All who were in the eldership in the parish of Lairg, Sutherland, at the Disruption 1843 became office-bearers in the Free Church. The oldest man in the Session was Donald Munro, Balnadelson, a native of Ardvar, Assynt.
Donald experienced the power of saving-grace at the early age of 16 years. He began his married life in Glencoul, and after remaining there for a few years, he removed to Corrykinloch at the head of Loch Shin, where he was in the employment of Captain Donald Matheson of Shinness. Here his neighbours were few, but he counted it his privilege, that nearly all the house-holders who lived then in that sparsely-peopled district were sincere Christians.
Though Corry was far from any church, Donald was diligent in his attendance on the means of grace. Lairg was over 20 miles away, and three bridgeless rivers intervened, but he was very frequently among the worshippers there. After Mr John Kennedy came to Assynt, he was a regular attendant at the church of Inchnadamph. Occasionally Mr Kennedy officiated at Torbreck, not far from Lochinver, which was fully 12 miles further away, but the additional distance did not prevent Donald from attending the service there, especially when the days were long. He had an excellent constitution, and the preaching refreshed his spirit. After spending nearly 20 years in Corrykinloch he removed to Balnadelson near Lairg.
He was a man who possessed sound judgment, and a great measure of sanctified common sense. Angus Grey, his fellow-elder in Lairg Free Church used to say that there was another member who was his equal for piety, but for matters requiring judicious treatment, Donald was worth more than others. His meditations and prayerful spirit gave a singular freshness to his religious exercises. “He remembered the Lord upon his bed in the night watches.”
As a Friday speaker he was original and never tedious. Once in Creich at a Fellowship meeting, he described the experiences of the Lord’s people in a few pregnant sentences and sat down. Mr Kennedy, Killearnan who presided turned to him and said “I wish Donald you would rise again and give us more of the good things you have been telling us.”
He was much missed when he passed to his rest 14th April 1852 aged 90 years.
From: RECORDS OF GRACE IN SUTHERLAND