Miss Marian Macleod, Raasay
Miss Marion Macleod was born at Arnish, Raasay, and latterly removed to Inverarish. She departed this life in May 1976 in her seventy-ninth year.
She was of the household of faith and, as one who was well aware that the chief end of man is to glorify God, she lived by faith on the Son of God who loved her and gave Himself for her. We believe that what was said of others of old applied in her case, namely; “These all died in faith”.
The narrative of her experience on how she was brought to the knowledge of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is unknown to the writer, but the safest criterion is that given by the Lord Himself; “By their fruits ye shall know them”. This rule applied, no one who knew Morag Macleod (as she was locally known) doubted that she was indeed a “partaker of the heavenly calling” and “an epistle known and read of all men”. And further, to elaborate a little; that she was a fruitful branch in the Vine was demonstrated by her hatred of sin, deep knowledge of the depraved nature, careful walk and close fellowship with her Saviour. She manifested the deepest interest in all things pertaining to the Cause of Christ and His Kingdom, while the whole Word of God was most precious to her and in it her soul found delight and comfort. In a community remarkable for their respect to the Cause of Christ and devotion to the means of grace, she was indeed a shining example. Though in indifferent health for many years, her place in the house of God was seldom empty, except when it was impossible for her to be present.
She was no stranger to the crosses which are common to all the Lord’s people. Her brother Charles, who was an office-bearer in the Edinburgh Congregation predeceased her by only six or seven weeks. She had to endure affliction in body and mind over a long period as well as trials experienced in many other ways, even too many to enumerate. This is what the Lord has promised to all His followers as we learn from the Scriptures: “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth”. The reason or purpose for which the Lord does this we are told: “For our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness”. One could detect or discern in Morag Macleod’s person what we may call spiritual or heavenly beauty. It was indeed the beauty of holiness which excels all other beauty and is the fruit of sanctified affliction which is usually more noticeable in some of the Lord’s people as they are approaching or ripening for Glory.
Her last illness was short and lasted only for a few weeks. Shortly after she was taken ill on this occasion the writer was in her home and while praying for her recovery this is what I received from the Lord: “He will gather His wheat into the garner.” I knew that the end was near and in about three weeks’ time Morag Macleod was absent from the body and present with the Lord. Of the loss sustained by the removal of this pious lady the writer is very sensible and indeed the whole congregation mourns her loss.
“The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart, and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come”.
We extend our sympathy to her sister who so devotedly attended to her, and to all her sisters and brothers in their bereavement.
D.N.