The removal from the Church in this world of a faithful and useful minister is an event which must always occasion much pain both to his congregation and the Church at large, and this is especially the case, when, in a day of small things, and of, therefore, accentuated need, such an one is taken from us in the mid-time of his days. Among the patriarchs of the Old World it is to be observed that Enoch, the man who walked with God, did not attain to half the years of his contemporaries, and we may believe the Lord saw, that an age which was in fast moral and spiritual decline was no longer worthy that this eminent prophet remain in their midst.
Archibald Beaton was born in Kyleakin, Isle of Skye, in February, 1900, but, when only two or three years old, the family removed to Camustianavaig, near Portree. It was in this district that he grew to manhood and, as the eldest surviving son in a family whose head was commonly absent to follow his lawful calling at sea, the boy Archibald Beaton began to manifest qualities which were to mature in later years. At fourteen years of age, school was exchanged for hard and conscientious labour on the family croft. When a little older in years, Mr Beaton, following in his father’s footsteps, took up a sea-faring life, and by much determination and constant diligence, attained to his Master’s Certificate and the post of Chief Officer on the R.M.S. “Dalriada”, plying between Glasgow and Campbeltown. About the year 1927, however, when a Captain’s post was now in sight, all was left behind as it became clear that our late friend had a call to higher service.
On the spiritual side, it is evident from the few facts that have come to hand, that the Lord began a work in the soul of Mr Beaton in the days of his youth. Although his family were not originally connected with the Free Presbyterian Church, at the age of sixteen, he began attending our services and prayer meetings in Braes. The missionary there at that time was the late Alasdair MacAskill and, in view of the evident attachment that Mr Beaton had to this respected missionary, we may conclude that he was the instrument by which early and enduring impressions were made upon his soul. At this time when his attendance upon the prayer meeting was a marked rebuke to others in the district he was, on one occasion, reproached as regarding himself as holy. To this we have Archibald Beaton’s simple, humble and practical reply,— “I am not better than anybody else, but all ought to attend the weekly prayer meeting.” Our departed friend revealed that, in his own case, the great change in the state of his soul from death to life was of a gradual nature. Our knowledge of this fact suggests the opinion that, in view of Mr Beaton’s great regard for the late Rev. Neil Cameron, it was at this later period, when in Glasgow in connection with his sea-faring employment, that the subject of this sketch was brought to the full light of the Gospel and a measure of assurance, in his own soul, regarding this momentous change. There is present information as to the following incident which occurred about this time. After his common practice he was, on one occasion, reading his Bible in secret when he fell asleep. He then dreamt that he was in heaven where the wonderful singing much impressed him, the words, in which Mr Beaton himself joined, being,—“ For my distressed soul from death deliver’d was by thee, etc.” During this period also, we have the testimony of a shipmate,—“ Well, if ever anyone will get to heaven, that fellow will,” and, again, of his Captain,—“ I have no fears when I know that Mr Beaton is on the bridge with his Bible.”
In April, 1927, the Kirk Session of St. Jude’s Glasgow, received Mr Beaton as a member in full communion, and in August of that same year, he was accepted as a Student to prepare for the ministry of the Church. The proximity in time of these events might have occasioned complaint in other cases but it is evident that, here was a man who, as to his experience, was already mature. His authority for taking this step were the words of Luke 9.60,—“ Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” This had been received in answer to prayer in connection with his line of duty, and when this ever dutiful son hesitated as he had thought of his parents, the matter was confirmed by a cognate truth,—“ No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9.62).
Mr Beaton then entered upon his studies in preparation for Glasgow University where he in turn completed the prescribed course of instruction; thereafter, he completed the usual course of Divinity under the Church Tutors. All who are acquainted with our late brother in the ministry are aware that he profited from all these studies and it was evident that he possessed a firm grasp of the fundamental teachings of the different branches alike of philosophy and theology. It can be said that he had that true mark of a Christian minister in that he was a student all his days, and to hear Mr Beaton preach, invariably meant that something new would be learned from him.
