The Late Mrs M. Matheson, Aird, Uig
Many friends in Lewis were sorry for the death of the above. She had been a member in full communion for many years, and was one who said herself she would never tire of hearing the Word of God. She would only be displeased if the prayer meeting in her home was too short. While she was able, she would be at Miavaig Church, an example to those much younger, who neglect the means of grace on Sabbath and week day. She and her husband had a large family, some of them abroad, and there was no bereavement in the family for many years.
Her home was hospitable to many of the Lord’s people, and the family are still very kind to the Lord’s people, and liberal to the Cause of Christ.
She wanted her grand-children to avoid modern fashions of dress, and was grieved if they would not obey her. She took a shock, and we were privileged to see her passing through Jordan peacefully to her everlasting rest. May her passing be blest to all the family circle at home and abroad, especially to her son and daughter, and daughter-in-law, who were with her in the home, and showed the greatest affection to her to the end.
In 1929, when the Established Church united with the United Free Church, to form the Church of Scotland, 300 of the State Church joined our Church in Uig, as we held the Establishment Principle (i.e. the principle that the State should support the Cause of Christ), and they would not join with Voluntaries. To the testimony of our Church Mrs Matheson continued in warm attachment to the end.
D. J. Macaskill
The Late Mrs Maggie Matheson
The above was a member in full communion here at Uig. She was of a happy, friendly disposition, and was well loved by everybody. Her attendance on the means of grace was most exemplary, sometimes even when she was not well. She received treatment at Inverness, which benefited her for a period, and she was once again in church, but the Great Shepherd needed her for the pastures above. May God bless her son and daughter and grand-children, who were devoted to her.
Mrs Matheson knew of the writer’s great grandfather, Alistair Maciver, who was at the head of the Cause in Stornoway, when they worshipped in the Drill Hall, before they secured a church and minister. His obituary is in the first volume of the Magazine in English and Gaelic. The Free Presbyterians were then called “Seceeders,” because they separated from the Declaratory Act Free Church, which had seceded from the Constitution of the Church of Scotland (Free), as settled by the Disruption, Fathers in 1843. The Declaratory Act was passed by a majority of Presbyteries under the Barrier Act, and became binding on all office-bearers. There was Arminianism in it, and the Church was made the supreme authority, instead of the Confession of Faith, founded on the Word of God.
D. J. Macaskill
The Late Malcolm Maclennan, Uig
The subject of this obituary notice was an elder of long standing. He had been a Deacon in Balnakill congregation. He served as Treasurer of the congregation at Miavaig, and was very conscientious in looking after every detail of the congregation’s finances. He was “one of the meek of the earth,” as one of the former ministers of the Miavaig congregation, said.
Being most hospitable, he entertained the ministers on occasions when the Manse was closed. It was always a pleasure to visit him. His invariable answer, when asked how he was, was, “We have no reason to complain.” May God bless his son and daughter, who were very dutiful and devoted to him. May He raise them up to witness as their godly father did for so many years.
D. J. Macaskill
The Late Mrs Buchanan, Mangersta
The subject of this obituary notice reached the advanced age of 95 years, when she went to the better country in August, 1971. We had many cottage prayer-meetings in her home, sometimes in wild weather, but the house was very often full. She always received us with Christian kindness. Latterly she became dull of hearing, but was very patient, and bore the infirmities of old age with Christian fortitude.
She was devotedly nursed by her daughter-in-law. May God bless her and the son and other relations, and make them witnesses as Mrs Buchanan was, who “served her generation, and fell on sleep.”
D. J. Macaskill