Angus O the Hills

Angus O’ The Hills

‘Angus O’ the Hills’ or as it is known in Gaelic. ‘Aonghas nam Beann,’ was a native of the Isle of Lewis, off the north west coast of Scotland. He was born early in the 19^th century. Angus could only speak Gaelic.

His father’s name was Macleod and from his birth he was regarded as an idiot and until the time of his conversion he was subject to fierce bursts of passion, when he would tear off his clothes or dash his head against the rocks until the blood spurted from his injured veins.

Perhaps by this violence he sought relief from the distressing headaches from which he suffered. He preferred a wild life among the hills rather than the restraint of life at home.

He would find birds eggs and berries for food and fills of fresh water to quench his thirst. He would wander for days on end until cold and hunger compelled him to return home. There came a time when he heard the Lord’s voice, and was led to the knowledge of Christ as his Saviour at the time of an awakening in his native place under the ministry of the Rev Alexander Macleod who went there in 1824.

Angus in appearance was of average height, having dark hair, his eyes were full and large coloured dark hazel, his face was very weather beaten, his gait ungainly, his limbs loose and awkward when his mind was unoccupied his face wore the insane expression of an imbecile and he was subject to nervous twitching of the fingers and limbs.

He was conscious of his want of intellect and he regretted the want. Various friends took him in hand to teach him the alphabet, but were obliged to give it up as a hopeless task. He could not manage beyond the letter ‘C’ saying, “this is dry, there is no food here for my soul, there is no word about Christ or God, no word about forgiveness of sin. I would rather be at the back of the dyke (a dry stone wall separating crofts) where I would get a moment of the presence of the Lord.”

Angus appeared like one who was of heaven rather than of earth. He was always talking of the goodness of God or communing with God and His Saviour Jesus Christ. His mind dwelt in Heaven while he wandered the earth.

His prayers were as simple as his talk. One could not tell whether Angus was talking to a companion by his side or to God, unless his words were heard or his face seen, for he spoke to his Father in heaven in just the same language and tone as he spoke to his fellow Christian.

When he was spoken to of heavenly things his face kindled, his eyes sparkled and his whole countenance shone with almost heavenly light. Of these topics he never wearied, Angus used to say that when he called on God for help, he always got the help he needed.

On one occasion, when his father had set him to hoe in the potato field, the lad always clumsy broke the hoe, and his father being a passionate man ran after him to chastise him.

Angus fled pursued by his angry father who was gaining upon him. The neighbours who were watching feared if the father did overtake his son that he would do him some bodily harm. Then Angus cried aloud to God for protection, “O God cause mine enemies to stumble and fall” or similar words. His father stumbled and fell breaking a small bone in his foot that caused him much suffering.

Angus was full of grief and concern and most carefully tended his father to the best of his poor ability until he recovered.

Angus was a wonderful man and was much loved on the Isle of Skye. Above all places he had a special liking for the village of Snizort that it is said he called, “Jerusalem.”

On one occasion he went to Tobermory and visited the manse. He followed Mrs Maclean, wife of the minister from room to room like a pet poodle. He had a large appetite and when in the kitchen she would sometimes cut him a big square of bread and spread it with jam. As Angus ate his bread she looked up at him. Big tears were coursing down his cheeks. She asked a young minister, “What ails Angus?” there is something wrong with him. The minister asked, “What is wrong with you Angus?” He replied in Gaelic, “I’m thinking that the Lord Jesus is just giving me all my good things in this life!” “Why, man where is your faith now? Can you trust God to give what things He sees best for you for just now and even better hereafter.” As he thought of this he laughed out loud and his face lit up with gladness and trust.

Only on one occasion did Mrs Maclean notice any indication of temper in Angus and that arose out of his devotion for Mrs Peggy Mackenzie who lived in Lewis and whose praise was in all the churches. One day Mrs Maclean heard loud voices in the kitchen. She went out and found the two idiots, Angus and Hugh Cameron, each tugging at an end of a towel. Mrs Mackenzie was about to bathe her feet before the kitchen fire and each lad desired the privilege of airing the towel for their revered friend.

Among Christian friends Angus’ presence was hailed with delight. His conversation was in heaven and his heart where his treasure was. They used to say that when Angus came into their company it was as if a dimension of heaven came along with him.

A minister on hearing of a certain woman who was revered for her bright witness and her wonderful example of a godly life asked her what was the cause of her conversion. To his surprise she answered, “ I owe my conversion to a prayer which the daft lad, Angus offered in my presence here in this house.”

The minister then called upon her neighbour who told him that she also owed her conversion to that same petition from Angus and she heard his prayer although she will living next door!