In July, 1933, he was licensed to preach the Gospel and in the following November he was ordained and inducted at Gairloch where he was to labour during the whole of his ministry. It was during his early years in this charge that he made provision for a burying-place for himself in the local church-yard. While this fact points to that practical, business-like outlook which was characteristic of the man, it may also be taken as the conviction, in terms of the secret of the Lord, by which he recognised his appointed sphere of labour, so that he did at no time show any inclination to remove elsewhere. During more than twenty seven years in the parish, many changes took place, including the sorrowful events connected with the Second World War. This last-mentioned even confronted Mr Beaton with a special situation when, at the early stages of the War, about a dozen young men from his congregation became prisoners in enemies’ hands. The minister’s answer was a special prayer meeting on the Monday evening, and in the Lord’s longsuffering mercy all these young men did eventually return safely to their homes. A question then arose as to what should happen to this Monday meeting and on account of pressure of work, Mr Beaton at first thought it wise that the meeting be discontinued. At this juncture, however, there came to him with considerable power the words of Luke 24.49 so that, on this new basis, the meeting is continued at present. Although ours is a day of little spiritual fruit, there is evidence that Mr Beaton’s ministry was owned by the Lord in the conversion of precious souls. He related how on one occasion he was greatly cast down as to the future prosperity of the congregation in which he ministered, but he went on to indicate that he was at this time comforted by a promise of the Truth from which he looked for the dawning of better days upon these parts of the vineyard.
As is known to many, the last two years of his ministry was a time when the once-strong frame of this beloved pastor was being weakened at the hands of a grievous malady. In the midst of considerable physical distress, however, he carried on his ministerial duties almost to the end: and it may be said, that it was this closing chapter of his life which manifested beyond the shadow of a doubt, how deep was Mr Beaton’s love for the prosperity of Sion, as that was bound up with the honour of his Master, the Lord Jesus. During the closing months he revealed to his like-minded wife that he was exercised in his soul as to the solemn fact of having to give an account of his stewardship; but he also confessed to a good hope in view of eternity, something that was surely his, as one who remarked,—“It is not anything I did that will do me anything for eternity, only the righteousness of Christ.” At this time the Lord comforted his afflicted servant with the words of Psalm 71,—
“Thou, Lord, who great adversities,
and sore, to me didst show,
Shalt quicken, and bring me again
from depths of earth below.”
He became gradually weaker and, on the sixth of January, 1960 in a Glasgow hospital, he ended his earthly course.
All who were in any real measure acquainted with our late friend will readily agree, that the Rev. A. Beaton was a man of the highest principle, as his convictions were squarely founded upon the whole doctrine of the inerrant Scriptures of Truth. Throughout the whole of his ministry he contended ceaselessly, by mouth and example, for the cause of righteousness and truth in connection with the witness of the Free Presbyterian Church. Perhaps his outstanding characteristics were diligence and humility. As a son of Adam, he was not, of course, free from sin and failure while in this life, but his memory confronts us with a refreshing witness to the reality and practical nature of true godliness. The reference to Hananiah in respect of Mr Beaton by a fellow-student and minister, sums up his case most aptly,—“he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.” (Neh. 7.2).
May the Lord raise up in our poor generation many faithful watchmen upon the walls of His Zion, and may the covenant God follow Mrs Beaton and the four children with spiritual blessings in the Redeemer. (I wish here to thank those Ministers, etc., who supplied me with the greater part of the above information).
—A. M.
MARBHRANN DO MHR. RUAIRIDH MACLEOID
Ministeir an t-soisgeil a bh’ann a’ Sniosart, ‘s an
Eilean Sgitheanach.
Le Gilleasbuig Mac ‘ill Iosa.
This is an elegy on Rev. Roderick MacLeod, Suizort. It was originally published over eighty years ago in a pamphlet of Gaelic poems which is now very difficult, if not impossible, to procure. The only specimen I ever saw of it was a few tattered leaves from which I copied the enclosed, which I believe will be acceptable to our older readers who heard much about Rev. Roderick MacLeod from an older generation.—J. C.
