The late Donald MacIver, North Tolsta, Lewis
The subject of this short obituary was born in North Tolsta in the year 1897 and departed this life in March 1973.
He was the fourth child in a family of seven who were bereaved of their father when still very young. The burden of their upbringing fell heavily upon the widow at a time when the necessities of life were more difficult to come by than they are now. Despite the struggle to provide for the temporal needs of the family, their spiritual welfare was not neglected. The worship of God was observed in the home, the children taking it in turns to read the Bible as the mother was unable to do so.
For the greater part of his life Donald MacIver, like many of his fellow-islanders, followed a seafaring career. He served his country in both wars at sea, and on one occasion was the last man to leave the ship after it was torpedoed. The man following him up the ladder was too late and went down with the ship. This incident made a deep impression upon him and he often afterwards expressed his wonder at the Lord’s mercy towards him on that occasion.
In 1929 he was married to Annie Nicolson who survives him and is a communicant in the North Tolsta Congregation. There were eight children born of their marriage of whom seven still survive. The death of a son in 1957 at the early age of twenty-three years was a sore trial to them both but they were enabled by grace to acquiesce in the will of the Lord.
We are not in a position to say when our late friend first became concerned for the salvation of his soul, but it was through the words of 1 John 1:7, “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin,” that he entered into the liberty of the children of God.
In 1963 he was received by the Kirk Session as a member in full communion and in 1964 he was elected a Deacon of the Congregation.
He was one who possessed, “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,” adorning his profession as a Christian, esteeming others better than himself. He carried out the duties of his office in the humble and unassuming manner which was so characteristic of him, and was devoted to the Cause of Christ. Having an intelligent grasp of the testimony for truth raised in Scotland in 1893, he was fully persuaded that that Cause was to be found in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
Due to the nature of his illness Donald MacIver was unable, for the last three years of his life, to attend the public means of grace, but we believe the Lord was a “little sanctuary” to him within the confines of his own home. He was no stranger to the temptations of the Evil One and his sense of indwelling sin and corruption was a continual affliction to him. To him, “the Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness” became increasingly precious.
Shortly before the end came he was overheard praying. “Be thou near to us, and keep us near to thee, until the end.” His end, we feel assured, was that of the perfect man.
Mark thou the perfect, and behold
The man of uprightness;
Because that surely of this man
The latter end is peace.
To his widow who lovingly attended to him during his illness, and to his family we extend our sincere sympathy.
D.McL.