Mr Alexander MacLennan, Elder and Missionary, South Harris
Alexander MacLennan was born in South Harris on the 16th day of February 1905, and departed this life on the 27th day of July 1987. Apart from the last few years of his life the period of his sojourning in time was spent in the Outer Isles and the far greater part of it in the place of his birth and upbringing.
We have no information with regard to his spiritual experience in passing from death to life. His contemporaries and fellow-labourers have all departed and we could find no-one that was able to enlighten us. But if we know not what manner of experience he passed through at the beginning of his Christian course we know, from the consistency of his life, that he was indeed among the living and a true-hearted servant and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. He publicly professed his faith in Christ at the August communion in Finsbay in 1935. The following year he was ordained as a Deacon. In 1945 he was appointed a full-time missionary and in that capacity began his labours in Breasclete but within two years he was transferred to Breanish, in the parish of Uig. At the beginning of 1949 he returned to South Harris and for the next 32 years he was to labour there until he finally returned at the beginning of 1981. After the death of Peter MacLeod, Strond, in 1949, Alexander was appointed Session Clerk having been earlier that year elected to the office of elder. He faithfully performed the duties of this office over many years.
In 1936 he was married to Annie MacLeod, also from South Harris, and their home in Finsbay was to become far-famed for its hospitality, especially at communion seasons. There, these two eminent Christian men Edward Morrison and John MacInnes were often found and in the company of their host the brotherly love which bound the three of them to one another was something good and pleasant to behold. They were men united in heart and unwavering in their attachment to the Church which they served and all that it stood for. Alexander MacLennan performed his duties, both as an elder and as a missionary, as to the Lord and with His glory in view. Always willing and dependable he, on weekday and Sabbath, was found unfailingly giving attention to the particular duties allotted to him. He was held in the highest esteem by the people of Harris and the great day shall declare what fruit followed his diligent sowing of the good seed of the Word of God. We believe that he has entered into the joy of His Lord with the commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Toward the end of his life he was afflicted by arteriosclerosis, a progressive disease which led to his memory being much impaired as far as the ordinary affairs of life were concerned. It was, however, evident that he was not forgetful of the Word of God stored in his memory over the years and which had moulded his Christian character. After having been tenderly and devotedly cared for by his two daughters, each in turn, for as long as they were able, he was admitted into hospital in Inverness and it was there that he passed away. His remains were taken to Harris and interred beside those of his beloved helpmeet in life and there together they now rest until that trumpet sounds which shall awaken them out of sleep but only to enter, body and soul united, into the Kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. To his family we extend our sincere sympathy.
Mrs Alexander MacLennan, Finsbay, South Harris
Mrs MacLennan was a highly intelligent Christian lady who, in her own sphere, laboured much to advance the interests of Christ’s cause and kingdom. In our view, she was a fine example of a mother in Israel. As a young woman, she was brought to that knowledge of the truth which brings life eternal to the soul through the ministry of the Rev. D. N. MacLeod who left Harris for Ullapool in 1925. She loved and revered him as an ambassador of Christ. Mr MacLeod preached at the opening of new meeting house in Kintail from the text, “Lord, I have loved the habitation of thine house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.” and it was on that occasion, it appears, that she came to realise for the first time that she had an immortal soul in need of salvation. How and when she came to have an assured hope that that salvation was hers is not known. Mrs MacLennan suffered much, and over many years, from arthritis and was often in great pain. She bore her affliction with exemplary Christian fortitude and patience. On the 11th day of July 1980, she finished her course here and entered the land where the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick.
Mr John MacLean, Elder and Missionary, South Harris
John MacLean’s end came with startling suddenness on the 23rd day of May, 1982. The community was stunned but we venture to say that there was not a single individual within it who did not believe that John was a man of God and that his soul, on its departure, passed immediately into glory. His light shone too clearly before men for it to be otherwise.
