The late Dr Peter A. Macleod, Stornoway
The Courts of the Church have already put on record their deep sense of loss at the passing of this outstanding Christian, but it would seem appropriate to put a little about him on permanent record in the pages of the Free Presbyterian Magazine.
Peter was seventh in a family of eight, born to Norman and Annie Macleod. Norman was one who served his Master well in his own day, and there is no doubt that Peter was a child of many prayers.
That the Holy Spirit had from time to time from his earliest years been striving with him we are sure, but time and again these strivings were stifled, and he was well into his thirties before he came under real soul concern.
His life until then was such that his desires and affection were to the world and the things of the world. He had been made a burden to many at a Throne of Grace, indeed some had been exercised for him for many years, and when the Spirit began dealing effectually with him what joy it must have given them to see former companions given up, and his energies now directed into channels and avenues which indicated a real interest in matters which concerned his soul’s welfare. For several months Peter was being taught the exceeding sinfulness of sin, a lesson which we believe like all the Lord’s people he continued to learn more and more throughout life’s journey. Hitherto he had known remorse on many occasions, indeed could understand in measure what sin was doing to himself, but now his burden was his sin in the presence of an infinitely holy God, his sin against that God who had so blessed him in giving him his portion amongst every Gospel privilege, and yet despite his misery and darkness, the Holy Spirit was
keeping to him the wonder of redeeming grace that “There is forgiveness with Thee that Thou mayest be feared”.
It was while reading Spurgeon’s sermon on the “Cripple at Lystra” on a Sabbath afternoon in his home, that God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shone in his heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. A note in his diary for that day reads “Born Again”, and we believe that that day Peter “walked and leaped” and praised God.
From then onwards he devoted himself whole-heartedly to his new found Master and His Cause. Like another he could say, “Thy people shall be my people and thy God my God”, and continued to manifest this spirit throughout his life. His excellently trained voice was now tuned to the service of his Master, so that his grandfather, his father and himself are on record as outstanding precentors in the church. After professing, his pastor in Stornoway, to whom he was deeply attached, soon began to ask him to take services, and he threw himself whole-heartedly into this work. He had an excellent mind, read widely, and studied his Bible diligently. His doctrine was sound and his preaching most acceptable. Our late friend had his own share of trials, and, that his faith might be tried, knew the furnace of affliction in the measure that the Lord willed necessary for him.
He had a particular affection for the ministry of the Church, counting many of our ministers his near friends, seeking to share their burdens and esteeming them highly for their work’s sake.
The Holy Spirit used Peter in the awakening and conversion of sinners but it was as a feeder of the flock that he had a particular usefulness.
An excellent conversationalist, he enjoyed nothing better than the fellowship of the Lord’s people on the Mount of Ordinances, in his home, and in the homes of those likeminded with himself.
He could use his pen to good effect and those who received help from him in this way, when seeking the Saviour or distressed in soul and in darkness, can put an high estimate on the value of his letters at such times. Like other Christians on this side of eternity he claimed no perfection for himself. If he had a fault it was, no doubt, bound up as is often the case, with the area in which his usefulness was greatest. Sometimes he would speak hastily and be very sorry for it afterwards. Oftentimes at family worship and also in public, this petition was used by him: “Set thou a watch before my mouth, keep of my lips the door”. If there were occasions when he hurt others we believe he hurt himself more.
He loved children and was Superintendent of the Stornoway Sabbath School for many years. He loved the Truth and insisted that his class be word perfect in learning the Word.
As an elder in the Stornoway congregation he loved his ministers, was loyal to them and was a brother greatly beloved in the Courts. His liberality to the Cause was outstanding. Unmarried, he had a special care for his widowed sister and family in Stornoway.
He recovered from a serious operation in 1961 and for nine years gave useful service in his profession and the Cause of Christ, but towards the end of 1969 he relapsed and in April 1970 passed away to be for ever with the Lord.
His funeral to Sandwick Cemetery, one of the largest ever seen in Stornoway, was attended by hundreds of his fellow-islanders as well as many Mainland friends, testifying to the high esteem in which he was held.
Our sympathy is extended to his surviving sisters and their families. May they all choose Peter’s God to be their God.
“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come”. Isaiah 57:1.
H.G.
The Best Versions*
Selected from the 1904 Annual Report of the Trinitarian Bible Society
One of the resolutions at the 1904 Annual Meeting pledged the Society to “the circulation of the best versions which can be obtained”, and the Report contained the following statements —
“How infinitely important, then, is it, that the Bibles we send out should contain (as far as we can assure it) only and exactly what He has said, and what He can speak of and acknowledge as “My Words” . . . We ought to leave nothing undone in order to secure that every translation shall be as near to human perfection as human capability can make it.”
“Satan’s first words were, “Yea, hath God said?” and the answer was given in a false version of what God had said. In that answer there was an omission from, and an addition to, and an alteration of what God had said. These are the only three ways in which the Word of God can be adulterated, and these are the three marks which have characterised all false versions of that Word from that day to this . . .”
*Rev. T. H. Brown has prepared a 15-page pamphlet entitled “Holding Fast the Faithful Word” in which he gives a review of the testimony maintained by the Trinitarian Bible Society concerning the text and translations of the Holy Scriptures since the formation of the Society.