A Ten Years'
Conflict and i t
Subsequent Persecutions,
By the Very Rev. John Arohlbald, IU.

i'J(''W%'

l^'o "-Mff','

"I give iJuft Btaks
fer thi fauimting ef a, CoHegi in. ^fy Celstty"

Gift of

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" Lord of the baptismal wave.
Little ones receive and save ;
Rescue by Thy Word of power
In the dark and stormy hour.''

JProntispiece.]

k TEN YEARS' CONFLICT

SUBSEQUENT PERSECUTIO.XS;

Or, A Struggle for Religious Liberty.

THE YERY REVEREND JOHN ARCHIBALD, M.A,
DEAN OF MORAY, ROSS, ANO CAITHNESS,

.\-Uthor of "The History of the Episcopal Church at Keith," published in l.SSO. and
nf " The Historic Episcopate of Moray," published in bs:):;.

'Avdpujv dtKaloji, XP^^^^ (Torr-r]p dpLCTTOs. — Piu'.lrrr, Fraej. 159.

DUMFRTE.S : R, G. :MAXX. .Scottjsh Chronicle Office.s.
KEITH : .JOHN MITCHELL & SOX, Booksellers.
1907

ts ^

DEDICATIO.

KEVBHENDO IN CHRISTO PATRI
HIS LITKKIS DO0TI8S1MO
CUIUS NOMEN ET HONOKI ET DEOOKI BCOLESIAE EST
NON SOLUM
IN ORlENTIS PABTIBUS LONGINQUIS
SED ETIAM
IN LOCIS ILLIB INACOESSIS AD OCCIDBNTKM VERGENTIBUS
AKTHURO JOHANNI MACLEAN, S.T.P.
EPISCOPO MORAVIENSI ET ROSSENSI ET CATHANENSI
HOC OPUSCULUM
INCEPTUM AUSPICIIS SODALITATIS SCOTTICAE NOSTRAE
EEVBRENTBR D. D. D.
JOHANNES ARCHIBALD.

©I^EPAIPOI^Y UorU^E.

JHIS publication gives a History of the Ten Years'
Conflict between Presbytery and Episcopacy in the
north-east of Aberdeenshire during the years 1 701 -1 711.
It also tells of the Persecutions of the Episcopal Clergy after
the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745. The successful
struggle of the Scottish Episcopal Church for religious
liberty, ending in the Repeal Act of 1864, is also given in
detail. My sincere thanks are due to the Rev. W. W. Hawdon,
son-in-law of the late Rev. Charles Pressley, of Fraserburgh,
for kindly lending me a copy of the Deer Presbytery Records,
which the latter revered clergyman had carefully transcribed.
Books kindly lent me by the Rev. George Sutherland, now
residing in Aberdeen, I found to be most helpful. I am also
iiidebted for much assistance to books which I purchased
from the library of the late Very Rev. Dean Nicolson, of
Brechin. Amongst other works which I consulted were those
of the Very Rev. Dr Walker, the -late Professor Grub, and
Dr Stephen. Nearly fifteen years ago the importance of
historical research in the field of the Scottish Revolution
Period was pointed out to me by a Scottish Layman, himself
a near relative of an honoured Bishop. For Frontispiece, see
pp. 157, 158.
JOHN ARCHIBALD.
April loth, 1907.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.

" O God, our help in ages past.
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.''

THE DISESTABLISHMENT OF SCOTTISH EPISCOPACY IN 1689.
The events comprised under the designation of " A Ten Years'
Conflict ' ' were some of those that arose from what is known as
the Scottish Disestahlishment. In 1689 the Parliament of Scot
land offered the Scottish Crown to William and Mary, and
abolished Prelacy in that country. The same political body in
the following year set up in Northern Britain the Presbyterian
form of Church polity, and gave its approval to the Westminster
Confession of Faith. The Episcopal Church thus disestablished
had existed in Scotland since the Restoration of Charles II., and
its State connection had identified it too much with the persecu
tions of the Presbyterians during the reigns of the two last
Stuart kings. Compensation was made to the Irish Church when
disestablished in the 19th century, and the vested rights of her
clergy received liberal consideration. No such clemency was shown
to the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1689. Her connection with the
State was severed at one stroke, and her Bishops and Clergy were
thrown upon the tender mercies of a cold and unsympathising
world. But ecclesiastical compacts with the State are not always
unmixed blessings, and unknown to itself the Scottish Parliament
set free the Scottish Episcopal Church from those secular bonds
which had impaired her usefulness, and hindered her growth. The
Legislature, however, while it can take away the temporalities of
a Church, cannot in like manner dispose of the spiritualities. In
regard to these latter, the Scottish Episcopal Church, after the

2 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
disestablishment of 1689, remained the same Episcopal Church of
Scotland as she was before. The secular power can never ex
tinguish the spiritual rights and privileges of any body of Christian
people. Every man has the inalienable right to worship God
according to his conscience. Religious liberty and religious
equality under the aegis of the law are two of the most precious
possessions, and succeeding ages will continue to bear witness to
their inestimable benefits.
RELATIVE NUMBERS OF EPISCOPALIANS AND PRESBYTERIANS
IN SCOTLAND IN 1690.
We cannot be too thankful in the present day that the
scientific study of History is making such enormous strides. Pro
fessors of History are being appointed at our Universities, and the
one great object held in view is the attainment of historical truth.
All this will in the course of time dispose of many fallacious histori
cal statements, which when once they have seized upon the popular
imagination, are controverted with difficulty. Of such a species is
the assertion that in 1690 the number of Presbyterians in every
part of Scotland far exceeded that of the adherents of the dis
established communion. This erroneous declaration is amply con
tradicted by the very composition of the first General Assembly of
the re-established Presbyterian Church, which met on October 16th,
1690. In that meeting consisting of about 180 ministers and
elders there was hardly any representation of the whole of Scot
land north of the Tay.* The real truth seems to have
been that in the south-western counties of Scotland the great
majority of the people were Presbyterians, and that Episcopacy
was very unpopular there. Between the Forth and the Tay the
people appear to have been equally divided between Episcopacy
and Presbyterianism, while north of the Tay, the supporters of the
Episcopal Communion were predominant in number and influence.**
A continued struggle for the mastery between the two opposing
ecclesiastical parties was waged in these northern districts for more
than 30 years after the Revolution. Sometimes the military had
to be called out to place the Presbyterian minister who had been
appointed contrary to the popular wish. Occasionally, too, the
Episcopal clergy held the churches, manses, and glebes up to the
beginning of the eighteenth century, and many were the devices of

* See Grub's Ecclesiastical History, Vol. III. page 323. ** Ibid,., page 316.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 3
Presbyteries to compel Episcopal incumbents to relinquish the
possession of ecclesiastical holdings.
THE SCOTTISH BISHOPS IN 16S9.
The Scottish Bishops, after the Revolution, no longer per
formed any of their functions in public. For these purposes they
had to resort to " The Upper Room," and other sequestered places,
like many of their predecessors before their day. In December,
1689, Lord Crawford complained to Melville that they continued
to subscribe by their titles that they ordained ministers singly, and
that they gave warrants for private marriages. t Regular Diocesan
government now ceased in Scotland, and some of the Bishops did
not even reside within the bounds of their own Sees. Greorge
Haliburton, Bishop of Aberdeen at the Revolution, lived till 1715.
He died at Cupar- Angus. It seems, however, that to the last he
kept up a connection with his Diocese, and ordained clergy for it.
The second order of the ministry were now compelled by adverse
circumstances to act independently of the Bishops. These they
revered as possessing the sole power of ordination and consecration,
but could not act under them with the same facility as formerly.
The loss of the Diocesan jurisdiction of the prelates had an unfav
ourable effect upon the Church, and led to irregularities. In a
certain sense, Scottish ecclesiastical history was in this way repeat
ing itself. There was something like a reversion to the state of
matters in the Columban Church, in which the sole employment
of the Episcopate was to ordain or consecrate. After 1690 there
was a complete separation of the adherents of Episcopacy and
Presbyterianism. This was not the case at the restoration in 1660.
Then, the two parties continued to worship together in the parish
churches, little difference being made in the services and public
worship. EFFECT OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.
William III. himself hated persecution, and would willingly
have received all the Episcopal ministers into the Church then
established by law, provided they took the oaths of Allegiance and
Assurance. The Presbyterians, however, gave not the slightest
heed to his recommendations and directions on behalf of toleration
and moderation. They set to work by every means in their power
to oust the Episcopal incumbents from their manses and charges.
Where Episcopacy had taken a firm hold upon the people, they
+ Ib-id., page 310.

4 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
made very Httle progress up to the time of Dutch William's death.
One effect of their intolerance was to wean the hearts of Episco
palians more and more from the Government, and to turn their
minds to the exiled king " across the water." Nearly every Epis
copalian became a Jacobite, and every Episcopal meeting-house
was a centre of slumbering rebellion.
THE PRESBYTERY OF DEER.
"A Ten Years' Conflict," which is the title of this narrative,
is a history of the proceedings taken by the Deer Presbytery dur
ing the first decade of the eighteenth century to expel the Epis
copal incumbents from the parishes to which they had been
appointed. These men who remained in possession of their bene
fices had, in all probability, taken the oath of allegiance to William
and Mary. The Bishops and the majority of the Episcopal clergy
were avowed non-jurors, and were closely watched by the civil
and ecclesiastical authorities.
The word " Deer ' ' takes our thoughts back to the days of
S. Columba, and signifies a district in the north-east of Aberdeen
shire. The name was first given to the Monastery of Deer, which,
legendary lore tells us, was founded by S. Columba. The Saint
of lona, before his departure from the district, transferred to S.
Drostan, his disciple, all his authority over the newly-founded
church. After blessing the newly-founded church, the founder
said to S. Drostan, " Whosoever shall come against it, let him
not be many-yeared or victorious." The tears of Drostan falling
as S. Columba turned to leave him, the island missionary exclaimed,
"Let Deer be its name henceforward." In the course of time,
the Columban monastery of Deer became the church of the parish.
William, Earl of Buchan, in the year 1219, founded the Cistercian
Abbey of Deer at a spot two miles westward of this building.
Kinloss Abbey, in the Diooese of Moray, was the mother-house of
the Abbey of Deer.| The Presbytery of Deer cannot trace its
origin so far back as the days of the Columban Church, for Pres
byteries were first established in the year 1581, in the reign of
James VI. § At the dawn of the eighteenth century, the Presby
tery of Deer contained ten parish churches, viz.— Those of Peter
head, Aberdour, Crimond, Tyrie, Strichen, Rathen, New Deer,
Fraserburgh, Lonmay, and Old Deer. Episcopal clergy then
occupied some of these churches and adjoining manses. So weak
t Ib-id., Vol. I. page 313. § lb-id.. Vol. II. page 237

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 5
was the new Establishment in 1690 that it was found necessary to
conjoin all the Presbyteries in the Synod of Moray to form a single
Presbytery. Probably for the same reason the Presbytery of Deer
at the time of the Revolution was joined to the united Presbyteries
of Ellon and Garioch, and from these it was not disjoined till the
year 1701. THE KEITHS OF INVERUCIE.
In the north-east of Aberdeenshire the disestablished Epis-
piscopal Church was strongly supported by two noble families — the
Keiths of Inverugie and the Fraser s of Philorth. The family of
Keith became very powerful in the province of Buchan, and held
the hereditary right to the office of Earl Marischal of Scotland. In
the year 1543, Robert Keith, a brother of the Earl Marischal, be
came Abbot of Deer, and as commendafx)r of the Abbey he, in
1587, resigned all its property into the King's hands, to be by
him erected into the temporal lordship of Altrie. This lordship,
after Abbot George's death, was to revert to the house of In
verugie. The wife of the Earl Marischal had a distinct objection
to this seizure of ecclesiastical property, and was warned in a
dream that the possession of it would entail ruin upon her noble
house. Certain it was, that tne Keiths of Inverugie appeared to
decline in power from the time they were enriched with the spoils
of the Church of Deer. The possession of Church lands by the
monks in days of old always carried along with it the relief of
the poor and the furtherance of education. The secular lords
who seized those lands too frequently forgot the duties that were
bound up with their possession. In 1593, George Keith, Earl
Marischal, made a noble atonement for the faults of his ancestors
by founding Marischal College and University in New Aberdeen,
and this Earl andhis successors were its patrons till 1715. Having
taken part in the rising of that date, he was driven into exile,
and won great distinction in the service of the King of Prussia.
He and his father were able defenders of the Disestablished Epis
copal Communion in the Diocese of Aberdeen.
THE FRASERS OF PHILORTH.
The other noble family whose members befriended the perse
cuted Episcopalians of Deer was that of the Frasers of Philorth.
William Fraser, eleventh of Philorth and eleventh Lord Saltoun,
was the head of the family at the time of the Revolution. He
was married to Margaret Sharpe, the daughter of the Archbishop

6 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
of St. Andrews. This alliance with Margaret Sharpe brought a
dowry of 40,000 merks to the house of Saltoun. One of the
ancestors of the eleventh Lord Saltoun, Sir Alexander Fraser of
Philorth, founded the town of Fraserburgh in 1570. The eleventh
Lord Saltoun was a man of good sense and prudence, but, like his
neighbour at Inverugie, opposed the passing of the Act of Union.
Unlike the Earl Marischal, however, he was a staunch supporter
of the reigning house, and could for that reason more effectually
defend the adherents of Episcopacy. He died in 1715, and was
succeeded by his eldest son, Alexander Fraser, twelfth Lord
Saltoun. The conduct of the twelfth Lord Saltoun, whose educa
tion was finished at Oxford University, drew forth an encomium
from Sir Robert Sibbald, who said of him—" The youth is ingenu
ous and well-natured, and I hope shall be an honour to his country."
EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESBYTERY RECORDS OF DEER.
(Note. — The headings of the paragraphs are inserted to give
a clear indication of the subjects contained therein; the extracts
themselves are within inverted commas.)
Presbytery Meeting; held at Deer on April 16th, 1701.
" The said day the Presbytery, finding it most inconvenient
not to have access to the Church of Deer for place of meeting, they
appoint Mr Guthry and Mr Brown presentlie to go to Mr Robert
Keith, Incumbent at Deer, and demand the Church in which the
Presbyteriall meetings might be kept: who at their return report
that the said Mr Robert craves some delay as to this, until he
informs himself of the Earl Marischal 's mind, which is granted,
provided he do it betwixt this and the next presbyterie which is
to be at Deer. May 21, 1701."
" Mr Robert Burnet appointed to supply the vacancy at
Strichen the next Lord's Day, and to keep the fast there on
Thursday thereafter, and Mr Thos. Udny to supply there all the
rest of the Sabbaths until the next presbyterie. The next meeting
to be at Deer May 21."
"At Deer, May 21, 1701.
" Sederunt ministers — Andrew Guthry, James Brown, Wm.
Law, James Farquhar, Alex. Howart.
" The said day Mr Andrew Guthry, Moderator, and Mr James
Brown are appointed to go to Mr Robert Keith, and desire access

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 7
to the Church, seeing the time allowed the said Mr Robert is now
elapsed, and besides Mr Guthry shewing the Presbytery that he
had bespoke the Earl Marischal thereanent, who shew himself most
willing that the Church should be allowed the Presbyterie for that
use. They going to discourse the said Mr Robert upon that head,
returned, repeating that he desires a little more time until he speak
with the Earle, his valetudinary condition having hindered him
since the last Presbyterie, which was granted him."
" The said day Mr Brown reports that, in obedience to the
Presbyterie's appointment he had gone to and spoke with the Lady
Strichen anent the planting of that Church; and upon her and
the parishioners of Strichen's invitation he had upon the eleventh
day of May current preached in the Church of Streichen, and
moderat a call to Mr Thomas Udny, probationer, to be minister
of Strichen, and that some persons in the said parish had come
along with it to the Presbyterie, viz., Greorge Byers, Chamberlain
to the said Lady Andrew Low at the new mill of Strichen, and
George Pirie at Miln of Kindrought, elders, who in the name of
Lady Streichen and parishioners, gave in to the Presbyterie a sub
scribed call to Mr Thomas Udny to be their minister, which the
Presbyterie, sustaining as orderly, carried on, it was delivered to
the said Mr Thomas, and recommended his serious consideration —
and he, submitting to the Presbyterie's pleasure in that affair,
yielded himself to the ordinary steps of trial in order to his settle
ment, and in the meantime he is appointed to supply the vacancy
there." THE REV. MR. KEITH, EPISCOPAL CLERGYMAN AT DEER.
It is to be noted that, though the above-named Presb3rtery
meeting took place at Deer, it was not held in the Parish Church
at Deer, which was then in the possession of the Rev. Robert
Keith, Episcopal incumbent. The Presbytery sent two of their
number to demand the church for meetings of the Presbytery.
They reported on their return that Mr Keith craved some delay
till he should inform himself of the mind of the Earl Marischal
on the matter. With this reply the Presbytery had to be content.
THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH.
This production is not of Scottish, but of English origin. It
was drawn up by the Puritans in England, and atterwards adopted
by the Scottish Establishment. This theological statement, drawn

8 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
up at Westminster in 1643, is in this 20th century a cause of
much heart-burning and debate in Scottish Presbyterian circles.
Even in the year 1905 the compulsory signature of this system
of theology formed the subject of a much-contested clause in a
Bill passed by the British Parliament. And in 1701 the Pres
bytery of Deer held the Westminster Confession in terrorem over
the heads of the schoolmasters of the district, and did their utmost
to wrest from them their reluctant signatures. These worthy
citizens were most likely Episcopalians or Jacobites, and no doubt
intensely disliked everything that had emanated from English
Puritanical quarters. They were poorly paid, for then there were
neither rich Bequest Trusts nor Government grants to augment
their salaries ; consequently, their refusal to subscribe this declara
tion might have brought upon them great pecuniary loss, and
perhaps ruin. We shall see further on how they evaded the dis
tasteful task as long as they could. The following extract from
the Presbytery Records of May 21st, 1701, tells of the first pro
ceedings in this instance of religious testing : —
" The said day, anent the schoolmasters' subscribing the Con
fession of Faith, it was thought more fit to advertise them by a
letter to keep the next presbyterial day for this effect, than to
give them a summonds by an officer ; and accordingly the minister
of Peterhead is appointed to acquaint the schoolmasters of Peter
head, Longside, and S. Fergus ; the minister of Crimond to adver
tise the schoolmasters of Crimond, Lonmay, and Rathen; the
minister of Tyree to acquaint the schoolmasters of Deer, Achrydie,
and Streichen; the minister of Aberdour to acquaint the school
masters of Aberdour, Pitsligo, and Fraserbrough.
"The next meeting to be at Deer, June 25."
THE REV. ROBERT KEITH AND THE REV. JAMES CHEYNE.
The careful perusal of Presbytery and Kirk-Session Records
rescues from oblivion the names of some clergy of our Church
who bravely faced persecution in dark and perilous days of old.
The Rev. Robert Keith, as just stated, was the Episcopal minister
of Deer, and held the Parish Church of Deer when the Presby
tery met at Deer on June 25th, 1701. The first act of this
meeting was to send two of their number to Mr Keith to demand
the keys of the Parish Church door. He, having doubtless antici
pated the visit, was not at home upon that day. His family
being in the manse, told the messengers that if they applied to

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 9
Mr George Keith of Whiteriggs the doors of the church might be
opened to the Presbytery. This was said in accordance with the
wish of the Earl Marischal, whose will was law in that quarter.
The Rev. James Cheyne (name spelled "Chein" in the Records)
was Episcopal minister at Rathen in the days of William III.,
and continued to live in the manse of Rathen. The Commission
of the Presbyterian Synod, having met at Meldrum, directed the
Deer Presbytery to summon Mr Cheyne before them. They
directed the Rev. William Law to send his servant and two wit
nesses to serve the summons at the manse of Rathen. Mr Cheyne
was cited to appear before the Commission on July 15th, 1701.
The name " Cheyne " calls to mind the name of another clergy
man of the same name in the Aberdeen Diocese, who in the nine
teenth century suffered for conscience' sake. The Presbyterian
Commission called the Rev. James Cheyne an "Intruder," sup
ported, as he appears to have been, by the majority of the people
of Rathen.
THE SCHOOLMASTERS DEFER SIGNING THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION.
The Deer Presbytery did not find it an easy matter to per
suade the schoolmasters to sign the Confession. The school
master of Peterhead, appearing before the meeting, craved delay,
because a copy of the Confession had not come into the hands of
t'he Presbytery, and the Earl Marischal himself pleaded for some
delay to the schoolmaster of S. Fergus. The schoolmasters of
Lonmay, Rathen, and Crimond, Mr JJavid Schives, schoolmaster of
Pitsligo, and Mr Alex. Fraser, schoolmaster at Achrydie, said that
subscribing to the Confession being a matter of weight, they asked
for some time to deliberate. Mr Alex. Brown, schoolmaster at
Fraserburgh, did not appear before the meeting, but he had told
a member of the Presbytery that he wished forbearance for some
time. A similar plea for delay was tendered by Mr John Mel
drum, schoolmaster at Deer. Desiring to overawe these recusants,
the Presbytery summoned them before the Commission of the
Synod, which was to assemble at Deer on July 15th, 1701.
EXTRACTS FROM DEER PRESBYTERY RECORDS OF JUNE 25th, 1701.
"At Deer, June 25, 1701. — After prayer, roll called; and all
the members being present, Mr William Law and Alex. Howart
are appointed to go to Mr Robert Keith, and desires the keys of

10 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
the Church door from him— who, returning, make report that the
minister is not at home, but that some of his family told that if
the Presbyterie would make application to George Keith of White
riggs, who knew th© Earl Marischal 's mind thereanent, the keys
might be had, and the doors made patent for the Presbyterie;
whereupon the Moderator and Clerk ar© appointed to bespeak
Whiteriggs thereanent, who told them that it was the Earl's mind
that the Church doors should be made open to the Presbyterie,
which accordingly was done."
" The minister of Peterhead reports that he has advertised, ac
cording to appointment, the Schoolmaster of Peterhead to compeir
before the Presbyterie in order to subscribe the Confession of Faith
— who, compeiring, professed himself most ready and willing to
do it, but delayed for some time because a copy of the Confession
of Faith was not yet come to the Presbyterie's hands; and, like
wise, he advertised the Schoolmaster of St. Fergus, for whom the
Earl Marischal pleads some delay. And the Schoolmaster of
Longside was necessarilie absent from his school. The Minister of
Crimond reports that h© had advertised the Schoolmasters of
Lonmay, Rothes, and Crimond, with Mr David Schives, school
master at Pitsligo, and Mr Alex. Fraser, schoolmaster at Achrydie,
who, compeiring, being interrogat if they would subscribe the
Confession of Faith, replied that it was a matter of weight, and
therefore craved some time to deliberate, which was granted until
the 3rd Tuesday of July, being the 15th of that month, which day
the Commission of the Synod is to sitt at Deer, and they summoned
apud acta to compeir before it. Mr Alexander Simpson, school
master at Fraserburgh, called, and not compeiring Mr Brown
reports that he had been speaking with him, who desires forbear
ance for some time, who is also continued until the meeting of the
Commision of the Synod at Deer, and Mr Brown appointed to
cause cite him against that dyet. Mr John Meldrum,
schoolmaster at Deer, being called, not compeiring, Mr
Brown desires he may be continued until he speak with him,
which was granted, so that he does it before the meeting of the
Commission at this place."
" The said day in virtue of a warrand to this presbytery from
the commission dated at the Kirk of Meldrum, the thirteenth of
June, 1701, appointing the presbytery of Deer to cause cite, Mr
James Chein, intruder at Rathen, to compeir before th© said
Commission in conjunction with the Presbytery of Deer, at the

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 11
said Kirk, upon the third Tuesday of July next to come, to answer
to the articles ly belled against him, in pursuance of which the
presbyterie appoints Mr William Law to cause his servant with two
subscribing witnesses, to goe to the manse of Rathen, and there
summond Mr James Chein, intruder there, to compeir before the
Commision of the Synod of Deer, the 15th July, to answer for his
continued contumacy to th© sentence of the judicatories of this
Church; and Mr Law is to hav© a warrand subscribed by the
Moderator, to his servant for the doing of it, and the execution
of the summonds is to be brought to the next presbyterie duly
execut and endor sit.
" The next meeting at Deer, July 7th."
CALVINISM AND ARMINIANISM.
Calvinism is a system of doctrine and discipline established
by John Calvin, who was born in 1509, and finally settled at
Greneva. One of his principal dogmas was — That God has chosen
a certain number in Christ to everlasting glory, before the founda
tion of the world, according to His immutable purpose, and of His
free grace and love, without the least foresight of faith, good
works, or any conditions performed by the creature.
Arminianism was to some extent a reaction against Calvinism.
It received its name from Arminius, who, about 1609, opposed the
doctrines of absolute predestination as they were then received
in Holland. To the Arminian, Calvinism was as the cold and
sunless land upon which the bright beams of love and mercy from
the Sun of Righteousness never fell.* One of the principal charges
made by the Presbytery of Deer against the Episcopal clergy of
the district was that they taught the people Arminian doctrines.
The members of that Presbytery were no doubt strict Calvinists.
This appears from the following extracts from the Records : —
" At Deer, July 7, 1701.
" Mr. Brown reports that Mr. Simpson, schoolmaster at Fraser
burgh, was to compeir before the Commission, being cited thereto,
and that as yet he had not spock to Mr. John Meldrum, but should
do it before the meeting of the Commissione in this place."
" The said day Mr William Law gave in the execution of a
summons fixed personally upon Mr James Cheyne, Intruder at
Rathen, summonding him to appear before the Commission© of the
(* See Hook's Church Dictionary, pp. 55 and 130.)

12 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Synod of Aberdeen, the 15th of July next, to sit at Deer, and there
to answer for his continued contumacy, which execution the Pres
bytery did receive as duly execute and indorsit."
" Concerning the rest of the Intruders and Intruding helpers,
the Presbyterie thinks fit to delay their citations until it be advised
with the Commission."
" The said day several articles were drawn up wherein the Com
missioners' advice is to be sought as What shall be done with
prelatick Incumbents who neglect public Fasts both as to the
intimation and observation?"
" Whether or not the Presbyterie shall meddle with old
scandals committed in their bounds, which were called before the
Episcopal Judicatories, but not brought to a period."
" What is to be done with the same prelatic Incumbents who
are suspected to be guilty of Arminianism ; and they publicly vent
it to their people ? The next meeting to be at Deer, July 15, by
eight o'clock in the morning, in regard the Commission is to meet
at ten houres the said day in the said place."
" At Deer, July 15, hora 8va ante meridiem.
" The roll called, all present except Mr Howart, who is ex
cused by reason of his great distance. Mr Law chosen clerk pro
temp." The Commission being come to this place, the Presbyterie is
to attend the same, and give in their difficulties for advice. The
next meeting is to be at Aberdeen, July 29. This closed with
prayer; the minutes not read."
AN EPISCOPAL CLERGYMAN SUSPENDED BY THE COMMISSION
OF A PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.
The Commission of the Presbyterian Synod suspended the Rev.
James Cheyne, Episcopal clergyman at Rathen, from the exercise
of his ministry. They also directed the Deer Presbytery to cite
him for censure before the Synod itself, should he persist in preach
ing. The same Commission delayed coming to any resolution
regarding the other Episcopal ministers in the neighbourhood.
What should we think in the present day if an Episcopal ecclesi
astical court were to suspend a Presbyterian minister or vice versa?
This was the kind of thing the Presbytery of Deer were doing in
the eighteenth century. They were as powerless to carry out these
sentences as they were to compel the schoolmasters of Deer to sign
the Westminster Confession. Such men knew little indeed about
religious liberty.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 13
Presbytery Records of Deer.
"At Aberdour, July 29th, 1701.
" All present. James Forbes of Pitnacaddel and Harie Calder,
elders. " The said day Mr Simpson, schoolmaster at Fraserburgh, being
cited to attend the Commission at Deer, in order to the subscribing
the Confession of Faith, he not compeiring. Mr Brown is
appointed to cause cite him to the next Presbyterie. The rest
delayed for some time."
" It is found that Mr Cheyn, intruder at Rathen, is suspended
by the Commissione from the exercise of his ministry, and if he
continue preaching the Presbyterie is appointed to cite him before
the Synod for farther censure. The Presbyterie delays their coming
to any resolution anent the intruders or intruding helpers until
the full meeting of the Commission tiiat is to be at Aberdeen."
"At Strichen, Aug. 20, 1701. Roll called. All present.
Anent Eliz. Cumming, the appointment is continued on the minis
ter of Tyrie anent her."
" In respect of the multiphcity of business lying upon the
respective members of the Presbyterie, it is found that the school
masters are not cited to this diet, but appointed to be cited against
the next." ' The Brethren report that they have had no information anent
Techmuiry — its referred to the Synod for advice."
" Anent Mr Cheyn, the brethren report that he continued
preaching, therefore the Presby. appoints Mr William Law to
cause cite him before the ensuing Synod for further censure for
his contumacy, and return the execution of the summonds to the
next Presby. duly execut and indorsit."
" The Commission appointed the members of this Presby. to
confer with intruding helpers, and return report to the Synod."
" At Deer, Sept. 2nd. Sederunt Masters Andrew Guthry,
Jas. Brown, Wm. Law, James Farquhar, Thomas Udny, Alexr.
Havart, clerk, absent. Mr Thos. Udny, clerk pro tem."
" This day the Presby. did receive several instructions from
the Commission of the Synod, which are as follows : —
1 mo. That they take a nott of the schoolmasters who refuse
to subscribe the Confession of Faith, and give it into the
Synod

14 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
2 do. That they appoint their Commissioners to the next Gen
eral Assembly to represent the great abuse made at Yool,
and show that some Episcopal Ministers preach that day."
3 io. To set up Parochial Magistrates, and that they deal with
pedagogues and Chaplains to subscribe the Confession of
Faith.
4 o. To bring in their collections for Algire captives.
5 o. That they read the sentence of Deposition against Dr
George Garden. Lastly, that they confer with Episcopal
Helpers within their bounds and report to the Synod."
" At Strichen, Sept. 30th, 1701. The Presbyterie finding that
several schoolmasters were cited to this diet, viz., Mr Robert
Cheyn, schoolmaster at S. Fergus, who, compeiring and
being discoursed with upon that head, craved liberty to confer
with Mr Guthrie till the next Presbytery, which was granted;
lykeways also compeired Mr Alex. Fraser, schoolmaster at Ach-
redie, who promised to subscribe it within a short time; likewyse
Mr Shives, schoolmaster at Pitsligo, who craved the liberty to
discourse with Mr Brown at home."
EPISCOPAL MINISTERS CHARGED WITH PREACHING UPON CHRISTMAS
DAY.
We observe from these extracts that the Deer Presbytery
received instructions from the Commission of their Synod showing
them how they were to deal with their principal difficulties.
These were the compelling of the schoolmasters to sign the
Confession of Faith, and the prosecution, or rather persecution,
of Episcopal clergy. The names of all the schoolmasters who
refused to sign were to be reported to the Synod. They were
also to appoint their Commissioners to the General Assembly, to
represent the great abuse made at Yule, and to show that some
Episcopal ministers preach upon that day. They and their
Congregations had no doubt been celebrating the great festival
of their Redeemer's Birth at Bethlehem, and for this they were
to be summoned before a civil court. The Commission likewise
directed the Presbytery to set up parochial magistrates to judge
th© schoolmasters and chaplains who had not signed the West
minster Confession.
THE REV. JAMES MOORE, EPISCOPAL CLERGYMAN, IS DILIGENT TO
REBUKE VICE.
The Deer Presbytery, which met on November 11th, 1701, on
the report of one of their number, were forced to acknowledge that

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 15
Mr Moore had faithfully done his duty in reproving sin. The
true pastor, after the example of S. John the Baptist long ages
before, had boldly rebuked vice, and patiently suffered for the
truth's sake. Extract from Presbytery Record of Nov, 11th, 1701.
" The said day Mr James Brown reports that he spoke to Mr
Moor, minister at Fraserburgh, anent his alleged converse with
James Gordon of Techmairy, excommunicate person : like answered
that the said Techmuiry came sometimes to his house, and but
seldom : and that every time he came the said Mr Moore did lay
home his heinous sin to him, and reproved him for his obstinacy.
The Presbytery did judge that there was no cause of complaint, as
was alleged." DR GEORGE GARDEN.
Before the Revolution, Dr George Garden was the minister of
S. Nicholas' Church, Aberdeen, but had been deprived for not
complying with the authority of the Presbyterian Establishment.
Instead of doing so, he continued to minister to his Episcopal con
gregation in Aberdeen. That congregation is understood to have
been the nucleus of the present S. John's Church in the Granite
City. The General Assembly, claiming unlimited supremacy in
ecclesiastical matters, cited Dr Garden to appear before them.
Though he was in no way subject to their jurisdiction, they accused
him of teaching Bourignianism, condemned him, and deposed him
from the ministry. Dr Garden paid no heed to their high-handed
proceedings, but continued to minister to his own Episcopal flock.
Some years afterwards he wrote in favour of toleration for his
Episcopahan fellow-Churchmen, and was one of those who pre
sented an address of congratulation to Queen Anne. He was
decidedly a Jacobite, and presented a like address to the Chevalier
in 1716. Having been imprisoned for this, he was afterwards
liberated, and lived till the year 1733. He died at the age of 85.*
MADAME ANTONIA BOURIGNON.
This versatile mystic writer was born at Lisle in 1616, and
educated in the Roman Catholic Faith. At the age of 16 she
separated from her friends, and adopted the religious life. She
claimed to have received special revelation from the Holy Spirit
(* See Grab's Ecclesiastical History, III., 270, 339, 346, 366, 367, 374, 375,
and IV., 8.)

16 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
as to the true meaning of the revealed Word of God. Dr Gieorge
Garden in 1699 published an Apology for Madame Bourignon, and
for this he was deposed in an unwarranted manner by the General
Assembly of 1701. Candidates for Presbyterian ordination had
to disclaim the Bourignian heresy, long after it was obsolete and
forgotten. It was not till 1889 that the General Assembly
ordered this useless formula to be thrown out. (See Stephen's
History of the Scottish Church IL, 447-449.) In the Episcopal
Church this heresy never took any firm hold, and soon came to an
end. THE REV. ANDREW DALGARNO AND THE REV. ALEXANDER MOORE,
EPISCOPAL MINISTERS.
These clergymen were ordered by the Deer Presbytery not to
intrude themselves into any of the kirks within their bounds that
should become vacant. They replied that they had no intention
to enter these kirks on the death of their respective incumbents.
These answers the Presbytery ordered to be recorded in their
minutes. THE REV. JAMES CHEYNE.
This brave Episcopal clergyman still continued to preach at
Rathen, ignoring the sentence of suspension pronounced upon
him by the Presbyterian Synod. His reply to his persecutors
might have been that of the Apostles to the Jewish Sanhedrim,
" Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more
than unto God, judge ye." The Presbytery delayed to summon
Mr Cheyne until they were more fully advised.
INTERFERENCE WITH ROMAN CATHOLICS.
The Presbytery ordered their brethren to bring in a list before
next Presbytery of all the Roman Catholic families within their
bounds. They wished to employ Protestant friends to instruct
the children of Roman Catholics in the Protestant faith. This
shows the unbounded pretensions of supremacy which these Pres
byterian ministers asserted over the faith and consciences of their
fellow-Christians, with whom they differed in religious views.
" This day, according to the Synod's appointment, the Pres
bytery ordains their several members to read the Sentence of
Deposition against Doctor G«orge Garden, late minister at New
Aberdeen, and report their diligence at the next Presbyterie, as

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 17
also that they send copies of the said sentence to the several Epis
copal ministers within this Presbytery to be by them also intimate
betwixt and the last Sabbath of December Next to come, all which
the brethren undertook to do."
" This day Mr Andrew Guthry a>nd Mr James Brown report,
that according to the Presbyterie's appointment on them (the
Commission of the Synod having enjoined the Presbytery for that
effect) they had spoken to Mr Andrew Dalgarno and Mr Alexander
Moor, the two Episcopal Helpers in their bounds, and that they
had required of them that they should not intrude into these
places where they officiat in case of th© death of the respective
Incumbents, who answered that they had no such design to go
into these Kirks, albeit they were vacant, which answer the Pres
bytery ordained to be recorded in their register."
" According to the Act of the Synod, the Presbytery ordains
the several brethren to bring in a list against the next Presbytery
day of all th© Popish families within this Presbytery, as also of
the number and age of their children, with the condition of their
families, and what Protestant friends they have who might be em
ployed for instructing the children in the Protestant religion."
" The said day they do find, that the Synod have continued
the sentence of suspension on Mr James Chein, Intruder at Rathen,
and in case the said Mr Chein do still contemn the sentence, the
Presbytery are appointed to depose him betwixt and February
next to come." At Deer, Dec. 2nd, 1701.
" This day the Presbytery delays the citation of the school
masters both because of Mr Guthry's absence, and till they hear
what other Presbyteries are doing in the said affair."
" This day the whole brethren present report that they have
publicly from pulpit read the Sentence of Deposition against Dr
George Garden, bub had not as yet transmitted the copies to th©
Episcopal jMinisters, the appointment is renewed, and they are to
do it against th© next Presbytery, and to allow the said Episcopal
Incumbents a longer time than till the last of this instant."
" This day no report anent the Popish families — appointment
renewed. This day it is reported by the brethren lying next to
the parish of Rathen, that Mr James Chein, Intruder, foresaid,
doth contemn the sentence of suspension, and continues to preach,
the Presbytery delays the consideration of the said affair till the
next Presbytery Day."

18 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Crimond, Dec. 23rd, 1701.
" This day, the Presbytery doth yet continue the delay for-
warning the schoolmasters to subscribe the Confession of Faith,
and in the meantime the brethren are to confer with some among
them that are best inclined, and to report."
" Mr James Farquhar reports that the Court of the Justices
of Peace is to sit at Deer on the 27 January next, whereupon the
Presbytery appointed their next Presbytery to be there the said
day, and the foresaid brethren appointed to attend the said Court
and to represent James Gordon of Techmuiry, excommunicate
person to the said Court."
" The brethren report that they have transmitted copies of
th© sentence against Dr George Garden to the several Episcopal
ministers in this Presbytery, and that they have allowed them till
the middle of January, next to come, to read them. The brethren
are appointed to notice if they read them, and report."
" This day th© several brethren were enquired at concerning
the Popish families and their children, and it is found from in
formation from Mr Andrew Guthry that there is one Popish
family in Peterhead, called Irvine of Carnfield, aInd his wife,
Margaret Edie, both Papists, also a brother's daughter of the said
Margaret Edie, about the age of 15 or thereby, being a Papist,
resideth with them. Also in the paroch of New Deer or Achredie
there is one *Gordon of Barak, a young man of about 24 years
of age, unmarried, a papist, all the rest of the family being gone
out of the bounds. The brethren do also report of another family,
Elphiston of Warth, who is now also gone out of this Presbytery,
and besides these there are not any other popish families within
the bounds of this Presbytery."
" Mr Chein, Intruder at Rathen, still continues preaching —
thereby contemning the authority of the Church — the Presbytery
doth yet delay to summon him before them, till they be more
ripely advised in the said affair."
" This day, some of the brethren report that they have got
ten Session Magistrates, and others have not as yet obtained the
consent of fit persons for that effect — they are exhorted to proceed
with all care and expedition."
" The Commissioners to the Assembly are appointed to repre
sent to the Assembly the great profanation of the Lord's Day by
(* For pseudonym Christian name.)

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 19
reason of a yearly mercat at the beginning of August called
Lauren Fair in the Garioch, the people everjrwhere flocking to it
on the Lord's Day, and further that they represent the great abuse
committed in the country about the time called Yule — further to
give up James Gordon of Techmuiry, an excommunicate person,
also George Duffus fugitive, that the marks of him be given for dis
covery of him, in case he be lurking in that country."
This was the last meeting of the Deer Presbytery during the
year 1701. Their principal work for that period had been the
harassing of the Episcopal clergy. The progress they made in the
odious task had been very small, while their arrogance made them
more and more disliked by their ecclesiastical rivals.
THE EPISCOPAL CLERGY DECLINE TO READ THE SENTENCE OF
DEPOSITION AGAINST DR GEORGE GARDEN.
When the Presbytery met at Deer on January 27th, 1702, it
was reported to th© meeting that some of the schoolmasters had
expressed themselves willing to sign the Westminster Confession.
The brethren were directed to confer with them, and report to the
next Presbytery. The members stated that as far as they knew
the Episcopal ministers did not read the sentence of Deposition
against Dr George Garden.
Minutes of Deer Presbytery of Jan. 27th, 1702.
" Some of the schoolmasters profess themselves willing to sub
scribe the Confession of Faith, and that others desire conferences
with ministers, whereupon the brethren are desired to confer with
them, and report against the next Presbytery."
" Th© several brethren that, as far as they could notice or
understand, the Episcopal Minsters did not read th© sentence of
deposition against Dr George Garden, upon which the Presbytery
referred the matter to the Synod. The said day the brethren
report anent the Session Magistrates as formerly, the Presbytery
doth earnestly press the vigorous prosecution of so great a work."
PRESBYTERY MEETING AT DEER ON FEB. 24th, 1702.
A schoolmaster, Mr John Meldrum of Deer, appeared before
this Presbytery, and showed himself willing to sign the Confession.
It was thought fit to delay his signing it, till others should come
forward to sign along with him. For this purpose, the other
schoolmasters were ordered to be summoned to the next meeting.

