Mrs Catherine MacAskill, Stornoway
This worthy woman, truly “a mother in Israel,” was born on 27th October, 1887 in Guershader, a village in the outskirts of Stornoway. Both her parents were professing Christians from early youth and, as may be seen from their obituaries, were eminent in the district for their piety. Her father, Donald MacIver, a native of Ranish, Lochs, was for many years an elder in the Stornoway congregation and for several years a missionary of the Church in South Harris, North Uist, and also for a short time on the Mainland. His father was the noted Alistair MacIver of Ranish, whose obituary appeared in the January 1897 issue of this Magazine. It was he who conducted the services in Stornoway after the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church in 1893 before a church had been built or a minister had been inducted to the congregation. He was then in his 89th year but (to quote from his obituary) “for some time, his youth seemed to be renewed, and his addresses were delivered with a vigour not only wonderful for a man of his age but more particularly for one whose health had been long enfeebled.” The services at the time were conducted for the most part in the Drill Hall. Mrs MacAskill had nostalgic memories of walking into town on Sabbath mornings with her two sisters to attend these services and could still recall the rat-tat of feet on the Drill Hall floor as folk entered and took their seats on forms and improvised seating of planks on trestles.
It is natural to assume that with such antecedents the subject of the obituary grew up in an atmosphere of deep regard for the things of God — His word, His day, His people and His cause in the world. The imprint of this early background was indelibly etched in her memory. Its fragrance lingered with her throughout her life. Those who were nearest to her testify to the fact that she would often revert to it, recalling in graphic style the sweet savour of her early life in Guershader where her home was a resting place for the Lord’s people travelling, for the most part on foot, from country villages to the town. She would often recall how deeply touched she used to feel when as a young girl she would listen to the Lord’s people met in close fellowship at her home, especially at Communion Seasons, as they conversed about things that “concerned the King.” No doubt this was the reason for her sometimes remarking that grown-ups were apt to underestimate the impact made on young impressionable minds by their conversation in the truth. Later, when she herself married and settled in Stornoway, she emulated this fine example of hospitality in her own home.
The example of her parents and the standards set by them were ever before her mind throughout her life. Often she would recall for her own guidance and edification remarks made by them at critical junctures or when they were passing through difficult providences, and even in the later years of her life she was wont to confess how their example came sharply before her to chasten her for her shortcoming. Endeavouring thus to walk in the way into which she had been guided by her parents, Mrs MacAskill seems to have from her tenderest years cherished a deep attachment for the things of God. When deploring her spiritual barrenness in advanced life she would recall how in these early years she had often been melted by the preaching of the Gospel and the high regard, approaching almost to a kind of awe, in which she held the ambassadors of Christ at a time when the Free Presbyterian Church was in its infancy and much abuse was directed at it for its adherence to the truth.
Some reserve was shown by her when it came to disclosing details of her spiritual experience but on her own admission she could not tell her spiritual birthday. In regard to this she seems to have been greatly exercised throughout her life. It explains why so many years of her life elapsed before she made a public profession of her faith, although often, after searching self-examination, inwardly constrained to do so. The actual occasion of her doing so is rather remarkable. After the afternoon service on the Saturday of a communion in Stornoway she had occasion to return to the church to retrieve an article left behind in the pew by one of her guests. By that time the Session had been constituted and the last opportunity had come for anyone wishing to come forward to the Lord’s Table to meet with the Session. On seeing the members of the Session the words came before her mind with compelling power: “To these long desolations thy feet lift; do not tarry . . .” Forgetting about the purpose of her returning to the church, she walked down the aisle towards the Session. In relating this experience long afterwards she declared, “I found it very easy in spite of all my former fears, and I have never regretted that step.” Next day, the Communion Sabbath, when she rose to go forward to the Table, her husband, then in his late sixties, was deeply stirred as he received no hint of her intention. Later, after he himself had come to profess the Saviour, he remarked on the quickening effect upon him of seeing his wife rise unexpectedly from his side to go to the Lord’s Table. It caused the things of eternity to weigh heavily upon his spirit.
Mrs MacAskill’s life, walk and conversation was always consistent with her profession. A woman of strong and independent character, yet she was endowed with natural charm and friendliness of disposition which endeared her to all. Her sunny smile was a tonic to all whom she greeted. Although acutely sensible of the spiritual darkness of modern times and the weakness of the Cause of Christ, she would always point to the sovereignty of the Most High and stress recourse to prayer as the prime duty in the present situation.
The Word of God was for her an unfailing source of strength and comfort at all times. She would recall, with discretion, when circumstances were suitable, portions of truth which had been her strength and which had sustained her in difficult situations in her life’s journey, landmarks on her way to the Celestial City. In this connection she was not without her share of the tribulations of this world. All those who had shared her early home life in Guershader predeceased her by many years, all of them having testified to a saving interest in Christ and she was bereft of her husband in 1958. In her married life, entered upon at the age of twenty, she suffered several bereavements, especially grievous being the loss, within three years, of a son and daughter of considerable promise in their late adolescence. In all these dispensations the Word of God upheld her and the example of resignation and quiet composure which she always manifested in the presence of such trials was a source of reassurance and strength to all in her family circle.