Although Angus completely lacked wit and common sense his spiritual perceptions were keen and lively. He perfectly understood the doctrines and principles of true religion and it was remarkable that he was capable of concentrated spiritual worship in praise and prayer. The distinguishing beauty of his prayer was their wonderful spirituality and oneness with the Lord.

He was at a communion service and he happened to lose the token that was given to him to produce on admission to the Lord’s Table. The elder who was serving said, “Oh Angus I see you have lost the token.” “No” was his reply, “I’ve only lost the bit of lead!” On another occasion Angus sat at the table of a lady of a much higher social standing than himself. Someone remarked to him afterwards, “Did you not feel proud of your position today, sitting beside that Lady?” Angus answered, “I feel proud of my position every day if proud you call it, but I think that the Lady I sat next to had the most reason to be proud, seeing that God had given her grace to be humble.”

At a prayer meeting Angus was called upon to pray, but he refused to engage. After dismissing someone asked him the reason of his refusal. “I could not,” he said “But” said the other, “Jonah prayed in the whales belly.” “Yes” replied Angus “but I was worse than Jonah for the whale was in my belly.”

It was customary for him to rise early, especially on the Sabbath morning of a communion, and resort to a quiet place to pray. When at the Snizort communion he rose early and went down to the shore. Another godly man was also up early and he had headed in the same direction as Angus. They met returning and said, “You rose early today.” “No,” said Angus, “the women were up before me” meaning those that went to “grave before dawn.”

Someone asked him “What do you compare man in a state of nature to?” “He is like the sow,” he replied “that is never so pleased as when wallowing in the dung, and though you brought the sow to the castle she would seek back to the dunghill!”

He once happened to be entertained to food in the house of an ungodly man in Skye. When the food was set on the table Angus was called upon to ask a blessing. He began, “Lord have pity on this wicked family.” It was said the head of the family was converted by the blessing.

When someone saw Angus standing near the church at Snizort he said to his friend, “there is someone wanting something,” “Yes,” said Angus, “I want Jesus Christ the true Bread of Life who came down from Heaven.”

Someone gave him five shillings and he said to himself that Satan began to tempt him saying, that he loved the five shillings more than his Saviour so he went and placed the money in a hole in the dyke. The money could not be found later when searched for.

There was a man named Ebenezer Ross who had been a Gaelic schoolmaster, but had become mentally weak. Angus was very attached to him. They were once walking together to a communion, the day being warm they saw a carriage approaching from behind. “It would be a good thing if we got into this carriage,” said Ebenezer. “You foolish man,” said Angus, “it would be far better if we got into the chariots of Amminadab.”

It is related that there was another man Ewen Cameron distinguished for his godliness and alertness of mind. Angus and Ewen met for the first time at Tobermory. The one said to the other, “Come” and they went to the back of a hill, and the one began to preach to the other. One of the ministers passing by observed them and fearing that bad boys in the town would come after them said, “what are you doing here?” “Never mind him” said one to the other “that is always the work of the devil to take away from the means of grace.”

A woman whom he rebuked spoke abruptly to him for venturing to speak to her. He was silent for a while, then, finding a reply he said, “I will speak of thy testimonies also before Kings and will no be ashamed.”

There was a certain piece of land on which a fierce bull was kept and no one dared go near when at large. To the surprise of some they saw Angus pass the fierce bull without harm or fear. They asked Angus how he had managed to pass the bull without any problem. He replied, “I just threatened him with the Almighty!”

It is said that one stormy day Angus crossed the Minch in a small boat. The Skye folk said, “Why did you venture forth on the stormy Minch in that little boat?” He answered, “ I did not trust myself to the boat but to the Almighty.”

He had an unconquerable aversion to wearing a bonnet. He never covered his head even in winter. Some churchgoers were unhappy with him for keeping his head uncovered and they pleaded with one of the women who knew Angus well to try and persuade him to cover his head. The woman urged him to wear a cap when going to church saying to him that it was more becoming on such occasions. His strong aversion was changed when Angus believed that the request had come from the Lord. Angus was heard in his barn talking to God about wearing a bonnet and asking God to help him to wear one.

Angus did no ordinary work but went from house to house and as a rule stayed with the Lord’s people who highly valued his company. He often climbed to the tops of mountains to pray believing that God would hear him better. A friend once asked if he would prefer to be buried on higher ground to be nearer the Lord. Many years later a flood came and while many coffins in the burial ground were swept away Angus’ coffin remained untouched.

It was at Uig on the island of Skye that this wonderful man ended his days. He was about 30 years of age when he died. He became ill after returning home from a communion gathering on one of the islands.

‘God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty, and base things that are not to bring to nought things that are. That no flesh should glory in his presence.’