20 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
The Rev. James Cheyne, Episcopal Minister of Rathen, hav
ing been cited, showed his contempt of this ecclesiastical court
by disregarding its orders. The meeting did not proceed to any
further censure, but continued the sentence of suspension upon
him. Finding also that the time of the next Synod was approach
ing, they appointed Mr William Law to cause Mr Cheyne to be
summoned before that body, for further censure if that course
should seem good.
Extracts from Minutes of this Presbytery.
" This day the Brethren, taking the affair of the Schoolmasters
to their consideration, it is appointed that Mr Andrew Guthrie
should cause his schoolmaster to subscribe the Confession of Faith,
and others are appointed to be cited against the next Presbytery
to do the same — viz., the Schoolmaster at S. Fergus, and the
schoolmasters of Aberdour and Lonmay. This day John Meldrum,
Schoolmaster at Deer, compeared before the Presbytery, shewed
himself most willing to subscribe the said Confession — it was
thought fit to delay it till others should come to do it togidder."
" Mr William Law reports that he had caused his officer sum
monds Mr James Chein, intruder at Rathen, and returned the
execution duly execute and indorst — who being called and not com
pearing, the Presbytery did enquire if the brethren appointed to
write for correspondents had obeyed, whereupon the Presbytery,
after mature deliberation, and considering that none had come to
assist either from Ellon or Turiff Presbyteries, did judge it not
fit to proceed to any further censure, but continues the sentence
of suspension upon him, and finding the time of the next Synod
to approach, they appoint Mr William Law to cause him to be
cited before the next ensuing Synod for further censure, as they
shall judge fitt."
The Brethern who have not gotten the Session Baillies are
exhorted to proceed and be careful in the said matter."
DEATH OF WILLIAM III.
King William died on March 8th, 1702, his father-in-law.
King James, having predeceased him in September, 1701. News
travelled slowly in those days, and the Presbytery of Deer did not
hear of the event till they met at Crimond on March 24th, 1702.
They were greatly disturbed at the tidings, and after postponing the
subscription of the schoolmasters to the Confession, and citing Mr

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 21
Cheyne to appear before the Aberdeen Synod, they hastily ad
journed. Extract from Minutes of Meeting on March 24th, 1702.
" At Crimond, March 24, 1702.
" This day the Presbytery for several reasons thought fit to
delay the calling the schoolmasters to subscribe the Confession of
Faith. Mr Chein cited to appear before the Synod of Aberdeen,
1st Tuesd. of October.
" The Brethren exhorted to go on in settling the Session
Baillies." " Mr Farquhar is desired to go to Aberdour the next Lord's
Day as he was appointed [in the absence of Mr Brown at the
Assembly]. Mr Brown is expected sooner home nor was thought,
the Assembly not having sitten long, they having adjourned upon
the news of the King WilHam's death."
REIGN OF WILLIAM III.
William III. was an able ruler and administrator of his
adopted kingdom. His principal achievement for it was the
secure and lasting establishment of its constitutional government.
For this boon the Prince of Orange has earned the gratitude of
all succeeding ages of the British race. Britons have the best
reason to think that their monarchical administration, as settled
by him, is in its constitutional character the best in the world.
King William disestablished prelacy in Scotland, and set up
Presbyterianism as the State religion. In one sense, this action
of his may be laid at the door of the unwise policy of the Scottish
Bishops. They and their followers, the Scottish Jacobites, had an
exaggerated view of hereditary right, and ought to have remem
bered that King James had deserted their own religion for that
of Rome. Had they supported William as their brethren did
South of the Border, there can be little doubt but Episcopacy
would have remained the established religion of Scotland. And,
after all, has not the Scottish Church much for which to thank
the Dutch monarch in regard to disestablishment? Who, for one
moment, would prefer the Erastian and despotic Episcopal Church
of the seventeenth century to the Scottish Episcopal Church of
to-day ? See the Scottish Church as she is now, full of energy and
zeal, and instinct with the spiritual life handed down to her from
the two great revivals which have regenerated the Anglican Com-

22 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
munion. Think also of what she is now doing for religious missions,
not only at home, but also in the vast fields for missionary enter
prise in Africa and India. Consider, too, how free the Church in
Scotland is to make her own laws and elect her own Bishops. Does
she not in this way realise in a fuller sense than her State-
established sister in England that declaration contained in the
Magna Charta of earlier days, which said that the Church of
England should be free?
Again the rough treatment and persecution meted out by the
new establishment in 1690 to Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and
Quakers received no countenance from the King. In this, Pres
byterians were then doing exactly what Episcopalians had done
before the Revolution. In 1691 William wrote to the Scottish
Presbyterian Assembly insisting upon greater toleration to the
Episcopal clergy. His letters to this effect were treated with
scant respect and entirely disregarded. The depositions of Epis
copal clergy made by the Presbyterian Assemblies and Synods were
directly in opposition to the wishes of the King. The Scottish
prisons also were full of Episcopalians, often left there without
trial for a long period of time.*
The two great blots upon the record of William's reign are the
cruel massacre of Glencoe in January, 1692, and the employment
of torture in Scotland to extort evidence.
TORTURE IN SCOTTISH LAW-COURTS.
This barbarous mode of extorting evidence was used in the
Scottish Courts of Justice in the seventeenth century. Presby
terians and Episcopalians were alike addicted to the revolting
practice. Among those tortured in pre-Revolution days was
William Carstares, who afterwards became th© chief adviser of
William III. This found its counterpart in the case of Neville
Payne when Presbyterianism became predominant. This unfortu
nate English country gentleman was charged with being concerned
in a plot to restore King James. Having been brought to Edin
burgh, he was tortured under instructions received from William.
How the son of William th© Silent could ever have signed the
warrant for this proceeding is inexplicable, for he, as well as his
father before his day, knew well the terrible miseries resulting
from the use of torture in the Netherlands. Surely his Mentor,
*See Stephen's History of the Scottish Church, Vol. II., page 436.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 23
the astute Carstares, who himself had suffered in this way, was not
near at hand when his royal master signed the order. The follow
ing is a description of the process by the Earl of Crawford, who
presided: —
" About six this evening we inflicted (the torture) on both
thumbs and one of his legs with all the severity that was consistent
with humanity, even unto that pitch that we could not preserve
life and have gone further, but without the least success. . . .
It was surprising to me and others that flesh and blood could with
out fainting, and in contradiction to the grounds we had insinuat
of our knowledge of his accession in matters, endure the heavy
penance he was in for two hours." Can a parallel be found to
this inhuman process in the present day, even in unhappy Russia ?t
QUEEN ANNE.
Anne, daughter of James II., became Queen on March 8th,
1702. Her accession was very acceptable to the Jacobites, who
were gratified that a Stuart was succeeding to the British throne.
Episcopalians in Scotland rejoiced because they could now look
forward to greater toleration in the exercise of their religion, and
Presbyterians became less confident and more depressed. The
Presbytery of Deer now found it more difficult to persecute the
Episcopal clergy, who now more strenuously resisted their
authority. The Queen, wishing to alleviate the sufferings of the Episcopal
clergy, wrote to the Soots Privy Council on their behalf. The
Presbyterian Assembly of March 10th, 1703, in reply to Her
Majesty's letter, declared that Presbytery was not only agreeable
to the Word of God, but " the only government of Christ's Church
in the kingdom." They also said " that to enact a toleration for
those of that way (which God of His infinite mercy avert) would
be to establish iniquity by a law."| These high-handed and
unfounded claims of Presbyterian Assemblies were adopted by the
subordinate ecclesiastical courts, and well illustrate their arrogant
nature. THE ACT OF UNION.
The principal event of Queen Anne's reign was the Act of
Union, which came into actual operation on May 1st, 1707. By
this measure England and Scotland were united into one kingdom.
tSee Stephen's History of the Scottish Church, Vol. II., page 437.
jSee Grub's Ecclesiastical History, Vol. III., p. 346.

24 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
The union of the two kingdoms was unpopular with the Scottish
people. The Jacobites thought it was unfavourable to their design
of restoring the male line of the Stuart kings, and the Cameronians
opposed it as bringing them into closer connection with a country
where Episcopacy was established by law. In after days the Epis
copal Church of Scotland was to realise that an Imperial Parlia
ment was a better guarantee for religious toleration than any local
or provincial legislative assembly.* Queen Anne died in August,
1714. THE REV. JAMES CHEYNE.
These historical remarks will enable the reader to understand
better the oppressive enactions of the Presbytery of Deer. It is
abundantly evident that the action of the Synod in deposing Mr
Cheyne was at variance with the wish of the reigning monarch.
Yet we find that the Deer Presbytery ordered Mr W. Law to
intimate the sentence of Deposition of Mr Cheyne at the Kirk of
Rathen on the Sunday following April 9th, 1702.
Extract from Presbytery Record.
" At Aberdeen, April 9, 1702, in tyme of the Synod, Mr W.
Law appointed to intimate the sentence of Deposition against Mr
James Chein at the Kirk of Rathen the next Lord's Day, the Synod
having deposed him from his ministerial function."
THE KIRK OF RATHEN DECLARED VACANT.
Mr Law went to Rathen to demand access to the Kirk of
Rathen and declare it vacant. But the Rev. James Cheyne, the
Episcopal incumbent, refused to allow him to enter the church.
The envoy of the Presbytery had to content himself with reading
the sentence of Deposition at the gate of the kirk, and afterwards
affixing a copy of it to the kirk style. The Episcopal incumbent,
who was standing near, tor© down the document from the style
and said — "I am quite willing to supply the vacancy." Mr Law
returned to Crimond after a fruitless journey.
Extract front Presbytery Record of May 3rd, 1702.
"At Deer, May 3rd, 1702.
" This day the Schoolmasters are delayed till the next Pres
bytery." " The said day Mr Law reports, that according to the appoint
ment of the last Presbytery he went to th© Kirk of Rathen upon
*IUd., p. 364.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 25
the Lord's Day before Sermon, and demanded access to the Church,
which was denied by Mr Chein, whereupon he, the said Mr Law,
at the Kirk Sty 11 read th© sentence of Deposition against Mr Chein,
affixing a copy of the said sentence at th© said Kirk Styl, which
copy he saw Mr Chein take off with his own hand, and when the
said Mr Law declared the Church vacant, the said Mr Cheyne
declared he was willing to supply the same. This was done in the
presence of the most part of the congregation convened for the
tyme. Mr Law required some of them to be witnesses, and so he
returned to his own charge at Crimond. The Presbytery did
unanimously approve his diligence."
" The Presbjrtery appoints Mr James Brown to speak with one
Mr Alex. Craig, late minister in Schetland, and now living in
Fraserburgh, that he forbear to preach within the bounds of this
Presbytery." THE REV. ALEXANDER CRAIG, EPISCOPAL CLERGYMAN.
Mr Craig had been serving the Episcopal Church in Shetland,
and in 1702 he came to reside in Fraserburgh. Mr Brown was
told by the Presbytery to go to that town and forbid Mr Craig to
officiate within their bounds. The former had to report to his
colleagues that he had not gone to Fraserburgh as he had been
enjoined, and the same command was again laid upon the unwilling
messenger. At this same meeting, which was held at Deer on May 19th,
1702, the citation of the schoolmasters to sign the Confession of
Faith was delayed until the return of Mr Guthry. It is evident
that the Episcopal clergy and the schoolmasters of the district
became bolder in their resistance to the tyrannical Presbytery after
the accession of Queen Anne. At this same meeting it was reported
that the Rev. James Cheyne still continued to officiate at Rathen
and set the order of the Presbytery at defiance.
Extract from Presbytery Record of May 19th, 1702.
" At Deer, May 19th, 1702.
" The Brethren delay the citation of the schoolmasters for
subscribing the Confession of Faith till Mr Guthry return.
" This day the Presbytery report that Mr James Chein, not
withstanding the sentence of the Synod, is still preaching there,
thereby contemning the authority of the Church, whereupon th&

26 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Presbytery appoints Mr James Brown to represent the affair to th©
Civil Magistrate."
" The Session Baillies are earnestly recommended to the
serious consideration of the whole Brethren."
" Mr Brown reports that he has not yet gone to Fraserburgh
to speak with Mr Craig as h© was appointed — the same is laid
upon him again." THE SCHOOLMASTERS STILL OBDURATE.
After the accession of Queen Anne, the schoolmasters of Deer
became more obdurate than ever regarding the signing of the West
minster Confession. At the meeting of the Presbytery held at
Crimond on June 9th, 1702, the brethren delayed taking action
against them till they heard what the other Presbyteries had done.
They also agreed to confer with them according as they had
opportunity. At their next meeting on July 12th, 1702, the
members had each to give in a very unfavourable report of the
progress they had made. They found the schoolmasters still ask
ing for delay, and most unwilling to sign the Confession. The
Presbytery directed that they were all to be warned to be present
at their next meeting to give their final reply. When this Presby
terian Ecclesiastical Court met on September 1st, 1702, they
found that the matter had advanced no further. None appeared
at the meeting in obedience to a written summons, excepting Mr
Alex. Fraser, schoolmaster of New Deer. He having been asked
to sign the Confession, made many excuses, and at last plainly
refused to subscribe it at that time. The Court then referred the
matter to the Synod. That body, at their meeting on October
7th, 1702, appointed that the names of the schoolmasters refus
ing to subscribe the Confession of Faith should be given up to the
next General Assembly. The attempts made to coerce the school
masters during the year 1702 had completely failed. In fact, the
whole work of the Presbytery during the first decade of the
eighteenth century was their efforts to suppress the Episcopal
clergy, their endeavours to get the Confession signed by the
teachers, and little more than a single case of discipline.
Extracts from the Presbytery Records.
"At Crimond, June 9th, 1702."
" The Presbytery delayed the schoolmasters till they should
hear what other Presbyteries have done anent their subscribing the

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 27
Confession of Faith, as also hearing that the said schoolmasters
ar© become more avers© than formerly they were."
" The Presbytery did delay the visitation of the schoolmasters
till the next Presbytery day upon the account of the reason fore
said, and the brethren are appointed to confer with as they have
opportunity." "At Crimond, July 12th, 1702."
" The said day some of the Brethren report that they had
spoken with some of the schoolmasters, and find them still for
delays, being unwilling to subscribe the said Confession. The
Presbytery, that they might put an end to so tedious a matter,
appoints the several brethren to warn the nearest adjacent school
masters, and so all to be present against the next Presbytery day
to give their last answer; that so the Presbytery may be in a
readiness to give an accompt of their diligence to the Synod."
"At Crimond, September 1st, 1702."
" This day the several brethren report that they had written
to the schoolmasters within the bounds, whereupon they, being
called, none compeared except Mr Alex. Fraser, schoolmaster at
New Deer, who, being desired to subscribe the Confession of Faith,
made many shifts, and at last did plainly refuse to subscribe it at
this tyme. The Presbytery refer the matter to the Synod."
"Synod at Aberdeen, Oct. 7th, 1702."
" The Synod appoints that the names of the schoolmasters
refusing to subscribe the Confession of Faith, shall be given up to
the next General Assembly." THE REV. ALEX. CRAIG.
This Episcopal clergyman was absent in the south of Scotland
when the messenger went to his house to forbid him to preach.
At their meeting on Jun© 9th, 1702, th© Presbytery renewed the
imperious mandate. On two subsequent occasions Mr Craig was
found not to be at home, and twice again the order was repeated.
On November 10th, 1702, Mr Brown reported that he had seen
the Rev. Alex. Craig, who, having produced two certificates, pro
mised not to preach in any vacant church within the inspection of
the Presbytery. These two certificates were probably Mr Craig's
Letters of Orders.

28 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Extracts from the Presbytery Record.
"At Crimond, June 9th, 1702."
" Mr James Brown reports that Mr Alex. Craig is at the South
Country, and therefore he could not meet with him as h© was
appointed; the appointment is renewed at the return of the said
Mr Craig." " The said day Mr James Brown reports that Mr Craig is not
returned from the South as yet ; the Presbytery renews the appoint
ment as formerly."
"At Crimond, July 12th, 1702."
" Mr Brown reports that he went to Mr Craig's house at
Fraserburgh, but found him not at home; the appointment
renewed." "At Crimond, Sept. 1st, 1702."
" This day Mr Brown reports that he has been so taken up with
important affairs that he could not go to Fraserburgh to speak
with Mr Craig; he is again appointed."
" At Crimond, Sept. 22nd, 1702."
" Mr James Brown has not as yet met with Mr Craig ; the
Presbytery renews the appointment."
"At Deer, Nov. 10th, 1702."
" This day Mr Brown reports that he had spoken with Mr
Alex. Craig foresaid, as he was appointed, and that the said Mr
Craig had promised not to preach in any vacant church within our
inspection, as also the said Mr Craig produced two testificates. "
THE REV. JAMES CHEYNE.
This brave Presbyter would not be silenced, but continued to
preach at Rathen, notwithstanding the sentence of the Presby
terian Synpd. He was for this cited to appear before the Scottish
Privy Council on the 25th June. Mr Cheyne, ignoring the sum
mons, did not go south to appear before the Council. The Pres
bytery, feeling powerless to carry into effect the deposition of this
pastor, directed one of their number to write for advice to the
Presbyterian ministers of Aberdeen. He was to represent to
them the great inconvenience arising from such contempt of their
Court, and request them to write to the King's Advocate on the
subject. They replied to the Deer Presbytery that the said Mr
Cheyne would soon get his sentence from the Council.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 29
Extracts from Presbytery Record.
"At Crimond, June 9th, 1702."
" This day the Brethren report that Mr James Chein is still
preaching at Rathen, notwithstanding the sentence of the Synod;
also Mr Brown reports that he wrote as he was appointed, and
that the said Mr diein is to appear before th© Council of Soot-
land on the 25th of this instant."
The said day the Brethren report that Mr James Chein,
foresaid, is still preaching at Rathen, and has not gone south to
appear before the Councill. The Presbytery appoint Mr Brown
to write to the Ministers of Aberdeen, and to represent the great
inconveniency to this country occasioned by such contempt, desiring
them to write to the King's Advocate anent the affair."
"At Crimond, July 12th, 1702."
" Mr J. Brown reports that he wrote to Aberdeen anent Mr
Chein, and received an answer signifying that the said Mr C. will
shortly get his sentence from the Council."
AN APPEAL TO " OESAR."
The ecclesiastical Presbyterian Courts of Aberdeenshire, hav
ing appealed to " Caesar," caused Mr Cheyne to be sentenced by
the Scottish Privy Council, and deprived of the exercise of any
part of his ministry within the parish of Rathen. Without wait
ing to receive the sentence in writing, the Presbytery appointed
Mr James Farquhar, whenever the said act should come to hand,
to call for a Notary Public and two subscribing witnesses. He
was then to intimate the sentence to Mr Cheyne, and take instru
ments thereon before the witnesses and at the hands of the Notary.
He was also to preach at Rathen the next Lord's Day. These
orders of the court were duly carried out.
Extracts from the Deer Presbytery Records.
"At Deer, Aug. 16, 1702."
" This day the Moderator doth report, as also some others of
the Brethren, that Mr James Chein is now sentenced by the Privy
Council, and deprived of the exercise of any part of his ministry
within the Parioch of Rathen. This day they have sure informa
tion of, albeit the Council Act be not yet come to their hands,
whereupon the Presbytery appoints Mr James Farquhar, whenso
ever the Act of deprivation foresaid shall come to his hand (as it is
expected without fail once this week) to call for a Nottar Public

30 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
and two subscribing witnesses, and so intimate the same to Mr
Chein, and to take instruments thereon in the hands of the Nottar
before the witnesses, delivering a true and exact double of the
said Act to Mr Chein, as also to preach at the said Kirk of Rathen
the next Lord's Day. As also Mr James Brown is appointed to
preach at the said Kirk of Rathen, the Sabbath next, immediately
after Mr Farquhar, being the 30th of this instant."
"At Crimond, Sept. 1st, 1702."
" Mr James Farquhar reports that he received the Council's
Act depriving Mr James Chein, and accoramgly, in all points he
obeyed the Presbytery's order — in a word, that the said Act was
duly intimate to the said Mr Chein; as also that he preached at
the Kirk of Rathen upon the 23rd August last, being the Lord's
Day, when, after sermon, he did advertise the people that Mr
Chein was discharged to preach any more within the said Paroch,
or exercise any part of his ministry."
"At Deer, Dec. 22nd, 1702."
" The Presbytery appoints Mr Brown and Mr Farquhar to
wait on my Lord Saltoun and my Lord Fraser, and the rest of
the heritors of the Paroch of Rathen, to deal with them anent the
planting of the said Kirk, and to report their diligence."
The appeal to "Caesar" led to no practical result. The
Scottish Privy Council had very little time at that juncture to
attend to ecclesiastical affairs in the north of Scotland. The pro
posed union of the two kingdoms in Great Britain was taking up
the attention of most parties; and, besides this, Queen Anne did
not favour the persecution of the Episcopal clergy. Such was the
end of the work of the Deer Presbytery for the year 1702.
PATRONAGE.
Patronage has often been a burning question in Scotland.
The landowners who first built and endowed the churches were
naturally the first patrons of the livings; and, after they died,
the right passed on to their successors. In the course of time,
transferences of patronage were in some cases made to Bishops,
Cathedrals, Monasteries, or the Crown. When Presbyterianism
was first established in North Britain, under Melville in 1592,
the Presbyteries were bound to accept the party presented by the
King or lay patrons. In 1660, when Episcopacy was re-established,
patrons were required to make their presentations to the Bishops,

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 31
and not to the Presbyteries. At the Revolution, William III.,
after great hesitation, handed over the presentations of the bene
fices to the heritors and elders of the parish. Another change
took place in 1712, when the British Parliament restored the right
of presentation to the lay patrons. A few years before 1843, the
subject oi patronage stirred up all ecclesiastical Scotland from
Caithness to the Solway, and ultimately severed in twain the Scot
tish Presbyterian Establishment. Finally, in 1874, patronage was
abolished North of the Tweed, and the right of appointing the
minister was given to the communicants and adherents of each
congregation. In the Episcopal Church of Scotland there is now a mixed
system of patronage, an arrangement which many consider to be
the better mode. Presentations are made by the person or persons
in whom the right of presentation is vested by the Constitution
of each Church. In all cases the Deed of Presentation has to be
accepted by the Bishop of the Diocese. The Bishop himself, the
Vestry, or Managers, or other parties, may hold the bestowal of
"the benefice.* PRESBYTERY VERSUS PATRON.
By the Revolution settlement, the power of presenting to a
parish in Scotland was in the hands of the heritors and elders.
The Presbytery of Deer should have left the presentation to the
Ohurch of Rathen with these officials. They knew, however, that
they would offer the living to their deposed clergyman, the Rev.
James Cheyne, and not to the nominee of the Presbytery. In
such a case they were more likely to make the presentation them
selves and ignore the heritors and elders of the parish. Two
members of the Presbytery were sent to Lord Saltoun, and the
other heritors, to inquire about the filling up of the vacancy. Lord
Saltoun replied that as the Presbytery had planted the Kirk of
Tyrie twice without his consent, he would not concern himself about
the Kirk of Rathen. Lord Fraser and others answered that
though they would not actually concur, they would be content if
the place were planted with a good man.
Extract from Presbytery Record.
" At Deer, Jan. 26, 1703.
" Mr Brown and Mr Farquhar report that they did wait on
the Heritors of the paroch of Rathen anent the planting of the
* See Stephen's History of the Scottish Church II. , 470, 471, and Code of
Canons of 1890 ofthe Episcopal Church in Scotland, XIII., 12, 6.

32 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
said Kirk. They received answer from My Lord Saltoun, that in
regard the Presbytery had planted the Kirk of Tyrie twice with
out his consent, where he was concerned as Patron, therefore he
would not concern himself with the said affair of the Kirk of
Rathen. As also the said Brethren received answer from My
Lord Frazer, and other Heritors of that paroch, that they would
not actually concur, yet they were content the place were planted
with a good man, and told they would be passive in the said
matter." DEATH OF THE REV. JAMES CHEYNE.
It was reported to the Presbytery on August 3rd, 1703, that
this courageous pastor had been taken to his rest. Mr Cheyne
continued at his post in defiance of Presbytery, Synod, General
Assembly, and even of the Scottish Privy Council. He could never
have done this if he had not been popular with the heritors and
the whole parish of Rathen. Neither can there be any reasonable
doubt but nearly all the people of Rathen were members of the
Episcopal Church. He lived in stormy days, till his Lord called
him to the place where "tempests are no more."
Extract from Presbytery Record.
"At Rathen, Aug. 3rd, 1703.
" This day, it being reported to Presbytery that Mr James
Chein, late Intruder at Rathen, is removed by death, they do advise
Mr James Anderson, present minister at Rathen, not to meddle
with anything belonging to the manse or glieb until he get legal
diligence upon his Act of Ordination, unless he get peaceable access
without interruption." DEATH OF THE REV. JAMES MOORE.
The Rev. James Moore was the Episcopal incumbent of Fraser
burgh, and held the Parish Church of Fraserburgh up to the year
1703, when his death was reported to the Presbytery. So much
was he beloved by the people of " the Broch " that his ecclesiasti
cal opponents could not oust him from his kirk or manse. Even
they had to confess that he was diligent in his pastoral work. He
had a son, Mr Alexander Moore, who was preparing for the
ministry of the Episcopal Church. Here, too, it is abundantly
clear that nearly all — if not all — the parishioners of Fraserburgh
were Episcopalians at the beginning of the eighteenth century.
The Deer Presbytery, after Mr Moore's death, found that they had

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 33
a very hard task before them in the attempt to induct a Presby
terian minister at Fraserburgh.
THE KEYS OF THE KIRK OF FRASERBURGH REFUSED TO
THE PRESBYTERY..
The Deer Presbytery appointed one of their number, the Rev.
James Brown, to go to the town of Fraserburgh upon a week-day
and demand the keys of the Kirk. He, accompanied by a Notary
Public and witnesses, was to demand the keys of the Church door,
first from the Kirk Officer, next from the present Bailiff of the
town, and in case of refusal to require them from Lord Saltoun.
Should he also deny them, he was to take instruments in the hands
of a Notary. But if he should gain access to the Kirk he was to
preach there "on Sabbath come eight days." Mr Brown having
been refused the keys by the said three parties, took instruments,
as he was commanded, and sent them south to the legal agent of
the Established Church, that application might be made to the
Privy Council according to law.
Extracts from Presbytery Records.
" The acts and proceedings of the Presbytery of Deer, since
the Synod of Aberdeen in April 5th, 6tii, and 7th days."
"At Aberdeen, April 7th, 1703."
" This day, upon sufficient information of the death of Mr
James Moor, late minister at Fraserburgh, the Presbytery appoints
Mr James Brown to go to the town of Fraserburgh upon a week
day, with his first convenience, taking with him a nottar and wit
nesses, and to require the keys of the Church door, first from the
Kirk Officer, next from the present Bailiff of the town, and, in case
of refusal, to require them from my Lord Saltoun, and if he also
deny them he is to take instruments in the hands of th© nottar
upon every one his refusal, and in case of getting access he is to
preach at the Kirk of Fraserburgh on Sabbath come eight days."
" Sessio 2da May 4, 1703, at Deer."
" Mr Brown reporteth that he went to Fraserburgh, and re
quired th© keys from the several persons as he was appointed, and,
being denyed the same, he took three instruments tnereupon in
the hands of John Bisset, nottar public, and witnesses, which
instruments, being drawn up in du© form, are sent south to John
Blair, agent for the Kirk, that application be made to the Privie c

34 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Counsell, according to law. The Presbytery approves Mr Brown
his diligence in the said affair."
ANOTHER APPEAL TO " CAESAR."
The Deer Presbytery had again to appeal for the aid of the
secular arm to help them against their Episcopalian neighbours.
This time they wished to obtain possession of the Kirk of Fraser
burgh. At a meeting of the Presbytery held at Crimond on August
17th, 1703, Mr Brown reported that he had received a letter from
Mr George Meldrum, Moderator of th© Commission of the late
General Assembly, who stated that h© had r©presented the matter
of Fraserburgh to the said Commission and to the Lord Chancellor.
He had also tried to bring the refusal of the keys of the Kirk of
Fraserburgh before the Privy Council, but had failed to do so
because of the Parliament. He had consequently to place this
business along with the rest of the grievances to be dealt with at
some future time. When the Presbytery met at Crimond on Nov.
9th, 1703, it was reported that the Fraserburgh refusal of the
Church keys, and all their other grievances, had been laid before
the Scottish Privy Council, and would be duly considered. The
last record of th© Deer Presbytery for the year 1703 is a confession
of the failure of this second appeal to Caesar. This stated that
there was no return concerning the Kirk of Fraserburgh, but that
matters stood as they were. The Scottish Privy Council had not
long to live, and had enough to do with itself. The union of the
two Parliaments of England and Scotland was soon to put an end
to its existence. THE SCHOOLMASTERS SILENCE THE PRESBYTERY.
It is to be observed that there is no mention in the records
of 1703 of any attempt to force the schoolipasters of Deer to sign
the Westminster Confession. The strong wills of the teachers and
their persistent refusal to sign that document had silenced the
Presbytery. Extracts from Presbytery Records.
"Sessio 4ta att Crimond, June 29, 1703."
" No return from the Kirk Agent or any other anent the Kirk
of Fraserburgh." " Sessio 5ta att the Kirk of Deer, July 20, 1703."
" This day the minutes were not read for some weighty
reasons."

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 35
"Sessio 6ta att Crimond, August 17, 1703."
" Mr Brown reports that he has received a Letter from Mr
George Meldrum, Moderator of the Commission of the late General
Assembly anent Fraserburgh, bearing that he had represented the
said affair to the said Commission, as also to my Lord Chancellor,
and had conferred with my Lord Saltoun, who is at Edinburgh
now in tyme of parliament, and that he had often dealt for a
meeting of the Privie Counsell, but could not obtain it because of
the parliament, but had put the affair among the rest of the
grievances, and wold be mindful of it."
" The Presbytery appoint Mr And. Guthrie to attend the next
dyet of the Commission of the late General Assembly, and to be
careful anent the affair of Fraserburgh, and to speak to my Lord
Advocate anent Techmuiry."
" Sessio 7ta att Rathen, Aug. 3, 1703."
" At Crimond, Nov. 9, 1703."
" As also Mr Guthrie reports as to the Church of Fraserburgh,
that it was given in with the rest of the grievances to the Privie
Counsell, and would be considered with the rest."
" Att the Kirk of Deer, Dec. 7, 1703.
" No return as yet anent the Kirk of Fraserburgh, but matters
stand as they were." THE VACANT KIRK OF FRASERBURGH.
This vacancy engrossed the attention of the Deer Presbytery
at the beginning of the year 1704. They desired the appointment
of a minister of their own mind, while the parishioners of Fraser
burgh had determined to favour the appointment of Mr Alex.
Moore, the son of their late incumbent. The presentation belonged
to th© heritors and elders in accordance with the Revolution settle
ment; and unless there was something wrong with the moral
character or attainments of the presentee the Presbytery should
not have interfered. Mr Alex. Moore was probably not yet in
Holy Orders, and these he would not seek from the Presbytery of
Deer, but from one of the disestablished Bishops.
At the meeting of the Presbytery held at Deer on January 4th,
the Presbyterian minister of Aberdour was desired to write to Mr
Osburn, requesting him to ask the Moderator of the late Assembly
or th© Kirk Agent to get an Act of Council for obtaining posses
sion of th© Kirk of Fraserburgh. This letter was composed and

36 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
despatched before the rising of the Presbytery. Time after time
the sam© disappointing report had to be made that there was no
return from the South regarding Fraserburgh.
THE PRESBYTERY AND LORD SALTOUN.
The Presbytery now expressed great anxiety for the lament
able state and condition of the town and parish of Fraserburgh.
They said there was a great increase of wickedness in the place,
and that there were many fugitives from discipline. These were
the ostensible reasons given by the court for interesting themselves
in the appointment of a successor to the Rev. James Moore. The
heritors and people of "the Broch " well knew that the thoughts
of th© Presbyterian ministers were widely divergent from their
words. Their determination was that their own candidate should
get the vacant kirk, and that the Rev. Alex. Moore, the Episcopal
nominee, should be kept out of it by every means in their power.
Fraserburgh was no worse than other towns of the same size within
the bounds of the Presbytery.
A letter was written to Lord Saltoun by the Presbytery,
entreating him to interpose his authority and allow one of their
number to preach at Fraserburgh, with a view to the settlement of
a minister. The answer returned by his Lordship could not have
been very palatable to the senders of the letter. He told their
messenger by word of mouth that he would cause all delinquents
from discipline to give satisfaction when the Church should be
legally settled. He also stated that he and the rest of the
parishioners had subscribed a call to Mr Alex. Moore, the son of
their late minister, and had offered the said call to their Moderator
at his own house. Mr Law replied to Lord Saltoun that the
application should have been made to the Presbytery and not to
the Moderator. The Presbytery, at their session on March 21st,
1704, applied to the Synod for advice.
Extracts from Presbytery Records.
"Att Deer, Jany. 4, 1704."
"Mr Brown is appointed to write a Letter to Mr Osburn
desiring him to write to the Moderator of the Commission, or the
Kirk Agent, for getting an Act of Council to obtain the Kirk of
Fraserburgh, which letter was written and sent off before the rise-
ing of the Presbytery."

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 37
"At Deer, Feb. 1, 1704."
" No return from the South, nor from Mr Osburp anent ye
Kirk of Fraserburgh."
" At Crimond, Feby. 22, 1704."
" The Presbytery having had no accompt from the South
anent Frazerburgh, and taking the lamentable state and condition
of the town and paroch of Frazerburgh to their most serious con
sideration, especially the great increase of wickedness therein, and
how others that will be contumacious in other paroches shift them
selves thither, that they may escape censure. They unanimously
agree that a letter be written to my Lord Saltoun from the Pres
bytery, intreating his Lordship to interpose his authority, that such
as are delinquents may be sisted before the Presbytery during the
vacancy of the said Kirk, and likewise that his Lordship would
allow the presbytery access to preach at Frazerburgh, in order to
the settlement of the said paroch with a faithful minister, for
putting a stop to such wickedness as is daily growing there, and Mr
William Law is appointed to carry the said Letter and to report
his diligence." "At Deer, March 21, 1704."
" Mr Law reporteth that he went to my Lord Saltoun and
delivered the Presbytery's Letter, the which his Lordship read, and
returned the following answer by word of mouth to Mr Law, that
he would cause call Justice of Peace Courts, and cause fine delin
quents, and take their obligation to satisfy the Church discipline
when the Church should be legally settled, and in case any should
shelter themselves in this paroch that belonged to other paroches,
he should cause them to compear at the respective judicatories to
whom they did belong, and farther, he and the rest of the
parishioners had subscribed a call to Mr Alex. Moor, son to the
late minister, and had offered the said call to our Moderator at his
dwelling-house, under form of Instrument: and albeit the said Mr
Alex, had not complyed with the Government, yet he judged the
Presbytery might try him, and if he would not condescend then
they should fix on another — to which Mr Law replied that appli
cation should have been made to the Presbytery and not to the
Moderator alone, and further that Mr Moor ought to apply him
self to the judicatories of this Church if he were willing to be
received. The Presbytery refers to the Synod for advice."

38 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
THE DISAPPOINTED PRESBYTERY.
The Presbytery must have been greatly mortified at Lord
Saltoun's reply to their letter. He told them plainly enough that
he and the heritors were in favour of appointing Mr Alex. Moore
to the vacant charge. They were at a loss in regard to their future
proceedings, for every device seemed to fail them. They told their
colleague, Mr Brown, to write two letters, one to Mr George Mel
drum, Professor of Divinity at Edinburgh, and the other to John
Blair, Kirk Agent. He was to represent to them the present state
of matters regarding the kirk and parish of Fraserburgh, and crave
their advice. These orders were duly carried out, but to no pur
pose. At the next session of the court, Mr Brown could only
report that he wrote to Mr Meldrum and the Kirk Agent, but
had received no reply. Extracts from Presbytery Records.
"Att the Kirk of Tyrie, May 23, 1704."
" Anent the Kirk of Frazerburgh the Presbytery appointed
Mr Brown to write two letters and send them south by post, one
to Mr George Meldrum, Professor of Divinity att Edinburgh, and
the other to John Blair, Kirk Agent, in both which he is to repre
sent the present state of the said Kirk and Paroch, and to crave
advice what shall be done for the getting access thereto, and to
report his willingness against the next dyet."
"At Crimond, July ii., 1704."
" Anent Frazerburgh, Mr Brown reports that he wrote to Mr
Meldrum and the Kirk Agent, but has had no return as yet."
A WORTHY SON OF A WORTHY SIRE.
This was Mr Alex. Moore, whose courage and faithfulness to
his religious convictions 'marked him out as the best successor to
his late father at Fraserburgh. He must either have been put
into Deacon's Orders to assist his father during his life-time, or
he may have helped in some such capacity as that of a lay reader.
The Presbytery having met at Tyrie on August 1st, 1704, com
plained that Mr Alex. Moore, a preacher and son to the late
minister, had lately entered the Kirk at Fraserburgh without leave
from the Presbytery or any Presbyterian judicatory. They said
that they overlooked him when he helped his father during the
old man's life-time, and they complained that he had promised not
to intrude into the said Church after his father's death. The

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 39
courage of Mr Alex. Moore verifies the saying of Rome's lyric
poet — "Fortes creantur fortibus et bonis."
Summoned again and again before the Presbytery of Deer, Mr
Moor© compeared not, and declined their jurisdiction. Having
complained that he had been cited three several times, and had not
obeyed, they caused him to be summoned before the next Synod
for his alleged contumacy. The Episcopal Presbyter, ignoring
both Presbytery and Synod, set the orders of these bodies at
defiance. All in vain, too, was an Act of the Synod drawn up,
forbidding him to preach in the kirk or parish of Fraserburgh or
in any other kirk within the bounds of the Synod. Little cared
he for their threats of censures and legal intimations; and their
repeated invitations to a conference he likewise despised. Mr
Moore owned obedience to his own disestablished Bishop in the
distant Mearns, and not to the tyrannical Presbytery.
The Presbyterian ministers of Aberdour and Foveran, having
met with Mr Moore, spoke to him of the unreasonableness and
illegality of his entrance into the Kirk of Fraserburgh, and vio
lently possessing the same, contrary to the laws both of Church
and State." Their admonitions had no effect. Mr Moore refuted
their arguments, and persisted in preaching to his people in the
Kirk of Fraserburgh. Extracts from tha Deer Presbytery Records.
"At Deer, Augt. 1, 1704."
" This day the Presbytery do find that Mr Alex. Moor, a
preacher and son to Mr James Moor, late minister at Frazerburgh,
hath lately entered into the Kirk of Frazerburgh at his own hand,
without any allowance from the Presbyterie or any other judi-
catorie, with which the said Presbyterie are greatly offended,
especially considering that they had overlooked him to help his
father at the said Kirk during the old man's life-time, and that
the said Mr Alexander had promised to the Presbytery not to
intrude into the said Church after his father's death. Therefore,
they appoint Mr Brown to cause cite the said Mr Alex. Moor to
appear before the next Presbytery, and Mr Brown to report his
diligence." "At Crimond, Aug. 22, 1704."
" No return from Mr Meldrum nor the Kirk Agent anent
Frazerburgh. Mr Brown reports that he caused cite Mr Moor,

40 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
who, being called, compeared not, Mr Law is appointed to cause
summond him pro. 2do. to the next dyet of the Presbytery."
"At Crimond, Sep. 5, 1704."
" Mr Law reports that he had caused summoned Mr Moor,
who, being called, compeared not — he is appointed to be cited pro
3tio to the next Presbytery."
"At Crimond, Sept. 19, 1704."
" This day Mr Farquhar reports that he had caused summond
Mr Moor, who, being called, compeared not. The Presbytery, con
sidering that he has been three several times summoned, and hath
not obeyed, he is referred to the next ensuing Synod, and Mr
Brown is appointed to cause summond the said Mr Moor to com
pear before th© n©xt Synod and answer for his contumacy."
"At Crimond, Oct. 31, 1704."
" The affair of Mr Alex. Moor having been referred to the
Synod for advice, and he legally cited thereto, being called and not
compearing, his contumacie both to the Presbytery and Synod was
taken to most serious consideration, and an Act of the Synod was
drawn up, discharging the said Mr Alex. Moor to preach in the
kirk or paroch of Fraserburgn, or in any other kirk within the
bounds of the Synod, under the pain of the highest censure, and
the samen to be intimate to him with the Presbytery's first
convenience, whereupon the Presbytery, before they should make
any legal intimation of the said Act, did appoint two of their
number, viz., Mr Brown and Mr Law, to confer with the said Mr
Moor to see if they can prevail with him to desist as aforesaid."
" It being found that there is no return from the South in
answer to the Presbytery's Letters anent the Kirk of Frazerburgh,
the affair is delayed till farther consideration."
"At Deer, Dec. 5, 1704."
" Mr Brown reports that, having a convenient occasion in
meeting with Mr Moor foresaid, he, with Mr Farquhar, did confer
with him, and that Mr David Anderson, Minister of the Gospel
at Foveran, being occasionally present, gave great assistance to
th© said brethren in the said affair, when the said brethren did
hold out to Mr Moor the unreasonableness and illegality of his
entrance into the Kirk of Fraaerburgh, and violently possessing
the samen contrary to the laws both of Church and State. They
also answered the several defences proposed by th© said Mr Moor.
He gave no positive answer what he would do. The said brethren

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 41
are approven in their diligence, and in regard there is not as yet
a legal intimation of the Synod's sentence made to the said Mr
Moor, they appoint Mr Brown and Mr Udney to confer with him
again, and to deliver him a true copy of the Synod's Act before
two witnesses betwixt this and next Presbytery Day."
" Th© Presbytery, considering that Mr Moor foresaid is under
process, they delay their writing south for farther answer to the
letters anent Frazerburgh." DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP ROSS.
Arthur Ross, Archbishop of St. Andrews, died in June, 1704,
and since then the title of "Archbishop " has been allowed to
lapse in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Now that the Colonial
Churches are giving that title to their presiding Bishops, it is to
be wished that Scotland will before long restore the ancient
primatial designation to the Primus of the Church.
END OF YEAR 1704.
The close of 1704 found the conflict still going on between
"the two ecclesiastical parties in Aberdeenshire. No advance had
been made on either side, and the aggressive acts of the Deer
Presbytery were decisively worsted.
CONTINUANCE OF THE SCOTTISH EPISCOPATE.
The year 1705 was a memorable one for the Episcopal Church
of Scotland. On the 25th of January of that year there took place
"the first consecration of Bishops since the Disestablishment of
1690. The solemn rite of consecration was performed on the festi
val of the Conversion of S. Paul in an oratory within Archbishop
Paterson's house at Edinburgh. The consecrating prelates were
the Archbishop of Glasgow and the Bishops of Edinburgh and
Dunblane. The two clergymen raised to the Episcopal order were
John Sage and John Fullarton, both of them men of great piety
and learning. The new Bishops were 1x) have no special Diocese
committed to their charge. They were consecrated to preserve the
Scottish Episcopate and ordain clergy. Thus there arose two classes
of Bishops — ruling and non-ruling. The arrangement was not
satisfactory; and could only have been provisional. The prelates
who then survived were led into this complication by their extra
vagant ideas of hereditary right and of the royal prerogative. Their
design was to leave the Dioceses vacant till the exiled King should
be in a position to sanction the appointments. What claim had

42 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
the Chevalier, who really belonged to another faith, to such an
absurd and quixotic deference ? Simple and plain as that consecra
tion service must have been, it was' of the highest importance to
th© Episcopal Communion in Scotland. Organ and white-robed
choir were not there to grace the solemn rite ; and yet doubtless
Angels and Archangels were there unseen to laud and magnify
God's Holy Name.*
Had the Scottish Bishops not taken the important step of
consecrating new Bishops, the Episcopal Church in Scotland would
very soon have died out altogether. In that case, there would
have been no need to oust the Episcopal clergy from the kirks
and manses which they poss^sed. In the course of time the hand
of death would have completed what the Revolution of 1690 had
begun. The new consecrations were the inauguration of a new
era in the history of Episcopacy. The Episcopate was now freed
from the bonds of the State, and th© successors of Sage and Fullar
ton were destined to hand over the spiritual power of their Order
to the Western World. God had " chosen the weak things of this
world to confound the things which are mighty." (1 Cor. i. 27).
INTERVIEWS WITH REV. ALEX. MOORE.
The Deer Presbytery now concentrated all their energies to
obtain possession of the Parish Kirk of Fraserburgh. They had
directed two of their number to confer with the Rev. Alex. Moore,
and they reported that the latter appeared very irresolute as to
what he was to do. They said that they gave him a true copy of
the Act of the Synod subscribed by the clerk before two witnesses. So
few of the Presbytery were present at that meeting on January 2nd,
1705, that they delayed the appointment of another deputation to
the courageous priest. Mr Moore was a man whose character was
marked by intrepidity and firmness, and was by no means the
vacillating clergyman they had declared him to be. At their
meeting on January 13th, 1705, the Presbytery resolved to try
again the expedient of a conference with their determined opponent.
After long waiting, their Moderator was in a position to report
that he had received a letter from Mr Osburne encouraging them
to proceed with the case against Mr Moore. In the end, they
were to realise how little they could depend for help upon the
Scottish Privy Council.

