack of education may account for the absence of any written record of their spiritual experience. To be left to the mercy of oral tradition is not always satisfactory. In the case of our departed friend however, we are happy to inform our readers that after his death a short memoir of himself, written by his own hand, was found in his home. It was dated May 1st 1954. This action was typical of John’s thoughtful and methodical character.
John Nicolson was born at North Tolsta on 10th February 1884, the fourth child of a family of ten. At the early age of 12 years, the Spirit of God was striving with him, and he felt the urge to pray in secret. That desire was immediately opposed by the great Adversary, who suggested to him that he would be observed by others. His father, like many of that generation could neither read nor write. In these circumstances the duty of keeping family worship fell to his God fearing mother. The Sabbath was carefully observed in John’s home, and the family were kept in subjection by this gracious woman.
John expressed a desire to be a shoemaker, and accepted an offer to learn that trade in Stornoway, before he was 16 years of age. While serving his time there, he suffered greatly with a dislocated knee, but after finishing his apprenticeship, he was sent to an Aberdeen Infirmary to have his knee attended to. After the operation in 1905 he records that he was for four days and four nights without rest or sleep: wishing to die, and yet not prepared for death. In that state of mind he made many vows, but soon concluded that there was no hope for his soul. I was trying to do my best, he relates, but I had to learn that strivings and vows would not save me, unless the Lord would intervene. After his return from Aberdeen, his sister Annie fell sick, and as her end approached, she affectionately warned and exhorted parents, brothers, and sisters, to prepare for Eternity. These affectionate warnings of his dying sister made a deep and lasting impression upon John. The Lord’s time had come. On a Sabbath morning about this time he was prevented from attending the public means of grace. It was then that the arrow of conviction entered his soul. The words used by the Lord were these
“They who are wicked into Hell
Each one shall turned be;
And all the nations that forget
To seek the Lord most high”—Psalm 9 verse 17
With such power did these words come to his soul, that, pierced and broken, he found himself in truth with the prayer of the Prodigal; “Father I have sinned against Heaven and in Thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”
For nine long months John was broken by the Law. The effect of that experience so reduced him physically that his friends advised him to seek medical advice. During this period he learned that by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified in the sight of God. The conclusion to which he came, in his distress of mind was, that there was nothing left for him now but to die in despair. He was cut off from all hope as far as man was concerned. Then, one morning on his way to a place on his croft where he was wont to pray, the peace that he longed for was granted to him. The portion used was “And I will make thine officers peace and thine exactors righteousness” Isaiah 60 verse 17. Following that came the words “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son” Zech. 12 verse 10. John then felt that a cloud was descending upon him. The devil immediately suggested that this was a revelation of wrath for special sins which he had committed. Immediately he prayed for Light upon what he had experienced, and this was the answer he was given
“God is the Lord who unto us
Hath made light to arise
Bind ye unto the altars horns
With cords the sacrifice.”
and again “I and my Father are One.”
That was a day of joy unspeakable. The love of God was shed abroad in his soul, and he had to lie on the ground for some time, until he recovered strength to walk home. Before this last wonderful change took place, he states that the following Scripture was often in his mind
“And like unto the light, he shall,
Thy righteousness display:
And he thy judgment shall bring forth
Like noontide of the day.”
These assurances were a course of strength and comfort to him for more than forty years in the wilderness.
In 1914 John made a public profession in North Tolsta, and in 1919 he was ordained an elder in that congregation. In addition, he shouldered the burden of being treasurer for forty years.
Shortly before the March Communion in 1921 our church in North Tolsta was blown away by a severe gale. In face of great difficulties and discouragement, our loyal hearted friend encouraged the congregation in the Lord. They set to work, and before the following communion in October of the same year, a substantial building was erected. The indomitable courage and zeal which John showed in ordering and supervising that work sprung from a God given conviction. He was sure that the witness raised by the Free Presbyterian Church in Scotland was of the Lord. Few excelled our worthy elder in his insight into the meaning of the stand made by our fathers, and in his prayerful loyalty to the principles for which they contended. Having studied the facts for himself, he was well aware of the deflections in doctrine, worship, and practice, which had crept in to the so called Free Church. A staunch Free Presbyterian, he deplored the prevailing ignorance of, and indifference to, the cardinal principles of the Reformation, and nothing grieved him more than to hear or read of the witness and ministers of his church being traduced and misrepresented by unfaithful men.
Although in indifferent health for some years, it was only a few weeks before his end that he had to be removed to the Lewis Hospital. There, after a short illness, during which he was most reconciled to the will of God, he passed away on Monday 9th September, 1958 to be for ever with the Lord.
To his sorrowing relatives we extend our heartfelt sympathy.
—F. MacD.