Hector Campbell — Scoraig and Ullapool
Mr Hector Campbell was born in Scoraig in the year 1897. At that time in Scoraig, as in many other places in the Highlands of Scotland, a stand was being made for the Truth in the separation from the Free Church of Scotland. Hector was to live to know about this stand and to spend his days in defence of it. He made it abundantly plain that he understood spiritually its significance. The Free Presbyterian Church was dear to him. His was no blind attachment to a tradition, but an intelligent and spiritual grasp of the issues involved. Sensitive to the decline of the age, he showed an ever-increasing desire to hold fast to the gospel that had been handed down to himself. He was willing to suffer and endure hardship in connection with the witness for the faith.
After his return from service in the First World War, Hector showed a deep concern for his soul’s everlasting good. From his religious exercises throughout his life, it was manifest that the Holy Spirit had instructed him concerning his own sinfulness and lostness, apart from the suitability and preciousness of the Saviour, The Lord Jesus Christ, under whose wings he had come to trust.
In 1922 Hector made a public profession of the faith of the gospel. We may rest assured that this was no slight step with him. The services in Scoraig, at that time, were being conducted by Mr John MacIver, who was in declining health. This latter fact meant that Hector was early called upon to engage in public duties. In 1928 he was ordained to the office of elder.
He was abundantly blessed with gifts suited to the word of preaching. In listening to him, one was easily convinced that the Lord was most real to him — he preached a Christ whom he knew. When he spoke of sin, he did so, in such a way as to demonstrate his intimate knowledge of its subtle power and workings in the human heart. He left no-one in doubt that he himself was in conflict with sin and Satan. His preaching activities were not confined to Scoraig. In his later years, when he left Scoraig, he was of great help in Ullapool and the surrounding congregations. He preached because the love of Christ constrained him and not for filthy lucre. On the Sabbath before he died, he took both services in the Ullapool church. In the morning he preached from Isaiah 53 verse 1 — words which seemed to tell of his departure. These words we find on the lips of Christ Himself at the end of His ministry. In the evening Hector spoke from Matthew 25 verses 1 to 13 — again a message which seemed to indicate that the Bridegroom was near for him. His hearers were left in no doubt that he was ready. Many present had to acknowledge that they had never heard him preach with greater unction and authority.
He was a man of prayer. That generation of believers were much given to the habit of secret prayer. Hector was no exception. In public, his prayers were unctious, many being refreshed and revived by them. At communion seasons, it was a spiritual treat to hear him engage in prayer. One felt that there was real communion between earth and heaven. Hardly ever did he pray without the petition of Jabez, “that Thou wouldest keep me from evil that it may not grieve me.”
This petition, constantly reiterated, showed his unabating hatred of sin and his desire for holiness.
He was a spiritually-minded man. His desire was to converse on the things of God, and in particular to talk of the work of the Holy Spirit in the souls of God’s people. He could tell how he was stripped of his own righteousness — how he came to throw away his own garment when he came to Christ. Of his warfare with the carnal mind, he frequently spoke. He himself complained of decay, but there were no visible signs of it. A: early as 1923, we read in his diary — “Oh to be among the people that fear the Lord. I feel miserable tonight among the people of the world, who have no word of Eternity. They are advancing towards the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive according to what they have done. Oh, that I was in the company of God’s people whom I love. I love their company. Oh, that my lot was to be among them compared to where I am. How it grieves me to think of sinners, some over the allotted span, others younger, and some chastened by the Most High and getting hardened in heart like Pharaoh. Oh, that they would learn that the wages of sin is death — and what it is to meet the Judge without being prepared — without being cleansed in His blood.” Here was the blade, which we have seen grow into the ear and ultimately to the full corn in the ear.
In his walk and conversation in the world, he was an epistle known and read of all men. Useful in his day and generation, he fulfilled all his duties with becoming Christian dignity. His home was a pleasant retreat for the people of God, who were ever made welcome. He grudged nothing for the Cause of Christ. His family were well brought up in the duties of personal religion and piety. In the community, he was known as a man of God and magnified his office as an elder of the church over the long period of nearly fifty years. The time came when like Daniel of old, he received the word of the Lord — “Go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” He passed away very suddenly on 7th July 1975. We are left as a Church to mourn his loss.
Alfred E. W. Macdonald
Roderick MacInnes, Staffin
Roderick MacInnes, the subject of this obituary, was born in Staffin, Isle of Skye, where he lived throughout the sixty-six years of his life, and from where he was removed from the service of the Church on earth “to be with Christ which is far better” in the heavenly mansions.
Although he was naturally reticent, his interest in Christ and his Cause was very evident even before his appearance at the Kirk Session seeking admittance to the Lord’s table for the first time. Being a gifted singer he used to lead the praises of the sanctuary before his public profession of faith in the One of Whom he could say “. . . who loved me and gave himself for me.” His appearance before the Kirk Session did not surprise either the Kirk Session or the Congregation. This was on Saturday, 9th July, 1966. His exemplary life, walk and conversation, as well as his diligent attendance on the Means of Grace, leading up to his appearance before the Kirk Session caused many to expect this action on his part. It was for him, as it ought to be for all, a solemn step to take and he did not take it without due preparation and heart-searching. When called upon, in due time, to engage in public prayer it was obvious that he did not take this duty lightly and that he was acutely aware of the plague of his own heart. One became aware of this as he solemnly addressed his God often with quotations such as this: “I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes”, as Abraham did when interceding for Sodom or Job when he answered the Lord and said, “Behold I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.” He was ordained an elder of the Staffin Congregation in September, 1973.
His reticence did not keep him from speaking on the Lord’s side when the occasion demanded this of him and his addresses were most acceptable to the people and were usually given in his beloved Gaelic language. His last public address was, however, given in English from the words, “Come for all things are now ready”, Luke 14:17. These words were most appropriate when we consider what happened at the end of his address. He spoke with great fervency and gave no indication of feeling unwell and his apposite remarks greatly impressed the people. At the conclusion of his address he asked Donald MacLennan, Inverness, to pray and seemed as though he was going to sit down but before he managed to do so he collapsed and died.
He had served his Lord and Master to his last breath.
Roderick MacInnes studiously searched the Scriptures and could readily quote from Scripture. He was also well acquainted with the Puritan writers and could quote from them. This enabled him to conduct public worship with a great measure of competence. His concurrence with the action of the late Rev. Donald Macfarlane in opposing the infamous Declaratory Act of 1893 was very apparent as was his understanding of the implications of that Act. His regard for the late Alexander MacKay, who was for some time a missionary in Staffin, was also discernable in his conversation which leads me to believe that the faithful preaching of this servant of the Lord was the means used by the Holy Spirit to bring Mr MacInnes to a saving knowledge of Christ.
To his widow who, with the rest of the congregation, was an eye-witness of the solemn event briefly described above, we extend our sincere sympathy, as well as to the sisters and brothers of the deceased.
“Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” Psalm 12:1.
J. McD., Staffin