The late Mrs A. MacLeod, Quidinish, South Harris
Although Revelation and experience alike teach us, that man is but a sojourner here on earth, yet the days and the weeks, the months and the years, of that sojourn vary from individual to individual. For some the sojourn is but short; for others it may be the “three score years and ten”; for others again it sometimes reaches the rare sum of five score years and more. The subject of this obituary notice was one of the few who belong to the last group.
Mrs MacLeod was born in the year 1855, and departed this life at the advanced age of 102 years. Although she appears to have been brought to the knowledge of the truth fairly early in life, it was not, however, until she was 80 years of age that she made a public profession. Those who knew her most intimately relate of her spiritual experience, that she was helped, at first, by the influence of a God-fearing sister-in-law, with whom she was wont to have fellowship, and that she was drawn to the Redeemer thereafter, in the manner of Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened. She apparently made reference also, from time to time, of a sermon on the prayer of Jabez, which was of great comfort to her. It was preached, on one occasion, at the Finsbay Communion, by one of our older ministers. Her attachment to those, in whom the work of grace was evident, appears in this incident recorded of her, in connection with the late Mr Donald MacLean, at one time a missionary at Finsbay, and latterly in Applecross. The year in which Mrs MacLeod’s husband died was also the year in which this worthy missionary left Harris for Applecross, and it is said of her that the latter’s departure from the district was almost as sore a blow to her, as the death of her own husband.
For the last 15 years of her life, Mrs MacLeod was confined to the house, but her mind was continually exercised about spiritual matters, even until the end. She was feeding upon the hidden manna of the Word. Her last illness was short, but during that time, the Scriptures, which had been stored in her mind, were her daily comfort and she was often heard repeating the Redeemer’s own precious words, “There shall be one Shepherd and one fold,” while her last words were those in Isaiah lxiii 3.
It was, in that manner, surrounded by the members of her family, who survive her, that she passed from time into eternity, to be forever, we believe, with the One who had loved her and given Himself for her. May their mother’s God be the God of each and all of her surviving family, even the God of their salvation.
“He of salvation is the God,
who is our God most strong;
And unto God the Lord from death,
the issues do belong.”
A. M. C.