There passed away at Inverness on Tuesday, 17th February 1976, Rev. John Colquhoun, former minister of Glendale, Isle of Skye, and for many years the Gaelic Editor of this Magazine. His death, along with that of Rev. William Grant who passed away on Thursday, 26th February 1976, leaves a blank in the ranks of the ministry of our Church. Both attained a good age, Mr Grant being almost 90 years old, and both rendered valued service to the Church over a long period of time.
It is to Mr Colquhoun’s work, as a contributor to this periodical that we wish to make reference at present. Mr Colquhoun continued supplying Gaelic copy for the Free Presbyterian Magazine until the end of last year when it was decided to discontinue the Gaelic for the present. A good number of the Gaelic articles which he prepared for publication were Gaelic translations of sermons and writings which had been originally published in English. In this way Mr Colquhoun set himself a particularly difficult task, yet he carried it on to nearly the end of his days in the world.
Mr Colquhoun, however, did not confine himself to Gaelic writing but over the years he contributed numerous English articles to the Magazine on a variety of subjects. Probably if they were reckoned up the number of these articles would exceed 200. This indicates the amount of work he did in addition to his preaching and pastoral duties. Other duties also were laid upon him and we find him year by year producing for the Synod massive reports on religion and morals.
Mr Colquhoun was not only well able to deal competently with the subjects he handled, being well read in Christian literature, but was able to write clearly and effectively. It was his task to bear this burden of writing at a time when there were very few to undertake this work. His help, consequently, was greatly appreciated by the Editors along with whom he served and to whom he gave such willing support. His writings remain on record in the bound volumes of the Magazine, and also in the pamphlets he produced, as a continuing memorial to him, and no doubt will be of use to readers for many years to come.
In controversial writing Mr Colquhoun could be sharp with his opponents, but his aim was to disabuse their minds of wrong notions. He would have men to follow the Lord fully and to cleave to the truth whatever the cost. He had little place for people, particularly if they were in the ministry, who undermined the faith of the Gospel. He could readily detect subtleties and sophistries in the writings of his opponents. The witness of our own Church he steadfastly maintained and would not spare with his pen those who sought to detract from its witness or cast aspersions on those men of God who were raised up to establish it. Mr Colquhoun longed and worked and prayed for the advancement of Christ’s Cause, not only in his native Island of Skye which was especially much upon his heart at a Throne of Grace, but also throughout the land and throughout the whole world.
His preaching, his prayers, his writing has now ended. He has, we believe, entered into his rest, leaving behind him the witness of a life diligently spent in the service of the Master whom it was his delight to serve, and to serve faithfully, to the end of his day.
We would conclude this tribute to Mr Colquhoun by appending to it the tribute placed on record by the Northern Presbytery at its meeting on 24th February 1976 — the Presbytery to which Mr Colquhoun was attached in his closing years and which is now left to mourn his loss.
We extend to Mr Colquhoun’s sorrowing widow our deep sympathy in her great loss. Our readers, we are sure, will whole-heartedly join us in this.