The late Rev. D.N. MacLeod
(continued from page 249)
The next period of his ministry was to be spent in what was then one of the most extensive charges in the church, there being but one Free Presbyterian Congregation in Harris when he took up his pastoral duties there on 3rd August, 1911. The call was signed by 1,100 persons and amongst them there was a goodly number of such as were truly of the salt of the earth. They were alive then who could remember John Morison (Gobha na Hearradh) but not so numerous as in his day who could really enter into the spiritual experiences of that eminent Christian bard as that is expressed, for instance, in his composition, “An Nuadh Bhreith” (The New Birth), the theme of which is the holy conflict in the soul of the regenerate sinner, the contestants being the old and the new man. Times had undoubtedly changed in Harris as elsewhere and the chilling wind of Modernism blowing from the south was beginning to be felt there also. The minister then settled over the Free Presbyterian Congregation and, as was to be clearly evidenced, a faithful ambassador for Christ, was destined never to preach the Gospel in the church at Manish, the fabric of which John Morison had laboured so indefatigably to erect, although the vast majority of the people of South Harris were under his pastoral care. Instead a new church was to be built at Finsbay — a project to which the people contributed willingly, labouring with their hands and giving liberally of their means and this at a time when money was not as plentiful as it is now. About three years after his settlement in Harris he was married to Miss Joey Macfarlane of Oban and she continued to be a faithful helpmeet to him until her death in 1951.
For the space of thirteen years he was to preach the Word in Harris, reproving, rebuking, exhorting with all long suffering and doctrine. It was an eventful period. The First World War was to bring sorrow and heartbreak to many a fireside far removed from the scene of conflict, and Harris was no exception. Many choice young men, most of them in the prime of their manhood, fell on the battlefields of Europe or were lost at sea. With those that wept, he wept. Lord Leverhulme’s plans to transform South Harris, and Obbe (now Leverburgh) in particular, into a prosperous economic community were then put into operation and for a number of years there was a flurry of activity. No doubt some benefits came to the area, not least being much needed employment and, what was of a more permanent nature, roads and houses; but the material benefits seemed to be far outweighed at the time by the increase in Sabbath desecration and contempt for Gospel ordinances, largely induced by the influx of workers from other parts who were out of sympathy with the religious outlook of the South Harris people. Against the evils of the day Mr Macleod faithfully spoke out and thereby stirred up the opposition and enmity of those whose conduct was blameworthy. In regard to this, although much maligned, he closely followed in the footsteps of His Master “Who when reviled, reviled not again”.
Happy and privileged is that Gospel minister who has in his congregation those who carry him on their spirits to the Throne of Grace. In the Harris congregation there were not a few. Outstanding among them were several godly women such as Mrs Mackay (affectionately known as ‘Grannie Urgha’), Miss Annie Macdonald, Grosebay, Mrs MacCuish, Leacklee, and Mrs Ewen Maclellan, Georab. These worthy women have long since departed — many years before their pastor — to be with Christ which is far better, but they, like him, have left behind them “names and remembrances, sweet, fragrant, hallowed”. Long afterwards Mr Macleod would often refer to the way in which he felt himself strengthened and encouraged by their very presence before him in the assembled congregation. Such was Annie Macdonald’s attachment to Mr Macleod and the House of God that even in the most inclement weather she was regularly to be observed wending her arduous way to Tarbert. When, on one very wet and stormy Sabbath Day, she was remonstrated with for having ventured out of her home in such weather, her ready reply was to the effect that, although she would not certainly starve with dry meal in the house, it was by far preferable to sit down in congenial surroundings to a wholesome repast, and especially when prepared by one whom she regarded as a master in the art, and through whose ministry her soul was so richly fed. With such hearers it is not surprising that he at times enjoyed much liberty in preaching. It was as if he were, on entering on his Harris ministry, anointed with fresh oil. They are alive today who remember sermons they heard then, fifty years ago or more, and the unction, earnestness and solemnity which characterised the preacher remain yet vividly before their minds. Opening a new meeting house at Kintail he preached from the words, “Lord I have loved the habitation of thine house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth”, and one who was present that day vividly recalls the manner in which he earnestly prayed for the prosperity of the Cause of Christ and the salvation of immortal souls. It was there, that very day, she told the writer, that she believes she herself came to realise for the first time that she had an immortal soul in dire need of salvation. From that day forward she felt herself bound to him and ever after held him in the highest regard as a true ambassador of Christ. The same might be said of many from Kyles-Scalpay to Strond, and across the Sound of Harris in North Uist also; and numerous were the tokens given to him, both then and afterwards, in confirmation of the fact that his labours were not in vain in the Lord. His simple, methodical way of presenting the truth appealed to the common people and they heard him gladly. It was not by means of any great oratorical powers that he commanded their attention so readily but rather on account of the plainness and directness which characterised his manner of preaching. “Genius,” Rabbi Duncan is reported as having said on one occasion and with Dr Chalmers in mind, “lies very much in that region where the profound is simple and the simple profound.” Without, of course, claiming for Mr Macleod the intellectual stature and genius of Chalmers we, nevertheless, believe that what accounted for the impact which his preaching made was the fact that it was, at one and the same time, both simple and profound. It is not just what he said, his hearers will tell you, but the way that he said it. The reverence with which he approached the particular portion of Scripture to be expounded was most marked and every word seemed to be carefully weighed, as it were beforehand. What was said of the Rev. John MacRae (MacRath Mor) might very appropriately, we think, be applied to him. Apparently it was true of that noted minister that instead of becoming elated under the influence of religious emotion as others when they enjoyed liberty in the pulpit, he was wont when he had most liberty to sink down in spiritual abasement under the weight of the Spirit’s unction as if laid in the dust under the effects of his own preaching. This characteristic of Mr Macleod was apparently noted by the Rev. Neil Cameron and drew the comment from him that he could not but admire him for it. They say in Harris to this day that Mr Macleod’s deportment and bearing entering the pulpit under the eye of the congregation was so solemnly impressive that it was a ‘sermon’ in itself. Then in his prime, he was tall and handsome in his person, and during the years he needed all his not inconsiderable physical strength and stamina in order to cover all the miles he had to travel on foot to the various villages and ‘meeting houses’ scattered throughout the island. In those not so distant days, the presence of the minister in the village had its own effect. Out of respect to him everything possible was done in the home where he lodged and in the immediate locality to ensure that nothing would disturb his peace of mind before the Sabbath. The time to depart from Harris came in 1924. In bidding farewell to the congregation in Strond he spoke from the words, “Finally brethren farewell”, and one who was present recalls that there were few dry eyes as he lovingly warned them to beware lest he should be a witness against them at the Judgment Seat.
(to be continued)