* See Grub's Ecclesiastical History, III., 350, and Stephen's Historv of the
Scottish Church, II., 456.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 43
On February 27th, 1705, the two emissaries of the Presbytery
reported the result of their second interview with the Rev. Alex.
Moore. They said that Mr Moore hoped the Presbytery would
not proceed too hastily in a matiter of so great moment. On his
asking for time to consider and deliberate, the Presbytery inti
mated to him that they complied with his desire till the next
meeting of the Presbytery. Mr Moore's object was evidently to
gain time. At their second session, they found that there were
many difficulties, and were compelled, before proceeding further,
to refer to the Presbyterian Synod.
ANOTHER VAIN APPEAL TO " C/ESAR."
The Synod of Aberdeen wrote to th© advocate of Queen Anne,
and also to Mr George Meldrum, Professor of Divinity in the
College of Edinburgh. They also ordered the Presbytery to pro
ceed against Mr Moore by using legal diligence. That ecclesiasti
cal body delayed proceedings till they should hear from Edinburgh.
All the satisfaction they received from the Queen's Advocate was that
the matter of Fraserburgh was held over with the rest of the
grievances. At the Session of the Presbytery in July there re
curred the old lament — " No account from the South concerning
Mr Moore." Th© Presbytery now began to find that they could not go on
with litigation without money. The Aberdeen Synod gave them
ten shillings to help to carry on the legal process, and the meeting
appointed Mr Brown to write to the minister at Banff, and enquire
about the amount of expenses incurred in prosecuting the Episcopal
Clergyman of Auchterless, the Rev. Mr Barclay. Having ascertained
this, the Presbytery added some money to the ten shillings received
from the Synod, and applied for CJouncil Letters against the Rev.
Alexr. Moore with all possible haste.
Presbytery Records.
" Mr Brown and Mr Udny report that they did confer with
Mr Moor upon the sam© heads as foremerly, and he seems to be
very irresolu1>e what to do, as also the said Brethren report that
they gave him a true copie of the Synod's Act, subscribed by the
Clerk, before these witnesses, Alexr. Mill, servant to the Minister
of Aberdour, and Magnus Sutor, servant to the Minister of Strichen,
which was accepted by the said Mr Moor. The Presbytery delays
the appointment of a new conference with him in regard of the

44 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
paucity of their number, until the next Presbytery, and in the
meantime appoints a letter to be written to the Presbytery of
Aberdeen for advice in the said matter."
"At Crimond, Jan. 13th, 1705."
" The Presbytery appoints Mr Guthrie and Mr Law to confer
further with Mr Moor betwixt this and the next Presbytery, and
to deal with him that he incur not the sentence of the Synod."
" The Moderator reports that h© received a letter from Mr
Osburne in answer to the Presbyterie's letter, which gave encourage
ment to proceed with Mr Moor, and the Council was very favourable
at this juncture."
"At Crimond, Feb. 27, 1705."
" Mr Guthrie and Mr Law report that they conferred with
Mr Moor according to appointment, and that the result was that
the said Mr Moor hoped the Presbytery would not proceed too
hastily in a matter of so great moment. He desired they would
allow him a time to consider and deliberate. The Presbytery did
appoint Mr Brown to intimate to the said Moor that they do
comply with his desire till the next dyet of the Presbytery."
"At Crimond, March 27, 1705."
" Mr Brown reports that he has not intimate the Presbytery's
mind to Mr Moor as he was appointed, not having opportunity to
meet with him."
" He is excused, and the Presbytery, resolving yet farther to
comply with Mr Moor his desire, doth continue the appointment
on Mr Brown to intimate to him that they delay him till next
Presbytery." "At the Kirk of Rathen, April 17th, 1705."
" Th© Presbytery, finding some difficulties in the affair anent
Mr Moor, do refer the said matter to the Synod for advice."
" May 29, 1705. Att Deer."
" It is found that the Synod of Aberdeen has written a Letter
to Her Majestie's Advocate, also a letter to Mr George Meldrum,
Professor of Divinity in the College of Edinburgh, both anent Mr
Moor and the Paroch of Frazerburgh; as also the Synod has
appointed the Presbytery to proceed against the said Mr Moor by
using legal diligence, the Presbytery delays th© matter till the next
dyet, that Mr Guthrie be present, who has been ait the South, and
had this affair among his instructions."

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 45
"At Crimond, June 12, 1705."
" Mr Guthrie reports that h© gave in th© Presbytery's instruc
tions to a Committee of the General Assembly appointed for that
effect, and that he spoke to Her Maj©sti©'3 Advocate anent Mr
Moor and his intrusion into the Kirk of Fraserburgh, who pro
mised to represent the said matter as one of the grievances. Th©
presbytery delays the said affair till farther accompt come from
Edinburgh thereanent."
"At Crimond, July 10, 1705."
" No accompt from the South anent Mr Moor, it is therefor©
delayed for this diet."
"At Deer, July 31, 1705."
" Mr Guthrie is appointed to write a Letter to Mr Osburn,
Professor of Divinity in New Aberdeen, anent th© affair of Frazer
burgh to know from him how matters are going on at the South,
in order to the calling for Council Letters against Mr Moor."
"At Crimond, August 29, 1705."
"Mr Guthrie reports that he has not written to Mr Osborn, being
so taken up about his Oommunion. He is excused, and the matter
anent Mr Moor is delayed tHl after the Synod, that the brethren
get advice at Aberdeen."
"At Crimond, Oct. 23, 1705."
" Anent the affair of Frazerburgh, the Synod having recom
mended that Council Letters should be raised against Mr Alex.
Moor, who still continues to intrude there. Also the Synod having
given ten shillings sterline to help to carry on the said process.
Mr Brown is appointed to write to the minister of Banff to know
what were the expenses of their Letters against Mr Barclay at
Auchterless, and to report against the next dyet."
"At Deer, November 20, 1705."
" Mr Brown reports that he wrote the minister of Banff, and
received an account that the expense of their Council Letters waa
that were raised against Mr Barclay, whereupon letters were writ
ten to John Blair, Kirk Agent, and the brethren, having added
more money to the ten shil. sterlg. formerly mentioned, the samen
with letters aforesaid were delivered to Mr James Anderson to
be transmitted by him to the effect foresaid, that Council Letters
may be obtained against Mr Moor with all possible haste."

46 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
ORDINATION OF THE REV. ALEX. MOORE.
In December, 1705, it was told to th© Deer Presbytery that
the Rev. Alex. Moore had gone south to Angus to be put into
Holy Orders by the disestablished Bishop of Aberdeen. They
had heard, too, that after his ordination, Mr Moore was to return
to Fraserburgh to minister and officiate there. Probably this
Episcopal minister of Fraserburgh had been made Deacon previ
ously by Bishop Haliburton, and had now gone South to the Mearns
to be ordained priest. It is pleasant to know that the disestab
lished Bishops, in their adversity, still cared for their flocks, and
that candidates for the ministry were willing to endure hardships
and undertake long journeys to receive from them the sacred rite
of ordination. The news of this journey filled the Deer Presbytery with great
alarm, and a special meeting was convened to take into considera
tion the important tidings. They resolved to draw up a true and
impartial description of Mr Moore's carriage and behaviour towards
the judicatories of the Presbyterian Kirk, and of their own alleged
kindness to him all along, both before and after his father's death.
The so-called clemency of this Presbyterian court to their Epis
copalian neighbour had been a constant infliction of the bitterest
persecution. The Presbytery forwarded their complaint to the Rev. George
Meldrum, minister of the Tron Kirk of Edinburgh, and the Rev.
David Williamson, minister of th© West Church in that city. They
also ordered a letter to be written to the Lord Advocate, and
another to John Blair, Agent of the Kirk. They also asked for
Council Letters against the Rev. Alex. Craig, who had been Mr
Moore's colleague at Fraserburgh. Presbytery Records.
"At Aberdour, December 4, 1705."
" The said day the Presbytery being mett pro re nata, the
several brethren being advertised by a Letter from the Moderator,
present Mr Udny, Moderator, Mr Brown, Mr Law, Mr Farquhar'
and Mr Anderson.
" The Moderator reported the reason of his calling the
brethren at this time, which was, that being informed that Mr
Alex. Moor, intruder at Frazerburgh, is gone South to Angus upon
the design, as is supposed, to be put in orders by the late Bishop
of Aberdeen, and to return to Frazerburgh to officiate and minister

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 47
there. The brethren having heard the Moderator did approve of
his diligence in calling them together, and after serious considera
tion of the said affair, resolved to draw up a true and impartial
information of Mr Moor, his carriage and behaviour toward the
judicatures of the Church, as also an account of the Presbytery's
lenity and tenderness to him all along, before and since his father's
death — and the samen in two doubles to be sent South, one of
them to Mr George Meldrum, minister of the Throne Church of
Edinburgh, and the other to Mr David Williamson, minister of
the West Church of Edinburgh, to be by them represented to Her
Majesty's Advocate. Also a Letter is appointed to be written
herewith to the said Lord Advocate, and another to John Blair,
Agent, that they, being fully informed of the said matter, may
be in a condition to obviate any evil design with respect to the
Church of Frazerburgh ; as also to inform the Agent to cause put
in one, Mr Alex. Craig, in th© said Council Letters, who ofttime
intrudeth into the said Church of Frazerburgh. All which were
done before the rising of the Presbytery, and were given to Mr
Anderson to be transmitted with all haste. And so the meeting
closed with prayer." ANOTHER YEAR'S DEFEAT.
This was the last work of the Deer Presbytery for the year
1705. They had spent all the twelve months in trying to dislodge
the Rev. Alex. Moore from the Kirk of Fraserburgh. The end
of the year found this Episcopal clergjrman and his assistant (the
Rev. Alex. Craig) officiating there. To the Presbytery it had been
a year of bitter disappointment.
COUNCIL LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE PRESBYTERY.
The Deer Presbytery had a gleam of success on New Year's
Day, 1706. They were then told that Council Letters had come
from the Agent of the Kirk against th© Rev. Alex. Moore and
the Rev. Alex. Craig. Th© posts were slow in those days, and
the letters did not come in due time to be legally executed.
Accordingly the Presbytery directed letters to be sent back to the
Agent, asking for another meeting of the Court and additional
information. They intimated that it was of importance for the
Agent to know that the Rev. Alex. Moore, th© Episcopahan clergy
man, had returned to Fraserburgh, and was officiating in the
Parish Kirk as before.

48 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
At the Session of the Presbytery on January 29th, 1706, it
was announced that there was no account from the South concern
ing Fraserburgh. Th© meeting appointed another letter to be
written to the Agent of the Kirk, Mr John Blair. This epistle
seems to hav© been successful, for on March 12th the Moderator
said that Letters of the Scottish Privy Council had been raised
againsit the Rev. Alex. Moor© and the Rev. Alex. Craig, and had
been executed by a messenger.
"Att Crimond, January 1st, 1706."
" This day it is found that Council Letters are come from the
Agent against Mr Moor and Mr Craig, but, by reason they were
so long by the way, they could not be gotten legally execute in
due time, therefore the Presbytery appointed letters to be sent
back to the Agent, craving a new dyet, and also some additional
information to be sent therewith, and to show particularly that
Mr Moor is returned to Fraserburgh, continuing his intrusions as
formerly, which was done before the rising of the Presbytery."
"Att Crimond, Jan. 29, 1706."
" There being no account from the South anent the affair of
Frazerburgh since the last letters were directed thither, therefore
the Presbyterie appoints another letter to be written to the Agent,
John Blair, to the effect aforesaid, which was done and sent off
before the rising of the Presbyterie."
"Att Deer, February 12th, 1706."
" Ther© is no return as yet from John Blair, Agent for the
Kirk, anent the affair of Frazerburgh, therefore the Presbytery
appoints Mr Guthry to write to Mr Willm. Carstairs, Moderator
of the Commission, to deal, for his assistance in the said matter."
"At Crimond, March 12, 1706."
" This day reported by the Moderator that Council Letters are
raised against Mr Moor and Mr Craig, intruders at Frazerburgh,
and the samen are execute by a messenger."
THE KIRK OF FRASERBURGH TO BE DECLARED VACANT.
At the Session of the Presbytery held on April 2nd, 1706,
it was resolved to declare the Kirk of Fraserburgh vacant. The
Moderator intimated that Mr Moore and Mr Craig, who had been
cited before the Scottish Privy Council, had not gone south in
obedience to the summons, but had desisted from preaching in
Fraserburgh. Last Sunday there had been no sermon in the

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 49
Kirk. The Court appointed Mr Law to go to Fraserburgh on any
convenient day of the following week, and offer to th© magistrates
to preach there on the Sunday following. If Mr Law should get
access to the Kirk in this way, he was to preach to the congregation
and declare th© charge vacant.
At the next meeting of the Court Mr Law announced that he
had gone to Fraserburgh and spoken to the magistrates about the
condition of their church. He also desired access to the building
to preach to the people and proclaim the incumbency vacant. The
magistrates were, no doubt, themselves Episcopalians, and in favour
of appointing the Rev. Alex. Moore. Consequently, their reply
to the envoy of the Presbytery was a most guarded one. They
said they could do nothing in the matter without special leave
from Lord Saltoun. Two letters from the Lord Advocate were
produced at this meeting, forwarded by Mr Brown, who was then
at Edinburgh. One of these communications, addressed to Lord
Saltoun, desired him to give access to the Presbytery to preach at
Fraserburgh. The other was directed to the Laird of Boyndlie aa
a Justice of the Peace, requiring him to help the Presbytery in
getting the Kirk doors mad© patent. The meeting directed Mr
Udny, their Moderator, to deliver the letters to the parties to
whom they were addressed. He was also to preach in the Kirk
if its doors should be opened, and the use of the sacred building
placed at his -disposal. Clearly, Mr Udny did not relish the
unpleasant work cut out for him by his colleagues. They all
knew that th© adherents of Presbyterianism were few in number
in the Broch. It was very easy for the Lord Advocate in Edin
burgh to write letters ordering the occupation of the vacant Kirk
by a party hostile to the people. There was no wonder that Mr
Udny shrank from the disagreeable task, and had to be excused
for not going to Fraserburgh. To have made his commands effec-
tiv©, the Lord Advocate should have sent down a regiment of
soldiers from the Metropolis. In that way only, at that period,
could th© D©er Presbytery have gained peaceable access to the
Fraserburgh Kirk. Presbytery Records.
"At Crimond, April 2, 1706."
" The Moderator reported that Mr Moor and Mr Craig, who
were cited before the Privie Council, have not gone South, but have
desisted from preaching in Frazerburgh, and so there was no sermon
in that Church th© last Lord's Day. Whereupon Mr Law is
D

50 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
appointed to go to Frazerburgh on any day this week that his
convenience can allow him, and to make offer to the magistrates
to come and preach on the next Lord's Day, and in case he get
access he is to have sermon as said is, and declare the Church
vacant." "At Crimond, April 23, 1706."
" This day Mr Law reported' that he went to Frazerburgh, and
discoursed th© magistrates anent the state of their Church, and
desired access to preach, as he was appointed. Who told they could
do nothing in that affair without a special allowance from my Lord
Saltoun, which report the Presbytery taking to their consideration,
as also this day there ar© two letters produced to the Presbytery
from my Lord Advocate, and sent enclosed in a letter from Mr
Brown who is now at Edinburgh, one of which is to my Lord
Saltoun, desiring his Lordship to give access to the Presbyterie to
preach at Frazerburgh according to law. The other is directed to
the Laird of Boinly as a Justice of the Peace, desiring him to
assist th© Pr©sbytery in getting th© Church doors of Frazerburgh
made patent, whereupon the Presbytery appointed the Moderator,
Mr Udny, to carry the said l©tters and deliver them to the respec
tive persons, as also that he preach at Frazerburgh in case he get
the doors made patent, and to report."
" At Deer, May 8th, 1706. Pro r© nata meeting."
" This day the Moderator reported that he did not go to
Frazerburgh, as he was appointed, upon several weighty considera
tions, but that Mr Farquhar went along with the Laird of Boinly
on Sabbath last. The Presbytery did excuse Mr Udny for not
going to Frazerburgh." A STORMY CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.
A special meeting of the Presbytery was convened on May
8th, 1706. The Moderator said that he had called the Presbytery
together at that time to consider the contents of a letter received
by him from the Laird of Boyndlie, a place not far distant from
Fraserburgh. The Laird and Mr Farquhar had ventured to fulfil
the mission to that town from which the Moderator himself had
recoiled in fear of opposition from the populace. An account of
the great abuse and violent opposition met with by the two emis
saries of the Presbytery and others with them was fully detailed
in the Laird's epistle. Stones were hurled by the crowd at the
deputation, and other indignities were inflicted upon them. The

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 51
church doors were forced open by the deputation, and Mr Farqu
har, having entered the pulpit, engaged in prayer, and declared
the charge vacant. Again and again the minister was forced out
from the pulpit, and as often did he return to it. The tumult in
the kirk was so great that the preacher had no opportunity to
deliver his sermon. Amid such a scene of disorder, the minister's
oration would have been completely lost.
The Presbytery having heard the particulars of the stormy
congregational meeting at Fraserburgh approved of the Moderator's
action in calling them together at that juncture. Afterwards,
they took the unpleasant episode into their most serious con
sideration, and resolved to have an account of it drawn up and
sent to John Blair, Agent of the Kirk at Edinburgh. They also
resolved that, as the Synod was to sit next week, the whole of
the proceedings at Fraserburgh should be referred to that body
for direction and advice. Presbytery Records.
"At Deer, May 8th, 1706."
" Also the Moderator reported the reason of calling the Pres
byterie at this time, that he received a letter from the Laird of
Boinly, bearing an account of the great abuse and violent opposi
tion that he and Mr Farquhar met with at Fraserburgh with
some others that were with them, that they suffered a most fierce
rable by throwing of stones and other indignities that were done
to them — that they got open the Church doors, and Mr Farquhar
did pray in the pulpit, and declared the Church vacant, but was
forced out again and could not get opportunity to preach. The
Presbytery did approve the Moderator's diligence in calling them
together at this juncture, after which the said affair was taken
to their most serious consideration, they did appoint a true repre
sentation of the said rabble to be drawn up and sent to John
Blair, Agent, to prevent false reports that might be made of the
samen, which was done before the rising of the Presbytery. And
further, considering that the Synod was to sit next week, they
thought fit to refer the whole matiter to the said judicatorie for
direction and advice.
PEACEABLE ACCESS OBTAINED TO THE KIRK OF FRASERBURGH.
A pro re nata meeting of the Presbytery was held at Aber
dour on May 29th, 1706, to deliberate upon letters received by

52 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
the Laird of Boyndly from the Lord Advocate and Sir Robert
Forbes. Having considered these very carefully, the Presbytery
ordered answers to be written to them and sent by an express
messenger to Edinburgh. Answers to these communications did
not oome to hand for some weeks. When the Court met again on
June 25th, they found that the Rev. Alex. Moore had desisted from
preaching in the kirk and town of Fraserburgh. Consequently,
they enacted that the nearest adjacent minister should enquire if
there was to be peaceable access to the sacred building. This was
the Rev. James Anderson, minister of Rathen, who reported that
he tried to gain access to the kirk, but did not succeed. On the
same day the Presbytery received information of a very different
complexion. They were told by the Lord Advocate that there was
now peaceable access to the kirk at Fraserburgh without any dis
turbance. The Rev. James Anderson and the Rev. William Law
were then appointed to preach at Fraserburgh on the two follow
ing Sundays respectively. This change of attitude on the part of
the Fraserburgh people was likely brought about through the in
fluence of Lord Saltoun. They may have thought that, after all,
the Presbytery might accede to the wishes of the Fraserburgh con
gregation and agree to their choice of the Rev. Alex. Moore.
Information was given to the Presbytery at their session on August
6th, 1706, by the two chosen ministers that they had preached at
Fraserburgh as appointed, and met with no disturbance. Arrange
ments were forthwith made for Presbyterian services at Fraser
burgh on th© two following Sundays.
A PROBATIONER CHOSEN FOR FRASERBURGH.
At the session of August 20th, 1706, the Presbyterian minister
of Aberdour was directed to preach at Fraserburgh on the follow
ing Sunday. Also, if any Probationer came from the Presbytery of
Ellon, the Moderator was to appoint him to preach at Fraserburgh
on September 1st and Sth next. On September 10th, the Rev. Mr
Auchinleck, Probationer, came from the Parish of Ellon, and was
commissioned by the Presbytery to preach in th© vacant kirk.
From that time the members of the Court were resolute in their
decision that Mr Auchinleck should be appointed to Fraserburgh,
and no other. Their intimation that they would give th© selection
to the parishioners was but thinly-veiled pretence.
Presbytery Records.
"At Aberdour, May 29, 1706 — pro r© nata m©eting."
" This day a letter was presented to the Presbytery from mv

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 53
Lord Advocate, and another from Sir Robert Forbes, both directed
to the Laird of Boinly, anent the affair of Fraserburgh, which the
Presbytery, taking into their most serious consideration, did write
answers to the said letters, and sent them by an Express to Edin
burgh." "At Crimond, June 7, 1706."
" There is no return as yet from Edinburgh anent the affair
of Fraserburgh." " At Crimond, June 25, 1706."
" This day the Presbytery, finding that Mr Alexander Moor,
intruder at Fraserburgh, has given over preaching in the church
and town aforesaid, therefore they appoint the nearest adjacent
minister to enquire if there will be peaceable access had to preach
at Fraserburgh, and to do as he shall find occasion, and report."
"At Crimond, July 16, 1706."
" This day Mr Anderson reports that he as the next adjacent
minister to Fraserburgh did deal for access to the said Church,
but, finding none, he is approven for his diligence."
" The said day the Presbytery received information from my
Lord Advocate that there is peaceable access obtained to the Church
of Fraserburgh without any disturbance, whereupon they appoint
Mr James Anderson to preafch there the next Lord's Day, and Mr
William Law on Sabbath come eight days."
"Att Crimond, August 6, 1706."
" Mr James Anderson and Mr William Law report that they
preached at Frazerburgh as they were appointed, and met with no
disturbance. Mr William Law is appointed to preach in Frazer
burgh these two Sabbaths next ensuing, viz., on the eleventh inst.
and the eighteenth inst."
"Att Crimond, August 20, 1706."
" Mr Brown is appointed to preach at Frazerburgh Sabbath
next, and Mr Chein at Aberdour for him, and in case any proba
tioner shall come from the Presbytery of Ellon before the next
meeting, the Moderator is to appoint him to preach at Frazer
burgh for the two next Sabbaths, the 1st and Sth of Sept. next."
"Att Crimond, Sept. 10, 1706."
" Mr Brown reporteth that he preached at Fraserburgh as
appointed. The Moderator reported that there came no young
men to be employed at Frazerburgh, as he was empowered in case
any came. This day Mr Auchinleck is come from the parish of

54 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Ellon, being a probationer, and appointed to preach at Frazer
burgh th© 29th inst." A TRIAL SERMON.
The Presbytery again became very solicitous about the desolate
condition of Fraserburgh for want of a Gospel minister. Con
sequently, they decided to fill the vacant incumbency with all
possible speed. The Rev. James Anderson was desired to preach
there on the 17th day of November, and after the sermon he was
to intimate to the congregation the wish of the Presbytery that
they should give a call to a qualified man to be their minister.
The parishioners were to signify their choice at the next meeting
of the Court, to be held at Old Deer. Th© presentation really
belonged to the heritors and elders, the invitation of the preacher
that the people should choose a well-qualified man being only a
pretext. The Presbytery had already determined that the man
chosen should be the Rev. Mr Auchinleck. This probationer was
directed to preach a trial sermon at the next Presbytery meeting,
with a view to his settlement at Fraserburgh. The text chosen
for him was Psalm cxix. 9 — " Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word."
This was to be the first part of Mr Auchinleck's trial, and was to
be the preliminary to th© Presbytery signing a Presbyterial call to
him. Well knew the members of th© congregation that it was
useless for them to appear and propos© anyon© else.
Presbytery Records.
"At Old Deer, Nov. 5, 1706."
" The Presbytery, taking to their most serious consideration
the desolate condition of the town and paroch of Frazerburgh for
want of a fixed Gospel minister, do resolve to have the said Church
planted with all possible convenience, and therefore appoint Mr
James Anderson to preach at the said Church upon th© B©venteen
day of November instant, and after sermon to intimate to all con
cerned the presbyterie's willingness that they should move in the
said affair, and call for a qualified man to be their fixed minister,
and to signify the samen at th© next meeting at Old Deer — and
in case they shall not compear, will proceed as said is. And in
the meantime they do appoint Mr Alex. Auchinleck, probationer,
to preach at the next Presbytery on Psalm 119, 9, which is to be
the first part of his trial in order to his settlement there, they
being unanimously resolved to sign a presbyterial call to him at

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 55
their next dyet, in case ther© b© no other proposed by the heritors
and people foresaid."
PRESBYTERIAL CALL GIVEN TO THE REV. MR AUCHINLECK.
The Rev. Mr Anderson stated at the next meeting that he had
preached at Fraserburgh as he had been appointed. He had then
warned all concerned to come to the Presbytery upon that day
and desire a minister to be settled among them. He had told
them also that they would hav© their own choice. No one of the
parishioners coming forward on that day, the Presbytery unani
mously resolved to give the Rev. Alex. Auchinleck a presbyterial
call to the kirk and congregation of Fraserburgh. The deed was
drawn up and signed by all the ministers present, and duly handed
over to the presentee. He, on his part, submitted himself to the
Presbytery, who sustained the sermon preached by him that day
as a part of his trial. The second part of the trial prescribed for
the candidate at their next meeting was to be a dissertation " on
the efficacy of divine grace." Mr Auchinleck w£is told to preach
at Fraserburgh on the Sth, 15th, and 22nd of November.
Presbytery Records.
"Att Deer, Decem. 3, 1706."
" The said day Mr Anderson reports that he preached at
Frazerburgh according to appointment, and after sermon did warn
all concerned in the said paroch that they might come to the Pres
bytery this day, and desire a minister to be settled among them
such as was qualified, and that they should have their choice,
whereupon the Moderator caused call if there were any from the
said paroch, and, none compearing, they did therefore unani
mously resolve to give Mr Alex. Auchinleck, preacher of th©
Gospel, a presbyterial call to the said congregation, which was
drawn up and signed by all the brethren present [Mr Andrew
Guthry, Mod., Mr Brown, Mr Udny, and Mr Anderson], and
thereafter delivered to him, and he submitting himself to the Pres
bytery, they did sustain the sermon preached by him this day, as
a part of his trial, and prescribed to him as a second piece of
tryall a common head de efficacia gratiae, to be delivered by him
at their next meeting. Mr Alex. Auchinleck is appointed to preach
at Frazerburgh these three Sabbaths following, viz., the Sth, 15th,
and 22nd Inst."

56 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
INTOLERANCE AND SUPERSTITION.
The intolerance of th© General Assembly of th© Presbyterian
Church at the beginning of the 18th century appears, from what
took place at a Presbytery meeting held at Deer on the last day of
the year 1706. That day a letter was presented to th© Presbytery
from the Commission of the General Assembly, pointing out that
the growth of Popery was very great in Scotland. Presbyterian
ministers, as the said Commission averred, were not able to attend
to their work and also prevent Roman Catholic priests from cor
rupting the people in the various parishes. They suggested as a
remedy that a young man should be maintained to assist the
ministers in counteracting the alleged intrigues of the Romanisers.
Money was required to carry out this proposal, and the Synod
recommended that every Presbyterian minister should contribute
the half of a year's centesima of his stipend to help to carry out
the scheme. Consideration of the proposition was deferred till
after consultation with the ensuing Synod.
This manifests the intolerant nature of the Presbytery. Could
they not leave their Roman Catholic neighbours alone to worship
God according to their conscience ? The occurrence also brings out
into bold relief the difference between the Deer Presbytery and
their ecclesiastical successors at the present day. The Presby
terian ministers of the present time, both Established Church and
United Free, are liberal and broad minded men, distinguished
alike for learning, piety, and good works. They are not wont to
interfere with the liberty of conscience of other people, but live
and let live. Presbyterians and Episcopalians hold to one another
a more friendly attitude than they did two centuries ago. They
now recognise better their common affinities, and think less of all
differences which do not affect great principles. A few years ago
the present Primus of th© Episcopal Church addressed the General
Assemblies of the Established and United Free Churches on the
great subject of Christian unity, and was listened to with courtesy
and the closest attention. This year (1906) a meeting composed
of representative men of all the principal religious bodies in Scot
land was convened to consider the same subject of spiritual unity,
and was presided over by a Scottish Bishop. Corporate unity has
many obstacles in its way, but it will be well ever to keep before
us the grand ideal of the longed-for unity of the future time. The
many intimate friendships that now exist between individual
ecclesiastics of the Anglican and Presbyterian Communions will do

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 57
their part to promote the desired consummation. We have
advanced far from the days of the intolerance which characterised
the Deer Presbytery.
The records of the session of December 31st, 1706, exhibit
another distinguishing mark of the Presbyterian Courts of that
time, and this is Superstition. The Commission of the General
Assembly, writing about the lamentable increase and spreading of
profanity and disorder, recommended all ministers of the Gospel
in their several judicatories to testify against these and other evils.
This injunction we can well understand. But when the same Com
mission enjoins the ministers to bear witness against " witchcraft
and sorcery " we wonder at the ignorance and superstition of the
ecclesiastical advisers. END OF YEAR 1706.
The conclusion of another year found the Deer Presbytery
very little advanced in their crusade against the Episcopal Com
munion in their midst. Letters they had received from the Scot
tish Privy CJouncil commanding the expulsion of the various Epis
copal ministers. These they found of no practical use to carry out
their end. The Scottish Privy Council itself had only a few months
remaining of its political life. It was soon to give place to a far
better guardian of religious liberty and toleration.
Presbytery Records.
"Att Deer, December 31, 1706."
This day a Letter was presented to the Presbytery from the
Commission of the General Assembly, showing that, seeing ohe
growth of popery is so very great in this nation, and that several
ministers cannot attend their ministerial work, and the stopping of
priests going to and fro in their paroches from seducing their
people — for remeding of which the Synod recommends that
every minister should contribute the half of an half year's
centesima of his stipend, for maintaining a young man for the
assistance of ministers in the place where these priests do most
abound. The Presbytery defers this till they consider and advise
the same with the next ensuing Synod."
" The said day another Letter from the foresaid Commission
was read, showing th© lamentable increase and spreading of pro
fanity and disorder, recommending it to all ministers of the Gospel
and to the several judicatories faithfully to testify against pro-

58 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
fanity and immorality in all ranks of persons, and against witch
craft and sorcery, and to endeavour to hinder th© selling, buying,
and dispersing atheistical books and pamphlets. The Presbytery
seriously recommends this to all brethren."
PRESBYTERIAN ORDINATION ARRANGED.
The first work of the Deer Presbytery in the year 1707 was to
make arrangements for the Presbyterian ordination of the Rev.
Alex. Auchinleck, the probationer whom they had appointed
minister of Fraserburgh. They had deliberately rejected the Rev.
Alex. Moore, the Episcopal presentee, who was the choice of the
elders, heritors, and all the people of the parish. No heed was
given to a call to Mr Moore, which had been left at the house of
their Moderator. On January 14th the Presbytery approved of
Mr Auchinleck's dissertation on "The efficacy of Divine grace,"
and of all the other parts of his trial. They directed Mr Ander
son to preach at Fraserburgh on the 19th inst. After the sermon
he was to serve an edict for the candidate by reading th© same
from the pulpit and fixing a copy of it on the most patent kirk
door. He was also to warn all concerned if they had anything to
object against the life and doctrine of the ordinand they were to
appear before the Presbytery on the 4th of February; should no
objections be made, the Presbytery declared it their intention to
ordain Mr Auchinleck upon that day to be minister of Fraser
burgh. They also decided that the Rev. Thomas Udny was to
preach the ordination sermon. Considering the smallness of their
numbers, and the hostility of the Fraserburgh people, among whom
they would appear insignificant, they invited to the function other
ministers from beyond their own bounds. These were the Rev.
David Anderson, minister at Foveran; the Rev. William Forbes,
minister at Tarves; and th© Rev. Henry Liklie, minister at Old
Meldrum. Presbytery Records.
"Att Deer, Jan. 14, 1707."
" The said day Mr Alex. Auchinlek was approven in all the
parts of his trial, which, being now finished, the Presbytery
appoints Mr Anderson to preach at Frazerburgh on the 19th of
this inst., and after sermon to serve an edict for the said Mr
Auchinleck by reading the samen from the pulpit, and affixing a
copy thereof on the most patent Church door — thereby warning all
concerned if they had anything to object against the life and

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 59
doctrine of th© said Mr Auchinlek that they compear before the
Presbytery to be holden at Frazerburgh on the fourth of February
next. And in case there be no objections as said is, the Presby
tery appoint Mr Alex. Auchinleck to be ordained on the said
fourth day of February to be minister att Frazerburgh, and Mr
Thomas Udny is appointed to preach the Ordination Sermon, as
also in regard of the paucity of their number and the circumstances
of that place; they also appoint letters to be written and sent to
Mr David Anderson, minister at Foveran; Mr William Forbes,
minister at Tarves; Mr Henry Liklie, minister at Old Meldrum."
A TUMULTUOUS SCENE.
The fourth of February, 1707, was a day of storm at Fraser
burgh. This was not a storm from the cold North Sea, awe-
inspiring as well as grand and majestic, but it was the tempest
of ecclesiastical strife. The Presbytery, in demanding access to the
Kirk of Fraserburgh, were quite within their legal rights, but as
the people of the town were nearly all Episcopalians they could
not enforce those rights. Feeling in the place rose high against
the Presbytery when it became known that they had ignored the
call to the Rev. Alex. Moore. The hostility was intensified when
the Presbytery determined to induct their own presentee, the Rev.
Alex. Auchinleck, to the vacant charge.
In the morning of the selected day the members of th© Pres
bytery entered the town, and took up their quarters at the house
of Bailie Hay, whose residence may have been one of the inns of
the burgh. They were five in number — the Rev. Andrew Guthrie,
Presbyterian minister of Peterhead, being their Moderator. As
a screen to the smallness of their numbers, they were accompanied
by the Presbyterian ministers of Foveran, Tarves, and Meldrum.
Having assembled in their quarters, the Moderator inquired
of Mr Anderson if he had served the edict for Mr Auchinleck as
he had been directed. He answered that he had carried out the
command of th© court, and had served the edict duly executed
and endorsed. Next the Moderator caused their officer to call at
the most patent church door and ask if there were any present to
object to the life and doctrine of the presentee of the Presbytery.
If so, they were summoned to appear before them, and state their
reasons. They had not long to wait for an answer to their ques
tion. The Master of Saltoun was in the Council House with the
magistrates and other inhabitants about the time the Presbytery

60 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
came into the town. These sent a letter subscribed by many names
to the Presbytery in their quarters before they went to church to
constitute th© meeting and call the edict. The subscribers desired
the Presbytery not to settle Mr Auchinleck among them, because
he was not acceptable to them. An answer was sent to this com
munication by word of mouth. The Presbytery said that the
members of the court had not all arrived in the town, but as soon
as they were all assembled they would constitute the m©eting, and
return an answer to the letter.
The presence of the Presbytery in Fraserburgh to ordain their
own candidate roused up the opposition of the people, and they
were firmly resolved to prevent the performance of that function
in the kirk upon that day. They well knew the intolerant spirit
that was rampant among the members of the Presbytery, and that
nothing would satisfy the Presbyterians but the abolition of
Episcopacy in the district.
No sooner had the ministers stepped out into the street to
proceed to the church than they were attacked by an infuriated
crowd. Mud, stones, and other missiles were thrown at them, and
even when they fled for refuge into the church they found no
shelter from these weapons. Having taken refuge in a corner of
the sacred building under a loft, they attempted to prepare an
answer to th© letter they had that morning received from the
Master of Saltoun and others. So great was the noise made by
the assembled throng that they were utterly unable to concoct their
reply. One of their number was despatched to the Master and
magistrates, who were still in the Council House hard by the
church, and ready to cope with any emergency. Officers were sent
by them to endeavour to silence the crowd, but could not prevail.
The noise and shouting of the audience continued to increase, and
the edict for the induction of Mr Auchinleck was read at the door
amid a scene of great disorder. In the midst of this, the Master
of Saltoun and the magistrates entered the building, and impati
ently demanded a reply to their letter. They were followed by a
great number of people bearing a most threatening attitude to the
hapless Presbytery. The Master of Saltoun called out sternly to
the Presbytery that they wished to receive an answer to their com
munication in writing, and not by word of mouth. The Moderator
answered that, as the Master and magistrates were personally pre
sent, there was no need for an answer in writing. In reply, the
Master retorted that if the Presbytery did not give a satisfactory

