Mr Ian Graham, Kiltarlity
It was in July 1968, eight years before his death, that Ian Graham professed the Name of the Redeemer — the One whom he had come to know through a gracious spiritual experience. He passed away to his eternal rest at about 11 a.m. on the 27th October 1976, at the age of 75 years.
Ian Graham was born in Lochinver in 1901 and moved to Shieldaig when about 4 or 5 years of age. His father, Rev. Donald Graham, had received a Call at that time to the combined congregations of Shieldaig and Lochcarron. Donald Graham was a gracious servant of Christ whose memory is still fragrant to some of the older people in those parishes where he ministered. His obituary appears in Vol. 31 of the F.P. Magazine.
Ian Graham, then, had the blessing of a godly upbringing and the privilege of being from a very young age a son of the Manse. If these things would convert a man then Ian Graham would have been a follower of the Saviour from his youth. But grace, while often following in the line of the godly, is not in the blood. Consequently, like many others who enjoyed similar privileges, he gave evidence that the things of God were not his highest concern. Yet it would appear that he was preserved from going to those lengths in sin which men go when left to themselves. This is a mercy which God is sometimes pleased to give even to those who are still far from Him in the spirit of their minds. In his young days Ian would be privileged to hear many of the eminent servants of the Lord, but there is no record that any permanent impression was made other than that a restraining influence was put upon him.
When he left home he went to Glasgow to train as an engineer. After completing his training he set out, like many of his fellow Scotsmen, to work abroad. He returned later and eventually settled down in Glasgow where he found work with the Dunlop Rubber Company. Later on still, he moved to Kiltarlity in Inverness-shire, where he remained until his death. During his time in the North we know that he was highly respected by his business associates. We have no doubt that this was true of him in Glasgow as well, as his promotion in coming North would indicate.
It was during his Glasgow days that he married Miss Rachel Sinclair, a daughter of the late Rev. and Mrs James Sinclair, who proved a true helpmeet to him for the rest of his days. Their home, both in Glasgow and Kiltarlity, was most hospitable and many friends from different parts could be assured of a warm welcome there.
Because of his reticence about his own spiritual experience it is not easy to determine when Ian Graham came to know the Lord, but for many years before he professed he led an exemplary life. The time came when he could no longer deny what the Lord had done for him. In January 1968 he suffered his first heart attack. It was then that he felt that the Lord was laying him low because he was not doing his duty. In July of that year he professed the Lord’s Name publicly for the first time. From that time on he took an increasing interest in the affairs of the Lord’s Cause in Beauly and Dingwall and before long was elected an elder in that congregation. On occasions he was called on to take a service and this was a duty which he did not lightly undertake.
In May 1976 he went south to attend the meeting of Synod in Glasgow but was only able to attend the first sederunt as he took ill that night. On his return home he had to go into hospital where he received surgery. The doctors at that time gave him only a few months to live. He continued to attend the means of grace so long as he was able and then in his own home when confined to his bed he continued to conduct family worship to the day of his death. In the interval between his operation and his death his daughter, Marion, came home from the Mission in Rhodesia to see her father for a short period. This, no doubt, was a great uplift to him. He was lovingly nursed at home to the end by his wife, his daughter Jane and his sister Edith. The end came peacefully on 27th October 1976 when he entered, we believe, that place where the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick, leaving behind him his sorrowing widow, son, daughters, sisters and brother.
In the congregation the following tribute was read on the Sabbath after his death: “It is with deep sorrow that we refer to the passing of Mr Ian Graham, Kiltarlity, who for the past number of years served as an elder in the congregation of Dingwall and Beauly. Mr Graham was of a humble and gracious disposition and in his life, walk and conversation endeavoured to commend Christ to others. The attendance at his funeral gave an indication of the respect in which he was held by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
As an elder of the congregation he conscientiously carried out the duties laid on him. It was clear that the services of the sanctuary were his delight. He could say with the Psalmist:
How lovely is thy dwelling-place,
O Lord of hosts, to me!
The tabernacles of thy grace
how pleasant, Lord, they be.
And also:
I joy’d when to the house of God,
Go up, they said to me.
Jerusalem, within thy gates
our feet shall standing be.
His presence will be greatly missed in the congregation and also in the Kirk Session and Deacon’s Court. The removal of one who occupied office in the congregation should make us earnest in pleading with the Lord to raise up others in the place of those whom He is removing from time to eternity. We do not sorrow as others who have no hope but our mourning his loss is mingled with the comfort that our loss is his gain and that he has entered into the joy of his Lord.”
The esteem in which Ian Graham was held by his brethren in the Presbytery may be gauged from the following extract of a letter sent by the Clerk of Presbytery to Mrs Graham after his death.
“For several years your beloved husband attended the meetings of Presbytery and was able to take a valuable part in the work of the Court and its deliberations. He was highly respected as a God-fearing, humble follower of the Lamb, and although in late years his health was not very robust, he struggled against increasing weakness and illness to carry out the duties of his office in the congregation and Church Courts. He was a warm-hearted friend, of a peaceable disposition and could, especially at the fellowship meeting, give a reason of the hope that was in him with meekness and fear. It is the removal of such men that shows the need of prayer on the part of those who are left: ‘Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.’ (Ps. 12:1).
In closing this obituary we would pray that the Lord may continue graciously to uphold and bless those who have lost a devoted loved one.