Tha Sgìre Shniosart fuidh bhròn,
Cha’n ioghnadh, ‘s mòr a chaill i;
Chaill i’n ceannard ‘s an robh ‘n dòigh
‘S a lòchran anns an oidhche;
Chaill i’m buachaill ‘s an robh’n t’ùil,
‘S an t-ùghdarras mar cheannard;
‘S na h-uile ceum a rinn e fhalbh
Tha dearbhadh air mo chainnt ann.
‘S fhadh dh’fhan sinn ‘n a ar tàmh
Ag eisdeachd gàir nan alltan:
An dùthaich Bhàbail ann an sàs;
‘s ar clàrsaichean gun srànn ac’
Air geugan seillich crochta suas,
‘S cha chluinnear fuaim ‘n ar càmpa
Ach caoidh ‘us bròn na luidh fodh ‘n fhòd
‘S nach pill ni’s mò d’ar n’ ionnsuidh.
Sinn ri caoidh na luidh ‘s an uaigh;
‘S ann uainn tha’r n’ aobhar ionndrainn:—
Maighsteir Ruairidh, ceann nam buadh,
‘N uair ‘réidh tu suas do’n chùbaid,
Bhiodh osna thròm bho ghrùnnd do chleibh;
Is staid do threud g’ad chiùradh,
A bha thu faicinn ann an sàs
Fuidh chumhachd bàis gun dùsgadh.
Ged tha iarrtus ann am rù
Gu luaidh air cliù an fhìrean,
Tha mo chomasan cho gann
‘S nach fhaigh mi cainnt ga’n innseadh.
Do bhuadhan farsuinn thar nan ceud;
Chuir gràs an rian gach aon diubh; S chog thu ri d’ naimhdean gus ‘n a gheill
Le d’ chlaidheamh geur da-fhaobhair.
An uair a dhùisgeadh thu le Dia,
‘S an latha neulach dhorcha,
Chuir an namhaid tuil a d’ dheigh
A chùm do ghné a dhearbhadh;
Le daoine cumhachdach gun tìr
A dhùsgadh gu geur-leanmhuinn;
Ag iarraidh sochair cloinne Dhé,
Le reachd na clèir gun eanchainn.
Ach ‘n Tì a shònruich thu ‘o thùs,
A chùm a chliù mar shaighdear;
Chuir E spionnadh ann a d’ dhùirn
A chuir air cùl do naimhdean;
An uair a sheas thus suas leat fein,
An aghaidh cléirean aingidh;
A thug a bhreith do chur ‘n a d’ thàmh
Le lagh na stàid mar cheann orr’.
Is iad an dùil gu’m pilleadh tì
Gu ùmhlachd thoirt do’n òrdugh;
Is iad ga d’ choimeas riu féin;
‘S na b’ionnan gné ‘us beoil doibh.
Cha b’ ann troimh’n dorus chaidh iad suas;—
Na buachaillean gu’n eolas,
Is dh’fhag sin suarach iad mu’n treud,
‘S gun aithn ‘air feum air tròcair.
Ach bha thu dileas dha do Cheann
(S tu fulung ainneart ‘s fòirneart.)
Do ‘n Tì a chuimhnic ort ‘s a ghleann,
‘S a sheall ort ann an tròcair;
‘S a thug na lannan bho do shùil,
Gu’n d’thuig thu rùn Iehobhah;
Is dh’fhag thu’n còmhnaid na do dheann,
Is ghabh thu greim air Sòar.
Is mar rinn Miriam ‘n a là
‘N uair chàidh iad sàbhailt’ còmhla,
Air talamh tioram troimh’n Mhuir Ruaidh,
‘S an cuan gun chomas dòrtadh:
Sheinn thu’n t-òran binn le buaidh
Feadh eilean chuan is mòr-thir;
Is sheid thu’n trùmpaid le sgal cruaidh,
Gu’n cuala sean ‘us òg i.
Is ghabh thu’n t-uallach uile ort fein
Bho Rhu’ Shleit gu Tròdaidh;
Is uaithe sin gu Ath-nan-allt,
Far’m bitheadh na milltean còmhla;
‘S do ghuth mar thrùmpaid air dheadh ghleus;
Is Spiorad Dhé ga dhòrtadh,
Is mairbh a dusgadh as an suain,
‘S a gairm gu luath air tròcair.
