Presbytery Tribute to Rev. D. M. MacLeod
The Australian and New Zealand Presbytery desire to place on record their deep sense of loss and sorrow at the death of the Rev. Donald Malcolm MacLeod on Wednesday, 21st June 1978, and their appreciation of his services in Australia and New Zealand over a period of nearly ten years. His arrival in Auckland in September 1968 marked the end of his regular ministry in Scotland and the commencement of a faithful gospel ministry under the auspices of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Auckland.
This city with an urban area population of 743,000 was very much in need of a scriptural gospel witness. It was not until the late 1950’s that such a witness was raised when a small congregation began to gather around the truth pleading the promise “where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them”. That this petition at the throne of grace was not in vain is evident from the growth of this congregation into a sanctioned charge. This in the Lord’s good providence opened up the way for the call to and induction of Mr MacLeod to this, for him, very distant charge.
We have occasion for thankful acknowledgment to the Most High that when the harvest is so great and the labourers so few, it pleased Him to give Mr MacLeod a mind to labour in this part of His vineyard.
We note that Mr MacLeod denied himself in bidding farewell to near relations and friends in Scotland to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ far from his native land. He travelled not only many thousands of miles to his new charge but also many thousands of miles within the bounds of his new Presbytery.
We are indebted for his willingness to assist at Communion seasons and to supply at preaching stations as well as the regular labours in his own congregation. In the performance of these labours his travels to preach the gospel took him to Gisborne, Rotorua, Hastings, Wellington, Featherston, Sydney and Grafton. Thus a standard was lifted up against the enemy that had come in like a flood.
As Clerk of Presbytery he has considerably contributed to the smooth functioning of this, one of the youngest Presbyteries of the Church since its inauguration, and his presence amongst us is greatly missed.
His memory amongst us will ever be of a workman who studied to show himself approved unto God, “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
His zeal for and love of the cause of Christ was very conspicuous when only three weeks after a major operation he resumed his labours on Sabbath, 5th February 1978 when he preached from the Song of Solomon, 2:16, “My beloved is mine and I am His”.
The patience that characterized his ministry was also very evident in his illness. In the midst of much discomfort and only nine days before his departure he observed “Hitherto hath the Lord helped me. He is good and doeth good.”
Whilst we mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, friend and pastor, we believe that our loss is his gain for to be with Christ is far better. We extend the Presbytery’s sympathy to his wife and children and relatives in Scotland.
Committee Tribute to Rev. D. M. MacLeod, Auckland, N.Z.
The following tribute has been authorised by the Dominions and Overseas Committee.
The Dominions and Overseas Committee are sadly aware of the loss to the whole Church, caused by the death on 21st June, 1978, of the Rev. Donald Malcolm MacLeod, Auckland, New Zealand.
This eminent servant of Christ was born on 8th November 1920, months after the death of his father. By this mysterious providence, his widowed mother, like his own widow now, was left with the awesome responsibility of bringing up a large family on her own. The similarity between these cases, though not unique, is strikingly solemn.
Before emigrating to New Zealand in 1968, Mr MacLeod held two charges in Scotland; that of Lairg-Bonar Congregation from January 1956 to September 1961 and that of Stornoway Congregation from 1961 to August 1968.
As Minister of Auckland congregation, he worked in conjunction with the Dominions and Overseas Committee, and their relationship was both cordial and productive.
During Mr MacLeod’s ministry in Auckland the Australia and New Zealand Presbytery was formed and as the first Clerk of the new Court he played an important role in its preliminary organisation. He is due credit for the efficient manner in which the Presbytery functioned from its initial stage. In his capacity as Presbytery Clerk his contacts with the Committee became closer as the Church’s interests in Australia increased. His competence as an administrator was impressive and his intimate knowledge of the home Church helped to form a living link between it and the Church overseas.
The Dominions and Overseas Committee record their deep appreciation of the services of this eminent servant of Jesus Christ. His pious life comprised that of an able ministry of the Gospel, a loyal member of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland and a dutiful and loving husband and father. His acceptable personality, erudition and spiritual-mindedness made his company both edifying and refreshing.
We record our sincere sympathy with the widow and family in their very sore bereavement and with the Auckland congregation in the loss of a faithful pastor.
“A father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.” (Psalm 66:5).
