MR John MacAskill, as mentioned in the foregoing obituary, was a younger brother of the Rev D. J. MacAskill. He also was born in Stornoway and he departed this life on 3rd April, 1995, seventy-six years of age. Jackie, as he was popularly known, was apparently circumspect from his youth up. The parental home at 2 Garden Road was one much frequented by the Lord’s people at communion seasons and at other times and this early association with those who were of the ‘salt of the earth’ doubtless had its own beneficial effect upon him. His mother was a woman of strong and independent character who did her utmost to bring up her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His father was known as one who lived ‘an upright life and regularly attended the means of grace’ but it was not until he was sixty-eight years of age that he showed ‘a definite and personal concern for his soul’s salvation’.
It is not possible to give any detailed account of John MacAskill’s spiritual experience in connection with his translation from the power of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. He was himself reticent when it came to divulging these matters to others and all that can be said is that the change appears to have been gradual. A brother and a sister, older than himself, both of considerable promise, died of tuberculosis while still in late adolescence and Jackie often spoke feelingly of these sad and solemn bereavements. In the early Sixties he underwent a major surgical operation when, it would appear, his life was for some time in the balance and that apparently further brought his mind to bear on eternal realities. Like others before him, however, he could not date his spiritual birthday. That may well be the explanation for the delay in professing his faith in Christ. He eventually appeared before the Kirk-Session in February, 1979, and at that communion sat for the first time at the Lord’s Table.
He was elected to the eldership in 1982 and fulfilled the duties of that office with zeal and devotion. For many years he performed the duties of Clerk of Session and Deacons’ Court and kept the records of both courts in a most meticulous manner. Latterly, when his memory began to fail, he found it necessary to hand over these duties to a younger person.
He was a schoolteacher by profession. Like his brother he was a graduate of Glasgow University but on the breaking out of hostilities in 1939 he was called up to serve in the Forces. After the war he was for a period teaching in Golspie and at the time attended the Rogart Church. Thereafter he took up a post in the Sir Edward Scott School in Tarbert and, after some years there, he came to the Nicolson Institute where he was to remain until he retired as an Assistant Principal Teacher in the English Department.
Jackie MacAskill was a Christian gentleman; a true-hearted Free Presbyterian who ever sought to uphold and maintain the Church’s witness and testimony. He, like his brother, knew where he stood in 1989 and he thus remained in the Church within which his grandfather and great-grandfather had been such prominent pillars in their day, while others, with similar antecedents, turned their backs on it. Within his own sphere, he laboured to advance the interests of Christ’s kingdom. His mental abilities were such that he was able to express his mind in a clear and logical manner and his gifts in this direction, sanctified by grace, were usefully employed in His Master’s service over the years in supplying congregations throughout the bounds of the Presbytery and sometimes further afield. His labours in this connection – always most willingly undertaken – were very acceptable to his hearers as also were his contributions to communion Friday fellowship meetings and for that reason, among others, his departure is keenly felt.
Highly esteemed by his colleagues and well-known and respected throughout the Church and the wider community, his unexpected removal from time to eternity was much lamented. The 3rd day of April, 1995, was the Monday of the Achmore communion and it was while standing in the precentor’s place and in the act of leading the singing of certain verses from Psalm 27 that he suddenly passed away. His desire was fulfilled and his soul departed to enter that realm of existence where ‘the spirits of just men made perfect’ behold and admire the ‘beauty of the Lord’ and where, unwearied, they glorify Him in offering praise without ceasing.
We would anew express our sympathy with Ancris, the sister who has sustained the loss of two beloved brothers within a short space of time. Our prayer is that the God of her parents and that of her brothers, who served Him so faithfully here in time, would be her God also and that she would be comforted and sustained by Him.
“Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”
(Rev) John MacLeod