George Tulloch, Eddrachillis, Sutherlandshire

From: The Free Church Monthly Record, June 1880, p.148.

The subject of this notice enjoyed the great privilege of having godly parents. His father, who was descended from a race of independent yeomen in Orkney, died while comparatively young. His mother lived to a great age; and though she was not in such circumstances as to render it an easy thing for her to give her children a liberal education, yet she had the privilege of seeing her eldest son become an honoured and very popular Professor of Mathematics in King’s College and University, Aberdeen, and four others attain the position of ministers of the Church of Scotland, each one of whom, by his consistent Christian character and earnest and able evangelical preaching, spent a really useful life, and left a sweet savour of his name behind him. George was not the youngest of the four, but he was the last removed from this world.

When a young man, he was fired with the desire of becoming a minister of the gospel. His subsequent life made it very manifest that this was the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work in his soul. With a view to his obtaining the necessary education, he repaired to Edinburgh; and after going through a full course of study in the university, was licensed as a preacher of the gospel. His first sphere of ministerial labour was in the mission at Melness, where he remained for two years, and where, it is testified, his preaching was “much blessed to souls.” In 1831 he was settled as minister of the parish of Eddrachillis. Here he continued to labour with much acceptance until failing health made it necessary for him to resign his work into the hands of a successor. In 1843 he, with nearly every individual in his congregation, joined the Free Church. This was to the pastor, to his family, and to the congregation likewise, a time of much outward trial. Could the story be told, it would contain many incidents of thrilling interest, which would illustrate very vividly the strong faith, the heroic courage, and the uncompromising firmness of Mr. Tulloch. These days of sorest trial having passed away, this servant of the Lord pursued quietly his earnest labours for the salvation of his flock, and was now and then cheered with tokens of his Master’s favour. He was not left very long, however, without the discipline of trial. It pleased God to subject his servant to severe domestic afflictions. First his eldest son, a rising man in the medical profession, was cut off by cholera, just as he was about to leave India for home. The death of another son and of a daughter followed at no long interval. These bereavements so affected the loving father that his former vigour gave way, and he steadily grew weaker and weaker in body, though his active mind still retained all its vigour. In 1875 he felt quite unfit for his work, and wished to resign his charge. To such a severance of the tie between them the leading people in his congregation would not give their consent, and an arrangement was made for his obtaining a colleague and successor. This arrangement having been completed, he, in the month of October 1876, retired from the parish, and spent the remainder of his days at Fortrose, Ross-shire. From this time till his death he was in a very helpless condition, physically; yet he continued to take a lively interest in all that was passing, and was ever ready to discuss questions that were agitating the Church or State. Above all, however, he delighted in conversing with the people of God on spiritual subjects, and longed to meet with those at Eddrachillis with whom he had formerly taken sweet counsel.

To live for Christ was his great aim during the period of his active life, and when laid on his death-bed what had been to him living-grace became dying-grace. Thus was he enabled to wait patiently until the summons came on the appointed day, and then, that the spirit might obey the call, he fell asleep. He has left a widow and six children to mourn his loss.

In the parish where he had so long laboured his mortal dust was laid, an act which filled the hearts of his old parishioners with the joy of thankfulness.

Thus has passed away, at the ripe age of fourscore and six years, one more of the “Disruption Worthies,”—a Christian minister, the springs of whose devoted life had a deep hidden source: “His life was hid with Christ in God.” God grant many such ministers to his Church!

John Macqueen, Kirkmichael.