The late Mr James MacPherson, Elder, Daviot
The farm of Lairgandour in Strathnairn was the birthplace of our friend of whom we write. His father, John MacPherson, was a godly man who with his wife Barbara often entertained ministers and students of the church as well as others of the Lord’s people. The couple had six sons and two daughters born to them, and James was the second oldest. He was born in August, 1890, and rapidly grew into a very tall, strapping lad in whom his father showed his confidence by putting him in charge of the farm of Drummore of Clava when he was only eighteen. Twelve years later, in 1920, James began to farm on his own behalf at Knockandhu in Strathdearn. He was there for fifty years, married Jean MacDonald of the same district, and they had one son and four daughters. His church connection for most of his life, therefore, was with the Tomatin Free Presbyterian congregation.
Yet he was over sixty years of age before he showed any sign of heart religion, and another fifteen years went by before he made an open profession of faith in Christ. This was in July, 1968 when he was seventy-seven years of age. Exactly when the change in his spiritual state took place, we cannot say. He was reticent regarding his own spiritual experiences, though not slow to speak of his own and others’ need of having such experiences. What was evident from the time he became a communicant, however, was his familiarity with the language that it becomes a needy soul to employ at the throne of grace. His prayers were manifestly not borrowings from others, but the plain and free expression of his own clear and reverent thoughts on devotional matters. His public prayers were marked by great earnestness of manner, and a deep sense of fallen man’s need, along with high views of the greatness and goodness of the God of salvation.
James MacPherson’s venerable age and spiritual maturity made him an obvious candidate for the eldership when an election was held in the congregation early in 1970, and in February he was one of three elders ordained to the office. Lameness and failing health prevented him from serving as a Presbytery elder, but he faithfully discharged his duties in the congregation.
Retirement in 1970 brought about a change of abode. Leaving the farm with his son, John, he moved to Inverness and thereafter attended the Daviot church. He loved the house of God, and despite his infirmities, was seldom absent from his place on Sabbath or prayer-meeting. In the spring of last year James was taken to hospital with an internal haemorrhage. In mid-September he took another, and his condition was judged so serious that only an operation could save his life. This was done, but he never regained strength. During the two months that he lay in great weakness, his mind was constantly running out to spiritual things. It seems that before he took ill he had a premonition that his end was approaching, and he gave many tokens that he felt ready in the strength of grace to exchange this world for a better. He often asked his likeminded wife (she had professed at the same time as himself) to read the twenty-first chapter of Revelation. “What a lovely place to be going to!” he would remark when she finished reading. Shortly before his death, which took place on the 15th November, 1975, he seriously addressed all his children on their need of being found in Christ.
And so, “in a good old age,” James MacPherson “was gathered to his people,” the dead in Christ whose spirits live in his presence. The respect in which he was held as a man in farming circles, and the regard had for him as a man of God in church circles, was evident from the large number who gathered to the funeral worship and burial. His remains were laid beside those of his brother John in the Daviot churchyard. John had died only eight months previously. And six months later, the body of Alex, the only remaining brother, was also laid beside the other two. “Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”
James MacPherson is greatly missed in the Straths congregation. To his impressive, venerable appearance was added a genial, friendly manner, but he will be remembered mainly for his true piety and real concern for the spiritual wellbeing of old and young. To his widow, his son and daughters, and grandchildren — to his sister Elizabeth also — we would extend our sympathy in their great loss, and wish for them all the same blessings as were so obviously possessed by the subject of this obituary.
A.McP.
The late Donald MacPhail, Deacon, St Jude’s
Donald MacPhail was born in Greenock in the year 1916. He afterwards came to Glasgow, where he was educated, and graduated in Glasgow University. He took up the teaching profession and, at the time of his death, was Principal Classics Teacher in Allen Glen’s School. He was a man of considerable intellectual ability and this, combined with his fine Christian character, undoubtedly had a good effect on his pupils.
He enjoyed the privilege of a strict upbringing. Like other young people, he often cherished rebellious thoughts when seeing the “freedom” of other children, while he felt restricted. On one Sabbath evening, he was both surprised and solemnised on hearing Rev. Neil Cameron, in the course of preaching, refer to such thoughts and declare, “You are here tonight in whose mind are these thoughts.” The death of his father, when he was 16 years of age, also made a deep impression on him. The Holy Spirit gave him to see that he was a sinner in the sight of God in need of that salvation, which is to be found in Christ alone. Christ in the gospel was made precious to him. He served in the Army from 1940 until 1946 and, while away there, he wrote saying, “Yet, I must confess that on several occasions I so enjoyed listening to the Word preached that I could have sat for hours and could wish that the week were 7 Sabbaths.” He mentioned some truths with which he felt impressed as he heard sermons on them. Some of these were, “Who are these that fly as a cloud and as doves to their windows?” (Is.60:8): “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers: but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1.Pet.1.18,19.); and, “Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my salvation and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” (2.Sam.23;5).
“Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” In this way, Donald came to the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. His consistent life, the saviour of his public exercises and his humble walk with God all combined to show that Christ was indeed all his salvation and all his desire.