‘S bu mhòr ar sochair anns an am,
‘N uair a bhiodh an càmpa còmhla;
‘S an driùchd a silleadh le do chainnt;
‘S na h-uile ceann ga chòmhdach!
‘S do theagasg fallain air dheadh stéidh;
‘S air bhonn na réite ‘n còmhnuidh;
‘S an dorus fosgailt’, farsuinn fial;
‘S tu gairm nan ceudan còmhla.
‘S cha b’ann ri eaglais bhiodh do shùil,
Na cúbaid air a còmhdach.
‘S a dh’aindeoin faruingeachd a stéidh
Cha d’rèidh do thréud innt’ còmhla.
‘S ann bhiodh do shùil ri leas an t-sluaigh
Bhiodh deas ‘us tuath a dòrtadh.
‘S ge tric a shuidh sinn leat san fhuachd,
Cha chualas neach thug leon as.
‘S na lìonas t’aitè dhuinn cha d’fhuair,
‘S cha duall dhuinn fhad ‘s is beo sinn.
Bha thù bàigheil ris a chloinn,
‘S ad shaighdear far ‘m bu chòir dhuit.
‘S an dream a cheangail riut le gràdh,
A’ d’ dhéigh tha cràiteach, brònach,
‘S a caoidh an diugh nach robh thù ann,
Bho theann iad ris a chòmh-stri.*
O. b’e do chleachdadadh fad do là
Bhi gairm nam bràithrean còmhla;
‘S mar leanabh beag bhiodh tu na’n ceann,
Ach na do shoillse ghloirmhor;
‘S na h-uile ceisd a bhiodh orr’ cruaidh,
Ga fuasgladh dhoibh le eolas;
A chùm nach d’thugadh tu ceann-fath
Na àite do eas-còrdadh.
Is bho’n a rinn sinn luaidh air t’ainm,
A thaobh do dhealbh ‘s do mhòrachd:
Cha do dh’eirich ann ar là
Na thogadh t’aitè còmhla.
A thaobh do ghliocais ‘us do rian,
Do dhiadhachd agus t’eolais.
Bha thu a’d eiseimpleir do’n treud,
‘S na h-uile ceum cho còmhnard.
A thaobh do cheud-bhreith bha thu àrd,
‘S tu càirdeach thaobh na feoladh
Do dhaoine cumhachdach na tir,
Dha’m buinneadh inbhe ‘s mòrachd.
Ach ‘n uair a thainig am a ghràidh
Is lagh na h-àithne còmhla;
Dh’fhàs t’uile urram dhuit gun fheum,
‘S gach ni fuidh’n ghrein ach tròcair.
Is mar rinn Daibhidh anns a bhlàr
Ri lùirich Shàil. Le mòrachd
Chuir iad air i chùm a dhion;
Ach ‘s ann a phian i’n t-òig-fhear.
Bha i ‘n a h-eallach dha cho tròm,
‘S e foidh-pe call a threorachd.
Thilg e dheth l, ‘s fhuair e saorsa,
Gu ruith air raoin a chòmhraig.
* The Union Controversy.
Bha thù a’ d’ namhaid mòr do’n fhéin,
Ri fad do ré ‘s an fhàsach;
‘S tu cho eolach air a beus;
‘S i ionnan gné ‘s a’namhaid.
Is b’fhearr leath’ deathad aig do bhòrd
Na beo–shlàinte bho àireamh;
‘S chuir lagh a chreidimh orr’ an ruaig;
‘S cha d’fhuair i agad tàmhachd.
Is iomadh fianuis dh’fhàg thu d’ dhéigh
Air treubhantas do nàduir;
‘S do shaothair ghràidh bho dheas gu tuath,
An am cur suas nam pàillean.
Is bhiodh do bhriathran socair ciuinn,
Le ùghdaras ‘us dànachd; S a chuid de’n t-sluagh bu lugha tùr
Cha dùineadh iad an làmh ort.
(R’a leantuin.)