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 61
response the magistrates would not be able to prevent the crowd
from assailing them. At this stage, the Rev. Thomas Udny pro
tested that they would hold the Master and magistrates liable for
any molestation or trouble that should come to the Presbytery in
their work of settling the place with a minister. Thereupon he
took legal instruments in the hands of the Rev. Henry Liklie,
minister of Old Meldrum, and clerk pro tempore. The Master and
magistrates departed from the church, and said they would expect
an answer to their letter. With great difficulty, the reply was com
pleted by the ministers in the midst of the increasing clamour, and
was forwarded to the magistrates in the Council House by Messrs
Guthrie, Brown, and Anderson, members of the Presbytery. Hav
ing read th© letter, the Master declared that it was not satis
factory, and added that they would come to their meeting to pro
test against their procedure. The Moderator then requested the
town authorities to restrain the people by their authority and
power that no disturbance should be given to the public worship
of God. He said that if the disorder was not suppressed they would
take such m©ans of placing th© minister as necessity would allow.
Upon all these grounds he protested, and took instruments in the
hands of Alexander Gordon, town-clerk of Fraserburgh, present in
the Council. Previous to the sending of the deputation, th© Pres
bytery had resolved to retire into their quarters in the house of
Baillie Hay, where they were afterwards joined by the three Com
missioners they had sent to the Council House. On their way
back to this house of refuge, both of these sections of the Presby
tery were violently attacked by the unfriendly populace. Being
now safe within doors, the Presbytery began to consider about the
stirring episodes of that eventful day. While they were doing so,
the Master of Saltoun and the Magistrates came in, accompanied
by a great number of people, and gave in a protestation in writing
against the procedure of th© Presbytery in inducting Mr Auchin
leck. They also required and took instruments at the hands of
the Rev. James Anderson, clerk to the Presbytery. As the magis
trates were leaving the room, one of the baillies turned back, and
told th© Presbytery that th© people were about to burn their
answer to th© Master's letter.
A SCOTTISH " NAG'S HEAD " STORY.
No event in ecclesiastical history is more strongly established
than the consecration of Archbishop Parker in the chapel of Lam-

62 A TEN" YEARS' CONFLICT.
beth Palace in 1559. Yet 44 years afterwards the English Roman
ist party invented a story called "the Nag's Head Fable," declaring
that Parker was consecrated in a ludicrous way in a tavern in
Fleet Street.
From what actually took place at Fraserburgh on the 4th of
February, 1707, a similar story might easily have been devised
about the Presbyterian ordination of the Rev. Alex. Auchinleck
at the same distance of time after the event.
After the Master of Saltoun and the magistrates had left the
house of Bailie Hay, where the Presbytery had found shelter, the
people of Fraserburgh were assembled at the Cross by the beating
of a drum to burn the answer of the Presbyterian ministers to
the letter of the magistrates. On that account there was, in the
meantime, perfect stillness outside the place of retreat where the
Presbytery were met.
Taking advantage of this interval of silence, the Presbytery
proceeded to conduct the ordination service in the place to which
they had retired. Their excuse was that they had been prevented
from accomplishing this work in the kirk in the usual orderly way.
The Moderator, after prayer, proposed the usual questions to the
candidate. Satisfactory answers having been given, Mr Auchin
leck was ordained to the office of the Presbyterian ministry by
prayer and the imposition of the hands of the Presbjrtery. This
having been done before several gentlemen and others present, the
brethren gave Mr Auchinleck the right hand of fellowship. How
the mud-bespattered Presbytery, after having been hustled and
jostled by the mob, were able to compose their minds so readily
to perform so solemn a service must be to some at the present day
a metaphysical problem. At the same time, there may be others
who will admire the courage and deliberation of the Presbytery
after such an exciting day of Presbyterial disaster.
Presbytery Records.
"Att Frazerburgh, February 4, 1707."
" Sederunt— Mr Guthrie (Moderator), Mr Brown, Mr Udny,
and Mr Anderson, and Mr Webster; also these brethren of the
Presbytery of Ellon, Mr David Anderson, minister att Foveran;
Mr Wilham Forbes, minister at Tarves; and Mr Henry Liklie,
minister at Meldrum, as correspondents."
" The said day the Moderator inquired at Mr Anderson if he
had served the Edict for Mr Auchinleck as he was appointed-to

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 63
whom he replied, that he had obliged giving in the same duly
execute and indorsit, whereupon their Moderator caused their officer
to call at the most patent Church door where the Presbytery was
convened if there were any to object against the life and doctrine
of the said Mr Auchinleok, that they might compear before the
Presbytery. There was none that compeared to object against the
life and doctrine of the said Mr Auchinleck, albeit there was great
opposition to the said work by a rable of people, whereof follows
a short and true account."
" The Master of Salton being in the town Counsell house with
the Magistrates and several other inhabitants about the tyme that
the ministers came into the town the said day, sent a letter sub
scribed by many hands to the said brethren in their quarters, or
ever they went to church for to constitute and call the foresaid
Edict, showing that they desired the Presbytery not to settle Mr
Auohenleck among them, because he was not acceptable to them,
but gave no particular objection against him as said is, the brethren
returned this answer to the bearer by word of mouth, that they
had not as yet mett, their members not being all come up, but so
soon as they were convened, and constitute, they should consider
th© samen and return an answer. After which they went to the
Church — but as they were going thither they were assaulted on
the high street wit a rable ofl people, who threw stones and dub
or mire upon them, pursueing them into the Church with the same
weapons, so that th©y were forced to retire to a corner under a
loft that they might think on an answer, and being greatly
hindered by the mob foresaid, they sent one of their
brethren to speak with the Master and Magistrates fore
said, who were still in the counsell house hard by the
Church. Some officers were sent into the Church, who
made some shew of silencing them, but to no purpose, the
noise and insolent carria.ge of the said rable still increasing — in
the meantime the Edict foresaid was called at the Church door as
is above said. At length the Master and Magistrates turning
impatient for an answer to their letter, which was retarded as said
is, they came into the Church with a great rable at their back, and
the said Master being in passion, called furiously for an answer
in write, to whom the Moderator answered that he and the Magis
trates being personally present there needed no answer in write,
to whidh the Master replied that if he got not a satisfactory
answer in write, he would not undertake to keep off the rable, but

64 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
let them loose on the Presbyterie, upon which Mr Thomas Udney,
Minister at Strichen, protosted that th© said Master and Magis
trates should be liabl© for whatever molestation or trouble the
Presbytery should sustain in going about this work in settling the
place with a Minister, and thereupon took instruments in the hands
of Mr Henry Liklie, Minister at Old Mildrum, clerk 'pro tempore,
the Master and Magistrates hereupon removing and expecting an
answer as said is; yet th© noise of the rable rather increased, so
that with great difficulty they got the answer to th© l©tter finished.
The Presbytery, considering that they could not get the ordination
of Mr Alex. Auchinlek gone about, resolved to retire into their
quarters to Baillie Hay his house, and in the meantime appointed
three of their own number to carry the said letter to the Master
and Magistrates sitting still in the Counsell house, viz., Mr Guthrie,
Mr Brown, and Mr Anderson, which they delivered to the said
Master, who, having read the samen, and not finding it satisfac
tory, returned this answer that they would come to their meeting
to protest against their procedure. Th© Moderator, Mr Guthry,
in the name of the Presbytery, required of the said Master and
Magistrat©s that they should by their power and authority oom-
p©sc© th© rable and tumult, that no disturbance might be given to
the worship of God, and if the said disturbance should not be
stayed he declared that they behoved to take such methods for
settling of the minister as necessity would allow — upon all which
he protested and took instruments in the hands of Alex. Gordon,
town-clerk of Frazerburgh, present in the said Counsell, after
whicli these Commissioners did remove to their quarters to their
br©thr©n, and in their way thither they rdett with great trouble
from the rable, as had also the rest of the brethren in their return
from the Church. And while they were taking the said affair into
their consideration the said Master of Salton with Magistrates came
in with a great rable about them, and gave in a protestation in
write against the procedure of the Presbytery in settling Mr
Auchinleck, and thereupon required and took instruments in the
hands of Mr James Anderson, clerk of the Presbyterie ; and, while
they were removing, one of the Bailies returned and told the Pres
bytery that they were going to burn their answer to the Master's
letter, and so the rable removed to attend the said sollemnity in
the meantime. Th© Pr©sbytery, considering that there was no
objection made against the lif© and doctrine of the said Mr Auchin-
Ifeck, as also that they could not set about th© said work in that

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 65
orderly way as it required, resolved to ordain the said Mr Auchin
leck in the same chamber where they were, and Mr Udny, after
prayer, proposing the usual questions to him, and he returning
satisfactory answers thereto, he was ordained to the function of the
holy ministry by prayer and imposition of the hands of the Pres
bytery according to the laudable practise of this Church, before
several gentlemen and others present as witnesses, after which the
brethren gave him the right hand of fellowship. During this
time there was great quietness, because the rable was convened
about the Cross with the beating of a drum to see the Presbytery
their answer burnt or else a double thereof ; and so the work was
very peacably gone about at that tyme."
TWO COURAGEOUS PRESBYTERS.
The first actions of the members of the Deer Presbytery after
the memorable occurrences at Fraserburgh on the 4th of Febru
ary were of the nature of reprisals. They forestalled their
opponents by sending at once to the metropolis their own account
of the events of that day. At their Session on February 25th,
1707, they received letters from some individual ministers who
had taken part in the work of the Commission of the late General
Assembly. These requested a more detailed and particular account
of the tumultuous doings in the month of February. Approval
was given of what their colleagues had done, and two of them were
appointed to draw up a full description of what had taken place
at the attempted induction of the Rev. Alex. Auchinleck into the
Parish Kirk of Fraserburgh.
Information reached th© Presbytery at this meeting that the
Rev. Alex. Moore and) the Rev. Alex. Craig had again begun to
preach and perform all parts of their ministerial functions in the
town and parish of Fraserburgh. These two brave evangelists were
once more working together in concert, and strengthening each
other in ministering to those whom the Great Master had com
mitted to their charge. They were preaching, baptising, and
marrying, when required to do so by their own people. Another
august and sacred service the Deer Presbytery do not mention, and
that is the celebration of the Holy Communion. In regard to
this, we may rest assured that the two faithful Presbyters did not
neglect the due performance of the high Eucharistic rite. The
supercilious ideas held by the Presbyterian ministers of Deer about
the Holy Orders which their Episcopalian rivals had received from

66 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
their own Bishops illustrate well their arrogant pretensions. They
declared that the said Mr Moor© was ©ither not in Holy Orders,
or, if he had been ordained, it must hav© been by the Right Rev.
George Haliburton, the disestablished or exauctorate Bishop of
Aberdeen. Their conception of the Church of the Living God was
that it was a mere State creation and nothing more. Thoughts of
th© spiritual nature of th© Kingdom of God upon earth seem to
have been far removed from the minds of those intolerant men.
The Presbytery also tried to make capital out of Mr Moore's pro
mise not to preach in th© Kirk of Fraserburgh after his father's
death. We hav© only the Presbytery's version of this alleged
promise. The truth is clearly manifest from what is stated in the
minutes of this meeting. Mr Moore had merely said that he
would not preach in the kirk if a minister were settled there. He
and Mr Craig had the right to preach and teach their own people
wherever they should be assembled elsewhere, ind6p©ndently of the
Presbytery of that district. ERASTIANISM.
The principles of Erastianis'm derive their name from Thomas
Erastus, who was born either in Gnermany or Switzerland in 1524.
He was a philosopher, who maintained that the Church was a
mere creature of the State, and was dependent upon it for its
existence and its authority. In some points his views were liberal,
but in others they were narrow. Dr William Leitch stated that
Erastus wrote a tract in 1577 defending the lawfulness of putting
witehes to death. Ther© was much in common between the views
of the Presbyterian General Assembly at the beginning of the 18th
century and the beliefs of Erastus. The same may also be said
of the subordinate Presbyterian Court in the north-east of Aber
deenshire. We can see from the Presbytery Records that they
believed in the existence of Sorcerers and Witches, and also claimed
the right to be considered " the only government of Christ's
Church in the Kingdom." This is apparent also from the accusa
tions l©v©lled by the Presbytery of D©©r against Mr Moore and Mr
Craig. According to these, " They were highly disaffected to the
Government, both civil and ecclesiastical, and were not qualified
conform to the laws of the kingdom." At their Session on Febru
ary 25th, 1707, the Presbytery directed the R©v. Alex. Moore and
th© Rev. Alex. Craig to be summoned before them at their next
me©ting.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 67
Presbytery Records.
"At Crimond, Feb. 25, 1707."
" Several brethren gave notice to the Presbytery that they had
sent south information anent the rable at Frazerburgh, to prevent
false rumors that might be spread by their adversaries, and this
day they received letters from some members of the Commission
of the late General Assembly, requiring a more full and particular
account of the said rable, the Presbytery approves what the
brethren had sent, and appoint Mr Brown and Mr Udney to draw
up the said information as desired, against the said day of
meeting." " This day th© Presbytery being informed that Mr Alex. Craig
and Mr Alex. Moor, intruders at Frazerburgh, who had been pro
cessed before the Lords of CSounsell for their intrusions upon the
CJhurch and paroch of Frazerburgh, whereupon they both desisted
from preaching, yet now it is found that they have begun, and
continue all the parts of the Ministerial function in the said tewn
and paroch, in preaching, baptising, and marrying, although the said
Mr Moor either be not in Orders or if he have gotten ordination
it is from one of th© exauctorate bishops, viz., from Haliburton,
late Bishop of Aberdeen, as also the said Mr Moor is guilty of
breach of promise that he gave to some sent by the Presbytery
that he should not intrude into that Church after his father's
decease, if the Presbytery would allow him to assist his father being
old and infirm, and likewise of late he being challenged since his
father's death of his breach of promise, he again promised before
two ministers that if one of the Presbytery had access to the said
Church of Fraserburgh and were sending supply, or if a minister
wer© s©ttled, that then he should give no more trouble to them, as
also both the said Mr Moor and the said Mr Craig are highly dis
affected to the Govemment, both civil and ecclesiastical, and are
not qualified conform to th© laws of the kingdom — upon all which
the Presbytery appoints the said Mr Moor and Mr Craig to be
summoned to compear before them at their next meeting, which
is to be at Deer on the 4th March next to come."
AN EPISCOPAL CLERGYMAN CONFRONTS THE PRESBYTERY.
The Deer Presbytery, which met on March 4th, 1707, en
deavoured to bring down the whole weight of the civil power upon
th© people of Fraserburgh. So far as the Scottish Privy Council
was concerned, there was not left much time in which they could

68 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
invoke its aid. The Act of Union was to com© into operation on
May 1st, 1707, and the Edinburgh Council was then to be no more.
The Presbytery did not wait for this dissolution, but caused a
paper containing a full account of the tumult to be forwarded to
the Agent for the Kirk at Edinburgh that Council Letters might
be rais©d and sent north to Aberdeenshire. Before th© Presby
tery rose, letters were written to th© Lord Advocate, to the Agent,
and to Mr George Meldrum bearing reference to the ecclesiastical
uproar on the 4th of February.
The Rev. Alex. Moore and the Rev. Alex. Craig had both
been summoned to appear before this court. Their great offence
was preaching and ministering to the Episcopalians of Fraser
burgh. Citations from Presbyterian tribunals were usually dis
regarded by the disestablished clergy. Thus it could best be shown
that they were in no way subject to their authority. On this
occasion, however, the Rev. Alex. Moore boldly confronted his
opponents. He was young and strong, while his colleague in th©
ministry, the Rev. Alex. Craig, was weak and infirm with age.
Mr Moore gave in a long paper of defences containing answers
to the things libelled against him. This paper having been read
by the Clerk of the Presbytery, the defendant was requested to
leave the meeting till that document was considered. Mr Moore
told them he would not leave the room till they had received from
him another paper, which would inform them what they were
expected to answer. This was a protestation against th© doings
of th© Presbytery, which he instantly began to read. The Modera
tor, interrupting him, said that as he would not depart from the
meeting, he did not give them an opportunity to answer his long
paper. The Presbytery therefore referred the whole matter to the
next ensuing Synod, to be held at Aberdeen on the last Tuesday
of March, 1707. To this court the Moderator summoned Mr
Moore apud acta to appear. The latter then gave in his protest
in writing, and after that did further protest verbally. He stated
that, as they would give him no answer in writing to his first
paper and prot^tation, but had summarily cited him to appear
before the Synod, it was to no purpose for him to reply. Mr Moore
protested : —
(1.) Because they did not so much as offer to prove any point
libelled against him. They had brought forward no wit
nesses to give evidence, and they would not pass judicially
from the said libel.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 69
(2.) Even if they had witnesses to prove their accusations, it
was hard and inhuman to oblige them to go to Aberdeen.
when their testimony might be given as well here, and
with much more convenience.
(3.) Finally, for these reasons he thought it to no purpose for
him to answer before the Synod.
Upon all of these statements he took instruments in the hands
of the Clerk of the Presbytery.
The Moderator again protested that there was great reason
to delay giving him an answer in writing, because his papers were
so long that the time would not allow them to consider them and
give him an immediate reply in writing. He also protested
that the most material points of the libel were his preaching,
baptising, and marrying, and that these points were proved at
once by his own confession. Therefore, there was no need to
bring forward witnesses, but there was great reason to refer the
matter to the Synod. Upon all which the Moderator took instru
ments in the hands of th© Clerk of the Presbytery.
We see from all this that the court refused to give Mr
Moore the satisfaction of refuting their arguments. The sore
point with his accusers was Mr Moore's preaching, baptising, and
marrying. The persecutors had no respect for the defendant's
spiritual liberty, nor for the age of Mr Craig. Both were sum
moned to appear before the Aberdeen Synod.
Presbytery Records.
"Att Old Deer, March 4, 1707."
" This day the brethren that were appointed to bring in a
more full information against the great rabbi© at Fraz©rburgh
gave in the samen, which was read and approven : whereupon the
Presbytery appoints the said paper to b© sent south to the Agent
for the Kirk, that Counsell Letters may be raised and sent forth ;
likewise a letter is appointed to be written to her Majestie's
Advocate, as also a letter to the Agent, and another to Mr George
Meldrum anent the said rabble — all which were done before the
rising of the Presbytery."
"This day Mr Anderson reports that he caused his officer
to summon Mr Moor and Mr Craig to compear before the Pres-
hytery this day, who thereupon being called at the most patent
door, compeared only Mr Moor (Mr Craig compeared not), the

70 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
said Mr Moor having received his libell along with his summonds,
gave in a long paper of defences, containing answers to the things
libelled against him, and after th© said paper was read by the
Clerk of the Presbytery, he was desired to remove till the said
long paper was considered. To whom he replied, that he would
not remove till they should have another paper he had ready
to give in, which would inform them what to answer, and there
upon instantly offering to real a protestation which he had in his
hand in write to the former effect. The Moderator replied, that
seeing he would no go out, he denyed them opportunity to
answer his long paper, and therefore they referred the whole of
his affair to the next ensuing Synod to be holden at Aberdeen,
the last Tuesday of this instant, to which the Moderator sum
moned him apud acta to compear. Whereupon the said Mr Moor
gav© in his protestation in write, and thereafter did further
verbally protest, that seeing th©y would give him no answer in
write to his first paper and protestation, but had summarily cited
him to appear before th© Synod, it was to no purpose for him
to answer, first, because they did not offer so much as to prove
the same nor yet would pass judicially from the said libel; 2do.,
If th©y had any witnesses to prove their accusations, it would
be hard, yea inhuman, to oblige them te go to Aberdeen,
when their testimony might be given as well here, and with
much more oonveniency. And finally, he thought it to no
purpose to answer before the Synod for the reasons above said —
upon all which he took instruments in the hands of the Clerk of
the Presbytery. The Moderator, in name of the Presbytery, did
re-protest, that there was great reason to delay the giving him
an answer in write, seeing his papers were so long that the time
could not allow them to consider them and give an answer iu
write as h© demanded. And as to the proving of his libel, it was
likewise re-protested that the most material points of the libel,
viz., his preaching, baptizing, and marrying was proven instanter
by his own confession, so that there was no need of putting wit
nesses to the trouble, therefore there was great reason to refer
the affair, as said is, upon all which the Moderator took instru
ments in the hands of the Clerk of the Presbytery, and so Mr
Moor removed himself. This is a short account of what passed
between the Presbytery and Mr Moor.
The Presbytery appoints Mr Anderson to cause his officer
summond Mr Alexr. Craig to compear at the next Synod."

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 71
LAST COUNCIL LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE PRESBYTERY.
These were considered at the Session held on April 29th,
1707, two days before the extinction of the Scottish Privy Council.
Consequently the opponents of Episcopacy would be able to appeal
to that house no longer. These letters were found to be defective,
and had to be sent back to Edinburgh for rectification with all
possible speed.
The Moderator and Mr Auchinleck were appointed to go
to Fraserburgh, and do all things expedient to obtain the keys
of the Minister's Manse. These were still in the possession of
the Rev. Alexander Moore. At the Session of May 13th, the
Moderator reported the receipt of the corrected letters against
the offenders at Fraserburgh on the day of the tumult. So many
people had to be served with those letters that a sufficient number
of copies of them had to be printed. It was found difficult to
find a man in the town willing to execute the letters. At last
a certain Walter Gabriell agreed to accomplish the odious task
for "twelve pounds Scotts."
The two envoys of the Presbytery sent to demand the keys of
the Manse at Fraserburgh, reported that they had made the appli
cation to the Rev. Alex. Moore, son of the late Episcopal
Incumbent. He said he was willing to deliver up th© keys of
th© Manse, but thought it reasonable that there should be a
visitation holden there for that effect. The Presbytery found
they were compelled to delay the consideration of the application.
ACT OF UNION.
The Union ratified by the Scottish Parliament came into
actual operation on May 1st, 1707.
Presbytery Records.
"New Deer, April 29, 1707."
" As to the affair of Frazerburgh, there having com© up
Councell Letters against the rabblers there, the Presbytery did
consider the same, and finding that there were some things wrong
in the first sheet, therefore do appoint the same to be sent south
with all possible haste, that the same may be rectified."
" Mr Anderson, the Moderator, and Mr Auchinleck are
appointed to repair to Frazerburgh on Monday, the 12th May,
and to do all things expedient in order to get up the keys of
the Minister's Manse there, and to report to th© n©xt meeting."

72 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
"At Old Deer, May 13, 1707."
" Mr Auchinleck reports that he has received the Council
Letters against the rabblers in Frazerburgh, which he has agreed
for to be printed, seeing there are so many copies needful, and
that now what was wrong in them is rectified ; and it is thought
fit that one Walter Gabriell Messr. in Frazerburgh shall be em
ployed for executing the same, and the Presbytery appoints him
to get twelve pounds Scotts for that effect."
" It is reported by the Moderator that he and Mr Anderson,
together with Mr Auchinleck, went to Frazerburgh and spoke to
Mr Alex. Moor, son to the late Incumbent there, who answered
he was willing to deliver up the keys of the Minister's Manse
there, but thought it reasonable that there should be a visitation
holden then for that effect. The Presbytery delay that affair
till their meeting at New Deer, to be on the 3rd of June."
COST OF LITIGATION.
Lawsuits and prosecutions cannot be carried on without
money, a circumstance which the Deer Presbytery were not per
mitted to ignore. Mr Walter Gabriell soon saw reason to repent
of his rash undertaking to execute the Council Letters against the
partakers in the disorderly proceedings at Fraserburgh. The
messenger of th© law was owing two hundrod m©rks to Lord
Saltoun, who forthwith pursued him for the debt. His distressed
condition became known to the Laird of Boyndlie, who repre
sented it to the Presbytery. At their session on May 20th, 1707,
they took the matter into their consideration. From their point
of view, Mr Gabriell was being persecuted in the interest of the
Gospel. Accordingly, they commissioned Mr Auchinleck to deal
on their behalf with James Wells, merchant in Fraserburgh. He
was to ask Mr Wells to advance th© money, and grant him
security. Each member of the Presbytery bound himself to give
his proportion of the two hundred merks, should no other way
be found of relieving the impecunious messenger.
At the session of June 7th, 1707, Mr Auchinleck reported
that he had don© his b©st to release Mr Gabriell from his diffi
culty, and had prevailed upon Mr James Wells to advance one
hundred merks, if the Presbytery would give their bond that h©
would b© repaid on next S. Drostane's Day. The members of
the court were satisfied with this, and Mr Auchinleck was

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 73
requested to have the bond in readiness to receive their signa
tures at the next meeting. Presbytery Records.
"At Strichen, May 20th, 1707."
" This day the Presbytery received a Letter from John Forbes
of Boynlie, representing the distressed condition of Walter Gabriell,
Messr. at Frazerburgh."
" The Presbytery considering the same, and being well in
formed that he is persecute for the interest of the Gospel, and
think fit to commissionate Mr Auchinleck to deal in their behalf
with James Wells, Merchant in Frazerburgh, to advance the
money for him, and to give him security ; and hereby the Pres
bytery obliges themselves to give each person his proportion of
that two hundred merks, for which my Lord Saltoun is pursuing
him, if no other way can be fallen upon for his relief."
"At New Deer, June 7, 1707."
" Mr Auchinleck reports that he, according to the Presby
terie's appointment, had been active in Mr Gabriell's affair, that
h© had prevailed with James Wells to advance ane hundred merks,
if their Presbytery would give tneir bond to be paid at Dustan
Day ensuing ; the Presbytery were satisfied therewith, and desired
Mr Auchinleck to have the bond in readiness against the next
meeting, and they would subscribe the same."
PEACE PROPOSALS.
The Moderator informed the Presbytery at their meeting on
June 9th, 1707, that he was in receipt of a letter from the Rev.
James Anderson, minister of Rathen, telling him that he had
had a visit from the Rev. Alex. Moore, son of the late Episcopal
Incumbent at Fraserburgh, who called at his house to intimate
that Lord Saltoun was desirous of peace. His Lordship was will
ing to speak with the Presbytery or any deputation appointed
by them with the view of considering the differences between them.
It was on that account that the Moderator had convened this
pro re nata meeting. Mr William Fraser, one of the Bailies of
Fraserburgh, was also present. He said that Lord Saltoun,
being ready to discuss matters with the Presbytery, had sent him
to inquire when and where they could meet together.
In deference to his Lordship's wishes, the Presbytery agreed
to wait upon him at the Old Kirk of Philorth at four o'clock in

74 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
the afternoon of that same day. This decision was communi
cated to Bailie Fraser, who proceeded to intimate it to Lord
Saltoun. In the meantime, the Presbytery drew up some articles
of agreement for consideration at their meeting in the afternoon.
These stipulations consisted of nine different particulars. The
first item insisted that Mr Auchinleck should have free and peace
able access to the exercise of his ministry in the town and parish
of Fraserburgh. He had been ordained to the vacant charge, but
the adherents of Episcopacy predominated so greatly in number
¦ and influence that he could not live in the place without their
consent. Next, the newly-ordained minister was to have his
stipend paid to him at th© ordinary terms in accordance with the
Act of Parliament, without having recourse to law-suits for its
enforcement. He was also to have peaceable possession of the
minister's manse, the keys of which were then in possession of
the Rev. Alex. Moore, Episcopal Incumbent at Fraserburgh.
The third condition was that no restraint, directly or indirectly,
was to be imposed upon any person or persons so as to prevent
them from attending the Presbyterian services. The Presbytery
were evidently afraid that under Presbyterian ministrations the
Kirk of Fraserburgh would have no congregation to participate^
in their observance.
The fourth basis of the considered peace was the most
unreasonable of all, and was sure to lead to a break-down in the
negotiations. This was " That there be no meeting-house in the
town of Frazerburgh." Of course, the real meaning of this con
dition was that there must be no Episcopal Church in Fraser
burgh. The members of that Church were to be denuded of their
spiritual right of worshipping God according to their conscience.
They were expected to give up their own loved services of the
Book of Common Prayer and submit to the bald and cheerless
effusions of the Rev. Alex. Auchinleck. Could the tyrannical
judicatory have had prescience of the coming time, they would
have known that there would be an Episcopal Church in Fraser
burgh long generations after they were " ashes in their graves."
The fifth heading of the protocol was a corollary of the fourth —
" that none say public prayers in the Church without Mr Auchin
leck's permission. Of a similar nature was the next preruise —
" that all the Registers and utensils belonging to the Church of
Fraserburgh be delivered up to Mr Auchinleck." If by th©
word "utensils" is meant gold or silver Communion vessels bought

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 75
and paid for by members of the Episcopal Church, the Deer
Presbytery had no moral right to them whatsoever. The Presby
tery recognised the importance of getting under their own man
agement the education of the young. They stipulated that there
be access to establish a schoolmaster, precentor, and kirk-officer,
who were to have the usual emoluments. Finally, the' windows
of the kirk broken on the day of the great tumult were to be
repaired, and the Lord and Master of Saltoun and the magistrates
of the town were to bind themselves to fulfil all these premises.
The Presbytery repaired to the Old Kirk of Philorth in the
afternoon, and found Lord Saltoun present. Not having accom
modation there formally to converse and constitute a meeting, the
Moderator, after some conversation with his Lordship, handed
to him the paper containing the preceding articles. He also
intimated that if these conditions were agreed to, the Presbytery
would depart from the actions-at-law they were pursuing against
the sharers in the Fraserburgh riot.
There can be little doubt but the negotiations failed because
of the unreasonable and unjust nature of the fourth premise,
virtually forbidding the erection of an Episcopal Church in
Fraserburgh. After a prolonged discussion. Lord Saltoun
peremptorily refused to agree to the proposals of the Presbytery ;
the latter, on their part, having declared that they would con
tinue to promote their legal processes against their opponents
with all possible diligence, broke off the conference. They
appointed Mr Auchinleck to go south to look after their legal
interests. A fortnight afterwards a regular meeting of the Presbytery
was held at Old Deer, at which all th© prooeedings of the pro re
nata meeting were duly reported, as well as the fruitless conference
for peace held at the Old Kirk of Philorth. It could not have
been otherwise. The unbending and arrogant Presbyterian Court
would be satisfied with nothing else than the blotting out of the
Episcopal religion in their midst.
Presbytery Records.
"At Rathen, 9th June, 1707; pro re nata."
" Th© Modorator informs th© Pr©sbytery that he had received
a Letter from Mr Anderson, minister at Rathen, acquainting him
that Mr Alex. Moor, son to the late Incumbent at Fraserburgh,
was att his house, shewing that my Lord Saltoun was desirous of

76 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
peace, and that he was content to speak with the Presbytery or
any appointed by them, that differences between his Lordship and
them might be taken up. The Presbytery approve his calling
them together pro re nata."
" This day also William Fraser, Bailie in Fraserburgh, in
formed the Presbytery that my Lord Saltoun was ready to dis
course the Presbytery, and had sent him thither to know when
and where the Presbytery would be pleased to meet with him."
" The Presbytery, taking the said desire to consideration, did
think fit to wait upon his Lordship at the Old Kirk of Philorth
at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and made intimation thereof to the
said Bailie, as also in the meantime the Presbytery thought fit
to condescend upon and draw up some proposals to be made to
my Lord Saltoun in order to ane agreement with him anent
Fraserburgh." " The articles of agreement are as follows : —
" Istly. — That Mr Alex. Auchinleck, minister at Fraser
burgh, shall have free and peaceable access te the
exercise of his ministry in the town and parioch of
Fraserburgh."
" 2ndly. — That he shall have his stipend paid him at
the ordinary terms conform to the decreet of Parlia
ment without any law suit, as also access and peace
able possession of the manse.
" 3rdly. — That there shall be no restraint directly or in
directly put upon any person or persons from sub
mitting unto or attending upon the ordinances dis
pensed by him."
" 4thly. — That there be no meeting house in the town
of Fraserburgh."
" 5thly. — That none say public prayers in the church
without Mr Auchinleck's allowance."
" 6thly. — That all the Registers and utensils belonging to
the Church of Fraserburgh be delivered up to Mr
Auchinleck."
" 7thly. — That there be access to establish a school
master, and precentor, as also a kirk officer who may
have the usual emoluments."

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 77
" Sthly. — That the windows of tne said kirk which were
broken by the rabble be repaired."
" 9thly. — That my Lord and Master of Saltoun, with the
magistrates of the town, oolige themselves to th©
performance of the premises."
" OLD KIRK OF PHILORTH."
" Eodem die Hora quarta post meridiem."
" The Presbytery according to their appointment did repair
to the Old Kirk of Philorth, where they met with my Lord
Saltoun, but not having conveniency to constitute and formally
sitt, the Moderator after somewhiles discourse with his Lordship,
did give in the preceding articles, shewing his Lordship that if he
would condescend to them, then the Presbytery wouid take up the
process against him and the rabblers in Frazerburgh, but after
long dealing and reasoning with his Lordship on the head, and
he continuing peremptorily to refuse, the Presbytery assured his
Lordship that they would carry on their process, and they parted
with him. Mr Auchinleck is appointed to go south to prosecute
the process." "At Old Deer, June the 24th, 1707."
" Sederunt — Mr Brown, Moderator, Mr Udny, Mr Anderson,
and Mr Webster, Clerk. Mr Auchinleck absent, being in pur
suit of the process against Lord Saltoun and the rabblers of
Fraserburgh." " Th© which day th© Moderator gave an account that upon
information that my Lord Saltoun desired to meet with the Pres
bytery in order to agree the process against the rabblers in
Fraserburgh, he did call a meeting for that effect, and accord
ingly met with my Lord Saltoun at the old Kirk of Philorth,
where, after proposing several articles, and after long dealing
with him, his Lordship could not be prevailed with to condescend
to an agreement on the terms propounded, which are insert on
the other page, and therefor© the Presbytery appoint the process
to be carried on, and Mr Auchinleck to go south to wait upon
it." END OF THE YEAR 1707.
The year 1707 was marked by some important events. Of
these the Act of Union was of national consequence. The
tumult at Fraserburgh in February of that year proved to the

78 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Presbytery their feebleness, and unpopularity in that northern
burgh. It should have taught them the hopelessness of attempt
ing to root out Episcopacy in Aberdeenshire.

A PRESBYTERY IN DEBT.
The beginning of 1708 found the Presbytery in debt and
engaged in abortive law-suits. They had sent Mr John Lindsay,
messenger-at-law, to deliver citations to all the Episcopalians at
Fraserburgh who had resisted the induction of the Presbyterial
presentee to the parish kirk on February 4th, 1707. Arduous
must have been the messenger's work, for which the Presbytery
neglected to pay him. At their Session on June Sth, 1708, they
were informed that Mr Lindsay was calling peremptorily for his
money. The minister of New Deer was appointed to speak with
him, and crave for delay till the next meeting.
The Presbytery sat at Old Deer on February 17th, when the
minister of New Deer reported that he had spoken to Mr John
Lindsay about the money they were owing him. He said he was
distressed by a gentleman in New Deer, and must have his
money. If, however, the Presbytery would take off that gentle
man, the messenger stated that he would acquiesce. The
Moderator was directed to show Mr Lindsay that they would
grant his desire for as much as they were due. Clearly, no one
in Fraserburgh could be persuaded to hand the citations to the
accused, and the Presbytery had to employ a messenger from New
Deer. The inhabitants of the burgh remembered the fate of Mr
Walter Gabrielle. Presbytery Records.
"At Strichen, January Sth, 1708."
" Mr Auchinleck informs that John Lindsay, messenger, was
calling peremptorily for his money due for executing the Council
Letters against rabblers in Fraserburgh, upon which Mr Webster
is appointed to speak with him for a delay till the next meeting."
"At Old Deer, February 17th, 1708."
" Mr Webster spoke to John Lindsay, who told him he was
distressed by a gentleman in New Deer, and therefore behoved
to have his money, but if the Presbytery would take off that
gentleman, he could acquiesce. The Moderator is to show Mr

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 79
Lindsay that they are willing to grant his desire for so much
as they are due."

EPISCOPAL CLERGY IN ABERDEENSHIRE.
The Presbytery met at Aberdeen on May 12th, 1708, at the
time of the Aberdeen Synod. That body had directed the several
Presbyteries to meet them to make out a list of Episcopal Clergy
and other disorderly preachers within their respective bounds.
In the opinion of the Presbyterian ministers of Deer, all pastors
other than themselves were disorderly. The following names of
Episcopal Clergy occur in the list which was then drawn up : —
The Rev. Axexandee Hepburn had preached in the Epis
copal meeting-house at S. Fergus since the Revolution. He had not
taken the oaths of allegiance to the reigning house, and was a
staunch Jacobite. Presbyterian public fasts and thanksgivings
he neglected altogether, and did not pray for Queen Anne. The
Presbytery have somewhat more to record against their two
strenuous opponents, the Rev. Alexr. Moore and the Rev. Alexr.
Craig, whom they coupled together in the category. They are
styled intruders at Fraserburgh, who had got up the English
Service, and stuck close to the form of words in the Book of
Common Prayer, except in on© particular instance. When they
came to the prayer for the Queen's Majesty they were reported to
have passed it by, and to have prayed instead for " our dread
Sovereign." In these words the worshippers may have referred
mentally to the exiled king at the French Court. They also
charged Mr Moore and Mr Craig with admitting scandalous per
sons to the Holy Communion, and with countenancing those who
had been excommunicated from the Presbyterian Church. The
Rev. John Baeolay is named as the Episcopal clergyman at
Peterhead. He had intruded into the Episcopal meeting-house,
had set up the service from the Book of Common Prayer, and
was unqualified. It is difficult for us to understand how the
Episcopal clergyman could intrude into his own church or
meeting-house. Th© R©v. Mb Robertson was th© Episcopal
clergyman at Longside, and the Rev. Mb Swan at Pitsligo. They
wer© charged with employing the above-named unqualified men
to preach in their pulpits. Lonmay and Crimond were declared
to be vacant at that time.

80 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Presbytery Records.
"At Aberdeen, May 12, in tym of Synod, 1708."
The Presbytery, considering an order from the Synod
appointing the several Presbyteries to meet at this tyme for
taking up a list of intruders and other disorderly preachers within
their respective bounds, did therefore draw up the following
accompt, viz. : — Mr Alexr. Hepburn is an intruder at S. Fergus
since the Revolution, is unqualified, prayeth not for the Queen,
and is a contemner of public fasts and thanksgivings; next, that
Mr Alexr. Moor and Mr Alexe. Craig are intruders at Fraser
burgh, have got up the English Service there, and though in their
worship they stick closs to the form of words in that book, yet
when they come to that paragraph wherein the Queen's Majesty
is mentioned, they do pass it by, praying for our dread Sovereign
— they are not qualified, are supposed to be of erroneous principles,
do admit scandalous persons to the sealing ordinances, do hugg
and countenance excommunicate persons ; that Mr Barclay at
Peterhead has intruded in a meeting-house, and set up the English
Service, and- is unqualified. Mr Robertson at Longside, Me
Keith at Deer, and Me Swan at Pitsligo do employ the foresaid
unqualified men to preach in their pulpits. There are two vacant
parishes in the bounds, viz., Lonmay and C?rimond."

EPISCOPAL CLERGY AGAIN CITED.
When the Presbytery came to Deer on June 13th, 1708, they
were not allowed to meet in the Kirk of Deer, because th© Epis
copal incumbent was performing a marriage upon that day. That
event prevented the Presbytery from holding their formal
meeting. Mr James Wells, merchant in Fraserburgh, who had accom
modated the Presbytery by relieving Mr Walter Gabriell, the dis
tressed messenger-at-law, had not been repaid. At their session
on July 13th, 1708, he demanded th© hundred merks he had lent
to them. Mr Auchinleck was directed to send to the said Walter
Gabriell, now living at Leith, and ask for his bond and part
payment of the said hundred merks that were engaged for him.
On October 27th, 1708, a letter was read from the Commis
sion of the General Assembly requiring a list of the Episcopal
Clergy within th© bounds of the Presbytery. At the meeting held

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 81
that day the Act of the Presbyterian Synod of Aberdeen to the
same effect was read. Both of these documents directed the court
to cite the Rev. Alex. Moore and the Rev. Alex. Craig, both
of Fraserburgh; the Rev. Alex. Hepburn, of S. Fergus; and the
Rev. John Barclay of Peterhead. These were to be summoned
to appear before the Presbytery at their next meeting.
The Commission of the superior court had also directed the
Presbytery to bring in lists of all the Roman Cathohcs within
their bounds. Some of the members were appointed to prepare
these categories. Presbytery Records.
"At Deer, June 15, 1708."
" No exercise this day because there was no access to the
Kirk by reason of a marriage by the Episcopal Incumbent."
"At Strichen, July 13, 1708."
"It is reported that James Wells, merchant in Fraserburgh,
is seeking the hundredth merks he lent to the Presbyterie to be
given for the relief of ane Walter Gabriell in distress. Mr
Auchinleck is appointed to write to the said Walter Gabriell, now
living at Leith, to send his bond and part of payment of the said
hundredth merks that are engaged for him."
"At Old Deer, Oct. 27, 1708."
" This day the Commission's letter was read requiring a list
of intruding ministers within their bounds, as also the Act of
the Synod of Aberdeen to the said effect was read ; in both which
the Presbytery is appointed to cause cite them, viz., Mr Alex.
Craig at Fraserburgh, Mr Alex. Moor there, Mr Alex. Hepburn
at S. Fergus, and Mr John Barclay at Peterhead, who are here
by ordained to be summoned to the next dyet before this Pres
byterie." " Also the Brethren are appointed to bring in lists of papists
within their bounds to the next dyet, according to the Commis
sioner's Letter.
WITNESSES SUMMONED AGAINST EPISCOPAL CLERGY.
When the Presbytery assembled on November 23rd, 1708,
it was found that there had been some informality in the cita
tions of the Rev. John Barclay and the Rev. Alex. Hepburn,
Episcopal Cflergy. They were accordingly not called, and their
respective cases were delayed till another meeting. The execution
of the summons against the Rev. Alex. Moore and the Rev.

