Mrs Essie Green, Finchley, London
There passed away at Killearnan in the Black Isle on 21st January 1977, Mrs Essie Green, wife of Mr Bernard Green, formerly of Finchley, London. Though she and her husband had only come to reside in the North of Scotland a few months before she passed away, yet her passing left a great blank in the area, as those who knew her more intimately can testify.
Essie, as she was familiarly called, was the eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs John MacDonald, Mossfield Drive, Oban. She was born in Beauly on 26th August 1918, one of twins. The other twin subsequently developed meningitis and died, but Essie, who had also been ill earlier, was spared. The purposes of the Lord are from eternity.
For a short time Essie’s parents lived in Glasgow but then went to reside in Oban, where they spent most, if not all, of the remainder of their days. Mr John MacDonald, Essie’s father, was an elder and also the precentor for many years in the Oban congregation. He was an able speaker and gave help with supply from time to time, especially at Fort William. His supplying of Fort William was done at great inconvenience as he had to be back early on Monday morning for work, but he grudged no effort put out for the furtherance of Christ’s Cause. Essie’s mother was a professing woman over many years. She did not take that profession lightly, and was eminently a woman of prayer. In this her daughter Essie followed her when she became a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a loss are such mothers in Israel when they are removed!
Essie, then, was nurtured in the Gospel, and had before her eyes in her parents evidence of living Christianity. We have reason to think that she was kept in a measure from the waywardness into which so many fall, even when blessed with godly parents. The concerns of a large household, in difficult and trying times, her parents had to shoulder, and Essie, we know, gave her parents all the help she could, and did so unstintingly. Essie, too, had to share the grief of her parents and the rest of the family when her eldest brother was reported missing, and subsequently presumed killed, in Crete in the Second World War. This blow left its mark on her mother for the rest of her days.
Though Essie had all the benefits of a Christian upbringing, this did not and could not of itself bring her to the Saviour. A change came in her circumstances when on 8th June 1949 she was married to Mr Bernard Green, a Deacon in the Strict Baptist Church. She now went to reside in Finchley, London, where she was to spend the remainder of her days, apart from the last few months of her life. In London she was much attached to Rev. J. P. MacQueen, under whose ministry she sat for many years. It was ten years after her removal to London that she made a public profession of her faith in Christ, receiving encouragement from a sermon preached by Rev. Alex. Morrison, North Uist, from the first chapter in Ruth. That was in 1959. When she actually came to a saving knowledge of the truth is not clear but it was evident for many years before she professed, that she was leading an exemplary life. She took the time of her deliverance to be after she came to London, though her husband believed that a work of grace was going on before they married. One evidence of it was the concern he saw she had for the glory of God. Also in seeking direction in connection with their marriage he received encouragement from the Word concerning her that she was a vessel of mercy.
The hospitality she saw in her parents home at 11 Mossfield Drive, which would be full of the Lord’s people at communion seasons and at other times, and where the songs of Zion were frequently sung, she continued in her own home, along with her like-minded husband. Many who came from Scotland to work in London found a congenial home from home at 8 Cyprus Avenue, Finchley, and not a few, we believe, benefited from the Christian atmosphere they found there and the gracious counsel and advice they received. None could be long with Essie and not know where she stood in the things that mattered. Even those who had not yet come to know the Lord could not but respect her. Indeed she was loved by those who had the privilege of enjoying the fellowship and hospitality of her home. Though never enjoying robust health, yet she remained bright in her disposition, ever welcoming to her home those who loved the gates of Zion, and always seeking to speak a word in season to young and old. To speak a word for Christ was her desire in whatever company she found herself and she did it in so natural a manner that persons could not easily take offence.
During Essie’s many years of poor health in London, and though she lived many miles from the hall where our services were held, it was rare for her place to be empty in the House of God. So, too, in the last months of her life she continued to attend the services in much pain and weakness. In this she was a shining example. No frivolous excuse would deter her from attending the public means of grace. She could say:
The habitation of Thy house,
Lord, I have loved well;
Yea, in that place I do delight
Where doth Thine honour dwell.
A poem written by her on one occasion when she was laid aside and unable to attend a sacramental season in the congregation gives expression to her soul exercise over the Lord’s dealings with her in thus been prevented from being with the Lord’s people on the Mount.
While in London Essie underwent at various times four operations and when she and her husband moved to the North of Scotland in October 1976 cancer was already well advanced in her. There remained for her only a few months of life’s journey. When the pain of her trouble grew more severe towards the end she was confined to the house but enjoyed the visits of some of the Lord’s servants and people. She was wonderfully upheld in her suffering, never complaining of the Lord’s dealings with her, but often complaining of her own deadness and hardness of heart. Her end was peace. Those who were privileged to see her during her last days saw what grace can do in preparing a child of God for glory. She gave testimony of the grace that was in her. “What a strange thing it must be, to be one moment in time and the next in eternity,” she said. “I have nothing to do now but to die. If grace is needed for dying, I think I am getting it now. I feel a peace and confidence.” Referring to her family she said, “I feel willing to leave you all in the Lord’s hands.” “I stand upon His merits, I know no other stand — that is all I can say.” She said too, “We cannot imagine the joys and pleasures of heaven although we get tastes of it here.” When her husband said, “Soon you will be clothed in the white linen of Christ’s righteousness,” she added, “without spot, or wrinkle or any such thing.” Again, “I never understood what was meant by grace to die; but God, who gave me grace to live, has given me this special grace now for dying.” “I feel such submission now: God’s will is perfect. The rebellion has gone. God has ordered all things perfectly.” “He has spared me through my illnesses,” she said to her family, “until you were old enough to look after yourselves. I am so thankful that I am not leaving young children. My motto when you were children and under my care was: ‘Them that honour me, I will honour.’ God forgave my weaknesses and errors in your upbringing and has given me great joy in my children and to see them walking in the right way.”
After the last words of Samuel Rutherford — Immanuel’s Land — had been sung, she said, “My prayer is that all those who have visited me these past few days will be with me in Immanuel’s land.” Her last words were, “Nothing but Almighty Strength has brought me thus far.” She passed peacefully away with her loved ones around her on the evening of 21st January 1977, and entered, we believe, that blessed land “where the inhabitant shall never say, I am sick.”
To her husband, who remains to mourn the passing of a beloved helpmeet, and to her son and daughters, who have lost a gracious and loving mother, we extend our loving sympathy; also to her four brothers and four sisters, as well as her large family circle; desiring for them all that they may be followers of those who are now inheriting the promises, and that Christ’s promise may be fulfilled in them, “They shall be mine in that day when I make up my jewels.”
D.B.M.