Donald Campbell, Convener,
Dominions and Overseas Committee.
Ordination and Induction in Rhodesia
The following letter has been received from Rev. A. Ndebele and shows that the work of the Lord proceeds in Rhodesia despite the opposition of the Devil and his satanic forces. The reported death of the old elder Mnkandla will sadden those who knew him but can have every hope that he is with Christ which is far better.
My dear Rev. MacLean,
I am writing you to inform the Church in Scotland and elsewhere that Rev. B. B. Dube was ordained and inducted to the charge of the Zenka parish congregation on the 12th October, 1978, amidst a huge crowd.
Because of the security risks that would have been taken at Zenka if white people had gone for the Ordination and Induction, the Presbytery arranged the whole thing at Ingwenya. Zenka people came to Ingwenya on Wednesday by bus, and spent the night at Ingwenya. Services began on Thursday as early as 7 a.m. We were glad that by 1 p.m. all work had been done and the Nkai District people were off to the Shangani by 2 p.m. We were sure they were in time, as the curfew has been extended and is from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.
We indeed felt that the Lord was with us by His Word and Spirit. The whole work was done in a very solemn atmosphere.
However it was sad that old Mnkandla, who had come all the way from Zenka at the age of nearly a hundred, could not get back to his home at Katasa. He died on Friday night while waiting at William Mpofu’s home to be taken home on Saturday. While sorry, we are surely not as those who have no hope. Mr Elisha Mnkandla had been professing Christ for the past fifty-plus years, and had been an elder of the Church for over forty years. Mnkandla was mighty in prayer. He was the last of the old elders like the late John Mpfufu and others.
During the Ordination Services Mnkandla looked extraordinarily bright, but did not live long enough to relate to his wife and family his experiences at Ingwenya, at the time of the last Ordination he was to witness.
In the Nkai District, which is now under the Martial Law, the security forces seem to be able to contain the situation there. Many people who come from the Nkai District say that had the Government done what they are now doing, sooner, the terrorists could not have caused so much trouble as they did. We can only hope that the situation continues to improve security-wise, and especially that we would start our Bush Communion Services. We miss them keenly.
Rev. Petros Mzamo is a lot better. All are well.
My kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
A. B. Ndebele.
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Outer Isles: At Stornoway on 12th December at 11.30 a.m.
Skye: At Portree on 6th February 1979 at 11 a.m.
List of Communions
The list of Communions on the inside front cover of the magazine has been corrected for 1979. The editor would be glad to know of any further corrections that are required.
Acknowledgment of Donations
The General Treasurer, Mr W. D. Fraser, 20 Daleview Avenue, Glasgow G12, acknowledges the following donations with sincere thanks:—
Sustentation Fund — Alex. Chaplin, Portree, £20; Mrs M.R. MacKay, Bettyhill, per Jas. MacLeod, £10.
Foreign Mission Fund — A Friend, Delhi, Ontario, $20.
Free Distribution Fund — Dumbarton Postmark, £5.
The Treasurers of the following congregations desire to acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:—
Barnoldswick — Mr and Mrs M., Mansfield, £5; M.G., £5; E.K., £5 (last two for congregational purposes).
Dumbarton — Anon. (in plate), £5; Friend, Edinburgh, £10; Friend, Inverness, £5 (all for Manse Fund, last two per T. MacRae); Friend, Edinburgh, £5; Anon., £3 (both per T. MacRae); Anon., £10; Anon., £5 (in plate); Anon., £5 (in plate), last five for Dumbarton Church Extension; Anon., £5; A. McD., £5, both for Communion Expenses; Anon., Cardross, £5 (in plate), sent to B.T.S.
Edinburgh — R.C., £10 for Minister’s Car Allowance.
Fort William — Mrs C. Campbell, Soay, Onich, £50 for Congregational Purposes; Anon., Psalm 84, verses 1 and 2, envelope in plate, £1; Montgomery Family, Kinlochleven, gift for Church Exterior Decoration; Mr and Mrs MacCuish, Geocrab, £5; Miss Martin, Harris, £5; Capt. Morrison, Northton, £5; Friend, Harris, £5; Friend, Valtos, £5; Friend, North Tolsta, £5; Friend, Valtos, £5; Friend, North Tolsta, £5; Friend, Rodel, for Minibus, £3; C.G.S., Stornoway, £5; Mrs Morrison, Tarbert, £3; Mrs Morrison, Scadaboy, £5; Friend, Tarbert, £3; Two Friends, Miavaig, £5; Friend, Kyles, £5; Friend, Harris, £5. Total £64, all per Rev. J. A. Macdonald.