82 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Alex. Craig having been carried out in due form, the Presbytery
took up these two cases. After these Presbyters had been called
to appear at the principal church door, the Rev. William Symson,
dhaplain to Lord Saltoun, cam© forward in their name with a
written commission. Several inhabitants of the town and parish
of Fraserburgh were present along with the chaplain as parties
entrusted with the same commission. The written defences of
the Rev. Alex. Moore and the Rev. Alex. Craig were contained
in the document which was read before the court, paragraph by
paragraph. Mr Auchinleck having answered these statements
viva voce, there followed a long discussion and debate about them.
The Presbytery having resolved that witnesses should be sum
moned to prov© the charges against Mr Moore and Mr Craig, the
Moderator, in th© name of the court, summoned the Rev.
Alex. Sympson and the Rev. Alex. Davidson, Chaplain in
Pitully; Mr William Huison, son to the deceased Rev. Mr
Huison, formerly Episcopal Clergyman at Lonmay; Mr Robert
Taylor, at Wakmill of Philorth; Mr William Forrest, merchant
in Fraserburgh; and Mr Alex. Gordon, Town Clerk. All these
were personally apprehended apud acta to appear as witnesses
in the case of the Rev. Alex. Moore and the Rev. Alex. Craig at
the next Presbytery meeting, to be held in the Kirk of Rathen
on the 9th day of December next, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon.
The officer of the Court was directed to summon Mr Moore and
Mr Craig before the same judicatory.

AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS ROMAN CATHOLICS
The Commission of the General Assembly, having directed the
Presbyteries to prepare lists of all the Roman Catholics within
their bounds, none were found in any of the parishes of the
Deer Presbytery, excepting at New Deer and Peterhead. The
Presbyterian minister of New Deer gave in the following list of
Roman Catholics residing there :—Alexand©r Gordon of Barak,
Mary and Elizabeth Gordon (sisters to the said Barak), Janet
Gordon in Auchmingle, George Smith in Barak, Isobel Christie
(his wife), and David, Alexander, and Elizabeth Smith (their
children). No Hst was delivered from Peterhead on account of
the absence of the Rev. Andrew Guthrie, the Presbyterian
minister of that charge.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 83
CHURCH REGISTERS AND UTENSILS.
The Rev. Alex. Auchinleck, Presbyterian minister of Fraser
burgh, complained that he had not been able to obtain the
Registers, Utensils, and Account of the Poor's Money, belonging
to th© Kirk of Frasorburgh. These were in the hands of Mr
Andrew Cooper, merchant of Fraserburgh; Mr Peter Coutts,
schoolmaster; and Mr William Ogston, late kirk officer. These
men were appointed to be cited to the meeting of the Presby
tery to be held at Rathen on December 7th. The Presbytery
adjoumed to meet again on December 7th, to take up the cases
against the Episcopal clergy, and on December 2Sth for their
ordinary business. It is difficult to understand how the Deer
Presbytery could thus discriminate between their special and
ordinary business, their principal concern at every meeting being
the bitter persecution of their Episcopalian fellow-Christians.
Presbytery Records.
"At Lonmay, Nov. 23, 1708."
" Anent the Intruders, there being found some informality
in the executing of the summonds against Mr Barclay and Mr
Hepburn, they were not called, but their affair is delayed till the
2Sth November next to come."
" The execution of the summonds against Mr Craig and Mr
Moor being orderly brought in, they were called at the most
patent church door, one Mr William Symson, Chaplain to my
Lord Saltoun, compeared in their name with a written commis
sion, togidder with several inhabitants of the town and paroch
of Fraserburgh — in the said commission were contained Mr Moor
and Mr Craig their defences, which were read paragraph by
paragraph; and Mr Auchinleck gave answers thereto viva voce,
and, after much reasoning and many debates hinc inde, the Pres
bytery, considering that witnesses behoved to be summoned to
prove their intrusion, therefore the Moderator, in name of the
Presbytery, summoned the said Mr Symson and Mr Alexander
Davidson, Chaplain in Pitully; Mr William Huison, son to the
deceased Mr Huison, sometime intruder at Lonmay; Robert
Taylor, at Wakmill of Philorth; William Forest, merchant in
Fraserburgh; Alex. Gordon, Town Clerk there — all personally
apprehended apud acta, to appear as witnesses in the affair of
Mr Craig and Mr Moor against the next Presbyterie at the Kirk
of Rathen, in hunc effectum, on the 9th day of December next

84 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
to come, be eleven hours in the forenoon. As also the Presbytery
appoints their office to summon th© said Moor and Craig to the
said dyet."
" Anent the lists of papists, there being none in any of our
paroches except New Deer and Peterhead, Mr Webster gave in
the following list from New Deer, viz., Alex. Gordon of Barak,
Katherine, Mary, and Elisabeth Gordons, sisters to the said Barak ;
also Janet Gordon in Auchmingle, George Smith in Barak, Isobel
Christie his spouse; also David, Alex., and Elisabeth Smiths, their
children. In regard to Mr Guthrie's absence, there is no account
of his list.
"Mr Auchinleck, representing that he cannot obtain the
Church Registers nor Utensils, with an account of the poor's
money, they being in the hands of Andrew Cooper, merchant in
Fraserburgh, Peter Coutts, schoolmaster there, and William
Ogston, late kirk officer, these men are appointed to be cited to
that dyet, the 7th of December, at Rathen, the time for examin
ing of witnesses in Mr Craig and Mr Moor's affair. The Presby
tery adjourns till the 2Sth December for their ordinary affairs,
and for the particular anent the Intruders to the 7th December.
WITNESSES DECLINE TO GIVE EVIDENCE AGAINST THE
EPISCOPAL CLERGY.
The Presbytery met on December 7th, 1708, to examine the
witnesses called to appear against the Rev. Alex. Moore and the
Rev. Alex. Craig. The officer declared that the execution of the
summons had been duly and orderly proceeded in against the
two Episcopal clergymen of Fraserburgh and the witnesses cited
to appear before the court at the same time. These latter were
Alexander Robertson, present Bailie in Fraserburgh, James Urqu
hart, late Bailie there; John Chein and William Fraser, late
Bailies there; Greorge Shand apothecary; William Willocks, mer
chant; George Pirie, barber; and Greorge Huison — all inhabitants
of Fraserburgh. The Presbytery in the first place sustained the
warrant for citing the aforesaid individuals as being all proper
witnesses in the said matter. Then the court sent their officer to
call Mr Moore and Mr Craig at the principal church door. They
did not appear in response to the call. The Rev. Alex. Moore
was present at the church door, but refused to enter the place of
meeting. For the most part, the witnesses appeared who had
been summoned, except the Rev. Alex. Symson, the Rev. Alex.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 85
Davidson, and one or two more. The Moderator, addressing the
witnesses in the name of the Presbytery, told them they were to
declare upon oath what they knew about the religious services
performed by the Rev. Alex. Moore and the Rev. Alex. Craig.
They were especially to state whether they prayed for Her
Majesty Queen Anne, and whether they observed Presbyterian
fasts and thanksgivings. These particulars had been intimated
to them in their cita.tioiis. A list of the witnesses had been given
to the two accused clergy, and no objections had been made against
any of them.
When the Moderator was about to administer the oath to
the witnesses, they all, with one accord, refused to take it, and
declined altogether to give any evidence against the Rev. Alex.
Moore and the Rev. Alex. Craig. In vain did the Moderator, in
the name of the Presbytery, threaten the witnesses that they
would be forced to bear witness before a higher judicatory at a
distance. This warning was entirely disregarded, and the most
of the witnesses left the church.
The Moderator then interrogated those who were Bailies, and
those who had been Bailies, if they had in their possession any
of the utensils belonging to the Kirk of Fraserburgh. They
declared in reply that they knew nothing about the affairs of the
Kirk-Session of Fraserburgh. The Presbytery then ordered that
all matters against the Episcopal clergy should be represented to
Mr NicoU Spense, the agent for the kirk at Edinburgh. This
functionary was to have their names enrolled so as to be summoned
before the Circuit Court to be held next May. These Erastian
presbyterian ministers, who in the days of Episcopal ascendancy
were the loudest to cry out against appealing to "Caesar," were
now themselves the readiest to do so.
The next business before the Presbytery was the recovery of
the utensils of the Kirk of Fraserburgh. With this object in
view, Andrew Couper, Peter Coutts, and William Ogston, the
possessors of that property of the kirk, having been summoned,
were duly called by the officer. They appeared, and acknow
ledged that they had such things in their custody, but refused
to give them up till a decree had been obtained against them for
their warrandice. In order to gain possession of the said
utensils, the Presbyterian minister of Peterhead was appointed
to pursue their present custodians before th© Commissary of
Aberdeen.

86 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
The final piece of business before the Presbytery was the
appointing of Mr Anderson and Mr Auchinleck as delegates to
wait upon the Earl Marischal, whenever he should have returned
from Edinburgh. They were to wait upon his Lordship if he
should be home before December 28th. Their errand was to
speak with him about the Rev. Alex. Hepburn, the Episcopal
clergyman at S. Fergus, where there was the principal residence
of the Earl Marischal. Presbytery Records.
"At Rathen, December 7, 1708."
" The Presbytery, considering that this day was appointed
for examining the witnesses against Mr Moor and Mr Craig, and
the officer giving in the execution of the summonds duly and
orderly proceeded in both against Mr Moor and Mr Craig, and
the witnesses who, beside those summoned apud acta, were, by a
warrant from the Moderator in the interval of the Presbyterie,
appointed to be summoned, viz., Alex. Robertson, present Bailie
in Fraserburg; James Urquhart, late Bailie there; John Chein
and William Fraser, late Baillies there ; George Shand, apothe
cary there; William Willocks, merchant there; George Pirie,
barber; Gleorge Huison, indweller in Fraserburgh. In the first
place the Presbytery sustained the warrant for summonding the
foresaid persons as being all habile witnesses in the said affair.
They appointed their officer to call Mr Moor and Mr Craig at the
most patent church dbor, who, being called, compeared not.
Although Mr Moor was present at the church door he would not
come in, whereupon the witnesses were called, both those
summonded apud acta, and the rest who compeared for the most
part, except Mr Symson, Mr Alexr. Davidson, and one or two
more. The Moderator, in the name of the Presbytery, proposed
to them that they were to declare upon oath what they knew as
to the intrusion, as also whether they prayed for Her Majesty
Queen Ann, and if they observed fasts and thanksgivings, which
particulars had been intimate to them in their summonds. Also,
it was found that Mr Moor and Mr Craig had gotten a list of
these witnesses, and had not objected against any of them. The
whole witnesses, when the Moderator was about to administer
th© oath to them, declined, refusing altogether to depone in the
matter libelled against Mr Moor and Mr Craig, upon which the
Moderator, in the name of the Presbytery, represented to them

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 87
that they would be forced to depone before a higher judicature
and further off. As they were going away the Moderator en
quired at them who were present Baillies, and at those who had
been Baillies if they had in their custodie any of the utensils
belonging to the Kirk, who declared they knew nothing of the
affairs about the Kirk Session of Fraserburgh. The Presbytery
appointed the whole affair anent these intruders to be represented
to the agent for the Kirk, Nicoll Spense, at Edinburgh, that they
may be enrolled in order to be summoned before the Circuit Court
that is to be in May next to come."
" This day Andrew Couper, Peter Coutts, and William
Ogston, the havers of the Church utensils, were called, having
been daily summoned by their officer, and they compeared and
acknowledged that they had such things in their custody, but
refused to give up any of them till a decreet were obtained against
them for their warrandice; whereupon Mr Auchinleck is
appointed to pursue them before the Commissary of Aberdeen
for obtaining the said utensils. The Presbytery appoints Mr
Anderson and Mr Auchinleck to inform themselves when the
Earl Marischall shall come home from Edinburgh; that in case
his Lordship shall be at home before the 2Sth December next,
they aire to wait on him in order to discourse his Lordship anent
Mr Alexr. Hepburn, intruder at S. Fergus, the parish where the
said Earl has his chief residence, and to report."
INTERMEDDLING WITH ROMAN CATHOLICS.
At the Session on December 28th, 1708, the Presbytery
enquired of the Rev. Andrew Guthrie, of Peterhead, whether he
had prepaired his list of the Roman Catholics in his parish. He
replied that at present there was only one Roman Catholic lady
there, called Margaret Semple. Other members of that faith used
to reside in Peterhead, but they were now resident in Aberdeen.
Mr Webster and Mr Guthrie were directed to send their lists of
Roman Catholics to the agent for the Presbyterian Kirk at Edin
burgh. This command the two ministers promised to obey. They
were able no longer to call in the Scottish Privy Council to inter
fere with the conscientious scruples of others, but had now to
resort to the Circuit Court. Presbytery Records.
" Att the Kirk of Lonmay, December 28, 1708."
" This day Mr Guthrie was enquired for a list of papists

88 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
within his paroch, who answered that at present there was only
one gentlewoman called Margaret Semple; that Margaret Edie
and others who used to reside in Peterhead being now gone to
Aberdeen, the Presbytery appoints the said list given in by Mr
Webster and Mr Guthrie to be sent South to the agent for the
Kirk, which they promised to do."
CHURCH VESSELS OF THE KIRK OF FRASERBURGH.
At their adjourned meeting on December 29th, 1703, the
Rev. Alexr. Auchinleck, in accordance with the injunctions he
had received for pursuing the present possessors of these utensils,
informed the Presbytery that h© had prevailed with Mr Alexr.
Gordon, younger, merchant in Fraserburgh, to accept of the offer
of being C?hurch Treasurer. By doing so, the possessors of the
Church utensils could be legally pursued in his name. The Pres
bytery, having taken this into account, interposed their authority,
and appointed Mr Gordon to the said office of treasurer. This
being accomplished, they empowered him to do all things needful
for the recovery of the vessels, and all other matters relating to
the good of the poor.
THE REV. ALEXANDER HEPBURN AND THE REV. JOHN BARCLAY.
The brethren appointed to wait upon the Earl Marischal
regarding these two Episcopal clergymen, reported that his Lordship
had not yet returned home, and that it was for no purpose to go
to his house. Mr Hepburn and Mr Barclay were appointed to be
summoned to the next meeting of the Presbytery. The citations
were to contain their accusations of preaching and ministering to
their own people, and other actions which this court termed dis
orders. They were also to be charged with n©gl©cting Presby-
torian fasts and thanksgivings. Witnesses were also to be
summoned, and a list of them were to be given in by the officer
of the Presbytery. Presbytery Records.
"At Lonmay, December 29, 1708 (adjourned)."
" Mr Auchinleck, in answer to the appointment laid on him
for pursuing for the utensils of the Church of Fraserburgh, in
formed the Presbyterie that he had prevailed with one, Alexr.
Gordon, younger, merchant in Fraserburgh, to accept of the offer
of being Church Treasurer, that so th© havers of the Church
utensils may be orderly pursued in his name, which th© Presbytery,
taking to their consideration, did interpose their authority

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 89
appointing the said Mr Gordon to the said office — impowering him
to do all things needful for recovering the said utensils, and all
other affairs r©lating to the good of the poor."
" Anent Mr Heburn and Mr Barclay, and the brethren's
waiting on th© Earl Marischal, they report that the said Earl not
being as yet returned home, there was no need for them going
to his house ; whereupon the said Mr Heburn and Mr Barclay are
appointed to be summoned to the next dyet, and that their
summonds bear their intrusion and other disorders whereof they
are accused, as not praying for Queen Ann, not koeping fasts and
thanksgivings, as also that witnesses be cited to the said day, a
list whereof is to be given them by the officer."
END OF THE YEAR 1708.
The year 1708 was another period of defeat for the Deer
Presbytery. They had entirely failed in their efforts to silence
the Rev. Alex. Moore and the Rev. Alex. Craig at Fraserburgh.
These two zealous pastors were again performing for their people
all the various functions of their sacred office. Much beloved they
were by all the laity of the district. Not one of them could be
found to give evidence against their spiritual guides before the
tyrannical court. At the close of the year that body must have
felt themselves powerless, State-established though they were.
TWO FEARLESS PASTORS.
Very meagre is the information in the Presbytery Records
for the year 1709. This is a sure indication that the intrepidity
of the Episcopal clergy had broken the courage of the adverse
forces arrayed against them. At this time the Presbyterian minis
ters of Deer realised the hopelessness of the task they had under-
takeri. During their session on January 11th, 1709, the report of th©
executions of the citations against the Rev. Alex. Hepburn and
the Rev. John Barclay were given in and sustained. The same
intimation was made of the summoning of the various witnesses
in these cases. The Presbytery met in their quarters, and not in
the Kirk of Deer, on that day. Nevertheless, they sent their
messenger to call those who had been summoned at the kirk door.
Neither of the two clergymen nor the witnesses appeared in answer
to the call. Only Mr William Ogilvie, Chamberlain to the Earl
Marischal, came forward. He had in his possession a proxy or

90 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
legal instrument signed by the Rev. Alex. Hepburn and the Rev.
John Barclay. This document gave him power to act for these
clergy before the Presbyterian court. After the paper had been
read, the court refused to sustain it, asserting that th© two ecclesi
astics had been summoned personally. The Presbyery then
declared that they would hold their absence to involve a confession
of the charge, and would consider them liabl© to censure for the
same. After grave deliberation, this high-handed judicatory
ordered Mr Hepburn and Mr Barclay to cease from exercising any
part of their ministerial office within their own parishes or in the
bounds of the Presbytery. They held them to be answerable for
obedience to this command, and directed an extract of the said
sentence to be intimated to them.
At the session on March 16th the officer of the Presbytery
made a declaration that he had duly carried out the orders of the
court, and had intimated their sentence to the Rev. Alex. Hep
burn and the Rev. John Barclay. The latter did not condescend
to take any notice of the judgment which had been pronounced
against him. A letter was produced by the Rev. James Anderson
from the Rev. Alex. Hepburn, acknowledging receipt of the inti
mation. He also intimated in the epistle that he had performed
all the duties required from an Episcopal clergyman, and would
continue to do so.
Again the Presbytery had to appeal for the aid of the secular
arm. They appointed Mr Udny to write letters to Her Majesty's
Advocate, and Mr Nicoll Spense, agent for the kirk, against the
two Episcopal ministers who had so successfully resisted their over
bearing demands. This took place at the Session of March 16th,
1709, and we hear no more of the doings of the Presbytery till
the following October. Presbytery Records.
"Att Deer, Jan. 11, 1709."
" The said day the executions of Mr Hepburn and Mr Bar
clay their summonds were given in and sustained, as also the
execution of the summonds of the witnesses was sustained, upon
which they were called at the Kirk door, albeit the Presbyterie
met in their quarters, but neither they nor the witnesses compear
ing, only William Ogilvie, Chamberlain to the Earl Marischal,
compeared, with one procuratory signed by the said Barclay and
Heburn, which was read and not sustained in regard they were
summoned personally to. compear else they would be held pro

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 91
confess©, also in the censure due unto the said delinquents. After
serious deliberation, the Presbyterie dischargeth them from exer
cising any part of the ministerial office within the foresaid
paroches, or within the bounds of the Presbyterie, as they will
be answerable, appointing an extract of the said sentence to be
intimate to them."
"At Strichen. March 16, 1709."
" This day the officer gave in an execution that the sentence
of the Presbytery was intimate to Mr Hepburn and Mr Barclay,
as also Mr Anderson produced a letter from the said Mr Hep
burn bearing an acknowledgment of the said intimation, as also
a confession of the said intrusion, and a resolution to continue."
The Presbytery appoint Mr Udny to write letters to her
Majesty's Advocate and Nicoll Spense anent Barclay and Hepburn,
as he was appointed." CONSECRATION OF BISHOPS.
The most important event in the Scottish Church in 1709 was
the consecration of Bishops Falconer and Christie. The meeting
for the service was arranged with as much secrecy as possible, and
took place at Dundee on April 28th, 1709, the consecrating Bishops
being the Bishops of Edinburgh and Dunblane and Bishop Sage.
"With a moumful privacy" there was celebrated "the most
august solemnity " of the Universal Church. It was doubtless in
full assurance of having the eternal Pontiff for this "unseen Con-
secrator, that Falconer and Christie knelt before those worn old
men to receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of Bishops
in the Church of God." (See Grub's Ecclesiastical History III.,
356.) Other consecrations followed as the years went on,
and thus the Episcopal succession was handed down in Scotland
independently of the State. These consecrations by the disestab
lished Bishops were far-reaching in their effects. They broke the
iron bands of Erastianism, and in days to come enabled the per
secuted Scottish Church to bestow upon America that gift of the
Episcopate withheld at first by the Church of England.
END OF YEAR 1709.
This year was barren of interesting events in the district of
Deer. It was reported in the Presbytery, at their session on
October 25th, 1709, that the names of the Episcopal clergy had
been put into the Porteous rolls.

92 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Presbytery Records.
"At Lonmay, October 25, 1709."
" The Presbytery being informed that the names of th© In-
trud©rs are put into the Porteous rolls, therefore Mr Auchinleck,
who should hav© s©nt south a list of them, is excused."
REPAIR OF THE KIRK OF FRASERBURGH.
The stormy proceedings of February 4th, 1707, had left the
Kirk of Fraserburgh in a delapidated condition. The windows
were broken, and the fabric was exposed to th© ravages of all the
winds that blew. Worst of all, the congregation had left it. They
attended the services performed by the Episcopal clergy, the Rev.
Alex. Moore and the Rev. Alex. Craig. The Deer Presbytery
thought this was a lamentable state of matters, and at their
session of February 22nd, 1710, appointed their next meeting to
be at Fraserburgh. They purposed to lay before it the present
condition of the kirk. The Presbytery were to visit the building,
and cause workmen to be engaged for its repair. They thought
that some steps should be taken to get the church utensils deUvered
up to Mr Auchinleck. The latter was to serve an edict in good
time, and to give warning to those possessing the said utensils to
appear before the Presbytery on the 14th day of March at the
Kirk of Fraserburgh.
This meeting took place as arranged, and Mr Auchinleck
declared that he had served an edict in due time and proper form
for the reparation of the fabric of the kirk. The officer of the
Presbytery called all parties according to the tenor of the edict
served upon them. None of the heritors appeared in response to
the summons, nor any in their name, but Mr Auchinleck brought
forward three competent workmen to intimate the necessary
repairs and expense.
The minister of Fraserburgh also intimated that he had
caused the possessors of the church utensils to be cited. These
were Andrew Couper, senior, merchant in Fraserburgh; Patrick
Coutts, schoolmaster ; and William Ogston, late kirk officer. Of
these Andrew Couper alone appeared, who acknowledged that he
had the morte-clothes and some morte-cloth money ; but refused to
give them up till he should get a charge of horning. Alexander
Gordon, present church treasurer in Fraserburgh, was appointed
by the Presbytery to take legal proceedings against Patrick Coutts
and William Ogston for their non-appearance.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 93
Presbytery Records.
"At Strichen, Feb. 22, 1710."
" This day Mr Auchinleck desired the Presbytery to appoint
their next meeting at Fraserburgh upon several weighty affairs to
lay before them, and especially that the fabric of the Kirk of
Fraserburgh be visited by them, and workmen be appointed for
that effect, and that some course be taken for getting the Church
utensils of Fraserburgh to be delivered to him. The Presbytery
appointed their next meeting at Fraserburgh for the foresaid and
other affairs, and appointed Mr Auchinleck to serve an Edict
tymously, as also that warning to these having the said utensils
to compear before the Presbyterie on the fourteenth day of March
next at the Kirk of Fraserburgh. Mr Auchinleck gave in a
complaint against one James Dugall, in the parish of Pitsligo,
who came into the Church of Fraserburgh on the Lord's Day
drunk in tyme of Divine worship, and made some disturbance.
The Presbytery appointed the Clerk to write to Mr Swan, minister
at Pitsligo, to cause summond the said Dugall to the said dyet at
Fraserburgh." "At the Kirk of Fraserburgh, March 14th, 1710."
" Mr Auchinleck reported that he caused serve an Edict
tymously in due form for the reparation of the fabric of the
Kirk of Fraserburgh, the execution whereof was given in. The
Presbytery caused their officer call in all the parties according
to the tenor of the said Edict, which being done, none of the
heritors of the said parish compeared, nor none in their name,
whereupon Mr Auchinleck did present three sufficient workmen
[to intimate th© n©oessary repairs and expense].
" Mr Auchinleck reported he caused summond the havers of
the Church utensils, viz. : Andw. Couper, senior, merchant in
Fraserburgh; Patrick Coutts, present scoolmaster there; and
William Ogston, late Kirk officer, who being called upon com
peared — first Andrew Couper, who declared that he had only
the mortcloaths and some mort cloath money, but refused to give
up the sam© till he should get a charge of horning ; the said
Patrick Coutts and Willm. Ogston being called, and, not com
pearing, the Presbytery appoints Alex. Gordon, present Church
Treasurer in Fraserburgh, to go on in diligence against them all."

94 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
BREAKING THE SABBATH.
At the same session Mr Auchinleck complained that W.
Forest, George Keith, Georg© Whyte, and Andrew Cooper,
junior, all merchants in Fraserburgh, had broken the Sabbath
by bringing some boatsful of goods from on board a ship passing
by the road. The Presbytery, on hearing this, appointed them
to be summoned to the next meeting. It appears from this that
Mr Auchinleck was zealous for observing the Lord's Day. When
w© consider that Andrew Cooper, junior, was the son of one of
Mr Moore's congregation, the accusation is more like a reprisal for
resistance to the Presbytery. Presbytery Records.
" This day Mr Auchinleck gave in a complaint against W.
Forrest, George Keith, George White, and Andrew Cooper, junior,
all merchants in Frazerburgh, for breaking the Sabbath in bring
ing some boats full of goods from on board a ship passing by the
road ; the Presbytery appoints them to be summoned to the next
meeting." " A KIRK WITHOUT A PEOPLE."
This was the telling rejoinder of the Free Church Minister to
an Established ecclesiastic who had, in a taunting way, depreci
ated the smallness and modern architecture of his place of wor
ship. The same could have been said of the Kirk of Fraserburgh
for some years after the Presbyterian ordination of the Rev. Alex.
Auchinleck. As there were only one or two adherents who
accepted his ministrations, it was some years before he could form
a Kirk-Session. The most of the people in the town attended the
Episcopal meeting house.
At the meeting of the Presbytery on May 23rd, 1710, Mr
Auchinleck lamented the sad condition of the parish of Fraser
burgh. He said it did not possess a constituted Kirk-Session.
After long and serious dealings with a few of the people in the
parish, the minister had at last prevailed upon them to accept of
the office of eldership. These were Alexander Gordon,, merchant
in Fraserburgh; David Greig, merchant there; John Henderson,
tailor there; Andrew Greig in Craighill; James Fraser in Hall
Town — th© last two having been ordained elders formerly in
Rathen and Tyri© r©spectively. The Presbytery appointed Mr
Auchinleck to examine these parties previous to their next meet
ing, and give an account of their fitness.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 95
Presbytery Records.
"At Crimond, May 23, 1710."
" This day Mr Auchinleck representing the lamentable con
dition of the parioch of Fraserburgh through th© want of a
constitute Session, and that now after long and serious dealing
prevailed with them to accept of the office of Eldership, viz. :
Alexr. Gordon, merchant in Fraserburgh; David Greig, merchant,
there ; John Henderson, tailor, there ; Andrew Greig in Craighill ;
James Fraser in Hall Town — the last two being already ordained,
the one in Rathen, the other in Tyrie, and just now come out
of the said parishes to this, the Presbytery considering the said
affair, appointed Mr Auchinleck to examine the foresaid persons
betwixt and the next Presbyterie, and to bring an account of
their fitness." THE KIRK UTENSILS TO BE RESTORED.
At the Session of June 20th, 1710, Mr Auchinleck reported
that Alexander Gordon, the present Kirk Treasurer, had given
in a charge of horning to Andrew Couper, merchant in Fraser
burgh; Patrick Coutts, precentor to the Episcopal meeting in
that town; and W. Ogston, late Kirk Officer, who had formerly
refused to give up the utensils and other things belonging to the
Kirk. Andrew Couper and Patrick Coutts said they were willing
to give up such things as they possessed to a Kirk Session when
duly constituted in Fraserburgh. The Presbytery considering that
a Kirk Session would soon be constituted deferred the matter
till then. Mr Auchinleck reported that the parties charged with
breaking the Sabbath had acknowledged their fault, and promised
to submit to the Presbytery as soon as possible, but were so
circumstanced that they could not attend that day. The minister
therefore did not cause them to be summoned formally. The
Presbytery approved of what Mr Auchinleck had done as the
parties appeared to be affected and sensible of their transgression.
Presbytery Records,
"At Crimond, June 20th, 1710."
" Mr Auchinleck reports that Alex. Gordon, present Kirk
treasurer has given a charge of horning to Andrew Couper,
merchant, there; Patrick Coutts, precentor to the meeting house
there; and W. Ogston, late Kirk Officer, persons who refuse to
give up the utensils and other things belonging to the Kirk, and

96 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
that therefore some of them, viz., Couper and Coutts, are willing
to give up such things as they have to a Session when constitute
in the place; the Presbytery considering that a Session will be
very shortly erected, therefore refers that affair till then."
' Mr Auchinleck reports that he did not cause summond for
mally George Keith, George Whyte, Wm. Forrest, and Andrew
Couper, junr., to the dyet of the Presbyterie, because that they
all promised to wait upon and submit to th© Pr©sbytery as soon as
possible, but were so circumstanced that they could not attend
this day, and therefore begged to be excused; the Presbytery
approve of Mr Auchinleck's conduct the rather seeing the fore
said persons seem, as is reported, to be affected, and sensible
of their transgression." THE MASTER OF FORBES.
The Deer Presbytery now expressed their anxiety about the
spread of Bourignonism in their midst. On June 21st, 1710,
an Act of the General Assembly dealing with the heresy was read
in their presence. This Act commanded Presbyteries to preach
against these errors, and to call the several chaplains and school
masters before them for th© purpose of compelling them to sign
th© Confession of Faith. Th©y were also to use all suitable
endeavours to suppress the false doctrines and prevent their
further dissemination. The Presbytery being cognisant of the
propagation of those dangerous opinions in their bounds, appoint
the several brethren to preach closely against them. School
masters and chaplains residing in the district wer© also to be
brought before their next meeting.
The Presbytery having been informed that the Master of
Forbes haunted the company of Dr Georg© Garden, and resorted
on ordinary occasions to his house, and that h© was taint©d with
these corrupt doctrines, directed the ministers of Aberdour and
Crimond to wait upon him when h© was in their neighbourhood.
They were to advise him to renounce these erroneous opinions and
keep aloof from thos© who taught thom. Nothing could be more
inquisitorial than such actions of the Presbytery. Spies must
have been employed by them to watch over all the declarations
and doings of others, and report to them any apparent
transgressions.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 97

EXAMINATION OF ELDERS.

At the same meeting Mr Auchinleck said that he had exam
ined Alexander Gordon, David Greig, and John Henderson, all
residing in Fraserburgh, and found them men of knowledge and
principle, owning the Confession of Faith. Being well affected
to the present Establishment and zealous on its behalf, they had
promised to sign the Confession of Faith and the requisite formula.
Having also examined Andrew Greig and James Fraser, who had
been ordained elders in other parishes, he was satisfied with
them. He added that h© could find no other person in the parish
of Fraserburgh whom he could readily ordain to the sacred office.
R©fl©cting on all this, the Presbjrtery appointed a public edict
to be served by Mr Auchinleck in due form, warning all parties
who had anything to object against these candidates for the elder
ship to come to the church of Fraserburgh on the sixth day of
July next. Should there be any such objectors, they would then
have an opportunity of stating their doubts or scruples concern
ing them. The ministers of Rathen, Crimond, and Lonmay were
appointed a committee to report on th© fitness of these men to
the next meeting. Presbytery Records.
" At Crimond, June 21, 1710."
" An Act of the late General Assembly against Bourignon-
isme was read, containing several appointments in presbyteries,
viz., to preach against the said errors, as also to call th© several
schoolmasters and chaplains before them, obliging them to sub
scribe the Confession of Faith, and farther to use all suitable
endeavours for suppressing th© foresaid errors, and the spread
ing thereof. Th© Pr©sbytery, considering th© said Act, and how
much th© foresaid errors are spreading in this bounds, do appoint
th© several Brethren to preach closely and faithfully against these
errors, also to bring in a list of the several chaplains and school
masters in their bounds to the next dyet, and further the Pr^-
bytery being informed that the Master of Forbes frequently
haunteth Dr Greorge Garden's company, resorting ordinarily to
his house, and that the said Master of Forbes is tainted with th©
forosaid corrupt principles, therefore the Presbytery appoint Mr
Brown and Mr Leslie to wait upon the Master of Forbes when
in this bounds, and to deal with him to renounce these principles,
and withdraw from th© ab©ttors thereof." G

98 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
" Mr Auchinleck reports that he has examined Alex. Gordon,
mercht. in Fraserburgh; David Greig, mercht. there; and John
Henderson, tailor there, and finds th©m men of knowledge and
of a principle owning the Confession of Faith, and willing to sign
it, and likewise the Formula, being men all well affected to and
zealous for the present establishment, and likewise that he hath
conversed the other two, viz., Andrew Greig and James Fraser,
already ordained in other parishes, and is also satisfied with them.
The Presbytery, considering the said report, and that Mr Auchin
leck can find as yet no other person in the parioch of Fraser
burgh, he could have freedom to take into that sacred office,
therefor© appointed ane public edict to be served by Mr Auchin
leck in du© form, warning all porsons who had anything to object
against any of the foresaid persons with respect to their being
ordained to th© foresaid office, that they come to the CJhurch of
Fraserburgh upon the sixth day of July next, where they shall
be heard, the Presbytery appointing Mrs Anderson, Leslie, and
Gordon as a committee to attend and report to the next meeting."
DEATH OF THE REV. GEORGE KEITH.
At their meeting on July ISth, 1710, the Presbytery were
informed of the death of the Rev. George Keith, Episcopal In
cumbent of Old Deer, on the previous Sunday. After careful
deliberation on the state of that parish, and on their responsibility
for supplying services, they appointed Mr Udny to write to Mr
Guthrie and inform him that he had been delegated to address
the Earl Marischal on the subject of the vacancy. His Lordship
was on© of th© h©ritors, and superior of th© south lands in the
parish of Deer. Mr Guthrie was to request him to procure for
them peaceable access to the kirk, and Mr Brown was directed
to address Auchmedden, another of th© principal heritors in the
parish, to th© same effect. The Rev. James Anderson was com
manded to preach at the kirk of Old Deer on Sunday, tbe 23rd
of July, and after th© sermon h© was to declare th© kirk vacant.
If h© should m©et with opposition, he was to call for a notary,
and protest and take legal instruments tnereupon before witnesses.
On th© next Sunday th© Rev. John Duncan was told to preach
in th© kirk, and also to supply th© vacancy on August 7th. A
written commission subscribed by th© Modorator was handed to
him to that effect.
The next business was a point of order affecting th© members

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 99
of the Presbytery themselves. Some of them, at their own
pleasure, had been leaving the meeting before it rose, the
effect of which was to retard much of the business. The Pres
bytery ordered that the brethren should attend each meeting
until its close. After this no member was to depart from the
session without the leave of the Presbytery under pain of the
censure of the Court. Presbytery Records.
"At Crimond, July 18, 1710."
" The Presbytery being certainly informed that Mr George
Keith, late Episcopal Incumbent at Old Deer, died on Sabbath
last, the Presbytery took the state of that parioch under their
consideration, and that they are obliged to the supplying of the
same, therefor© did appoint Mr Udny to write a letter to Mr
Guthrie, shewing him that th© Presbytery appoint him instantly
to address the Earl Marischal (he being an Heritor and Superior
of th© South lands in th© parioch of Deer), entreating his Lordship
would b© pleased to procure peaceable access to supply th© sai.i
plao©, and Mr Brown is appointed to address Auchmedden,
another of the most considerable Heritors in that parioch for the
said ©ff©ct, and Mr James Anderson is appointed to preach at
the said Kirk Sabbath next, th© 23rd inst., and after to declare
th© sam© vacant. And in cas© he shall meet with opposition,
that he call for a Nottar and protest, and take instruments there
upon before witnesses. Mr John Duncan is appointed to preach
at Old Deer th© Sabbath after the said Kirk is declared vacant,
being th© 30th of this curt., and also to supply the said vacancy
upon th© first Sabbath of August n©xt to come, giving him a
written commission to the said effect subscribed by th© Moderator."
" The Presbytery considering that some Brethren at their
own pleasure remove from the Presbytery before the rising
thereof, by reason of which much business is retard©d, therefore
the Presbytery does appoint the several brethr©n to attend each
dyet till the rising th©reof, and that no momber take upon him
to depart without the Presbyterie's allowance asked and given,
under certification that whoever does otherwise remove, they shall
b© censured at the next meeting."
THE KIRK OF OLD DEER DECLARED VACANT.
The Rev. George Keith was the Episcopal minister of Old
Deer previous to th© Disestablishment in 1690. After that event

100 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
he was not expelled from his charge like others of his brethren,
but continued to hold both the Kirk and the manse till his death
in 1710. Nearly all the people of the district were members of
the Episcopal Church, and the principal county families were its
best supporters. Consequently, in a good number of instances
the Presbytery found it impossible to force a Presbyterian minister
upon reluctant congregations. After each of these pre-Revolution
Episcopal clergy was removed by the hand of death, the Presby
teries attempted at once to settle a Presbyterian minister in his
place. The endeavours to do this were usually accompanied by
scenes of great tumult and disorder, such as w© hav© seen took
place at Fraserburgh on Feb. 4th, 1707. After the strong arm
of the law had at last compelled the surrender of the Kirk and
manse, the members of the Episcopal Church held their own
services in a meeting-house, and left little more than the four
bare walls to the Presbyterian possessor.
When the Presbytery met at Old Deer on August Sth, 1710,
they wer© prevented from meeting in the Kirk by the presence
of a great hostile crowd in th© streets. The angry populace
closed the doors of the Kirk, and besieged the house in which the
Presbyterian ministers had taken refuge.
Th© Clerk of the Presbytery not being present with the
minute-book, th© Presbytery resolved to enter upon the con
sideration of th© vacancy at Old Deer. First they enquired of
the Rev. James Anderson if h© had declared the Kirk of Old Deer
vacant, as he had been directed. He replied that having been
prevented by the crowd from approaching the church door, he
had declared the incumbency vacant at the style. H© also pro
tested and took instruments in th© hands of one John Turner,
a public notary. Not having access to preach in the Kirk, he
went to the house of one Mr Clerk, in the town, and there
preached. The meeting approved of everything that the Pres
byterian minister of Rathen had done.
The late episcopal incumbent, the Rev. George Keith, may
have been a member of th© Inverugie family, and this (if it were
th© case) would make his position at Old Deer well nigh impreg
nable. In the Presbytery minutes at the commencement of this
decade of the 18th cenury, Mr Keith's Christian name ia given
as Robert and not George, which it seems to have been. Prob
ably the Presbytery Clerk was not certain of his Christian name.
There was little intercourse at the time between the old pre-

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT, 101
Disestablishment incumbents who continued to hold the kirks and
manses and the newly -established Presbyterian ministers. There
could not have been much in common between them, either in
politics or in doctrinal opinion.
Presbytery Records.
"At Old Deer, August the Sth, 1710."
" Sederunt — Messrs Guthrie, Udny, Anderson, Webster,
Lesly, Gordon. Absent — The Moderator, Mr Auchinleck, in whose
room Mr Udny was chosen pro tempore, and Mr Brown, the
clerk, being absent, Mr Gordon was chosen Clerk pro tempore."
" No exercise this day in regard the Church doors were shut
by a rabble in th© str©ets, insulting the Presbytery in their very
quarters." " In regard the minutes ar© not present, the Presbytery
resolved to enter upon the consideration of the affair of Old
Deer parioch — and first they did enquire at Mr James Anderson
if he had declared the said Kirk of Old Deer vacant, as he was
appointed, who answered that he had done it at the Kirk stile,
having met with opposition, and that he protested and took
instruments in the hands of one John Turner, a public nottary,
and not having access to preach in the Church, he w©nt to the
house of on© Mr Clerck in the town and there preached. The
Presbytery approveth Mr Anderson's conduct as abov©."
RABBLING OF THE PRESBYTERY.
The Presbytery, during their session at Old Deer on August
Sth, 1710, called for the kirk officer to ask whether the doors of
the kirk were open for them. They received answer that this
official had been violently kept back by a multitude of tumultu
ous people met together in the streets. Immediately one William
Taylor, commissioned by him, entered the room, and told the
Presbytery that the heritors had taken away from him th© keys
of the kirk door, and that h© did not know where they wer© to
be found. The Rev. Mr Duncan reported that he had preached at Old
Deer on th© Sunday appointed, but not in th© parish kirk. A
menacing crowd, after giving him insulting language, refused to
permit him to enter the churchyard. Putting violent hands upon
him, they thrust him backwards' and forwards, and beat off his
hat. He was therefore obliged to retire to th© house of Mr

102 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Clerk, a resident in the town, where h© preached to a consider
able number of people, who resorted to him. Th© Pr©sbytery
approved of what their preacher had done.
Considering the condition and sad circumstances of th© parish
of D©er, and the difficulties under which they laboured, the Pres
bytery directed Mr Udny to write a letter to the ministers of
Aberdeen for their advice.
The same minister was told to write to the Presbyterian
minister of Peterhead, and ask him to speak to the Earl Maris
chal upon th© subject of the vacant kirk of Old Deer. The rest
of the brethren were appointed to converse with the several
heritors of Old Deer living in their immediate neighbourhood.
They wer© to ask them to concur with the Presbytery for th©
peaceable, legal, and orderly settlement of the parish. A report
of their endeavours in this direction was to be handed in at their
next meeting. Presbytery Records.
"At Old Deer, August the Sth, 1710."
" The Presbytery called for the kirk officer, had an account
returned to them that he was violently ke©p©d back by a multi-
tud© of tumultuous people convened on the streets, and immedi
ately one William Taylor, commissionate from the said officiar,
came and informed the Pr^byterie that tn© H©ritors had taken
the keys of the kirk doors from him, and that he knew not where
they were."
" Mr Duncan reports that he supplied the parioch of Old Deer
with sermon there, that he cam© to the church on th© first and
second Sabbaths offering sermon, but that an insulting rabble
gave him abusive language, opposed his entering into the church
yard by forcing him backward and putting violent hands upon
him, beating off his hat, so that he was necessitate to retire to
the house of one Mr Clerck in the town, where he preached to a
considerable number of people that resorted to him. Th© Pres
bytery approves of Mr Duncan's conduct."
" The Presbytery, considering the condition and circumstances
of th© parish of Deer, and how much they were straitened what
to do therewith, appointed Mr Udny to write a Letter to the
ministers of Aberdeen for their advice."
" Mr Udny reports he wrote to Mr Guthrie that he should
address the Lord Marischal. The Presbytery appoints the several
Brethren to speak and deal with th© s©veral Heritors of Old Deer

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 103
as they are next adjacent to them, entreating they would concur
with the Presbytery for th© j>eaceable, legal, and orderly settle
ment of that vacancy, and to report at next meeting."
ELDERS FOR THE KIRK OF FRASERBURGH.
The Presbytery at their meeting on August Sth, 1710, re
ceived a report from the Presbyterian ministers of Crimond and
Lonmay, stating that they went to Fraserburgh on July Gth ult.,
taking with them th© edict, duly executed and endorsed, and
given to them by the Rev. Alex. Auchinleck. This edict having
been called at the most patent Kirk door, no on© appeared to
object to any of the candidates for the office of elder. These
candidates were Alex. Gordon, David Greig, and David Henderson.
This declaration having been considered by th© Presbytery, they
ordered Mr Auchinleck to ordain these men to the offic© of elder
ship upon Sunday, the ninth day of September next."
THE PRESBYTERY IN NEED OF MONEY.
At this session the Presbytery receiv©d a letter from Mr
Nicoll Spense, the agent for the Kirk, relating to th© centesima
and s©v©ral other matters. Th© centesima was a tax levied upon
all the Presbyterian ministers of the district to enable them to
provide an itinerant preacher against Roman Catholic doctrines.
The minister of Aberdour was directed to write an answer to this
letter, stating that something would be speedily done about the
imposition of the centesima. The Presbytery also sent up to
Edinburgh an exact account of the several Episcopal clergymen
and of their residences in the district. They also gave an account
of th© vacant Kirks, and of those that had been settled by the
appointment of Presbyterian ministers. Th© designation givon to
th©se by th© Erastian Presbytery was " the new ministers of the
Government." They evidently looked upon themselves as Govern
ment functionaries and nothing more.
THE MASTER OF FORBES AND BOURIGNONISM.
A letter was read to the meeting from the Moderator of the
General Assembly giving an account of several acts of that body.
He drew attention especially to the orders of the Assembly against
Bourignonism. The only cure th© Moderator could prescribe for
the extinction of this heresy was the signing of the Confession of
Faith. All chaplains and schoolmasters within their bounds wer©
to append their signatures to this panacea for all doctrinal errors.

