Murdo MacKenzie was born in Boston, U.S.A. in the year 1917 and died in 1973. As stated in the Synod’s Tribute, during his comparatively short life, he experienced both the sorrows and joys of this world. His parents belonged to Stoer, Sutherland, and his father died when Murdo was only eight years old. One can imagine the distress of the widowed mother, left in a foreign country, many thousands of miles from her native land, with two young boys, Murdo’s brother, Ian, being the younger of the two. As one visualises her sorely bereaved, in those exceptionally difficult circumstances, one is indeed moved with profound admiration at her courage when it is discovered that this mother instead of lying down in the bitterness of her plight, decided to return to her native place, Stoer, bringing with her not only the living but the dead also. She brought her husband’s body home to Stoer where it was laid to rest with those of many others who will have a glorious resurrection.
In 1973 Murdo’s own body joined the dust of his father’s and while our knowledge of the father is not enough to justify comment on his hope, we know that the son’s body lies in the sure hope of a glorious resurrection.
Murdo, an ambitious young man, pursued his studies at school as long as the family circumstances permitted. After completing his schooling, like many of his generation from the Scottish Highlands, he came south in search of employment and eventually settled in Edinburgh. During the first part of his stay in the city he lodged with Mr and Mrs MacRae also natives of Stoer, and eventually married Chrissie, one of their daughters.
Murdo MacKenzie, like the rest of Adam’s children, was conceived in sin and a time came in his life when he was made bitterly aware of this solemn fact. After coming to Edinburgh the means of grace were not his first choice, although true to his upbringing, he did not entirely neglect “the assembling together” in the house of God. Nevertheless, worldly pleasures were his choice until the Lord brought him to a realisation of his lost, ruined state through sin. Murdo, by personal experience, understood the Saviour’s words “Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” For many years his life and conversation showed that he was born again and an heir of the Kingdom of Heaven. His theme was often Biblical and he was at his best when the doctrines of God’s word were discussed. One had only to hear him on such occasions to be not only refreshed by his fellowship but deeply impressed by the depth of his spiritual understanding.
He, like many of his generation, served in the services of the Crown during the war and experienced the difficulties involved in military service during wartime but as a true patriot he neither shirked his duty in defending his nation nor complained of the hardship endured in the course of duty. He was however, like many others disappointed and grieved at many aspects of the victory for which he could claim his own share. The one that distressed him most was the apparent hardness which characterised the national life in the form of God dishonouring and dangerous political views. The longer Murdo lived the more disillusioned he became with human wisdom divorced from the wisdom from above.
In his capacity as an office-bearer of the church he discharged his duties conscientiously giving of his best to the Lord whom he loved. Endowed with a cheerful disposition, he was always pleasant and at the church door his warm welcome indicated the pleasure he derived from seeing sinners coming to the throne of grace where mercy and grace are found. God’s house was to Murdo the place of God’s throne, to which he was no stranger. His prayers revealed the exercises of a soul being rapidly prepared for glory. His interest in young people’s welfare was seen in many ways, not least in his prayers. He believed in encouraging the young to express their views on the Bible as in his opinion this provided Elders and others with an opportunity of correcting dangerous views of the Scriptures. He was himself well versed in the word of God and was given to reading good books; consequently his conversation could be edifying and refreshing. His relation with people generally was good, “no brawler, no striker,” but pleasant to all men, though never willing to compromise his principles. His views as a true Christian were well known to his work mates and neighbours, whose high regard for him was most impressively demonstrated by the presence of so many of them at his funeral. They were aware of the loss all round caused by the death of this good man with his cheerful presence and clear witness for Christ. Ps. 103 v. 4 was constantly in his mind on the eve of his departure into eternity.
He was generous and his hospitality was shared by many. As a family man Murdo MacKenzie had few equals. He worked hard for his family, bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. As a husband and father he was adored. As a neighbour he was highly respected and as an Elder of the church loved for his own sake and service.
In recording our deepest sympathy with his widow, family, brother and other relatives we commend them to the Lord and the word of His grace. May they be enabled by grace to follow Murdo’s example that their end also may be peace. “The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.” Isaiah 57: 1.
Since writing the foregoing, the writer has been informed that Mr MacKenzie’s parents were God-fearing persons. This could account for his mother’s determination to bury his father with the dust of the righteous, where her own body was eventually laid to rest also.
D.C.