She loved the house of God. In this connection favourite psalms of hers were Psalm 87 with special reference to the lines: “God, more than Jacob’s dwellings all, delights in Zion’s gates;” and Psalm 65: “Praise waits for thee in Sion, Lord” and also Psalm 63: “Lord thee my God I’ll early seek, my soul doth thirst for thee.” She would often recall how she used to “throw herself into the pew” exhausted by the ceaseless round of domestic duties, to emerge later, refreshed and invigorated in body and soul. On one occasion while passing through a particularly fiery trial she felt so exhausted and cast down that, when the hour of public worship approached, she was greatly tempted to forego her attendance on the house of God. Meanwhile, one of her sons, still a young boy, was sitting on his own by the fireside with a psalmody in his hand and singing heartily to himself in Psalm 96 reaching the words in verse 6: “Great honour is before his face, and majesty divine; Strength is within his holy place, and there doth beauty shine.” No sooner did these words reach her ears from the lips of the boy than she heard the voice of the Master in them and like Mary in Bethany, “As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto Him.” It was a matter of deep concern to her when through the infirmities of age she had perforce to curtail her attendance in church. She herself was blessed with a melodious voice and nothing gave her greater joy than to sing the praises of Him who loved her and washed her from her sins in His own blood. In the goodness of the Most High she was able to do this with fervour up till the last two weeks of her life. Being endowed with a retentive memory and having sat under seven ministries, she could recall many choice remarks uttered from the pulpit of the Stornoway Free Presbyterian church and occasions when the word preached distilled upon her soul like Hermon’s dew.
Like many who asked the way to Sion before her, Mrs MacAskill knew on occasions, what it meant to mourn the absence of her Beloved and, having a keen sense of the corruption of her whole nature often lamented her own barrenness and carnality. In this context she would often quote an account of an incident read by her not many years before her end which made a deep impression on her. It occurred in a biographical sketch of the Rev. John MacRae (“MacRath Mor”). In the course of a morning walk he had met an old lady, one of his flock, eminent in the community for her godliness. On his asking her how she was she pleaded difficulty about revealing her state but confessed: I am like a dead dog thrown behind a dyke on which the worms and maggots are battenning.”
Mrs MacAskill’s attachment to the Lord’s people was very evident and she was specially tender about causing any of them offence, even the weakest and most despised. It grieved her very much to hear preachers of the gospel, ministers or laymen, disparaged or their services belittled. With her a frequent subject of thankfulness and praise was the inestimable privilege of having preachers of the gospel who declared the truth in all its fullness uncompromisingly. She loved to meet strangers brought into contact with the Free Presbyterian Church as a result of their attachment to the truth and to welcome them to her hospitable home. In her constant wrestling at the throne of grace for the advancement of Christ’s Cause in the world and the blessing of his ambassadors’ labours her heart would go out to “every nation and kindred and tongue,” a frequent petition being: “Let the whole earth be filled with His glory.”
Up till January 1973, Mrs MacAskill was remarkably alert mentally, although physically frail. At that time a deterioration in her faculties became apparent. Just prior to this she seemed to be in a very happy frame of mind and remarked with obvious enthusiasm what a wonderful experience she had enjoyed in the truth that day — the prelude to many months during which the house of her tabernacle was steadily crumbling. In the months that followed, although the process of degeneration in her faculties continued her attachment to the things of God remained unchanged. With a little assistance she would quote the truth with remarkable accuracy and sing the praises of the Most High with her former zest. Her mind seemed to be browsing much in the Song of Solomon, these verses being frequently on her lips: “Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse . . .” John’s Gospel was also precious to her at this time. In the last two weeks of her life she took a sudden turn for the worse. When it was suggested to her that the change was just a turn that would pass over, she demurred and settling down quietly proceeded to recite Psalm 23 in Gaelic with quiet deliberation — a token for good, we believe, before shortly entering “the valley of the shadow of death.” In the following days there was a sharp decline in her strength, and speech became for her a great effort. Although now suffering acute physical discomfort she appeared to be quite lucid mentally. On the day before her death there was evidence of a desire to be with Christ, a frequent petition in whispered accents being: “Come, Lord Jesus, take me as I am. Grant it, if it be thy holy will.”
She departed this life, peacefully, on Sabbath morning, the 14th October 1973, with her son and daughter, who had so devotedly and lovingly cared for her during her last illness, at her bedside. We are indebted to them for the information contained in this obituary. To them, their sister in England and their brother, the Rev. D. J. MacAskill, Uig, we extend our deepest sympathy and pray that they may enjoy the consolations of Him who ever remains the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
J. McL