He was elected to the office of deacon in the St Jude’s congregation and accepted this office but, although also elected to the eldership, he never saw his way to accept this. This was a matter of regret to his fellow-office-bearers and to his minister, with all of whom he maintained the most peaceful and harmonious relations. He acted as Congregational Treasurer and Superintendent of the Sabbath School for some years, in both of which spheres he discharged his duties with fidelity. He is still warmly remembered by those whom he taught in the Sabbath School, all of them now grown up and some of them with children of their own in the Sabbath School.
Some years, ago, he developed heart trouble from which he suffered, on occasions, a great deal. Although he was not old, his friends could see that he was failing even although he was able to carry on teaching and to come to Church up until his last illness. He was taken to hospital with a heart attack but came home. On 26th April, 1974, his soul slipped gently away to be with the Saviour who loved him and gave himself for him. To his widow, son and sister, we extend our sincere sympathy.
A fortnight later, his aged mother, Mrs Rachel MacPhail, passed away to her eternal rest. She had been staying with her daughter in Achinstraid, Kishorn but was a communicant in the St Jude’s congregation. Mrs MacPhail was one of the meek of the earth. She felt deeply her need of being delivered from the deceitfulness of her own heart and from resting upon a false foundation for eternity. She was often concerned as to the reality of her faith in Jesus, Who was her only hope. Those who knew her did not share the doubts she had about herself, but rather felt assured that she was one to whom the words applied, “Unto you who believe, he is precious.” Her meekness was wonderfully exemplified in the illnesses through which she was called upon to pass, in the process of which she lost both her legs. She had no complaints about the Lord’s dealings with her, but many regrets over the unbelief she felt in her own heart. She delighted to be at the feet of Jesus as a poor and needy sinner. She proved thereby that, like Mary, she possessed the “one thing needful.” “And Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke II;42).
To her daughter, Mary, we extend our sincere sympathy.
D. M., Glasgow
The late Mrs Margaret MacLeod, Larbert
Mrs Margaret MacLeod, the widow of the Late Rev. James MacLeod, Greenock, was born on 2nd October, 1886, at Vatten House, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye. She was the fourth child of Mr and Mrs William Porteous, whose Christian character and hospitality were well known to a former generation in that Island. Her father, who was a native of Glasgow, led a sea-faring life and then retired to Skye. It was here that he was effectually called by the grace of God, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr Ross, Bracadale — a pious minister in the then Free Church — the portion of divine truth made especially precious to his soul being, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
His wife, who was a native of Durness, Sutherland, also came to a saving knowledge of the Word of God in Skye when under the ministry of Rev. Alexander MacColl, then in Duirinish. This aimiable couple, both of whom were eminent in piety, had a clear and intelligent grasp of the great principles of the Cause of Christ. It was not difficult for them, therefore, to cast in their lot with the noble band who raised a witness on the side of the doctrine, worship and practice of the Reformed Church in Scotland, in 1893, when the passing of the Declaratory Act laid the then Free Church in ruins. They loved the Free Presbyterian Church, and communion seasons in Vatten were very precious to them both. They were careful, therefore, not only to instruct their family in the doctrines of the Word of God, but to ensure that they understood the necessity for the stand made in 1893, and the equal necessity for that stand to be maintained.
Their daughter, Margaret, when nine years of age, suffered a fall from a loft, leading to damage which so affected her hearing that she became deaf. Her disability meant that she stayed much at home with her parents and saw the piety which they practised, and the good example set before herself by them. It is likely that this made a great impression upon her, for, when she was sent to Edinburgh for the benefit of her education, she was deeply grieved at the Sabbath desecration and the ungodliness of the lives of those with whom she came into contact.
She became the wife of the Rev. James MacLeod in 1919 and, despite her disability, conducted the affairs of her household with competence, and in a way that showed her love for her husband and her care for her children. Her position in a Manse gave her the opportunity, which she highly prized, of serving the servants of Christ and His people and, in attending to their needs, she carried on the good work which she had seen in her own home in Vatten. She praised the Lord for His kindness in leaving her with her sight so that she could read extensively and gain spiritual comfort from sermons and books. She was much given to prayer and would often surprise one by the views she would express with regard to affairs affecting the Church. Since she bore the Church on her spirit at a Throne of Grace, the Lord would often give her His mind when those who thought they knew far more about the affair than she did were left in darkness.
After the lamented death of her husband in 1963, she went to live with her daughter in Larbert. In 1971, she had a severe illness and was not expected to live but, in the kindness of the Lord, she was spared for another two years and was able to follow her usual custom of going to the Vatten communion. She had a memorable season there in 1970 when she enjoyed much of the Lord’s presence at the Table. This refreshing time was followed by a period of darkness out of which she was delivered by the words in Is.41.10., “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” She passed away to her eternal rest on 20th May, 1973. Her latter end was peace.
We extend our sincere sympathy to all the members of her family, especially to her daughter, Jessie Russel, who nursed her so willingly and tenderly to the end. May they all be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord God of their father and mother!
D. M., Glasgow