Neil MacDonald, Inverness
The removal of the Lord’s people in a day of great declension in the professing church is an event that may pass unnoticed by a godless, unheeding age, but nevertheless speaks loudly to this sinful generation of the Lord’s wrath. It is an ominous indication of coming judgments. Their witness against prevailing sins and their prayers, now ceased, and their places empty in the courts of God’s house and in the congregation of the righteous can only sadden the hearts of the Lord’s people. “The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come” — Is. 57 v. 1.
The subject of this brief notice was born at Stockinish in the Isle of Harris in June 1908 and passed away in his home in Inverness in April 1979 after a short illness. His father, Roderick MacDonald, was a godly man who belonged to the Tarbert congregation and when elected to the eldership of the congregation, his lowly view of himself prevailed with him to refuse office. Neil, after the regular course of preparation at Portree and Aberdeen University, entered the teaching profession. It was a time of depression in the educational world which affected the schools and young graduates found it hard to get work. He did relief work in the Harris schools till appointed in 1939 to Ardersier; thereafter he taught at Drinishadder, was for 17 years at Stockinish and in 1962 came to Mallaig. In 1970 he was appointed to the Inverness High School and three years thereafter retired from teaching.
In 1944 he was united in marriage to Effie MacLeod in the Rodel Church near Strond, Harris on the very date which became the anniversary of his death. In this famed, historical building, the event of their marriage was remarkable as being only the second to take place within its ancient walls.
He was elected to the office of the eldership in the Inverness congregation, a real accession to the strength of the court, most diligent in attending to all the duties of his office and most willing to supply neighbouring congregations when asked to conduct religious services among them.
The noticeable thing about Neil MacDonald which impressed those who knew him was that he was a man of prayer. His vibrant, resonant voice pleased the dull of hearing and also his other hearers when he was conducting public worship. He loved the weekly prayer meetings and when increasing debility made it an effort for him to get to church, he stayed at home when the family came to the English prayer meeting to conserve his strength for the prayer meeting in Gaelic on Wednesday evenings. When at last confined to bed he continued constant in prayer. His last public service was among the Tomatin people in October, 1978 when he spoke from the words “And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death” — Jer. 21 v. 8, and in his remarks the words of Moses frequently recurred: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life that both thou and thy seed may live” — Deut. 30 v. 19 and was urgent in his appeals to the young.
As his illness progressed he had the conviction that the days left him were few and he spoke more frequently of his hopes. During these days, Is. 43 and John 8 were consoling and helpful to him. Waking from sleep one night he spoke to his wife of the happiness that awaited him in the heavenly world. The last weekend he spent on earth he had his family around him and spoke solemnly to them to attend church regularly and give their hearts to Christ. He wished to be buried in Tomnahurich cemetery where he rests till the morning of the resurrection. He was reconciled to the Lord’s will during the last weeks of his illness and has received, we believe, his wish to join the host of the redeemed who are around the Throne, praising the Lamb and contemplating his adorable face in peace. “Help Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men” — Ps 12 v. 1.
We pray that the Lord of their godly husband and father would be the God of his sorrowing widow and family.
A.F.M.
John Gunn, Inverness
It is with sincere regret that we have to record the passing of this godly man from our midst to his eternal rest. It is not their social qualities or their natural disposition, however amiable, that endear the Lord’s people to us but what can be discerned of the gracious work of the Spirit in them. The removal of those who fear the Lord is not only a cause of sorrow on their own account, but a source of weakness to the Church on earth. The Saviour complained in the prophetic words of the Psalmist: “I am a worm and no man; a reproach of man and despised of the people” — Ps. 22, v. 6. His people can expect no better treatment from the unbelieving world. However they who loved the Saviour and His Cause when living in the world, because of their godly walk and conversation when in lowliness of heart they sought to avoid giving offence to Jew or Gentile, will be missed by the Lord’s people. It will afford some pleasure and interest to recall their humble, affectionate, inoffensive walk and conversation while they were in the world. “The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot” — Prov. 10, v. 7.
John Gunn was born at Skerray in the parish of Tongue on the north coast of Scotland at the beginning of this century. He served for a short time in the navy and at the age of 20 years joined the Glasgow Police Force where he spent most of his active life. He retired in 1951 but remained in Glasgow where he was employed by the firm of Alexanders in the work of collecting unpaid debts. When the family moved to Inverness he was employed by a local firm of solicitors. His daughter Mrs Zena MacAskill moved into Inverness with her husband in 1961 and on the loss of his beloved wife, John lived permanently with them and remained under his daughter’s loving care till his end came early this year. The last three years of his life was a time of sickness, he suffered greatly and pain became so intense that the doctor ordered surgery. John steadfastly refused to consent to an operation, but pain increased with the progress of the trouble till an operation could no longer be delayed. His recovery was painful and protracted and in March this year he passed away in Raigmore Hospital. He showed great patience during these trying months when his strength gradually ebbed away and hope of recovery was given up.
While in Glasgow John Gunn attended the ministry of the eminent pastor of St. Jude’s, Rev. N. Cameron and it may be confidently said that the first religious impressions were formed which led him to think seriously of his soul’s state in view of eternity. When he went to request baptism for his child who is now the daughter with whom he came to live in Inverness, he waited upon Mr Cameron in the manse. The minister being out, he was shown into the study where, to occupy his time till Mr Cameron’s return, he took up a book to read and became so engrossed in it that he did not observe the minister enter the room. Noticing the title of the book, Mr Cameron loaned the book to him to read. It was not, however, till the ministry of Mr Cameron’s successor, Rev. R. MacKenzie, that John ventured again to go to the manse, but this time it was for admission to the Lord’s table. Under the conviction of his sin, it seems that the passage of God’s word which brought him relief spoke of the love of Christ to his soul: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world that we might live through him” — 1 John 4, v. 9. Thereafter, in a broken voice indicating that he was profoundly moved, whether in public prayer or when conducting public worship, he spoke much of the love of Christ.
Elected to the eldership in the Inverness congregation, he served on the Kirk Session till laid aside by illness, diligently and circumspectly. He took a kindly interest in the young and when supplying vacant congregations near Inverness he pled with them to hold fast by the doctrines and practice of the church of their fathers. When he went farther afield, his loving and fervent services were greatly enjoyed. He was of a reflective turn of mind and when his daughter and her husband were absent during the day he improved his time by reading and meditation upon the Word of God and matured his thoughts on the great doctrines of the faith. Undoubtedly this practice of prayerful meditation, so greatly neglected today, prepared him for the time of pain and suffering and sustained his mind during the trials of his last days. He passed away in March of this year, we believe, to his eternal rest. To his daughters who mourn their great loss of a loving father, we extend our sincere sympathy and pray that they may receive the strong consolations of the Spirit. “And I will pray the Father and he will give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever” — John 14, v. 16. A.F.M.