104 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Th© Presbytery recommended all their members to preach against
the errors of Bourignonism, and spend as much tim© as th©y could
upon the subject of the heretical teaching. Schoolmasters were
to be advertised to be at the next Presbytery meeting to sub
scribe the Confession. The names of those to be cited were Mr
James Thom at P©terh©ad, Mr William Maitland at Crimond,
Mr James Lyall at Lonmay, Mr Robert Irving at Rathen, Mr
William Watt at New Deer, Mr William Smith at Strichen, and
Mr David Beaton at Aberdour. The several ministers were to
inform them that their attendance was required at the next Pres-
bjrtery meeting.
The members of the Presbytery who had been delegated to
speak to the Master of Forbes about his connection with the Rev.
Dr Garden and his leaning towards Bourignonism were requested
to state what they had done in fulfilment of their commission.
They said that upon some weighty reasons they did not approach
his Lordship. The Presbytery, on hearing this, excused them,
and allowed the matter to drop. Probably they reflected that
discretion was "the better part of valour."
Presbytery Records.
"At Old Deer, August Sth, 1710."
" Mr Leslie and Mr Gordon did report that they (appointed
at th© last meeting) did attend at Fraserburgh upon the 6th July
last, where, having an edict duly execute and indorsed, according
to the appointment given them by Mr Auchinleck, the said Edict
was called at the most patent Kirk door, and none appear object
ing anything against the foresaid Alex. Gordon, David Greig, and
John Henderson, the Presbytery, considering the said report,
appointed Mr Auchinleck to ordain the said men to the office of
Eldership upon Sabbath next, being the 9th September."
" This day a Letter was read from Nicoll Spense, agent for
the Kirk, relating to the Centisima and several other affairs; Mr
Brown is appointed to write an answer to the said Letter, shewing
that something shall be speedily done anent the Centesima, and
also shewing an exact account of the several Episcopal ministers,
and the places where they live in our bounds, and also what
Kirks are vacant, and how vacant Kirks have been planted, and
by whom new ministers of the Government as the said Letter
desireth." This day a Letter was read from the Moderator of the late
Greneral Assembly giving an account of several Acts, particularly

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 105
one against Burignonism, and appointing the several schoolmasters
and chaplains within their bounds to subscribe the Confession of
Faith. In obedience to th© said Act, the Presbytery again recom
mends it to all their members to continue to preach against the
errors of Burignonism and that they employ as much time as
they can spar© for discovering the said errors, and appoints the
following schoolmasters to be advertised to be at the next Pres
byterie, in order to subscribe the Confession of Faith, viz., Mr
James Thorn at Peterhead, Mr William Maitland at Crimond,
Mr James Lyell at Lonmay, Mr Robert Irving at Rathen, Mr Wm.
Watt at New Deer, Mr Wm. Smith at Strichen, and Mr Daniel
Beaton at Aberdour ; their several ministers are to advertise them
of the said dyet, and that they be in readiness."
" The Brethren who were appointed to speak to the Master
of Forbes report, that upon some weighty considerations they did
not go to him, which being reported to the Presbyterie they were
excused and the affair lett fall."
THE VACANCY AT OLD DEER.
The minister of Strichen, at the session of the Presbytery on
August Sth, reported that he drew up the draft of a letter to
be sent to the Rev. Andrew Guthrie of Peterhead, but, falling
suddenly unwell, he was compelled to leave the Presbytery.
Accordingly, the letter was forgotten altogether. The Earl
Marischal being now at Edinburgh, a letter was directed to be
written to Mr Guthrie asking him to write to his Lordship. He
was to impress upon him the need for urgency in the matter, and
desire his concurrence for peaceable access to the Kirk of Old
Deer and the settlement there of a Presbyterian minister.
Some of the heritors had likewise been approached with the
same intent. Mr Brown having spoken to Auchmedden concern
ing Old Deer, the latter promised that he would concur with the
Presbytery with th© settling of "a minister of the Government."
Auchmedden held, it appears, the same Erastian principles as
the Presbytery themselves. H© was also looking for material
gains, proposing th© exchange of the Glebe of Old Deer with an
equivalent of land. This offer was left for further consideration.
A SECESSION FROM THE PRESBYTERY.
The same day it was represented to the Presbytery that the
Rev. William Law, late Presbyterian minister of Crimond, had
set up a meeting-house in the same parish, and was preaching

106 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
ther© contrary to his express promise before the General Assembly.
The Presbytery, after some discussion, appointed Mr Brown and
Mr Gordon to confer next day with the preacher and report.
We can gather from the records that in districts where Epis
copacy predominated ther© was no rush of Presbyterian candidates
for vacant kirks. Only one probationer, the Rev. Alex. Auchin
leck, offered himself for the vacancy at Fraserburgh. Th© position
was not a dosirabl© on© for th© ministers of th© Govornment.
Episcopalians comprised nearly all the population, and the new
minister might not have a single hearer. Add to this the uncer
tainty of receiving of his stipend regularly. He might either get
nothing at all or have to sue for his emoluments by a trouble
some legal process.. The stipends in thos© days w©r©, on an
averag©, £52 per annum, th© h©ritors retaining more of the teinds
than they were rightly entitled to keep back. There was also the
great danger of objectionable men being appointed by Presbyteries
to such places. Lord Saltoun had on one occasion good reason to
say that he would be glad if a certain vacancy were planted "with
a good man." Probably Mr Law had seceded from Presbyterianism
altogether and become an independent.
THE KEEPING OF THE SABBATH.
The same minutes represent that one William Cruden, in the
parish of Lonmay, had been found travelling on the Lord's Day
with a burden on his back. The Presbytery ordered Mr Cruden
to be summoned to the next meeting. Had the informers against
this poor man helped him to bear his burden instead of reporting
it, their conduct would have been more in accordance with the
words of the Blessed Saviour, who said — " Is it lawful to do good
on the Sabbath day or to do evil, to save life or to kill? The
Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath." (Mark
iii. 4 and Matthew ii. 27.)
Presbytery Records.
"At Old Deer, August Sth, 1710."
" Mr Udny reports that he drew up a Scroll of a Letter to
be sent to Mr Guthrie, but falling suddenly unwell, he was forced
to leave th© Presbyterie, so the Letter was forgot; and now the
Earl Marischal being at Edinburgh, the Presbyterie appoints a
Letter to be wrote to Mr Guthrie desiring him upon sight to
write a most pressing letter to the said Earl, entreating his Lord
ship's concurrence for peaceable access to the Kirk of Deer for
setthng the said vacancy."

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 107
" Mr Brown reports that he spoke to Auchmedden anent Old
Deer, and that the said Auchmedden promised that he would con
cur with the Presbyterie in settling the said parioch with a
Minister of the Gov©rnm©nt, and that he proposed the exchange
of the Glebe of Old Deer with an equivalent of land, the whicli
proposal is referred to further consideration."
" This day, it being r©presented that Mr William Law, late
Minister att Crimond, has sett up a meeting house in the said
parioch and preaches therein contrary to his express promise
before the General Assembly, the Presbytery, considering the said
representation, appoint Mr Brown and Mr Gordon to go and
confer with the said Mr William Law to-morrow morning, and to
report." " Mr Udny represents that one William Cruden, in the parioch
of Lonmay, was found travelling on th© Lord's Day, August last,
with a burdon upon his back, th© Presbytery appoints Mr Gordon
to cause summond the said Cruden to the next dyet. The Synod
adjourns till to-morrow morning at 7 o'clock."
INHIBITION OF THE REV. WILLIAM LAW.
On September 5th, 1710, Mr Brown and Mr Gordon reported
that they had gone to Mr Law that morning and asked him why
he preached in the parish of Crimond contrary to his promise
before the General Assembly? To this question he replied that
he did not remember any such promise. He said that the reason
of his preaching was that his wife was tender and could not go
to church. Thereupon the deputation earnestly requested him
to forbear such disorderly courses. Should he continue this prac
tice, it would certainly lead to his own hurt. After they had
conversed most earnestly with him, he said he would take th©
matter to avizandum. The Presbytery, after giving the subject
their most serious attention, and reflecting upon the evil conse
quences of Mr Law's practice, appointed an inhibition to be drawn
up. They discharged th© said Mr Law from preaching and exer
cising any part of th© ministerial offic© within the parish of
Crimond or any other parish within the bounds of the Presby
tery. Th© said inhibition was appointed to be duly intimated to
him by the Presbytery officer, who was to return an execution of
the same. THE KIRK OF OLD DEER.
At the same session the brethren reported that they had
spoken to the Heritors of Old Deer. Mr Udny had spoken to

108 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Mr George Ranken of Auchrynie, who answered that he was only
a wadsetter and could do nothing in the matter. Mr Brown spoke
to the Laird of Fechell, who answered that he knew of no design
to settle any minister at Deer against th© Government. He added
that the Heritors would endeavour to preserve as much of the
stipend as they could for the widow of the late Episcopal Incum
bent. They were to meet soon and consult among themselves as
to what they were to do.
Mr Gordon said that he had spoken to the Laird of Kinin-
month, who entreated the Presbytery to allow an Episcopal clergy
man to officiate for some little time. The Heritors would call a
qualified man within the time limited by Act of Parliament. The
Laird of Gavel gav© th© same reply to Mr Gordon, stating that
as for himself he would be neutral. Colonel Ogilvie, Heritor and
Justice of the Peac©, promised to concur with and assist the Pres
bytery in settling the said church. The Colonel declared that'
he would give all encouragement to the present Government. Mr
Webster excused himself by letter for not having spoken with the
Heritors in Old Deer whom he was commissioned to approach.
His excuse was sustained.
The Presbytery, on deliberating concerning the said kirk,
and finding that several of the Heritors had not been approached,
proceeded to consider what should be done. That day a letter
had been received from the ministers of Aberdeen with the advice
for which they had written. They advised th© Presbytery to
deal with the Heritors, and desire them to remove the Episcopal
clergyman from the kirk. In case of refusal, they were to summon
the Episcopal clergyman to appear before them. After serious
thought, the Presbytery appointed a pressing letter to be written
to the Heritors, beseeching them to remove th© pr©latical minister,
and to give peaceable access to such as the Presbytery should
send. In this way they wished the kirk to be duly supplied.
Mr Udny and Mr Leslie were appointed to make a draft of this
letter, and the Rev. Thomas Gordon was told to deliver the same
to the Laird of Kininmonth, one of the Heritors. The Laird was
requested to communicate its contents to the other Heritors.
Presbytery Records.
"At Crimond, Septembers, 1710, hora sept: Meridiana."
" Mr Brown and Mr Gordon report that they went to Mr Law
this moming, and asked him why he preached in the parioch of
Crimond contrary to his promise before th© G©neral Ass©mbly,

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 109
to which he answered that he did not remember on any such
promise, and that the cause of his preaching was that his wife
was tender and could not go to Church. Whereupon they
earnestly dealt with him that he would forbear such disorderly
courses, lest it should tend to his great prejudice ; and after serious
dealing with him, he said he would take it to advise. The Pres
bytery, taking the report into their most serious consideration,
and deliberating upon th© bad consequences of Mr Law's practice,
did therefore appoint an inhibition to be drawn up, thereby dis
charging the said Mr Law to preach or exercise any part of the
ministerial office within the said parioch of Crimond or any other
parioch within the bounds of this Presbytery, and the said
Inhibition is appointed to be duly intimate to him by the Pres
bytery Officer, who is to return an execution thereof."
" The Brethren report that as they had opportunity they spoke
to the Heritors of Old Deer, viz., Mr Udny to George Ranken of
Auchrynie, who answered that he was only a wadsetter, and could
do nothing in that matter ; Mr Brown that he spoke to the Laird
of Fechell, who answered he knew of no design to settle any
Minister at Deer against the Government, but that the Heritors
would endeavour to preserve as much of the stipend to the widow
as they could, and added that the heritors were shortly to meet
and consult among themselves what to do."
" Also Mr Gordon reports that he spoke to the Laird of Kin
inmonth, who intreated the Presbyterie to connive at the intruder
for some little tyme, for they would call a qualified man within
the tyme limited by act of parliament. Also the Laird of Gavel
gave the same answer to Mr Gordon, adding that, as for himself,
he would be neutrall; further Mr Gordon reports that he spoke
to Colonel Ogilvie, ane Heritor also and Justice of the Peace, who
promised to concur with and assist the Presbytery in settling the
said Church, and that he would give all encouragement to th©
present Government. Mr Webster sent an excuse in his Letter,
why he had not spoke with th^e Heritors in Old Deer he was
appointed, which was sustained."
" The Presbytery, considering the case of the said Kirk of
Deer, and finding that several of the Heritors have not been yet
spoke to, and just now having received a Letter from the
Ministers of Aberdeen with their advice thereanent, which had
been formerly wrote for, which advice is, that the Presbyterie deal
with the Heritors of Deer to remove th© Intruder, and in case of

no A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
refusal that they cause summond the said Intruder themselves to
compear before the Presbyterie, and after serious delib©ration the
Presbyterie appoints a pressing letter to be written to the said
Heritors, entreating them to remove the Intruder, and give peace
able access to such as the Presbyterie shall send, that the Kirk
may be duly supplied. Mr Udny and Mr Lesley are appointed
to draw the said Letter, and Mr Thomas Gordon is appointed to
transmit the same carefully to the Laird of Kininmonth, one of the
said Heritors, desiring he may communicate it to the rest."
THE LAIRD OF BOYNDLIE MADE A RULING ELDER.
On September 12th, 1710, the Laird of Boyndlie, having
solemnly owned the Confession of Faith as th© confession of his
faith, acknowledged the present Church Government by Assemblies,
Synods, Presbyteries, and Kirk-Sessions as the only Government in
Christ's Church. Having also engaged to do all the other duties
relating to the office of elder, he was duly ordained a ruling elder
in th© parish of Tyrie. THE VACANT KIRK OF DEER.
The Presbytery, thinking seriously over the fact that there
was no answer to their letter sent to the heritors of Old Deer,
and that an Episcopal clergyman continued to officiate in that
Kirk, appointed Mr Anderson and Mr Gordon to address Colonel
Buchan and his son, who are Justices of the Peace, exhorting them
to order the Church door of Deer to be made accessible to the
Presbytery, so that anyone appointed by them should be permitted
to preach. In which case Mr Thomas Gordon was appointed to
preach at Old Deer, and Mr Anderson to preach for him at Lon
may. Meantime, Mr Anderson and Mr Leslie were directed to
draw up a summons against the Episcopal intruder, and to cause
it to be delivered to him within the proper time. This was his
citation to the next meeting of the Presbytery, for which the
warrant was ordered to be immediately drawn for the officer of
the Presbytery. The name of the Episcopal clergyman officiating at Old Deer
was the Rev. William Livingstone. He was in Deacon's Orders.
His letters of Orders as a Presbyter of the Church bore the date
of May 25th, 1711. This was four years before the death of
Bishop Haliburton. (See Very Rev. Dean Walker's Life of Dean
Skinner; p. 48.)

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. Ill
INHIBITION OF THE REV. WILLIAM LAW.
There were ten members in the Deer Presbytery, and here we
have it recorded that one of them seceded and started a meeting
house. The secession of the Rev. W. Law was' soon to be followed
by another which will be mentioned further on. The Presbytery
having postponed the inhibition of their former colleague till this
meeting, now resolved that it should be carried out. Mr John
Smith, the officer of th© Presbytery, was directed to intimate the
inhibition to the seceding minister. He was also to summon him
to the next Presbytery meeting at Lonmay on the 26th day of the
same month. THE RABBLERS OF OLD DEER.
At this session the Presbytery ordered that those who had
rabbled the Rev. Mr Duncan, the Presbyterian preacher at Old
Deer, on the first and second Sundays of August, should be
summoned before them. Th©y were, no doubt, members of the
Episcopal Church, their names being William Shirell, sadler in
Deer; Greorge Murray, George Thom, George Park, all in the
parish of Deer, with a list of witnesses, to be handed to th© Epis
copal intruding minister, and to the foresaid Sabbath-breakers.
Thes© witnesses were William Reid, tay lor in Koinach, Alexander
Murray in Koinach, William Davidson in Deer, and Helen Rickart,
with several other witnesses. They were also summoned to the
Presbytery meeting on September, the 26th inst.
Presbytery Records.
"At Tyrie, September 12, 1710."
" This day, the Laird of Boynlie having solemnly owned the
Confession of Faith as the confession of his faith, as also the
present Church government by Assemblies, Synods, Presbyteries,
and Kirk Sessions, to be the only Government in Christ's House,
and having engaged to all the other duties relating to the said
office, he was ordained a Ruling Elder in the parioch of Tyrie."
" Anent the affair of Old Deer, the Presbytery, considering
that they have got no return to their letter sent to th© h©ritors of
Old Deer, and that the foresaid intruder continueth at that church,
therefore appointed Mr Anderson and Mr Gordon to address
Colonel Buchan and his son, who are Justices of the Peace, en
treating they would order the church door of Deer to be made
patent to the Presbyterie, that any appointed by them may have
access to preach, and in case the said Justices do concur, then Mr

112 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Thomas Gordon is appointed to preach at Old Deer, and Mr
Anderson to preach for him at Lonmay. Meantime, Mr Anderson
and Mr Leslie are appointed to draw up a summonds against th©
said intruder, and to cause the same to be tymously laid upon him,
citing him to the next dyet, for which warrant is appointed te be
immediately drawn for the officer."
" The executing of Mr Law's inhibition being delayed to
this day, the Presbytery appoint Mr Gordon, to cause John Smith,
officer, to intimate the sam© duly and legally to him, and to
summond th© said Mr Law to th© next Pr©sbyterie at Lonmay,
the 26th inst."
" Th© Presbytery appoints th© following persons, rabblers
of Mr Duncan upon the first and second Sabbaths of August
last for thoir horrid profanation of th© Lord's Day, viz. — Willm.
Shirell, Sadler in Deer, George Murray, Georg© Thom, Georg©
Park, all in th© Parioch of Deer, with a list of witnesses to be
given to the foresaid intruder, and foresaid Sabbath breakers,
which list of witnesses as follows, viz. — Willm. Reid, Taylor in
Koinach, and Alexr. Murray there, Wm. Davidson in Deer, Helen
Rickart, daughter to John Rickart there, with several other
witnesses, and that they all be summoned to next dyet at
. Lonmay, Septr. the 26th inst."
CLOSE OF YEAR 1710.
The end of this year did not reveal any progress in the
endeavour to stamp out Episcopacy in Aberdeenshire. Failure
had attended every effort of the Deer Presbytery to bring about
this result. The Episcopal Church in the north of Scotland in a
sense become stronger than it was before. This was brought
about by the introduction of the Book of Common Prayer into
the most of the Episcopal meeting-houses. In the reign of Queen
Anne regular services and dogmatic teaching took the place of
the irr©gulariti©s and th© indefinite instruction which had for
merly prevailed. Prayer-book services and the systematic reading
of God's written Word fostered in Aberdeenshire that hardy
Churchmanship which in th© darker days to com© was to proserve
th© remnant that was left. Well did the enemies of the
Episcopal Church know th© probable effect of this important
change. In their eyes no crime was more v©nal than the
inauguration of the Book of Common Prayer. Zealous sym-

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 113
pathisers south of the Border sent valuable help in the gift of
nineteen thousand Prayer-books.
THE REV. JAMES GREENSHIELDS.
The Rev. James Greenshields was the son of a Scottish
clergyman deprived of his charge at the Revolution. Having been
ordained by the disestablished Bishop of Ross, he ministered for
thirteen years in Ireland. At the end of that period he returned
to Scotland, and opened a place of worship in Edinburgh, where
he used the Book of Common Prayer. For this offence h© was
summoned before th© local presbytery. Having asserted his rights
of spiritual independence he disclaimed their jurisdiction. In retalia
tion they prohibited him from preaching, and called in the aid of
the civil magistrate to enforce their authority. On the Sunday
following, the intrepid pastor preached as usual, and for this
offence was cast into the common prison. Application for redr©ss
having been made to th© Court of Session, th© Lords of that
tribunal decided against Greenshields. The reason for the adverse
verdict was that Mr Greenshields had been ordained by an
" exauctorated " or deprived Bishop. Edinburgh legal authorities
were as Erastian as the General Assembly in estimating the
Church to be a mere creation of th© State. No eccteiastical and
Episcopal Court had ever deprived th© Scottish Bishops of thoir
spiritual authority, and such a dispossession was ultra vires both
of the State and the General Assembly. Greenshields and his
friends now surprised all Scotland by appealing to the British
House of Peers. The result was the complete rev©rsal of th©
decision of th© Scottish Court of Sossion; and the tables were
now turned against the Edinburgh Magistrates, who wer© found
liabl© in costs. This notabl© judgm©nt of the House of Lords was
given in March, 1711, and the cause of Christian liberty was
vindicated. Gre©nshi©lds had b©en seven months in prison. His
victory put the Episcopalians of Deer in a stronger position to
resist th© tyrannical Presbytery of th© district (se© Steph©n's
"History of the Scottish Church," II., 464, 465, and Grub's
" Ecclesiasical History," III., 361-363).
THE RABBLERS ROUTED.
It was reported to the General Assembly of 1711 that at
Old Deer in Aberdeenshire both th© Pr^bytery and th©ir
Presentee to the Kirk had been stoned by the people. The candi
date for induction, accompanied by his friends, in number about
H

114 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
forty, and by troopers and infantry, set out from Aberdeen to
take forcible possession of th© Kirk. Th©y, being well armed,
never dreamed that the villagers would offer resistance. At night
fall the party halted near the place, and sent forward an advance
party to reconnoitre. At the entrance to the village they were
prevented by the inhabitants from proceeding further. An
assemblage of men and women, variously equipped with scare
crows, patties or plough-staffs, flails, and other rustic weapons,
barred the way. Without hesitation these attacked the
invaders, wounded their leader, and unhorsed th© troopers.
Falling back upon the main body, the assailants were still further
disconcerted by the loss of their ammunition and commissariat,
which were seized by th© populace.
On the morrow the induction party assembled their forces
with all the clergy in the rear. The latter resembled a minister
spoken of in a great work of fiction, who sent out his hearers to
the fight, and then sheltered himself safely behind a caim. The
crowd having fallen back a little, the assailants were misled, and
thought they were about to achieve an easy victory. No sooner
had they reached the gate of the churchyard than all the inhabi
tants fell upon the invaders, and attacked them with sticks, stones,
and other missiles. In retaliation, the ministers' force fired upon
the people, and wounded several. This roused the indignation of
their opponents to the point of frenzy, and they all, men and
women, rushed to th© onset, and put th© rabblers to utter rout.
The whole scene has been humorously described in a poem by
Mr William Meston, Professor of Moral Philosophy in Marischal
College, Aberdeen, and published in 1767. The approach to the
kirk is thus described : —
" But they no sooner did attack
The gate, than they were driven back,
With many a pelt upon their skin.
By wives who lined the walls within."
Th© hasty retreat of th© rabblers to the City of Bon- Accord is
related in thes© words : —
" Nor needs the reader long demur.
To know if then they used the spur;
Whatever use they made of bridle.
The spur and whip were never idle;
Which makes the thing to b© admired.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 115
That men with zeal so much inspired
Rode faster home, spurred on with fear,
Than they advanced to Old Deer."
(Note. — See Stephen's History of the Scottish Church II. , 465,
466, and the Poetical Works of Professor William Meston,
pp. 199-220, published at Edinburgh in 1767.)
Wodrow, th© Glasgow University Librarian, who wrote of the
sufferings of the Presbyterians in the south-east of Scotland,
stated that, unless the Presbytery had retired, there would have
been bloody work that day at Old Deer. It is satisfactory to
learn that this writer was not altogether unaware that like
afflictions to those of the Presbyterians were in turn borne by Episco
palians in the north-east and in the Highlands.
END OF " A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT."
The story of the ecclesiastical contest in north-east Aberdeen
shire closes with th© Rabbl©r's Rout. So far, th© advantage lay
with the rivals of the Presbytery. Had the risings of 1715 and
1745 not been interposed, ther© can b© little doubt but Episcopacy
would hav© continuod to flourish with predominating influence
north of the Tay. The fatal mistake was making the interests
of the Episcopal Church secondary to tho^ of a discarded
dynasty. As a sequel to what has been related about this sub
ject, it will be advantageous to know something about the sub
sequent persecutions in which the clergy already mentioned
suffered most severely. THE TOLERATION ACT OF 1712.
The Scottish General Assembly opposed the passing of this
law by every available means. Carstares and other Commissioners
went up expressly to London to use their influence against it.
•Overwhelming majorities voted for the Bill in both Houses, and
it received the royal assent on March 3rd, 1712. Members of the
Episcopal Church in Scotland were now allowed to meet for divine
worship, and to use the English Liturgy without lot or
hindrance. A law of William III.'s reign deprived ecclesiastical
ex-communications of all civil effect, and a clause of similar
significance was contained in the Toleration Act. All further
machinations of Presbyteries against the religious liberty of their
Episcopalian neighbours were in the meantime suspended, or at
all events rendered void.

116 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Th© Queen was memorialised by the General Assembly of
1714 on th© incr©as© of popory and pr©lacy in Scotland. Obvi
ously enough, that religious body wished to suppress every religion
in th© country except their own. How thankful should we be
that we live in the days of religious freedom !
DEATH OF QUEEN ANNE.
Queen Ann© died on August 1st, 1714. Sh© was th© last
in direct succession of the Stuart monarchs. Her reign was noted
for the Act of Union, and for a glorious array of soldiers and
statesmen, of scholars and distinguished writers. Her kindly
attitude to th© Scottish Episcopal Church will always b© grate
fully remembered. GEORGE I., 1714-1727.
On the death of Queen Anne, the Elector of Hanover became
King of Great Britain and Ireland under the title of George I.
He was the son of Sophia, the Electress of Hanover, who, through
her mother Elizabeth, was the grand-daughter of James VI. of
Scotland. In Jacobite song he was wont to be humorously called
" The we© w©© Glerman Lairdie."
BATTLE OF SHERIFFMUIR.
The Earl of Mar was dismissed from the offic© of Scottish Sec
retary in 1714, and about a year afterwards he raised th© flag
of rebellion at Braemar, Aberdeenshir©. Twelve thousand men
mustered to th© call, to r©store, if possible, the ancient Stuart lin©
to th© thron© of their fathers. Mar was actuated by the most
selfish motives, and had neither the daring nor the genius of
" Bonnie Dundee." His army was composed of Scottish Jacobites,
and some of the most powerful of the Highland clans, who were
always most strongly attached to the Stuart cause. Having
advanced to Sheriffmuir near Dunblane, Mar was met by an oppos
ing force under the Earl of Argyll. Here an indecisive battle
was fought, the right wing of each army defeating th© l©ft wing
of the other. When the fight was over the Jacobite army fell
back upon Perth. A simultaneous rising in the north of England,
in favour of the son of James II. or the Old Chevalier, as he was
called, was equally unsuccessful. James, having landed at Peterhead
in December, 1715, joined the remnant of Mar's army at Perth.
The insurgents before long retreated from the Fair City, followed
by Argyll's Highlanders. Shortly afterwards the soldiers of Mar

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 117
dispersed among the Scottish mountains, and after a forty-one days'
stay in Scotland, James embarked at Montrose for France. His pre
sence excited no enthusiasm, and his personality was as uninteresting
as that of the first two British monarchs of the Hanoverian line.
When in this country he took care never to be present at any of
the services conducted by the Scottish Episcopal Clergy. (Note. —
See Stephen's "History of the Scottish Church," vol. II. , pp. 478-
479, and Grub's "Ecclesiastical History," III., pp. 372-373.)
EPISCOPACY IDENTIFIED WITH THE RISING.
From the very first the Earl of Mar identified the interests
of Scottish Episcopacy with the unfortunate insurrection. To gain
adherents he declared that it was his design to restore to Scotland
its ancient Constitution both in Church and State, and to give all
encouragement to the Liturgy. This was indeed the only public
worship carried on in the Stuart camp. In almost all the towns
north of the Forth things were carried in the name of James VIII.,
and all officers, civil and military, acted in his name. Within the
same limits, orders and proclamations were read and published at
market crosses and in churches until the dispersion of Mar's
army. Even in some Presbyterian places of worship the word
King was used in the place of Pretender, and some of his orders
and proclamations were read, the ministers venturing to make no
remonstrance. Some Presbyterian pastors left off naming King
George in their services and contented themselves with saying
"rightful Sovereign." The Episcopal Clergy in their short-lived
triumph acted with great moderation. Although the most of
them sympathised with the insurrection, there were some who dis
approved of it from th© first. The sons of the Bishops of Edinburgh
and Aberdeen fought in the rebel ranks, and Dr James Garden
and Dr Georg© Gard©n, Disestablished Clergy, were among those
that presented an address to the Chevalier. This was done in the
house of the Earl of Marischal at Fetteresso. While some of the
Episcopal ministers had been guilty of treasonable practices,
others had l©d perfectly inoffensive lives. Th© State authoriti©s
mad© no discrimination botween these two sets of ecclesiastics.
They were like the inhuman© general, who, when friend and foe
hav© become confused in the stre^ of battle, fires indiscriminately
upon the mingled throng.

118 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.

A Ten Years' Conflict and Subsequent
Persecutions.

PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE EPISCOPAL CLERGY.
The clergy who had taken part in th© rebellion of 1715 had
no right to complain when they were called to account for doing
so. Insurrection is a political offenc©, and must be subject to
punishment from the government against which it has been
directed. But to punish a man's treason by striking at the
religion of obedient subjects is both unjust and mean.
The measures taken against Episcopalians as a body cannot
be defended. It ought to hav© been sufficient to chastise indivi
dual offenders. (Se© Stephen's History of the Scottish Church II.,
480.) Th© most opportune methods of reaching the Episcopal
clergy were by means of the Toleration Act itself. Letters were
written by the King to th© Lords of Justiciary in May, 1716,
commanding them to close all the Episcopal meeting houses in
Edinburgh. His Majesty complained that divine service was cele
brated in these places of worship without any prayer being made
for himself and the royal family. The Crown lawyers were
directed to prepare indictments against the offending ministers in
the metropolis and its neighbourhood. (See Grub's Ecclesiastical
History III., 374, 375.) Measures of a much severer kind were
taken against the Episcopal clergy of Aberdeen and the north of
Scotland. Not some members only, but the whole body of th©
Episcopal Church was persecuted with the utmost hatred and
malice for fully two years after Mar's rebellion. This harsh
treatment enlisted the compassion of all good Christians and con
sidering men. (See "Representation of the Church," published
in 1718 in London.) SECRET MEETINGS OF EPISCOPAL CLERGY.
In October, 1716, certain of the Scottish Episcopal clergy
who had qualified themselves by taking the oaths, and lived in
offensively, met together to deliberate over their grievances and
sufferings. Hoping for redress and mitigation, they wished to
address the Secretaries of State on behalf of themselves and the

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 119
whole body of the Episcopal clergy. It was proposed to make
to them a humble representation of the illegality of the late pro
ceedings against them by an ecclesiastical power to which they
owed no obedience. They also wished to conciliate th© civil gov
ernment and obtain better tr©atm©nt for themselves and their
brethren. Promises were made by them to live at peace with their
neighbours, and to give the Government no occasion for distrust
ing them. Only seven or eight clergy were present at this meet
ing, and the number was too small to come to any definite resolu
tion. Some disagreement arose among those present about the
matter and composition of such an address and petition. Uncer
tainty about the consequences of th© design induced the small
assemblage to adjourn the debate to a more general meeting which
should b© convened to discuss th© most fitting methods to be pur
sued under the great calamity that had fallen upon the Church.
The first consultation took place in a private house between Old
Deer and New Deer, in Aberdeenshire. They were compelled to
meet in a secret manner, that they might not be observed by their
vigilant enemies. Had their opponents known about these secluded
gatherings, they would certainly have taken the opportunity to
inform the military, so as to arrest all the clergy who were pre
sent. Before separating, the pastors agreed to convene another
meeting on October 30th, 1716, at the Laughs of Fyvie, a private
and commodious place in the Diocese and Shire of Aberdeen.
The place of assembly was probably th© Episcopal Meeting-house
of Fyvie, now representetd by All Saints', Woodhead, which,
however, is not situated in the Laughs or Howe, but on the rising
ground. All thes© arrangements were authorised in as due form
and manner as the unsettled state of things permitted. A person
of the highest character and station in th© Church, likely one of
the Bishops, had been regularly consulted. He was also duly
informed of what had taken place at th© first conference. It
was expected that a majority of the qualified clergy from the
upper end of the county would be present at th© n©xt m©eting.
By their means those who were present at the first interview were
hopeful to carry their motion for groater relief. The outcome
of the projected gathering was, however, to be very different from
their expectations.
The second conference, at which seventeen of the clergy were
present, was held at the time and place appointed. Seventeen
were as many as could assembl© with any safety, and apologies

120 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
were received from some absent ministers. To ensure concealment
they probably met in th© darkness of the night and reached the
trysting-place individually or by two at a time. We can imagine
it all — the anxious faces under the dim flame of the candle or
rush-Hght, the arguments of the qualified clergy earnestly
pleading for a modus vivendi with "the powers that be," the
sharp retorts of the non-jurors refusing to solicit any favour
from the House of Hanover, and the latent fear of the arrival
of the soldiers to capture th© whole conclave. Everyone present
realised that they were met to discuss matters of the most vital
importance to all of them. The meeting began to debate about
the motion made at the first conference, that the English Bishops
or the Ministers of State be addressed to obtain, if possible, a
mitigation of their sufferings. Arguments in favour of such a
petition from the Scottish clergy were warmly advocated and as
hotly opposed. The non-jurors resisted the proposal to
make any application to the Hanoverian rulers or their
subordinates. The discussion was continued for a considerable
time before th© question was put to the vote. An Aberdeen
clergyman who had been eminently serviceable in promoting the
English Liturgy and in upholding the faith and discipline of the
primitive Church strenuously withstood the idea of making any
request to the civil authorities. He told his brethren he could
not b© against th© drawing up of a g©n©ral r©pres€ntation of
their sufferings. What he objected to was any representation or
address to particular persons. Weighty considerations confirmed
him in the resolution never to support the proposal. He thought
they could not do so with credit and honour, considering the
general trend of late events and their own allegiance to the laws
of Christ's spiritual Kingdom. Several others seconded these
opinions of the speaker and corroborated all his statements.
After replies from the qualified clergy and much reasoning on
both sides, the design of presenting a petition to the State authori
ties was allowed to be dropped. On two points, however, the
meeting was unanimous. These were love for their beautiful
Liturgy and the drawing up of a General Representation of th©
Sufferings of the Episcopal Clergy. A committee of four of their
own number were appointed to draw it up. It was also resolved
that all th© cl©rgy, both prosent and absent, should send or give
in to the committee, or any one of them, a true and faithful
account of their treatment. They were to write thes© declara-

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 121
tions with their own hands on or before November 15th, 1716.
On that date the four members of the committee were to meet
at Cruden to deliberate upon all the memorials forwarded for their
consideration. The delegates met at the selected rendezvous, and took notes
of the papers sent in to them by their brethren, in accordance
with th© directions which they had received. They agreed that
three of them should each draw up separately different schemes
of such a Representation, and that all should meet again at
Cruden on December 10th for the purpose of making out of them
a complete Representation of the whole of their wrongs. They
assembled again, and compared together the several drafts which
they had made. Two of the committee having made an embodi
ment of these into a single representation, completed it in the
form in which it was afterwards presented to the world. A Sup
plement was afterwards added to the Representation. It was
compiled by one of the committee and another clergyman of estab
lished character for great piety and learning. The account of
the Sufferings of the Clergy had no sooner appeared than the
first copy of it was either suppressed or lost. The printed narra
tive is taken from another copy, which was not published till
1718. The book is entitled " Representation of the State of the
Church in North Britain as to Episcopacy and Liturgy, and of
th© Sufferings of the Orthodox and Regular Clergy from the
Enemies to Both." The composition, consisting of 108 pages,
with a Preface, was published in London in 1718. It was printed
by W. & J. Innys, at the Prince's Arms, in S. Paul's Church
yard, and sold by James Bettenham at the Crown, in Paternoster
Row. It will afterwards b© ref©rr©d to in this book as " Repre
sentation of the State of th© Church." The narrative is chiefly
confined to the proceedings of the persecutors of Episcopacy in
the Diocese and Shire of Aberdeen, although their violence was
equal in other places. The Book of Common Prayer was the prin
cipal object of dislike to those who harassed th© Church. Con
sequently, the first attack was made upon the pastors of the Epis
copal congregations where the Liturgy was used. A party of the
Argyll Highlanders advanced to th© north, and instantly desolated
thes© places of worship. The Presbyteries, taking advantage of
th© presence of the military, threatened the Episcopal clergy with
imprisonment, which forced many of them to become exiles in
foreign lands.

122 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT,
The results of the meetings at the Laughs* of Fyvie and at
Cruden hav© not been lost to the Church. " Th© Representa
tion ' ' is, from its nature, incomplete, and tells, for the most
part, of what was done in Aberdeenshire. Had there been the
postal facilities then which there are now, the account of the
sufferings would have filled a volume of far greater size. Nothing
is said in the book about the persecutions of Episcopalians in the
Highlands of Scotland. The fact is that, in 1716, Argyll's High
landers and Glenkindie's Dragoons dared not venture into the
glens and recesses of the north. There they would have been
withstood by the terrible claymore.
PERSECUTION OF THE CLERGY IN ABERDEEN.
The work of overthrowing Episcopacy began at Aberdeen,
where the Liturgy had been used for fully four years. Great
violence was employed in the Granite City against all who had
promoted the furtherance of Liturgical worship. The Rev. Mr
Dunbreck, an English clergyman, was a great favourer of the
Book of Common Prayer. He foresaw the consequences of the
Presbyterian hate against him, and left th© town in time. Had
he fallen into the hands of his enemies, they would have pro
ceeded to great extremes against him. Dr George Garden, who
was in no such haste to leave, was searched for and seized, and
thrown into prison. Aftor lying there for nearly five months, h©
was able to make his escape into foreign lands. The Rev. Dr
Burnet and the Rev. Mr Blair, episcopal clergymen, dared not
at the time make any appearance in public. The latter was only
an assistant to his aged father, who was at the point of death.
Dr James Garden could not safely remain at home, though for
many yoars he had held no public appointment in the Church.
Weighed down with the infirmities of old age, he was forced to
wander from place to place. One of the best and most intelli
gent congregations in Aberdeen was deprived of the regular wor
ship of God by the persecution of th© pastors. Some alleged that
they had brought all this upon themselves by their disaffection
to the civil government. These would hav© to explain how it was
that the strong and illegal opposition were persecuting the well-
disposed ministers equally with those who were disaffected. The
Rev. Mr Gordon, a clergyman of the Church of England, was
* Laughs means Laichs or Howe, hence the expression, " a laich howe."

