The Late Angus Maclean, Elder, Ness.
Angus Maclean was born in the village of Port-of-Ness in 1929. Like many of his fellow-islanders, he left home at the early age of seventeen years to join the Merchant Navy. For eleven years he sailed on foreign-going vessels, including a number of seasons on whalers in the Antarctic.
In 1958, a sense of duty to his aged parents decided his return home to care for them. Some years after, he was employed as an Insurance Agent with the Pearl Assurance, serving Ness and the West-side of Lewis. His pleasant and polite disposition earned him the respect of those he served.
His place in the means of grace was seldom unoccupied; and it was at a service during the October Communion in 1973, at Ness, that Angus was awakened to a sense of his lost condition. The words in Canticles 1: 8, “Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock” were impressed upon his mind, we believe, by the power of God the Holy Spirit, to leave him restless and peaceful. The time to favour him came when he was enabled to rest his sin troubled soul on the memorable words of the Saviour, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” John 8 v 36. His joy in the Lord was not only real to himself but obvious to others also.
Not long after his deliverance from the Kingdom of darkness, Satan the enemy of God and man attacked him with venom, resulting in bondage, sleepless nights and inability to give his customary attention to his lawful calling. He cried to the Lord and searched His Word for the restoration of the joy of salvation. This was granted to him through the words of Galatians 4 v 9.
In October 1975 he was received to membership in the Ness Congregation. In June 1980 he was ordained to the Eldership in the aforementioned congregation, and in July of that year, he was appointed Session Clerk. The duties of his office and appointment he fulfilled with dignity and proficiency. He represented the Session in Presbytery and Synod in 1987. This was the first and last Synod he attended, and he fully realised that a sifting time was imminent.
The last public service our friend attended was a Prayer Meeting in the Stornoway Church. That evening he heard our African minister, Rev Aaron Ndebele, Ingwenya Mission, preach from the words in which he found the Messiah. Angus was refreshed and greatly encouraged.
The next evening, following upon an accident at his home, he was removed to the Lewis Hospital. All that was medically possible was done, but to no avail. On the 5th day of June 1989, the end came. His removal cast a gloom on the whole community, and left a great blank in his home congregation and in the hearts of his many friends.
The esteem in which Angus was held was evidenced by the large number of people that attended his funeral. Probably every parish in Lewis was represented and some from the neighbouring island of Harris.
Our sincere sympathy is extended to his like-minded widow, son, daughter and sister, and our prayer is that the Lord, who richly blessed him whom they mourn, will uphold them in their sore bereavement. “The memory of the just is blessed,” Proverbs 10 v 7.
(This obituary was compiled by two friends. Editor)
Those who live a mortified life, who are humble and self-denying, and dead to the world, command respect, and men have a secret value and reverence for them, more than one would imagine.
Matthew Henry