John was born in Glasgow in 1909. His father was from Northton and his mother a native of that city. When he was but one year of age his father died and about seven years afterward his mother remarried. Her second husband was a Roman Catholic and John’s earliest recollections of things spiritual were associated with the services and ceremonies of the Church of Rome. But he was, in the holy Providence of God, to be brought out of the atmosphere. His mother having also died, he and his sister were brought home to Harris by an uncle in 1918 to be brought up in the home of their grandparents in Northton. These grandparents, Mr and Mrs John MacLean, did not make a public profession but it was evident to all around them that they were truly God fearing. By precept and example John was thus to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
On attaining manhood John MacLean seems to have been quite unconcerned about the salvation of his soul and for many years was quite at home in the companionship of the world. He was, however, always attentive on the means of grace. His spiritual awakening apparently took place when he was in his mid-thirties but we regret that it is not possible to record his soul-experience at the time. We know from what he used to say himself that he much loved and respected the Rev. D. J. MacAskill who was then the minister in South Harris and that he was very attached to the late Peter MacLeod, Strond, who was a missionary there at the time and frequently kept the services in Northton. After, we believe, much soul-searching he came forward to the Lord’s Table for the first time in March 1953. John was well-endowed intellectually and his ability to express himself in Gaelic or English soon came to be appreciated. His first attempts at keeping services were within a labourers’ camp at a Ross-shire Hydro Electric Scheme site. He had a very retentive memory and even then his knowledge of the Scriptures and the ease with which he could quote verses and passages from them must have been impressive. His mind was steeped in the Truth. Around 1960 he was appointed a full-time missionary and took up his duties in Broadford but after one year in that place he was transferred to Portree where the congregation was at the time without a settled pastor. There, he faithfully and acceptably kept the services for the next five years. Thereafter he was to labour in Raasay for a further period of five years before returning to his home in South Harris where he was still in harness at the time that the summons came. John’s labours as a lay-preacher were not, however, confined to the places mentioned. From Assynt to London he was well-known and wherever he went his services were always appreciated.
As an elder he took an active part in ecclesiastical affairs. He loved the Church and passionately defended all it stood for and it was to be expected that his faithfulness in this connection would expose him to the reproach of men and so it was. John’s courage, however, matched his convictions. He is beyond all trouble now, within the bounds of the better country, even a heavenly, and with the Master who he loved to speak of here in time and served so devotedly.
To his sister we anew extend our sympathy. “The memory of the just is blessed.”
Mr Norman MacKay, Elder, Geocrab
Norman MacKay was born in Geocrab in 1903. His father was an upright, highly respected man; his mother, also from the same area, was from early womanhood a member in full communion in the South Harris congregation. Norman was very circumspect from his youth and highly respected in the community long before he made a public profession of his faith. He served that community as its representative on the Inverness County Council for a number of years and we may believe that he did his utmost in an honourable, lawful way to advance the interests of the people.
It was not until 1956 that he came before the Session to be received as a member in full communion but there is reason to believe that the root of the matter was to be found in him for many years before that step was taken by him. He was not a man given to speaking of his personal spiritual experiences and we are unable to record here anything concerning the circumstances and time that he underwent a saving change. At the same time we do know from his public utterances, especially when speaking at fellowship meetings, that he was deeply taught of the Holy Spirit with regard to that good work in the soul of which He is the author and which once begun is brought to perfection. Norman was well read and had a thorough intellectual, experimental knowledge of the foundation doctrines of the faith. He was thus well-fitted to take services when called upon to do and in the circumstances in which he was placed this was very frequently. Even when beset by infirmity he still endeavoured on Sabbath and weekday to serve His Master in this way.
In 1931, Norman was married to Mary MacLeod, a native of Diriclete. She predeceased him by a number of years.
In his latter years he was afflicted by a progressive disease which affected his mobility and speech. He spent considerable periods of time with his daughter in Stornoway where he received loving care and attention. It was however in his own home at Geocrab that he departed this life on the 2nd day of October, 1985. We believe that for him that was a blessed departure, “absent from the body” only to be “present with the Lord”. To the members of his family which survive him and more especially his three daughters and only son we anew express our sympathy.
J. M.