Gairloch — D., Port Henderson, £50; C.M., House of Rest, £100; A.M., £2 (all for Congr. Purposes); Mr M., Invermoriston, £4, £1 (for Communion Expenses); Two Lewis Friends, £5 for Sust. Fund; Miss M., Croft, £5; Anon., Port Henderson, £5; P., Badachro, £5; A. MacP., £5; Anon., £2 last five for Car Fund, all per Rev. A. MacDonald.
Glasgow — Well-wisher, £100 per R.A.C., in appreciation for services; M.M., Thornliebank, £2 per W.D.F.; In Memory of Mrs C. MacCuish, £100 (both for Congr. Fund); M.M., Thornliebank, £3 per W.D.F.; D.M.D., in memory of a loved sister, £10 per Rev. D.M.; Anon., £10; Mrs G., £3 per Rev. D.M.; A Friend, Thornlibank, £3 (last five for Sust. Fund); Anon., £2 for Jewish and Foreign Mission Fund; Anon., £2 for Rhodesia; Anon., £5 for Underground Evangelism; K.G., £2.20; A Friend, Thornliebank, £2 for Trinitarian Bible Society; Anon., £5 for Home of Rest; Anon., £5; Anon., £5 (both for Bus Expenses); Anon., £10; Anon., £5 (both for T.B.S.); Miss McK. for Bibles, £2 for Underground Evangelism per Rev. D. McL.; May God Bless, £7.50 for Home of Rest; Anon., £10 for Sust. Fund; P., £5 for Congr. Fund; J.C., £2; Anon., £5 (both for Bus Expenses).
Glendale — Two Raasay Friends, £10 for Congr. Purposes; In memory of a beloved sister, £50.
Greenock — D.R.M., Glasgow, £10 (envelope in plate); Mrs MacA., Inverkep, £10; Anon., £5 (last two per Rev. L. MacLeod and last three for Communion Expenses); R.H.C., N.I., £10; Envelope in plate, £10; From Glasgow Friend, £7 (last three for Congr. Purposes).
Kyle — In memory of a dearly loved father, £20; Kishorn Friend, £10; A Friend, £2; Miss R.M., Raasay, £5 per Mr Malcolm MacLeod; Envelope in plate, £10 (all for Kyle Manse Building Fund); From Two Dutch Friends at Kyle Prayer Meeting, £80.
Ness — Ness Sabbath School, £60; Friends per A. MacL., £10; Friend per Mr A. MacL., £3 (all for new Lionel Church Porch); Mr and Mrs MacL., California, £10 for Communion Expenses; Mr and Mrs A.M.M., Skig, £10; Mr and Mrs A.M., Fordyce St., £10 (both for Congr. Purposes).
Perth, Stirling and Dundee — Inverness Postmark, £10 for Manse Fund; Friend, £5 per Rev. I.R.T.; Envelope in plate, £10; Mrs T. and Mother, Stirling, £15; Miss C. McK., Balif. House, Inverness, £1; Friend, Inverness, £5; Friend, Lochcarron, £5 (all for Church Extension congr.).
Portree — Anon., £5 for Home Mission (in Church plate); Friend, £5 for Manse Expenses per F.M.
Raasay — J.F., £20 for Sust. Fund; Friend of the Cause, Inverarish, £5 for Sust. Fund and £5 for Property Fund per M.D. MacKay; Friend, Raasay, £5 for Sust. Fund and £5 for Property Fund per J.M. MacLeod.
Rogart — Anon., £28 for Home Mission Fund per Mr D. Maclellan.
Stornoway — Two Friends, Inverness, £12 for Congr. Funds per Rev. J. MacLeod.
Vatten — In Church plate, £5 for Communion Expenses.
Waternish — Mrs M., Halistra, £5 for Congr. Funds.
Wick — A Friend, Harris, £5 in memory of late Mr and Mrs John Martin; A Friend, Thurso, £5, both per Rev. R.R.S.