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 123
favourably inclined to the State, and well qualified in every way
He merely officiated in a private house to a handful of people
who had been deprived of their lawful pastor. For this offence,
his enemies influenced th© Justices of Peac© to refus© to cause
his Letters of Holy Orders to be registered, when required to do
so under the due form of an instrument. Twenty years before
this, Mr Gordon had been deposed for preaching anti-Presbyterian
doctrine by those whose authority he altogether disclaimed. It
was not for opposition to th© civil government, but for Episcopacy
and the Liturgy that the Episcopal ministers of Aberdeen were
persecuted. William Oliphant and John Andrew, two of Mr Gor
don's hearers in a private family, were banished from the town
for listening to his teaching. All this was done notwithstanding
the preacher's loyalty to the de facto government. (See " Repre
sentation of the State of the Church," pp. 25-28.)
PERSECUTION OF EPISCOPAL CLERGY IN ABERDEENSHIRE.
The Rev. Alex. Craig.
The Rev. Alex. Craig, a strong supporter of Episcopacy and
the Book of Common Prayer, was apprehended in his own house
at Fraserburgh, after the collapse of the insurrection of 1715.
The veteran Presbyter, then aged and infirm, had served in the
Episcopal Church in Shetland before h© came to Fraserburgh.
Forgetful of the veneration due to an honoured old age, the Pres
bytery caused him to be dragged from his own home, and taken
before th© commanding officer of the district. The soldier, see
ing the old man brought before him, expressed his astonishment
at the malice of his enemies. He exclaimed — " Good God ! what
would the Government do with this old man? The Doctor cannot
kill a mouse." (See " Representation of th© State of th© Church,"
p. 28.) The Rev. Alex. Moore.
This was the undaunted pastor who for so many years bade
defiance to the arrogant Presbytery of Deer. He held possession
of the parish kirk and manse of Fraserburgh as long as he was
able, and when he was forced out of them by legal process he
conducted the services wherever he could. Nearly all the inhabi
tants of Fraserburgh resorted to this good pastor, leaving to the
minister of the Establishment the almost empty kirk. During
the short time of the insurrection, he may have occupied the kirk
again, and may possibly have continued to do so for two years

124 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
longer. The final ousting from the parish kirk would probably
be in 1717. ATTEMPTS TO OVER-AWE THE PASTORS.
The Presbyteries were astute enough to avoid, if possible, the
ejection of the Episcopal clergy by means of legal proceedings.
Instead of doing so, they frequently tried to frighten the pastors
into the abandonment of their churches and meeting-houses. They
sent delegates of their own number to commune with them and
advise them to lay aside the exercise of their sacred ministrations.
In return for this concession, they promised to prevent the prose
cutions which the Presbytery intended to raise against them.
They were careful to notify to th© Episcopal clorgy that if the
case went against them before th© Presbytery Courts, ther© would
follow at once a criminal prosecution before the secular judge. To
avoid this danger, they recommended them to give in to the Pres
bytery a dismission or renunciation of their charges. This con
tained an obligation not to exercise any part of the ministerial
function, excepting preaching within their own houses. Sinister
advice like this was indignantly rejected by those to whom it
was offered. The Presbytery pretended that this obligation was
a testimony of their good-will to Mr Moore for his prudent and
obliging conduct to tnem at the time of the insurrection. Mr
Moore's party was then in power and theirs was in danger, and
the Episcopal clergyman showed kindness to his Presbyterian
neighbours in their distress.
SINISTER ADVICE OF PRESBYTERIES.
The Deed of Dimission which the Episcopal ministers were
recommended to sign in such an equivocal way was sinister advice
to compass their overthrow. The preamble contained the state
ment that the Presbyterian Synod of Aberdeen had peremptorily
ordered the several Presbyteries within their bounds to call and
cite before them the several Episcopal ministers and preachers in
order to inquire into their conduct and censure them, as they
should see cause, for their behaviour in the time of the late con
fusion. Th© accused was expected to acknowledge that he had
been compelled to do some things during the late insurrection
which might ©xpose him to th© cognisance of the Presbytery. He
was then to state his inclination to live privately and peaceably,
and solemnly engage, promise, and oblige himself not to preach,
nor exercise any part of his ministry within the bounds of the

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 125
Presbytery or Synod, " so long as the Lord, in His holy and wise
providence," should " continue the legal establishment of the
Presbyterian government within this part of the kingdom of Great
Britain called Scotland." The respondent was likewise to oblige
himself to submit to any censure of the Presbytery or Synod in
case he should contravene or break th© engagement.
These monstrous and unjust demands w5re at once repudi
ated by Mr Moore and all the Episcopal clergy of whom they
were required. Mr Moore forwarded to the Deer Presbytery some
telling objections against their peremptory order. Provoked by
his persistent refusals, and forgetful of all the kindness which
they acknowledged they had received from him, they would neither
attend to his arguments nor allow him a promised friendly con
ference. They libelled him, not only for performing functions
which were his duty, but also for many atrocious crimes, of which
they knew he was altogether innocent. Had these attempts to
frighten the clergy into the surrendering of their charges and
churches been successful, nothing would have been heard of the
summoning for treason and sedition which followed. The alleged
crimes against Mr Moore and others were intended to disguise the
un-Christian method by which Presbyteries were attempting to
abolish Episcopacy and the Book of Common Prayer. (See
" Representation of the State of the Church," pp. 30, 31, 78.) All
these actions of the Presbyteries and General Assemblies were
illegal up to this point. They were in direct contravention of
the Toleration Act of Queen Anne's reign, which was not repealed.
Evidence was taken by the Presbyteries in the absence of the
party accused, and was most objectionable for that reason. Such
testimony was accepted by the Presbyterian Courts, even when
the party was under no citation at all. An instance of this was
given in th© case of the Rev. Alex. Moore. A young Presby
terian who was clerk to the Rev. Alex. Auchinleck at Fraser
burgh was brought forward to give evidence against the Episcopal
minister. In the absence of the defender, he was interrogated
upon oath about the things said by him in the pulpit more than
half a year before that time. Although he did not pretend to
have written that sermon as it fell from Mr Moore's lips, or to
hav© taken notes of it, yet th© depositions of the witness were ex
tended to a great length. He did not say that h© gav© th©
clergyman's own words, but the meaning of them. Unfortunately
for himself and his evidence, the young man added that Mr Moore

126 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
enlarged much to the same purpc«e in the afternoon. It so hap-
pen©d that Mr Moor© had no afternoon sermon upon that day,
and thus the evidence of the witness was proved to be altogether
unworthy of credence. Untrustworthy testimony like this was
readily accepted by Presbyterian Ecclesiastical Courts against the
Episcopal Clergy. (See " Representation of the State of the
Church," p. 41.)The Rev. William Livingstone, Old Deer.
In 1716, th© Rev. William Livingstone, Episcopal Incumbent
of Old Deer, was forced away from his congregation by a party of
soldiers, who were sent to his house to apprehend him. Having
escaped, the soldiers plundered his house, and turned Mrs Living
stone out of doors and a little child of about a year old. They
were at the time of their expulsion without as many clothes as
would cover them. The poor lady had afterwards to recover
some of her own clothing from the robbers with a little spare
money she had by her. These, hardships wer© inflicted upon Mr
Livingston©! and his family, although at that tim© he had a
protection from General Montes©. (See " Representation of the
State of the Church," p. 28.)
GLENKINDIE'S DRAGOONS.
Mr Patrick Strachan of Glenkindie, with a party of Dragoons,
made a progress through the county of Aberdeen to over-awe
th© Episcopal Clorgy. H© was sent by th© Pr©sbyteries to
threaten th© Episcopal Clergy with immediate imprisonment if
they continued any longer in the exercise of th© various functions
of the Christian ministry. Having summoned before him to
Peterhead th© Rev. Wm. Dunbar of CJraden, th© Rev. Mi
Robortson of Longside, and th© Rev. Alex. Hepburn of S.
Fergus, he acquainted them with the designs and with th© resolu.
tions taken by the leaders of th© Established Kirk. Mr Strachan
advised th© threes pastors to prevent imprisonment by quietly
giving up their churches. Knowing well that their adviser was
acting illegally and in direct opposition to the provisions of the
Toleration Act, they objected to his recommendations. Their
remonstrances had the effect of causing him to desist from his
purpose for the present and await the result of the legal pro
cesses which the Presbyteries were raising against them. Presby
terian courts could employ Dragoons to compel acquuiesoenoe as

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 127
well as "Bonnie Dundee." (See "Representation of th© State
of the Church," p. 30.)
LIBELS AGAINST EPISCOPAL CLERGY.
These were direct©d especially against the Clergy of the
Episcopal Church who were allowed to retain th© kirks and manses
after the Revolution of 1690. The preamble of the libels insin
uated that their submission to the civil government was nothing
but a pretence, when they took the oaths of allegiance to the
ruling poweirs and subscribed th© declaration of assurance.
These actions had enabled them to continue the exercise of the
several functions of the ministry under the protection of the law.
The libels then stated that notwithstanding these indulgences
the Episcopal ministers had joined " in the late unnatural and
unjust rebellion " against George I. They also averred that they
wished to dethrone His Majesty, to overturn and destroy the
Protestant succession in his royal family, to establish a pretender
on the throne, and utterly to subvert the true Protestant religion
with th© laws and liberties of th© nation. These accusations
were entirely misleading. The accusations were just enough to a
certain extent, when applied to the non-jurors, who would have
put forward no denial of their truth. But they did not apply
to the qualified ministers, the most of whom disapproved of th©
insurrection altogether. The next item on the accusation was
the keeping of a fast for success to the arms of the Old Chevalier
on the 24th of November, 1715, or on one or others days of th©
said month. Th© ministers wer© also charged with having
prayed for the Stuart Prince under th© name and titl© of James
VIII. on one or other days of September, October, November,
or December, 1715, or of January or February, 1716. They were
likewise indicted for having kept a public thanksgiving on Feb.
2nd, 1716, for the safe arrival of the exiled Prince in Scotland.
Then there follows in th© libel a succession of impeachments-
reading the proclamation of James, or suffering it to be read,
from the pulpits of their churches, announcing several proclama
tions or orders emitted by the same authority for paying cess
and contributions and levying men for his service, casting off
all allegiance to King Greorge, and neglecting to pray for His
Majesty as required by authority, both civil and ecclesiastical.
The document does not mention that many of the Presbyterian
ministers read these proclamations as well as the Episcopal clergy.

128 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
They may have done so, in most cases, from fear of consequencces,
though th© same excuse was equally available for th© qualified
ministers of th© Episcopal Church, against whom th© charges were
mainly directed. All the accusations referred to wer© matters
subject to the judgment of a civil court, and were altogether
beyond the cognisance of an ecclesiastical judicatory. The Pres
byterians were usurping the power that truly belonged to "Caesar."
They appointed their respective officers to summon the Episco
pal ministers to compear before them on th© Sth of May, 1716,
to answer to the premises, and to hear and se© th© same suffi
ciently proved and vorified. In addition to this, these ecclesi
astical usurpers claimed th© right of passing sontence and cen
suring the Episcopal clergy, who disclaimed their authority
entirely. The Presbytery of Deer issued a libel of this kind at
the Kirk of Tyrie on April 19th, 1716. (Se© Representation of
the State of the Church, pp. 79-81.)
THE REV. WILLIAM DUNBAR OF CRUDEN.
This revered clergyman was libelled by the Ellon Presby
tery in the manner already described. His real offence was th©
introduction of th© English Liturgy into th© Kirk of Cruden.
For doing so, despite the Presbytery and in defiance of their
authority, he was, in 1716, subjected to bitter persecution. The
Moderator of the Presbytery mad© no secret that this was the
reason of the summons. The Episcopal ministers made it their
practice to ignore these citations. They doubted not but the
Presbyteries would hav© cond©mned even S. Paul himself had
h© acknowledged that he was Episcopally ordained.
When th© clergy did not appear in answer to their summons
they commonly sent in to the Presbytery a Declinature by proxy,
which they required, under Form of Instrument, should be openly
read and recorded in the Presbytery Books. The Declinatures
consisted chiefly in these heads: —
(1.) The Episcopal clergy disclaimed the jurisdiction of the
Presbyteries over them as being of a different Communion.
They said that they could not acknowledge any ecclesi
astical jurisdiction independently of a Bishop. Th©
qualifi©d ministers further insisted that they wer© still
under th© protection of th© law, and by several Acts of
Parhament were exempted from Presbyterian jurisdic
tion.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 129
(2.) They denied the competency of the Presbytery to judge th©
matters libelled, which, they averred, were only cognos-
cible by the civil magistrate.
(3.) Th© Pr©sbytery could not censure th© scandal till the
crimes were first proved, and this could only be don©
before a secular judge.
(4.) Their being present at the examination of witnesses was
no acknowl©dgm©nt of th© authority of th© Presbytery.
Many wondered at the boldness of Presbyteries, who, wish
ing to be thought ministers of the Gospel, assumed to themselves
the power of examining and judging in cases involving treason ajid
sedition. Consequently, th© clergy had good reason to decline
their authority in the matters that were libelled against them.
Th© gr©at difficulty that beset the accusers was to find witne^es
against the clerical defendants. Th© cl©rgy were so beloved by
their flocks that th© latter lookod upon it as th© greatest hard
ship to give evidence against them. This appeared in the choice
made of witne^es against the Rev. Mr Campbell of Alva; the
Rev. Mr Hay at Montquitter, the Rev. Mr Swan at Pitsligo ; and
the Rev. Mr Jeffrey at Alford — all Episcopal clergymen. To
obviate thes© difficulti©s, the Presbyteries obtained an Act of
Parliament to make the witnesses depone, under the penalty of
100 marks Scots. (See Representation of the State of the Church,
pp. 33, 34, 39, 43.)
Reasons similar to those just stated were given by the Rev.
William Dunbar of Cruden for declining th© authority of th©
Presbytery of Ellon, who treated him unjustly in every possible
way. They at last transferred themselves and his proces to S.
Nicolas's Church, Aberdeen, ten miles without the limits of their
jurisdiction. Th© d©f©ndants at once protested against th© pro
ceeding of th© Presbytery as sitting to judge in a place where
no jurisdiction was competent. Wh©n Mr Dunbar himself came
into the court and took exception to all th© witn©sses, he was
over-awed into silence by on© of the Justices of th© P©ac©, who
threatened him with th© eff©cts of his power. Thereupon, th©
accus©d clergyman protested against their prooeodings, and left
th© room. (Se© R©presenta;tion of th© State of th© Church, pp.
42 and 43.) Mr Dunbar was finally condemned for introducing
into the Church of C?ruden the Liturgy and Cer©moni©s of the
I

130 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Church of England. (See Representation of th© State of th©
Church, p. 45.)
SOLDIERS TAKE POSSESSION OF CHURCHES.
The Presbyteries had great difficulty in procuring parties to
turn out th© Episcopal cl©rgy from their several churches till
Glenkindie and his dragoons returned to the north to survey th©
esta,tes forfeited by those who had joined in the late rebellion.
He was accompanied by the Sheriff-Substitute of the shir© and
a party of soldiors from Aberdeen. A threatening letter, pro
cured by th© importunity of th© Presbyteries, was sent to the
various Episcopal ministers of the parishes near to which Glen
kindie was to pass.
Th© letter was subscribed by Arthur Forbes of Echt, Lieu
tenant-Deputy; Archibald Forbes, Justice of th© Peace; and
Francis Forbes, Sheriff- Substitute ; and was dated from Aberdeen
on December 7th, 1716. It reminded the Episcopal clergy of the
various orders the Sheriff had given to them to forbear preach
ing or using any part of their ministerial function within their
own parish. The subscribers declared that they had heard they
wer© still preaching, although they had been deposed by the Pres
bytery. To this court also the clergy had refused to give up the keys
of the Church. They said they had mad© application to Gren©ral
Carpenter when at Ab©rd©©n to giv© orders to th© commanding
officer there, when©v©r d©sired by the Deputy-Lieutenants, Jus
tices of the Peace, or Sheriff-Depute, to apprehend the clergy by
sending parties of soldiers for that purpose. These county offi
cials having stated that they were unwilling to us© violent means,
entreated th© Episcopal pastors not only to deliver up th© k©ys
of their churches to th© Presbytery, but also to giv© satisfaction
that they would not b© troublod with th©m any longer. Other
wise, they stated that they would order a party of soldiers to
apprehend them and procure access to th© church. Th©y were
commanded to return an answer immediately to the Sheriff-Depute
in Aberdeen. (Se© Representation of the State of the C!hurch,
pp. 82, 83.)
Th© l©tter did not make the wished-for impression upon the
clergy, and they disr©garded it altogether. Accordingly, Glen
kindie and the Sheriff-Substitute determined to turn out th© minis
ters by armed force. Their crime was disobeying th© command
of a civil judge, who had told them in eff©ct not to teach at all.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 131
nor to preach in the Name of Jesus. Orders were given to send
a party of soldiers on December 29th, 1716, to each of the four
adjacent churches of Cruden, S. Fergus, Longside, and Pitsligo.
They l©ft Peterhead on th© Saturday afternoon, and seized each
of these churches. Having kept possession of them till the Sun
day, they forbade all access to the pastor of the place, and ad
mitted only the teacher sent by the Presbytery. The soldiers
broke open th© doors of the churches, turned them into guard
houses, kindled fires, and brought in beds. Then they ate, drank,
and played at cards till the Simday morning. As soon as the
nsual time of divine service approached, they guarded all the
approaches to the pulpit to exclude the Episcopal clergyman. He
could then do nothing but proceed with witnesses to the door, and
require admission to his church. Then he returned quietly to
his house, leaving the soldiers or Glenkindie's dragoons to guard
the Presbyterian minister to his pulpit. This they accomplished
with all the usual military formalities. Upon that day th© Pres
byterian minister at Cruden was obliged to preach to his armed
guard — not a man or woman of th© parish being his hearer. His
text was Rom. i. 13 — " Now I would not have you ignorant breth
ren, that oftentimes I purposed to com© unto you, but was let
hitherto, that I might hav© some fruit among you, even as among
other G©ntil©s."
In this way, th© persecution of the clergy was carried on,
by which thirty-six congrogations wore deprived of their own
ministers. Twenty-four of these were po^essed of churches, in
five of which the Book of Common Prayer was used. These five
were Gamrie, Alva, Cruden, S. Fergus, and Kildrummie. The
other twelve Episcopal ministers officiated in meeting-houses, in
ten of which th© Liturgy was read. (See Representation of the
State of the Church, pp. 68, 69, 71.)
GLENKINDIE'S ORDERS TO HIS DRAGOONS.
These were orders to th© military to tak© possession of
churches. They were signed by Glenkindie and Francis Forbes
(Sheriff-Substitute of Aberdeen). Virtually, directions were given
to the dragoons to scour th© country districts at the end of
December, and expel the Episcopal clergy from their manses. At
that time thes© were about twenty-four in number. At such an
inclement season th© strong may have survived th© ordeal.

132 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
but the weakly ones among the inmates were sure to
suffer severely. Th© copy of the ord©r given in the
" R©pr©sentation of th© Stat© of the Church ' ' refers especi
ally to the seizure of th© parish church of Cruden. Th© two
subscribers of the orders state that they are required by th©
Presbytery of Ellon to giv© access to the ministers of the Estab
lished Government into the Church of Cruden, presently possessed
by the Rev. William Dunbar, intruder ther©. They declared that
though he had been deposed for his rebellious practices by th©
said Presbytery, he contumaciously kept possession of the kirk,
and preached in it. Glenkindie and the Sheriff-Substitute desired
and commanded William Mekeldnie and th© men under his com
mand to proceed to th© kirk of Cruden and take possession of
it on Saturday afternoon, the 29th day of December, 1716. On
th© n©xt day, being Sabbath Day, they were to admit a minister
of the Established Government to preach at the sam© church and
d©bar the Rev. William Dunbar from entering it. After divine
service they were to deliver up th© k©ys of the kirk to the
minister of the Government. This warrant was signed at Peter-
h©ad on the 27th day of D©cemb©r, 1716. It is evident from
this document that th© Presbyteries looked upon the ministers of
the Gospel in their Communion as nothing else than Government
functionaries. They were Erastians in the worst sens© of the
term. The Rev. William Dunbar, so ruthlessly expelled from the
parish church of Cruden, was afterwards, on June ISth, 1727,
consecrated a Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Scotland.
Under th© Concordate of 1731, the Diocese of Moray and Ross
was assigned to him. Finally, on Jun© 5th, 1733, Bishop Dun
bar was elected Diocesan of Aberdeen by the clergy of that See.
H© di©d on July 4th, 1745, in the S5th year of his age. (See
Grub's Ecclesiastical History III., 399, and IV., 5. 9. 46; and
Representation of the State of the Church, S3, 84.)

EXPULSION OF AN AGED CLERGYMAN.
This venerable Presbyter was the minister of Kinnoir and
Dunbennan, which have since been merged into the parish of
Huntly. He was an early sufferer for Episcopacy, having at
the Revolution been turned out of his church at Kirkcaldy. Soon
afterwards, he was settl©d at Kinnoir, in th© Presbytery of Strath-
bogie, and in the Dioces© of Moray. He was among th© first

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 133
that were libelled by the Presbytery, and, being infirm, and dis
owning their authority, h© neglected their citation. The people
of Kinnoir and Dunbennan handed in to the Presbytery a peti
tion, in which, after much said in commendation of their pastor,
they expressed their great affection for him. They entreated the
Presbytery to continue their minister with them, which could not
be long in the cours© of nature, h© being 70 years of ago. The
Presbytery paid no regard to the wishes of the congregation at
Kinnoir. The ag©d Presbyter was among the first to be deposed,
and was turned out of his church by an aarmed force. (See
" Representation of the State of the Church," pp. 74, 75.)

THE REV. JOHN MAITLAND OF FORGUE EXPELLED BY THE
MIILITARY.
In th© month of October, 1716, a young man, accompanied
by soldiers, was sent by the Presbytery of Turiff to take possession
of the Kirk of Forgue. For a long tim© th© people of Forgue
had prevented the emissaries of th© Presbytery from entering
th© place on account of their affection for their own pastor. Now,
with th© soldiers at his back, the Presbyterian minister insulted
the people as he passed through the village. Mr Maitland, the
Episcopal clergyman, who had been thrust out of the church of
Forgue, had been a member of the very Presbytery whose mem
bers had now become his persecutors. They werre enraged because
he and his brother, th© Rev. James Maitland, minister of Inver-
keithny, having left the Presbyterian communion, had joined the
Episcopal CJhurch. Both were ordained and received Holy Orders
from the Bishop of Aberdeen. This was the cause of the special
hatred of the Presbytery of Turriff against the two brothers.
(See "Representation of the State of the Church," pp. 65, 66.)
The Rev. John Maitland, having been expelled from the
church at Forgue, was now threatened with ejection from the
manse. On November 9th, 1716, he received a letter from Mr
Francis Forbes, Sheriff-Substitute of Aberdeen, telling him to
leave it. The letter contained complaints against the pastor as
a disturber of th© Gov©rnm©nt and a political agitator in th©
county. The Shoriff said that h© beli©v©d all th©se stori©s from
Mr Martland's well-known principles and doings in th© late re
bellion. He therefore ordered him to remove himself and his
family from th© mans© of Forgue, and giv© over his pretended

134 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
ministrations in that parish. Otherwise, he threatened to appre
hend him, and bring him to trial for high treason. For this
purpose. Sheriff Forbes doclared that he would station a party of
soldiers in the town of Turriff. This menacing epistle was dated
from Aberdeen. (See " Representation of th© State of th©
Church," pag© 84.)
A v©ry dignified answer to the overbearing letter of th©
Sheriff-Substitute was sent by Mr Maitland. Having thanked
him for the plainness and openness of his epistle, he said h© had
no doubt received many complaints and outcries against him, but
he did not feel that h© had given any occasion for their having
been made. Th© clergyman stated that, though h© did not wish
to dictate to anyone acting in the Sheriff's capacity, yet he
thought it would be more becoming not to listen too r©adily to
those who w©r© known to be prejudiced against him. He knew
that he had been falsely accused and represented as a mover of
sedition and perverter of the nation, although his doctrine and
©xample had no tendency in that direction, 'but th© very contrary.
He added: "The disciple," however, "is not above his Divin©
Master; it is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master."
The writer, in answer to the Sheriff's statement that it was
distasteful for him to meddle with anyone that had once Mr
Maitland 's character, said that his character was very much
altered for the better since he had received ordination from th©
hands of an orthodox Bishop. H© considered that he was a
truly authorised minister of the Gospel, agreeably to th© senti
ments of th© Universal Church and of Apostolical tradition. H©
was so satisfied with all this that h© would not part with his
ministerial status for any worldly considerations whatsoever. In
reference to the Sheriff's order that Mr Maitland should remove
himself and his family from th© manse of Forgue, the latter
replied that h© could not legally b© obliged to quit the house till
th© next Whitsuntide. H© also added that it was th© winter
season, and he was altogether unprovided with any other place
of residence. No one exercising civil power could reasonably be
expected to employ it in such a hard and cruel manner as to
driv© him out along with his family into the winter's cold. The
Sheriff had spoken of Mr Maitland's pretended ministerial func
tion within the parish of Forgue. To that statement, it was
answered that th© Episcopal clergyman's function was not pre
tended seeing he was in Holy Orders. Moreover, on the Lord's

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 135
Day he was exercising his office within his own house only, and
what less could be expected of any clergyman? Though several
others came to be his hearers, yet he got no maintenance or
encouragement from them, and it appeared to him that it would
be extremely unbecoming to shut the door against them. When
this account of matter of fact was duly pondered over, h© did
not think that his way of managoment was calculated to give
an offence. The clergyman concluded by hoping that this
answer would satisfy Sheriff-Substitute Forbes, and that it would
not be necessary for that official to apprehend his person or dis
tress his family. The letter was dated from Forgu© on Novem
ber 12th, 1716. (Se© "Representation of th© State of the Church,"
pp. 85-87.) " IN HIS OWN HIRED DWELLING."
Thes© ar© the words of th© Revis©d V©rsion of Holy Scrip
ture, and they call up to our minds the great Apostl© of the
Nations, a prisoner in his own hired house at Rome. We are
told in th© verse containing them, that h© " r©ceiv©d all that went
in unto him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching th©
things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none
forbidding him." (Acts xxviii. 30, 31.)
Th© same words might have been used to describe th© con
ditions under which th© Episcopal clergy had to perform their
ministerial duties in the second decade of th© ISth c©ntury. The
foregoing account of their persecution brings the history con
tained in "th© R©presentation " down to January 1st, 1717.
Harassing measures against them did not end at that date.
Glenkindie and his dragoons had tumod them out of their
churches by military force, but were not able to hindor them
from continuing to preach th© Gospel of Christ. Dictates of
duty and of conscieno© towards God and towards their people
urged them to conduct th© Church services in their own hired
dwellings. Ther© they preached the Gospel of the Kingdom to
thos© entrusted to th©ir spiritual car© by the Great Shepherd and
Bishop of th© souls of men. These Christian duties th© ministers
performed in a most peaceable manner, and in a way altogother
void of offence. What less, under th© circumstanoes, could am
bassadors of Christ have done? In doing so they were protected
by th© Act of Queen Anne's r©ign which was not ropealed. Very
different from this was th© opinion of the Presbyteries. Their

136 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
only conception of Christian liberty was toleration for themselves.
They thought it was their right to affiict by persecution all others
who diff©r©d from thom. Accordingly th©y applied forthwith to
th© Justices of Peace within the County of Aberdeen, and re
quested them to interpose their authority for the suppression of
religious meetings in the private dwellings of th© Episcopal Clergy.
With this end in view the Justices met at Ab©rd©©n on Jan. 23rd,
1717, and afterwards issued an advertisement which was printed
in that city. (See "Representation of th© State of the Church,"
p. 88.) A MONSTROUS INDICTMENT.
These words apply exactly to the advertisement issued by the
Aberdeen Justices on Jan. 23rd, 1717. In th© introductory portion
of the document they stated that they had r©c©ived complaints
against th© Episcopal ministers who had b©en deposed' by the
Judicatories of the Scottish Establisbment. They did not stop to
enquire whether those bodies had any right whatsoever to divest
their Episcopal neighbours of the authority to exorcise their
spiritual functions. All this the legal officials took for granted.
Th© advertisement said that the Episcopal ministers, after their
churches had been declared vacant, " continued to preach and
officiate ' ' in them, and to act as ministers in other parts of their
parisbes. An imputation of encouraging unlawful riots and
tumults, to the disturbance of th© peace, was likewise raised
against th©m. Their accusers said that the clergy opposed the
ministers and preachers sent by th© legal Prebyteries to supply
th© vacant churches. Finally, the Justices declared that they
had been ordained by th© laws and Acts of Parliament to cause
the sentences of the Established Presbyterian Church "to be
obeyed and put to du© execution."
This statement of the Justices was altogether contrary to fact.
Th© Toleration Act made to prevent the disturbance of those of
the Episcopal Communion expressly declared — " That no civil
pain, forfeiture, or disability whatsoever shall b© in any wis©
incurr©d by reason of any ex-communication by the Church judi
catories in Scotland; and all magistrates are expressly prohibited
and discharged to force any person to appear when summoned, or
to giv© obedience to any such sentence when pronounced ; any law
or custom to the contrary notwithstanding." Accordingly, the
Aberdeenshir© Justices of the Peace, in issuing this interdict, were

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 137
themselves setting the law of the land at defiance. They who
had been ordained to administer the law were openly disregarding
th© law. Th© proclamation of the Justices in charging the Episcopal
clergy with raising and encouraging unlawful riots and tumults,
to the disturbance of th© peace, stated what was well known to
b© completely false. Everyone knew that they conducted them
selves peacefully, and, by their effectual interposition with their
people, prevented mobs and tumults. Th© Presbyterian judi
catories were th© real disturbers of th© peace by trying to thrust
unwelcome and unknown preachers upon an unwilling populace.
It was a travesty of all equity for th© judges to say that according
to the trust committed to them they were putting the laws
into due execution. The Aberdeenshire Justices of those days
were, without doubt, unjust judges.
W© must now consider the ill©gal interdict itself, which
declared : — " Therefore they (th© Justices) do hereby prohibit and
discharge all ministers and preachers who are deposed by the
Judicators of th© Established Church of Scotland, and their
churches declared vacant, within th© said County of Aberdeen, to
preach or exercise any part of the ministerial function within th©
said Churches, or in part of the said parishes, nor in their own
houses, except allenarly before those in their own family and
non© others."
This so-called advertisement, given at Aberdeen on January
27th, 1717, was signed by Arthur Forbes of Echt, Justice of
Peace, and Praeses to th© abov© named meeting. The unjust
decree had not its designed effect, and became at once a dead
letter. Th© clergy still continued to officiatei in their own houses,
and the most of them still lived on in their manses. Some other
means of ejecting them had to be devised by their persistent
enemies. (See Representation of the State of the Church,"
pp. 89—91.) DECREES OF EJECTION AGAINST THE CLERGY.
The next resort of the Presbyteries was to tak© out Decreets
of Ejection against the Episcopal clergy before th© Sh©riff of th©
county. Thos© wer© readily obtained, and put in execution
against several of them by that legal official. He was encouraged
to oust as many clergy as he could by the reward of an hundred
Marks Soots from each Presbyterian intrant into the coveted

138 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
mans©. Th© whol© of th© proceedings were most illegal, th©
Episcopal clergy not having had forty fre© days' warning of
romoval given to them. They and their wives and children were
ruthlessly thrust out into the snows of th© cold northern winter.
Barbarous and inhumane treatment of this kind was meted out to
several of th© clergy, among whom were: — Mr Leith at Lum-
phanan, Mr Idl© at CJoul, Mr Jeffr©y at Alford, Mr Ramsay at
Deer, and Mr Maitland at Nigg. (Se© " Representation of th©
State of th© Church," p. 92.)
A SCOTTISH "VICAR OF BRAY."
In all th© ecclesiastical and political changes that occurred
in Scotland in th© sieventeemth and eighteenth centuries there
must have been many "Vicars of Bray." These wer© cl©rics that
veered round to every change of creed, caring for nothing but th©
retention of their livings. Such a changeable ecclesiastic was th©
R©v. James Farquhar, a member of the Deer Presbytery in the
first decade of the eighteenth century. W© have already seen
how, along with the rest of his colleagues, he was very active in
tho p©rsecution of his Episcopalian neighbours. He began lif©
as a member of th© Episcopalian Communion, but afterwards
moved round more than halfway to Roman Catholicism. From
that religious standpoint he was brought back by th© Rev. Dr
George Garden. After this, he became a professed Quaker, and
then joined the Presbyterian Church. Having applied to th©
Presbytery of Deer, he was planted by them in th© Kirk of Tyrie.
Lord Saltoun, the patron, was not consulted regarding this ap
pointment, which was made by the Presbytery without referring
to the people at all. Mr Farquhar was a man of most doubtful
record, and people were doubtless astonished at such an arrange
ment by th© Presbytery. The truth was that they found it diffi
cult to persuade any probationer to accept a post in districts
where Episcopacy was very strong. In due time th© Presbytery
had cause to repent of the unguarded settlement. After being
some years at Tyri©, Mr Farquhar threw up th© incumbency along
with Presbytery itself, and turned Independent. Having set up
as an Independent preacher in Aberdeen, he did not meet with
th© encouragement which he expected, but left Independency,
and for some tim© pursu©d uncl©rical avocations. At last h©
rotumed to Presbyterianism, and was received as a preacher by

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 139
th© Presbytery of Aberdeen, notwithstanding all these turns and
changes. (See "Representation of th© State of the Church,"
pp. 93, 94.)
THE REV. MR MAITLAND, EPISCOPAL INCUMBENT OF NiGG.
The Rev. Mr Maitland was inducted to the Church of Nigg
legally and canonically in the year 1673. H© was not the same
person as the worthy Incumbent of Forgue, who flourished about
the sam© tim©. The Church of Nigg was not then the building
called " The Visible Kirk," across the Dee, near Aberdeen, but
was the now ruined edifice near the lighthouse. Mr Maitland
was th© far-away predecessor of th© present respected Rector of
S. Peter's, Torry. Th© former served the Cur© at Nigg well and
faithfully for th© long space of 43 years, and was greatly beloved
by his people. After the unsuccessful insurrection of 1715 he was
treated very severely and unjustly by the Presbytery and Magis
trates of Aberdeen. From the R©volution in 1690 to 1716 he
continued to officiate in the Church of Nigg, and to occupy the
manse. Consequently he was a qualified clergyman, who had
taken the oaths of allegiance and assurance. The Magistrates
of Aberd©©n had some interest in the parish, as one-half of it
belonged to the Common Good of thetown. Th©y, stimulated most
likely by th© Aberdeen Presbytery, on the Sth or 9th of February,
1716, sent their Recorder and Factor to a corner of th© parochial
bounds to incite some of th© principal tenants against the clergy
man. They r©quir©d them to bear witness concerning him that
he had prayed for the Pretender under the name of King James,
and that he had observed a Fast previous to his arrival in Scot
land and a thanksgiving after his landing. All th© parishioners,
save one, refused to depon© or acknowledge that they heard him
pray for th© exiled Prince, or that they observed him keep ili©
aforementioned days. That single witness, who gave adverse
evidence, was a man of ©vil life, bribed to do so by a pecuniary
reward. Upon this unsound evidence, th© Magistrates immedi
ately ordered th© Church of Nigg to b© possessed by the Rev.
James Farquhar, "a Scottish Vicar of Bray," possessing a most
dubious character. A vicious man, who bor© a grudge against
his clergyman for imposing w©ll-merited discipline upon him,
was induced by the promise of money to search for and apprehend
Mr Maitland, with th© view of casting him into prison. This
proceeding caused th© Rector to take to flight. When the heat

140 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
of th© prosecutors had abated a little, he returned to Nigg, and
still held the manse. No sooner did he appear in public than a
lib©l was served upon him in th© sam© common form with the
rest of his p©rs©cuted brethren. A summons to appear before
them was sent to him from th© Presbytery of Aberdeen. Having
neglected to do so, either in person or by proxy, he was deposed
from his ministry, and his church declared vacant by his ©n©mi©s.
All this was done by the Presbytery and Magistrates of Aberdeen
in direct opposition to all principles of equity and of th© laws of
the land. Having sentencod the devoted Pastor, the Presbytery next
proceeded to settl© th© Rev. James Farquhar in the Church of
Nigg. An edict was fixed upon the church door, warning the
parishioners to appear before them at the church of Banchory
Devenick, and there to giv© in their reasons, if th©y had any, why
Mr Farquhar should not be admitted to be their minister. The
people of the parish, having drawn up a paper containing weighty
reasons against Mr Farquhar's admission to th© benefice, em
ployed Mr John Anderson, a notary public in Aberdeen, to pre
sent it before the Presbytery. In their names he was to protest
against th© proposed induction of th© R©v. James Farquhar into
th© church of Nigg. Th© Magistrates having been informed of
all this, sent for Mr Anderson, and by violent speeches and
threats of imprisonment, deterred him from the fulfilment of his
commission. On© of the town's Sergeants was at the same time
sent through the parish to intimate to the tenants that if any of
them were seen at th© church of Banchory Devenick on the day
mentioned in the edict, they would b© carried to prison. Having
been forbidden to employ any man to appear against Mr Farqu
har, the people stayed at home; and no man appeared to protest
against the induction upon the selected day. Mr Farquhar wa.s
duly placed as th© Presbyterian minister of Nigg upon that
occasion. Having obtained possession of the church, th© next care of
the new entrant was to possess himself of the minister's manse or
dwelling-house. For this purpose he cam© to Nigg upon July 4th,
1717, aocompaniod by Mr Shepherd, the Sheriff-Depute in the
Mearns, and three armed men. Without any logal procoss, they
vehemently threw out Mr Maitland's household furnitur© into
th© road. That day it rained without ceasing, and the family
goods of th© unfortunate clergyman received much damage.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 141
Mr Maitland, ab soon as h© heard of this unjust and bar
barous action, set out from Ab©rd©en to r©monstrate with his
Presbyterian supplanter. The latter was found in an alehouse,
and was called out of doors' to receive a protestation from him
whom he had wronged so grievously. The Episcopal clergyman,
accompanied by Mr John Anderson, an Aberdeen notary public,
appealed to the Lord Jesus Christ against the unjust treatment
and injuries which he had received. In reply, Mr Farquhar
called his Episcopal predecessor opprobrious names, for which the
notary public took him to task.
Mr Maitland's son was in deacon's orders, and had given
most valuable assistance to his father in his pastoral work. He
r©oeiv©d such harsh usage from the Presbyteries that he was com
pelled to take refuge for some time among the moors and moun
tains. Th© reason why such men as the Rev. Jamesi Farquhar were
appointed to charges from which th© Episcopal clergy had been
ousted was the difficulty experienced in persuading any minister
to go to such places. The Presbyterian nominee would soon find
the position untenable from th© small nunib©r of his adherentis.
Whil© the Episcopal meeting-house was crowded, the Presbyterian
kirk might have one or two hearers, or none at all. This state
of matters subsisted in the north of Scotland till th© risings of
1715 and 1745 altered th© relations of the opposing parties most
materially. (See "Representation of the State of the Church,"
pp. 92—96.) BAPTISM FORBIDDEN.
So far the clergy of the Episcopal Church were affected by
the persecutions of the Presbyteries. In a short time, however,
their malignity extended to th© laity, and even to little children.
Some of th© pastors being compelled to seek for shelter in inac-
ce^ible places, and even in foreign lands, those of th© Episcopal
Communion could not readily get their own clergy to baptise
their children. Some had to b© left unbaptis©d for three months,
and others for sixteen months. There wer© instances of Episco
palian little ones being baptised in secret by th© clergyman
through th© windows of his prison. Three burghers in Aberdeen
of considerable social standing wer© each of them finod by th©
Magistrates in tb© sum of twenty pounds Scots each for refusing
to giv© th© names of the Episcopal clergy who had baptis©d their
offspring. All these things were don© notwithstanding th© declara-

142 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
tions of the parents that they had caused their children's names
to b© inserted in th© baptismal registers, and had paid the Pres
byterian Clerk his fees, conformable to the Toleration Act of the
reign of Queen Anne. As if th© severity of th© authorities had
not yet been sufficient, th© Magistrates of Aberdeen caused a
drum to pass through the town and a certain intimation to be
read to the inhabitants by their messenger. This announcement
was that if anyon© had his child baptised by any other than a
minister of the Presbyterian Establishment, he was to be heavily
fined. A similar penalty was to be imposed upon any citizen who
did not enter into th© Presbyterian registers the nam© both of
th© child and of the minister who baptised it. The fines were
regulated according to a scale. Every merchant so mulcted was
to pay sixty pounds Scots; every tradesman being a free-man,
forty pounds ; and every other inhabitant not free, twenty pounds
— notwithstanding the Act of Toleration. An account of this
was published in the Weekly Journal, or Saturday's Post, from
London, on September 2Sth, 1717, Edinburgh being wrongly in
serted for Aberdeen. (See " Representation of the State of the
Church," pp. 97, 98.) HEAVY FINES IMPOSED.
Certain of th© clergy, looking upon the Act of Indemnity
passed in Queen Anne's reign in a favourable light, peaceably re
entered their churches, from which they had been ejected. For
this, certain Magistrates cited them to appear before the Justices
of Peace at Aberdeen. Three of them, viz., th© Rev. Mr Leith
of Lumphanan, Mr Idle of Coul, and Mr Jaffray of Alford, were
each fined two hundred pounds Scots, and ordained to find bail
to the value of a thousand marks, that they would not preach
nor exercise any part of their ministerial function within their
respective parishes, on pain of being cast into prison. In pur
suance of this sentence, constables were immediately ordered to
apprehend these three clergymen, and soon after a party of
soldiers was sent to take them and carry them to prison. They
Were baulked of their prey, for th© three pastors, lik© th© Apostles
of old, fled for safety to a place of refuge, where they stayed for
a long time.
The case of th© son of th© Rev. Mr Jaffray of Alford was a
still greater hardship. He was fined forty pounds Scote for offici
ating as clerk to his father. Th© Justic©s order©d him to prison.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 143
and sentenced him to continue ther© till h© should pay the fine.
H© was also to find bail that h© would never again act in that
capacity for his father within his own parish. The young man
lay in the prison for six weeks, till h© was r©l©ased from the fin©
by Letters of Suspension from the lords of Session, and found
bail. Soon after this, other nine clergy, whose names are given,
were fined in a like way, and wer© cited to Edinburgh to defend
their cases at th© most inclement season of the year. (Se©
" R©pres©ntation of th© State of the Church," pp. 98-101.)
THE GATHERING STORM.
The storms of persecution now gathered darkly over the
northem Church, a_d they were not to be entirely dispersed for
on© hundred and forty-five years. Penal laws were enacted, for
th© State authorities must hav© discovered that in their persecu
tions of the Episcopal clergy, they had hitherto been acting
ill©gally. Th©y wer© still protected by th© Toleration Act, which
bad not been repealed and was not to b© repealed. To reach the
Episcopal ministers an Act of Parliament was passed in April,
1719, " for making more effectual the laws appointing the oaths
for security of the Government to b© taken by ministers and
preachers in churches and meeting-houses in Scotland." In terms
of this law no Episcopal clergyman could officiate in any place
where nine or more persons besides' th© family w©r© pres©nt. But
he could perform the service in presence of any number of people,
provided he had taken the Oath of Abjuration and prayed for
King George. For the infringement of this law th© punishment
Was six months' imprisonment and th© closing of the meeting-
bouse for th© sam© period. Some qualified themselves by taking
the oaths and using th© Book of Common Prayer. This was the
case in congregations composed principally of families from
England. In the course of tim© English clergy crossed the Tweed
and ministered in what came to be known ae " qualified chapels."
They were willing to submit to the Scottish prelates, but the
latter refused to acknowledge them. We might have expected
this after the attitude of the non-juring clergy in the meeting at
"the Laughs of Fyvie. The refusal on this occasion waa most
unwise. (See Stephen's History of th© Scottish Church, II.,
481, 482, and Grub's Ecclesiastical History, III., 378, 379.)

