The Late Rev. John Mackay
Pulpit Reference

The remains of the late Rev. John Mackay, M.A. (formerly of Cromarty), were interred in Tomnahurich Cemetery on Saturday. A large and representative gathering of mourners followed the hearse to the place of interrment, the gathering including many ministers.

At the forenoon services in the Crown United Free Church on Sunday, Rev. John D. MacGilp at the close of an eloquent service on "Ambassadors for Christ," made reference to the late Rev. Mr Mackay, who during his residence in Inverness, was a devoted member of the congregation. The pulpit was draped. Mr MacGilp said:-

You will permit me to make reference at this stage to the life and labours of our departed and honoured friend and father, Mr Mackay, whose privilege it was to preach the Gospel of God's grace at Glenlyon, at Oban, and then at Cromarty, with marked power and with many seals to his ministry. At the bidding of his Church he relinquished his charge at Cromarty to place his services at her disposal as an evangelist. From the date of his resignation of the pastorate at Cromarty, the Highlands of Scotland were his parish, and there were few districts therein in which his ministry was not exercised, and few places in which he is not remembered by some grateful souls that were awakened under his powerful preaching of the Cross.

I well remember the first time I heard him. It was many years ago in the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh. To this hour I recall the happy face illuminated from within by the lights of love tenderness and pity. The dignity as of a great ambassador to deliver a message of life and death to men, the dramatic but chastened delivery, the persuasive appeal for immediate response in faith and loving obedience - I recall the impression made on the great audience that listened spellbound to one who was clearly a chosen messenger of the King. I have similar recollections of very few preachers.

A few years ago I was discussiong with Dr. Stalker the great preachers of our time - Spurgeon, Moody and many others. After some general estimate of these great men, Dr Stalker paused and added - "I have heard all these, and I have heard Mr Mackay, and, at his best, he was greater than any of them." The work he accomplished in the Highlands in an age of transition had been of first-rate importance. He had sympathy with the new world into which men were forcing their way during the last quarter of a century. He had knowledge of the new continent of thought in which most men live today; he was able to accommodate himself to the new conditions, but he belonged to a past age, an age with reverence for God's Word and God's day, and perception of the two ways along which men may walk - the broad way that leads to death and the narrow way that leads to life everlasting.

Mr Mackay on many occasions received the thanks of the General Assembly for his assiduous labours on the Mainland and in the Western Islands. For many years no report of the Highlands and Islands Committee of the United Free Church was presented without reference to the signs of blessing accompanying his preaching of the Gospel on his evangelistic journeys, and on the floor of the Assembly on many occasions expression had been given to the Church's indebtedness to Mr Mackay. A few years ago he received the high honour of being appointed to deliver the Chalmers Lectures in the three Divinity Halls of our Church, and chose for his subject the Church in the Highlands. He devoted much energy to the preparation of the Lectures, which were received in the Colleges with great appreciation. I gathered afterwards that no course of Chalmers Lectures had been more popular.

On a more recent occasion the special thanks of the Assembly were conveyed to him in a letter from the Moderator, in which tribute was paid to his gifts and services. He had a place of honour in the apostolic succession of great Highland preachers. To the very last he continued his labours. He loved the Highlands; he loved the Church of Christ with a great and devoted love; he laboured for her prosperity; he rejoiced in her triumphs. The glory of heaven illuminated her in his eyes, and her beauty was wondrous. It is fitting that we who worship in this building today should remember that he was one of the founders of the Crown Church. He had great hopes for this congregation, great visions of useful labour to be accomplished.

God grant that these hopes and visions may be fulfilled, and that the memory of him and the other pious founders may inspire the members throughout the years to come. Our prayers today rise to heaven on behalf of the bereaved household, the widow who shared his faith, his hopes, his inspirations, and the family who to his joy were united in the service of the dear Lord whose glory he beheld in life amid the mists of time, and now contemplates under unclouded skies of heaven.