144 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Eighty-six years were to elapse before the offer was to be r©p©ated,
and then it was to be accepted.
In 1717 two ministeiB from the Commission of the General
Asembly were sent to London to obtain, if possible, th© ropeal of
th© Toloration and Patronage Acts. In this way th©y trusted
mor© easily to accomplish th© eradication of Scottish Episcopacy.
The King favoured the application, but to no purpose. Neither
court influence nor Presbyterian Assembly could persuade the
British Parliament to such a retrogade cours© as th© abolition of
th© Toleration Act. (See Grub's " Ecclesiastical History," III.,
377, 378.) DEATH OF GEORGE f.
Gioorg© I. died in 1727. Scotland hehad never visited nor cared
for in any particular way. Little enthusiasm was elicited for
him personally in any part of his kingdom. His oppressive laws
against th© Scottish Episcopal Church brought it noarly to th©
verg© of ©xtinction. In the succeeding reign severer measures
followed, but not so destructiv©, as th© most of th© harm was
alr©ady don©. Alas for th© first fatal mistak© of th© heads of
our CJommunion, who subordinated the claims of the Church of
Christ to those of the Stuart dynasty ! Christ's Crown and Cove
nant should always b© predominant with the soldiers of the Cross.
REIGN OF GEORGE II., 1727 — 1760.
Some historical students think that the annals of th© r©ign
of Goorge II. as well as thos© of his prodecessor make cheerless
reading. Dulness and deadness pervaded both Church and State
both in England and Scotland during that era. Marlborough's
victories cast a lustre ov©r Queen Anne's r©ign which the days of
her immediate successor greatly lacked. Many look upon the
eighteenth century as heavy and dispiriting until the insurrection
of 1745 dispelled the gloom. Th© rising of th© clans brought
with it all thos© romantic and stirring features of which Mar's
rebellion was totally devoid. The Union with England was long
unpopular in th© north, as it appeared like the loss of national
independence. All the local conditions, taken together, gav© the
Stuart revolt of 1745 a chanc© of success.
RISING OF 1745.
Princ© Charles Edward, th© son of the Old Chevalier, and
grandson of James II., landed at Moidart Bay, in Inverness-shire,

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 145
in 1745. Th© sight of the young prince landing to fight for the
throne of his ancestors made him as popular as his father had
been unpopular. Chieftains and clans, captured by his winning
demeanour, gathered to serve under his banner, though not in
such numbers as had been at first expected. Th© trysting place
was at Glenfinan, about 15 miles from Fort-William. On the
19th of August the Jacobite standard was raised by the venerable
Marquis of Tullibardine, amidst the enthusiastic shouts of the
clansmen. The "seven men of Moidart" who had disembarked
with th© Prince soon swelled out into an army of seven thousand
mon. If th©y wer© ill-armed and slenderly-provided with warlike
equipments, they wer© brave and skilled in wi©lding the deadly
claymore. Sir John Cope, th© Government General, made the strategical
mistak© of marching to Inverness, and left all th© lowlands ex
posed to th© inroad of the Highlanders. Without delay, th©
latter took advantage of his blunder, and, crossing th© hills, then
purple with the autumn heather, reach©d the low country without
opposition. On the 17th of September th© Prince came to Edin
burgh, and took up his residence in Holyrood Palace. It was a
sight never to be forgotten to behold the heir of a long line of
Scottish Kings entering the historic home of his fathers. For a
whil© the ag© of romance and knightly adventure seemed to have
returned, and the epoch of prosaic times to hav© passed away.
General Cop© endeavoured to retrieve his mistak© by marching
with his army to Aberdeen, and thence embarking for Dunbar.
Having landed there in safety, he began his advance westwards to-
wardsi the capital. His movements wer© anticipated by the insur
gents, who, in the silence of th© night, marched out to meet him.
On the morning of th© 21st September they found his' forces
encamped at Prestonpans, a villag© a few miles to th© east of
Edinburgh. Soon there followed th© attack upon King George's
men and the rout of his army. The defeated Greneral fled on
horseback in hot haste, and carried the news of his own defeat
acro^ th© English border. Princ© Charles was, by this signal vic
tory, mad© master of the whol© of Scotland, loaving King G©org©
only the castles of Edinburgh and Stirling and a few forts in the
Highlands. Had th© Jacobite army marchod at once to England,
there is no saying what might hav© been the result. Their young
leader himself was eager to do so, but was over-rul©d by his
counsel of officers. Valuable time was thus lost, and the Govern- j

146 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT
ment had an opportunity of raising fresh forces. Th© delay was
th© grand mistak© of the romantic adventure. Edinburgh, for
a while, became intensely Jacobite, and the Prince spent several
weeks in Holyrood Palace with all tJie formalities and festivities
of a royal court. On the 31st of October, th© Highland army
began the march to England. Before the English border was
reached, 1000 men dropped off, leaving but 4500 soldiers to con
quer England. Derby was reached, and the insurgents were
within a week's march from London. A council of war now
decided to proceed no further south, and th© r©tr©at to Scotland
was begun. Glasgow was reached on CJhristmas Day, and Stirling
was taken by Cfharles on January 7th, 1746. Greneral Hawley
cam© up with th© Highlanders at Falkirk, but was there signally
d©f©ated and put to rout. Th© Jacobite troops retired to Inver
ness to prepare for the coming struggle, and the Govemment
soldiers followed in pursuit under the Duke of Cumberland. (Se©
Chambers' "History of th© R©bellion of 1745-1746," pp. 170-
278.) BATTLE OF CULLODEN.
" And O ! loved warriors of th© Minstrel's land !
Yonder your bonnets nod, your tartans wave;
The rugged form may mark the mountain band.
And harsher features, and a mien more grave;
But ne'er in battle-field throbbed heart so brave.
As that which beats beneath the Scottish plaid."
—Sir Walter Scott.
The Duke of Cumberland and his aarmy advanced northwards,
burning and devastating all th© Episcopal meeting-houses in his
way. Without doubt, the chief informers would b© th© several
Presbyteries in his line of march. Prince Charles, at the head
of 7000 men, waited for him upon Drumossie or CuUoden Moor.
The Government force, amounting to about 10,000 men, consisted
of infantry, Argyll Highlanders, dragoons, and artillery. A can
nonade from the insurgents^ began the action, which was so badly
directed that the shot went over th© h©ads of Cumberland's men.
Soon the English guns replied with such effect as to make whole
lanes through th© opposing ranks. Th© Duke rod© about calling
on his soldiers to stand firm in their ranks, and us© their bayonets
well. On th© other hand, the Prince, riding along the lines of th©

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 147
Highland array, by word and gesture raised the courage of his
warriors to th© highest pitch of enthusiasm. Then, retiring to
an ©min©nce hard by, he waited anxiously for the fortune of the
day. When Cumberland saw that his cannon were rapidly thin
ning th© ranks of his adversaries, he was in no hurry to order
the general attack. Half-an-hour passed in this way, and many
of the brave Highlanders lay dead upon the heath. Charles at
last ordered the charge ; but his aide de-camp fell dead before he
reached the lin©s. Th general opinion of the army supplied the
want, and th© Mackintoshes were the first to rush through smoke
and flame and throw themselves upon the foe. Atholemen,
Camerons, Stuarts, Frasers, Macleans, and other clans then darted
forward, and the charge was general along th© line. Only at the
left extremity was there no advance, the Macdonalds refusing to
move. They were sullen and displeased because they had be©n
denied the position of the right wing, which, they said, belonged
to them. The impetuous onset of th© Highland©rs sw©pt
away th© first lin© of th© foe ; but they never came in contact with
the deadly weapons of th© second. They perished before they
reached the points of the bayonets. Lowland and foreign soldiers
composed th© second line of th© Jacobite troops, and they began
to retire, when they saw Cumberland's men advancing. All was
now over, and in less than an hour the field was lost. Th© rem
nant of Charles's army broke up into two bodies of unequal size.
One of these took the road to Inverness, where they wer© pursu©d
and slaughtered by th© English dragoons. Th© other division
turned to the south-west, crossed the river Nairn, and found refuge
among th© mountains. Various untoward circumstances brought
about this crushing defeat. The Highlanders were starving and
wearied with a long night-march on th© previous night, while
Cumberland's men wer© well fed and better armed. (Se© Cham
bers' "History of th© Rebellion of 1745-46," pp. 293-302.) Th©
battl© of Culloden was fought on April 16th, 1746.

CRUELTIES AFTER CULLODEN.
After th© victories of Prestonpans and Falkirk, th© insur
gents treated their wound©d foes wtih humanity and clemency.
Very differently did Cumberland and his men behave to the
defeated Highlanders. No quarter was given to the latter in their
retreat to Inverness. When the fight was over, the soldiers, under

148 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
the superintendence of their officers, went about stabbing the
wounded, and cutting th©m down with their swords. Numbers of
th© captured were either shot in cold blood or beaten to death
with the butt-end of th© musk©ts. A typical anecdote, illustrative
of this, is related of the Duke himself. Riding over the field
with some of his officers, he observed a young wounded Highlander
staring at himself and his staff. Having asked th© man to what
side he belonged, Cumberland received the answer, " To th©
Prince." Th© Duke instantly ordered an officer to shoot "that
insolent scoundrel." The officer. Major Wolfe, declined the task,
saying " that his commission was at the disposal of his Royal
Highness, but he would never consent to be an executioner."
This answer was a moral victory worthy of the future conqueror
of Montealm. At last Cumberland persuaded a common soldier
to despatch the Highlander. The latter was Mr Cfharlee Fraser,
younger of Inverallacky, who had been Lieutenant-Colonel of the
Master of Lovat's Regiment. As a comment upon this, it may
b© stated tbat in 1759, Wolfe, the victor of Quebec, died in the
arms of hie favourite Highland orderly, one of the Fraser Clan.
Som© have tried to throw doubt upon this story, and ar© inclined
to throw the odium of the cruel deed upon General Hawley. Most
peopl© will prefer to believe th© incident as it is told in Chambers'
"History of th© Rebellion of 1745-46." On the day after Culloden,
about seventy poor wounded men w©re gathered from among the
slain, carried to a rising ground, and there despatched with volleys
of musketry. Numbers of the injured wer© dragged from houses
in which they had taken refuge, and brutally murdered. On©
hundred and fifty survivors of th© Prince's army were pent up
in on© vessel, and kept at sea for eight months with very little
food, water, or clothing. At the end of the voyage only forty-
nine were found in lif©. Th© field of Culloden itself, with its
heather-clad mounds, bears witness to the carnage which earned
for th© Duk© of Cumborland the sobriquet of " The Buteher." No
wond©r that the sympathy of posterity has always been for th©
vanquished, and not for the victors, of Culloden Moor.
THE HIGHLAND RACE.
Th© intelligent pilgrim to Drumossie Moor knows that he is
standing, not merely by the burial place of heroes, but by the
grave of the feudal system. That arrangement by which lands
were held on th© condition of military servio© accomplished th© best

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 149
that could b© done for law and order in a barbarous age. It was
the accompaniment of th© ag© of chivalry, and fostered the noble
qualities of faithfulness and loyalty which are innate in the High
land character itself. Among th© mountains of Scotland, it trained
a race of noble men, whose descendants were to uphold the prestige
and glory of Britain in nearly every land. Under the generalship
of Wolfe, they did their part to win Quebec and th© Canada for
th© mothor country. 'Thoy took their share of the fighting when
th© legions of Napoleon were driven back over the Spanish Penin
sula and finally shattered at Waterloo. W© h©ar of them again
in th© Crimea, where, in their thin red lines, they swept th© Mus
covite host before them. Still later on in time, we see th© Celtic
warriors bringing relief and safety to beleaguered Cawnpore and
Lucknow. Lastly, we saw them on that January day of 1900,
starving and weak with the long siege, driving out the well-fed
burghers from the trenches at Ladysmith. What Britain owes
to her Highland warriors all climes on the surface of th© glob©
can tell. BURNING OF HIGHLAND CASTLES AND COTTAGES.
Th© Duk©'s army, after perpetrating the inhuman deeds laid
to their charge, proceeded to Fort-Augustus, and devastated the
Highland districts in all directions. CTuelties were practised by
the soldiers such as w© should never have expected to find com
mitted in a comparatively civilised land. They plundered and
burned the mansions of the chiefs and the dwellings of th© poor.
The homes of Lochiel and Glengarry, of Cluny and Keppoch, and
of other leaders of the rising, were laid in ruins. The military
entered into the huts of the poor, ill-treated the inmates, and
destroyed all they could lay thoir hands upon. Cattle, sheep,
provisions, and goods of every description were carried off te the
military quarters. Aged people, the unarmed and inoffensive, were
shot in th© fields and on th© mountain-side, and in the next winter
many of the unfortunate Highlanders perished from cold and
hunger among th© hills. Thes© were the actions that, to all suc
ceeding ages, will cover the nam© of the victors of Culloden with
dishonour. We cannot enter into th© history of Princ© Charli©'s wand©r-
ings. Though th© sum of £30,000 was offored for his capture,
not one of the hundreds who knew his hiding-places was found to
betray th© secret. Such an example of loyalty and faithfulness

150 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
will nev©r be forgotten. (Note. — On account of its close connec
tion with the persecution that followed, the writer has enlarged
more than he intended on the rising of 1745.) (See Chambers'
"Histery of the Rebellion of 1745-1746, pp. 302-313 and p. 327.)
DARKENING DOWN..
Darker now grew the cloud of persecution over the affiicted
Episcopal Communion. Formerly the clergy were harassed, but
now the laity also were to suffer. Nothing was left of their
churches n©ar which the Duke had passed but the blackened ruins.
Now th© persecuting Government began to devise new measures
for distressing the remnant that was left. Th© persecuting Statute
of 1719 interdicted all clergymen from officiating in an Episcopal
meeting-house who did not pray in express words for King George
and the Royal Family. They had also to take the oath of abjura
tion, and the meeting-places were defined as places where nine
or more people wei^ assembled, besides the members of th© house
hold. In the year 1746 a much mor© stringent law was passed.
It was entitled " An Act more effectually to prohbiit and prevent
pastors or ministers from officiating in Episcopal meeting-houses
in Scotland, without duly qualifying themselves according to law;
and to punish persons for resorting to any meeting-houses where
such unqualified pastors or ministers shall officiate." All pastors
of Episcopal churches in Scotland were ordered by the Act to take
the oaths appointed by law before September 1st, 1746. After
that day they were to pray in exphcit terms for the King and th©
royal family. Infractions of these commands were to be pun
ished with the utmost severity. The meeting-houses in that case
wer© to be closed, and all pastors contravening the enactment for
th© first offenc© to b© imprisoned for six months, and for the
second or any subsequent offence they were to be banished to the
American plantations for lif©. Imprisonment for life was to be
their punishment should they afterwards return to Britain. An
Episcopal meeting-house, within the meaning of the statute, was
precisely declared to be a meeting, asembly, or congregation in
Scotland where five or more, in addition to the household, were
assembl©d for purposes of divine worship by a minister of the
Episcopal church. For the first time th© laity were to be punished
as well as the clergy. Persons attending the meetings prohibited
by th© Act were for th© first transgression to be fined five pounds.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 151
After th© second or any subsequent default, the offender was to
be imprisoned for two years. Penalties and disabilities were to
be imposed on peers, members of Parliament, magistrates of
burghs, and other public officers attending such forbidden places
of worship. (See Stephen's " History of the Scottish Church II.,"
517, 518; and Gmb's "Ecclesiastical History, IV.," 35, 36.)
ERASTIAN SLIGHT ON SCOTTISH ORDERS.
Th© most tyrannical part of the above law was its ninth sec
tion : — " B© it enacted by th© authority foresaid that from and
after the first said day of September no letters of Orders of any
paster or minister of any Episcopal meeting or congregation in
Scotland shall be deemed sufficient, or be admitted to be regis
tered but such as hav© been given by some bishop of the Church
of England or Ireland; and in cas© any letters of orders, other
than such as are before described, shall be registered, such regis
tration shall be deemed null and void to all intents and purposes.
THE PASTORS OF LONGSIDE AND DEER.
Only five Episcopalian clergymen qualified themselves under
this statute, two of whom, the Rev. John Skinner of Longside,
and the Rev. William Livingstone of Deer, afterwards repented,
and expressed their r©gret for having don© so. Practically all th©
r^t of th© clergy in communion with the Scottish Episcopal
Bishops ceased to officiate after September 1st, 1746. The Epis
copalian Church was destroyed in Scotland, so far as this could be
accomplished by an Act of Parliament.
DARKER PROSPECTS.
The outlook for th© suffering communion now becaone gloomy
beyond measure. The Governm©nt, not being satisfied with the
penal laws of 1746, determined to proceed with still greater
severity. A Bill was passed in 1748 which enacted that no letters
of Orders not granted by som© bishop of the Church of England
of Ireland should, from and after the 29th of September, 1748,
be sufficient, or b© taken or b© adjudged to be sufficient, to qualify
any such pastor or minister as above montdoned, whether the
sam© w©re registered before or after th© said first day of Septem
ber; and that every such registration, either made before or
after the said first day of September should, from and after th©

152 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
said twenty-ninth day of September, be deemed nuU and void to
all intents and purposes." Although the English Bishops opposed
th© Bill in the House of Lords, it was passed by a majority of 37
to 32. (See Stephen's "History of the Scottish Church," pp. 518,
519; and Grub's "Ecclesiastical History," IV., 37, 38.)
Th© extreme severity of this unjust law can scarcely be under
stood at first sight. By th© Act of 1746, th© clergyman might
ministier to four persons and a family at one time in any house,
and so, by taking up a fresh family several times in succession,
he might minister to a considorabl© part of his congregation in
one day. The Act of 1748, however, restricted the clergyman's
ministrations rigidly to his own house. H© could not, therefor©,
overtake the whole of his flock, though he continued to officiate
on Sundays from morning till night. An attempt of this kind
would soon have worn out both priest and people. (See Very
Rev. Dean Walker's "Life of Dean Skinner," pp. 55, 56.)
CHURCHES AND PARSONAGES IN FLAMES.
In the autumn of 1746, the north of Scotland was under mili
tary law, and the work of persecution was left chiefly to the
soldiers. These were the same men who had slaughtered the
wounded Highlanders upon Culloden Moor, and their coming into
the shire of Ab©rd©©n would sproad consternation in all directions.
They scoured the country, and burned and destroyed everything
that belonged to the Episcopal Church. The meeting-houses were
set on fire, and the clergy were forced to leave their homes. ' To
the families of th© pastors this poriod was a veritable reign of
terror. Night was the time chosen by the military for visiting
the houses of the ministers. The Presby t©ri©s or other informers
usually set the law in motion. Occasionally, the minister himself
might escape, but his dwelling, family, and furniture were at the
mercy of the depredators. (Se© Very Rev. Dean Walker's " Life
of Dean Skinner," pp. 40, 41.)
People of standing in the neighbourhood were ready enough
to act the part of informers, and cause th© soldiors to be brought
into the district. A detachment of Cumberland's troops, especi
ally "the Campbells," were quartered in the north, and were at
hand to carry out the obnoxious orders. They wer© said to hav©
been brought to Longside and Old Deer by a lady of some rank,
who took th© initiativ© of giving information to the authorities.
Afterwards, the same personage is said to have exulted over tho

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 153
burning of the several Episcopal churches. Th© inhabitants were
completely taken by surprise. UNWELCOME VISITORS.
No visitors could be more unwelcome than the marauding
soldiers of the Duke of Cumberland. A company of them arrived
at the house of th© R©v. John Skinner of Longside on July 29th,
1746, after the darkness had set in and late in the evening. The
pastor, on returning home from visiting one of his people, found
his dwelling in the possession of the soldiers. Two of them were
guarding the door with fixed bayonots, whil© the othors w©re
searching th© several rooms. They went even into a room where
the clergyman's wife was lying very ill. The cruel visitors plun-
d©red the house of everything that could be carried away, and
scarcely left a change of clothing to any member of th© family.
Valuabl© papers belonging to the minister wer© carried off by the
plunderers, and it was said that some unfriendly neighbours who
did not lik© Episcopacy took part in th© pillage. An eye-witness
declared afterwards — " I saw them with my own eyes carrying off
Mr Skinner's books." This wanton spoliation was quite in accord
ance with th© heartless doings of the Duke's soldiers in the High
land districts. LONGSIDE MEETING-HOUSE BURNED.
This act of sacrilege took place on the day after th© robbery
of th© minister's dw©lHng. Probably it took place at a day and
hour when the people were assembling for divine worship. A
lady afterwards teld her descendants that when sh© went to the
church to service on that occasion, she found th© buildings sur-
roundod with " wisps " and bundles of straw collected for the
conflagration. The lady-informant was ther© h©rself presiding
over th© destruction of the humbl© fan©. She is said to hav©
ridd©n round th© burning mass, shouting out te th© band of human
furies, "Hold in the Prayer Books." The soldiers doubtless
remained on th© spot till the incendiary work was done. (See
Very Rev. Dean Walker's "Life of Dean Skinner," pp. 42, 43.)
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF DEER IN FLAMES.
During the sam© visit of th© Govemment soldiers, the Epis
copal meeting-house at Old Deer was set on fire. The Rev.
William Livingston was the clergyman. He had the honour to
be a sufferer in both the p©rs©cutions of 1716 and 1746. Th©

154 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
burning of the places of worship of Old Deer and Longside could
be seen at th© same time from the hill of Coynach. On that
eminence the lady informer took her stand, clapping her hands
and greatly enjoying the sight. She is said to hav© exclaimed,
in words borrowed from a former age — " Th© work o' guid gangs
bonnily on." How many hav© there been in all ages who have
deluded themselves with the thought that in persecuting others
they were forwarding the work of God? (Se© Very Rev. Dean
Walker's " Life of Dean Skinner," p. 43.)
COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT OF 1746.
Only five clergymen are believed to hav© complied with this
Act by registering their Letters of Orders, taking the oaths of
allegiance, and praying in church for King Georg© by name. Four
of these, viz., the Rev. John Skinner of Longside; the Rev. Mr
Walker, Old Meldrum; the Rev. Mr Laing, Poutachy, Keig; and
th© R©v. William Livingston, Old Doer, belonged to the Diooese
of Aberdeen. The fifth of these conforming pastors was the Rev.
Mr Farquhar, Dumfries. The Rev. John Skinner could not pro
duce his Letters of Orders, because they had been stolen from his
house by Cumberland's soldiers. A statement to this effect was
made by Mr Skinner before the Quarter Sessions. He said that
one, Mr Hardie, had com© to his house under the silenoe of
night with a party of the Campbell Highlanders on July 29th,
1746. They had carried off som© of his furniture and papers,
along with his Letters of Orders. Long after th© Penal Acts of
1746 and 1748 had ceased to operate, some of the Episcopal
clergy registered their Letters of Orders. This protected them,
in the event of their loss or destruction by fire. (Se© Very R©v.
Dean Walker's "Life of Dean Skinner," pp. 46-49.)
NON-JURING AUTHORITIES PREVENT COMPLIANCE.
The non-juring element in th© Episcopal Church prevented
the most of th© clergy from conforming to the Acts of 1746 and
1748. This influence was still predominant, though it was gradu
ally diminishing. At the Laughs of Fyvi© in 1716 they ruled the
decision of th© secret meeting, and now continued to compel
acquiescence with their wishes. The non-juring leaders lived in
Edinburgh, and likely held th© purse-strings, however little there
may have been in the purse. This may have been the means by

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 155
which they prevented compliance with th© unjust and tyrannical
laws. Exaggerated views of hereditary right still swayed the
minds of most of th© Bishops of the Church. To accept George
II. as th© legitimate Sovereign, and discard the exiled King, was
a sin in th© eyes of the ecclesiastical authorities. The complying
pastors were ordered to submit to the discipline of the Church,
and express sorrow for what they had done. This order was obeyed
by the Rev. John Skinner and th© Rev. William Livingstone. It
is to be underatood that in doing so they merely expressed their
readiness to acquiesce for the present with th© wishes of their
ecclesiastical superiors. With th© latter lay the responsibility of
imposing such a burden upon the clergy. The Stuart princes had
now no prospect of restoration to the British* throne, and the
Scottish Bishops wer© acting lik© men infatuated. In this way
th© pastors of Longside and Old Deer "repented," and "were
absolved " by Bishop Gerard. Cast in such troublous times,
their lot was indeed a hard one. (See Very Rev. Dean Walker's
"Life of Dean Skinner," pp. 50, 51.) "Render unto God the
things that are God's." Tyranny over-reached itself in the penal
Act of 1748. The unjust law contained within itself the elements
of its own abolition, and in the course of time was sure to become
a dead letter. It was too severe to be long carried out with
rigour. Scottish civil authorities were not likely to be always
persuaded by Presbyteries to giv© ©ff©ct to th© hateful statute.
Manifest breaches of th© Act would often b© winked at and passed
over in silence. Its very impracticability would set peopl© to
dovis© means of evading it in every possible way. Th© law of man
was interfering with th© law of conscionce and of God. " Csesar "
was claiming far more than he had any right to exact. God's
people had to render unto God th© things that were God's.
MODES OF EVADING THE LAW.
The construction of a house gave an easy means of defeating
the opponents of religious liberty. The clergyman, with his
family and four parishioners, could occupy the lobby or entrance
room, and th© other rooms within hearing of the preacher could
contain different members of th© congregation. In time the
hardest violence of the storm blew over, and congregations became
bolder in eluding th© provisions of th© Act. On Saturday ©ven-
ings it became a common practice to prepare a shed or smithy for

156 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
the services of the following day. In thos© days children were
known to have been baptised at midnight in the dark recesses of
a nobleman's park. Thus th© lordly owner might escape from
the penalty imposed upon peers for nullifying the statute. Mar
riages also wer© often celebrated at midnight, when the Book of
Common Prayer was brought out of tne drawer or receptacle
wher© it had been hid. When the weather permitted, the offici
ating clergyman might conduct the services in his house within
the hearing of th© congregation, who remained outside. In the
Highland districts pastor and people often met under the open
canopy of heaven in the glens, or on the sides of th© heathery
hills. Th© Book of Common Prayer, translated into the language
of the Gael, was recited there, and the psalms of David in words
of Celtic speech were wont to resound among the mountain soli
tudes. (See Very Kev. Dean Walker's "Lif© of D©an Skinner,"
pp. 56—61.) THE REV. JOHN SKINNER IN PRISON.
This event, most trying to th© faith and steadfastn©ss of th©
clergyman and congregation of Longside, happened in 1753. On
the 26th of May of that year the good and faithful servant of his
divine Master was accorded the high privilege of suffering for
Him. Th© civil authorities, left to themselves, would never have
put the iniquitous law into execution. They were driven to it
by the same lady who had caused the church of Longside to be
set on fire. No doubt she had taken car© to* ascertain beforehand
that Mr Skinner had officiated in a room where more than four
persons were present besides his own family. Witnesses would
prove this fact before th© Court, and the clergyman was too
honest a man to deny it. Conviction would then follow as a
matter of course. Nowadays things are different, and Crown
Counsel can order a wrongful summons to be revoked. Thus it
was that for carrying out the high command of the King of kings
one of th© most popular clergymen in Aberdeenshire was thrown
into prison. An ardent Jacobite he had never been, and he was
imprisoned for doing pastoral work which the most of his breth
ren wer© then performing unchallenged. The sufferer and his
family at first felt the blow very severely. His congregation, left
as "sheep without a shepherd," never wavered in their allegi
ance to their pastor and th© great Bishop and Shepherd of the
souls of men. S. Paul, from his prison at Rome, could send

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 157
epistles to the churches he had founded; and the imprisoned
presbyter of the 18th century could write letters and forward
messages to his flock. Members of the Longside congregation
and Church-people at Aberdeen would b© certain to minister to
his wants. Neither was he left alone in his prison cell, for his
second son, John, then only eight years of age, insisted on being
allowed to participate in his father's confinoment. The presence
of the boy would lighten up th© gloomy place, and cheer the
heart of th© imprisoned pastor. Th© brav© youth, after receiv
ing a liberal education, became one of the ablest Bishops of the
Church. In New Testament days, the Holy Apostles were not
idle when enduring the restraints of imprisonment. S. Paul was
able, from his Roman cell, to direct in some degree th© great
work of evangelising the nations. So the Pastor of Longside
endeavoured to gain some spiritual and intellectual profit from his
enforced retirement. Hebrew was at that tim© a favourite study
with the clergy of th© Scottish CJhurch, and has always ©xercised
a fascination ov©r th© zealous stuoent of Holy Writ. For several
years before his incarceration at Old Aberdeen, Mr Skinner had
devoted himself to the acquisition of that Semitic tongue. His
unwelcome leisure was now turned to splendid account, and the
prisoner, for Christ's sake, gained a critical knowledge of th©
Old Testament Scriptures. This interesting study is not less
desirable now in th© days of th© higher criticism. (See Very
Rev. D©an Walker's "Life of Dean Skinner," pp. 61-66.) When
the six months of his inipr:bonment were over, the presbyter
returned to Longside and the pastoral care of his congregation.
BAPTISM FROM THE PRISON OF STONEHAVEN.
In the winter of 1748-1749, the Rev. Mr Greig, Episcopal
Inctmibent of Stonehaven, was imprisoned in the jail of the town
for performing th© duties of his sacred office. His fellow-prisoners
were two neighbouring clergy — th© Rev. Mr P©trie of Drum-
lithi© and the Rev. Mr Troup of Muchalls. Lik© S. Paul and
Silas in days of old, th©y could comfort on© anothor, and sing
th© prais©s of their Lord. Their congregations, chiefly composed
of fishormen, wer© for a time deprived of the ministrations of
their spiritual guides. Ther© is a tradition that th© hardy deni
zens of that rocky coast used to take their children to b© baptised
by their own ministers in th© early morning or in th© stillness

158 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
of the night. An int©resting pictur© (se© frontispiece) represents
th© little one set in a creel or osier basket, well known in Scottish
sea-towns, and held up to the window of the prison by the strong
arms of th© parents. Through th© iron bars of th© opening the
priest put forth his hand and baptised the child with water in
the Nam© of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
A small congregation stands on the rocky ledge as witnesses of
the ceremony, and not far off are seen the foaming waves dashing
against the shore. Amid such surroundings, the words of the
Church's service would be peculiarly significant — " Mercifully look
upon this child ; wash him and sanctify him with th© Holy Ghost ;
that he, being delivered from Thy wrath, may be received into
the ark of Christ's Church; and, being stedfast in faith, joyful
through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of
this troublesome world that finally he may come to the land of
everlasting life." Th© bodies of th© three confessors rest side
by side in the old kirk-yard of S. Mary's, Cowie, close by Stone
haven. There a few crosses and other humbl© memorials mark
th© sea-beat resting-place of th© dead.
BANISHMENT FOR LIFE.
In 1755 the R©v. John Connochar, a Highland clergyman,
was appr©h©nd©d at Inveraray and conveyed to prison. His great
crime was the celebration of marriages contrary to the statute,
which was an enactment of the reign of Charles II. A political
Nemesis was seen in this sentence, for the penal clause of th© Act
was framed on one originally aimed at Presbyterian ministers. Mr
CJonnochar r^seived sentence of perpetual banishment from Scot
land. (See Stephen's " Histery of the Scottish Church," II., 520.)
RELAXATION OF PENAL STATUTES.
Towards the ©nd of th© reign of Gteorge II., the execution
of the penal laws was much mitigated. In themselves, they were
too severe to be long perpetuated. Their administration was ©ither
dropped altogether or carried out in a milder way. Episcopal
congregations now began to assomble weekly for divine worship,
and after a while they ventured to erect meeting-houses. They
were thankful to possess thes© humbl© edifices, though they had
more the appearance of barns than churches. The night of per
secution would have com© to an ©nd much sooner had the ecclesi
astical authorities in 1760 discarded a political policy which had

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 159
proved most disastrous. Their mistaken action pressed very hard
upon the Rev. John Skinner and his clerical coll©agues. Mr
Skinner was a poet as well as a priest, and has sometimes been
styled "th© Burns of th© North." He wa® the author of the
song called " Tullochgorum." DEATH OF GEORGE II.
George II. died on October 25th, 1760. H© will always be
remembered in the Episcopal Church for the persecuting statutes
that disgraced th© annals of his reign. He was succeeded by his
grandson, George III., who was more favourable to th© Episco
pal Church than his two immediate predecessors.
LAST ACT OF DIRECT PERSECUTION.
What in all likelihood was the last act of direct persecution
took place at Keith on May 9th, 1762. The Kirk-Session had
cited before them two humble Episcopalians, Robert Paterson and
Isabel Downie. Th©y were charged with having been married at
Newmills by their own minister, th© Rev. William Longmore.
Having been forced to confess their sorrow for their so-called
irregular marriage, they were made to offer three pounds Scots to
th© Session for the behalf of the poor of th© parish of Keith.
They at once paid the fine, were sharply rebuked, and dismissed
from discipline. The persecuting Session, w© are told, was dis
missed with prayer. (See Keith Kirk-Session Records of May
9th, 1762.) THE PERSECUTIONS OF THE CHURCH.
Th© pers©cutions of the Scottish Episcopal Church in th©
eighteenth century took place after th© Jacobite insurrections of
1715 and 1745. Those risings put the clergy at one© in th© power
of the Presbyterians, who did not fail to take advantage of them.
Th© common opinion was that th© porsecution of 1746 did most
harm to the church. This does not appear to have been the
case. Most injury was done to th© Episcopal Church in th© thirty
years that intervened between 1716 and 1746. After th© year
1719 th© clergy could put thomselv^ under th© protection of the
law by taking th© oaths of allegiance and assurance. Having
don© so, they and their congregations could hold their usual ser
vices. The majority of the Episcopal pastors, being non-jurors,
could officiate to nin© persons only, beside the family. The ex
pedient of holding many services every Sunday soon wore out

160 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
both priest and people, and, as each Episcopal clergyman died,
the congregations usually lapsed to other places of worship. As
the result of all this, the Episcopal Church of Scotland in 1746
had become but "the shadow of a shade." The penal laws of
1746 and 1748 could not make the devastation much more exten
sive, for the sad reason that there was little left to devastate.
The great falling off had previously taken place. Th© rigorous
exactions that appeared the death-knell of Episcopacy in Scotland
were, in truth, the mark of th© dark©st hour before the dawn.
In these persecutions th© Church and the State were both to
blame. THE STATE THE CHIEF OFFENDER.
The State was the greater delinquent, and th© persecuting
Governm©nt was unconsciously repeating the sin of Jeroboam. The
son of Nebat struck at religion to conserve a dynasty, and soon
his race and kingdom perished for ever. If h© had continued to
serve Jehovah, the Lord would have preserved both the king and
his royal house. It is the duty of the Government to protect
all the subjects of the realm in th© legitimate exercise of their
religion ; but in the case of Scottish Episcopacy the State forbade
both clergy and people to worship God according to their con
science. To punish for insurrection is one thing; to attack
religion itself is another matter. The State was equally guilty
in th© seventeenth century, when it persecuted the Scottish Pres
byterians. THE CHURCH WAS ALSO TO BLAME.
The Scottish Bishops and others were wrong from the very
first in subordinating the claims of religion to those of politics.
Their exaggerated views of hereditary right led them to join
the best interests of their Church to the claims of a falling dynasty.
Nothing could be more absurd than their leaving the appoint
ments of Diocesan Bishops in th© hands of the Old Chevalier, who
himself belonged to another faith. Add to this that the exiled
king claimed and exercised the sam© right over the appointment
of Roman Catholic Bishops for Scotland. There is always an
inseparabl© connection between right and duty, privilege and
responsibility, and between beneficium and officium. Arguments
of this kind had no weight with the non-jurors, and they would
hav© passed them over as unworthy of consideration. They would
never have ©ntertain©d th© idea that th©r© might b© instances of

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 161
rulers forfeiting their rights by neglecting their duties. It must
also be acknowledged that the State had a perfect right to punish
those who had actually taken part in the insurrections. The per
secuting Government did wrong in punishing th© innocent along
with the guilty. Some of th© Episcopal Clergy had no sympathy
with the rebellions. NON-JURING CLERGY.
All hop© of a successful Jacobite rising was at an end in 1760,
and th© Clergy should have been allowod by their ecclesiastical
superiors to transfer their allegiance to th© House of Hanover.
The non-complying Bishops were still less to be excused under the
mild reign of Gleorge III. Their refusal really condemned the
Episcopal Clergy to other twenty-eight years of waiting for th©
attainment of religious freedom. This was quite in keeping with
th© infatuation of thos© prelates in compelling the Rev. John
Skinner and th© Rev. William Livingstone to express their peni
tence for conforming to the Govemment enactions of 1746. The
Church of th© United States did not pursu© such an ignis fatuus
after th© acknowledgment of American Ind©pend©no6 in 1783.
In th© very next year, with their accustomed "go," the Americana
had sought and obtained their first Bishop from th© persecuted Scot
tish Church, and in their Church services they prayed for th©
Pr©sid©nt and R©public of th© Unit©d States. Some of them had
fought in th© armies of King George, but when all was settled they
readily gave their allegiance to " the powers that be."
LOYALTY.
In stating our opinions of th© fatal policy of th© Scottish
Bishops and Clorgy, w© must b© careful not to impugn their
motives. From their own point of view of hereditary succession,
they were acting up to th© highest motives. These inward incen
tives must be left to th© juster judgment of the Great Searcher of
hearts. In setting up their moral standards all men are influ
enced by th© atmospher© of their past lives. This may be said
for th© brav© warriors who fell upon Culloden Moor. They had
b©©n bom and brought up under the feudal system, and loyalty
to their chiefs was a ruling principle of their lives. The plaintive
air of "The Land of th© Leal" is played most appropriately at
a Highland funeral. The word "leal" means loyal, and " th©
Land of th© Loyal " is the reward given for faithfulness to the
K

162 A TEN YKIRS' CONFLICT.
Heavenly King. The ascended Saviour said, " Be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

DECREASE OF CHURCH MEMBERS IN THE HIGHLANDS.
Bishop Robert Forbes of Ross and Argyll died on November
18th, 1775, and the dioceses under his charge were committed to
the care of Arthur Petrie, Bishop of Moray. The only surviving
Presbyter in the Dioceses of Ross and Caithness was the Rev.
Allan Cameron, Incumbent of Arpafeelie. A letter to the Bishops
was signed by him and seventeen of the laity requesting the
appointment of Bishop Petrie. The petition was granted, and
Arthur Petrie became Bishop of Moray. Ross, and Argyll. That
only one incumbent was found in the two northern dioceses to
sign the call to Bishop Petrie tells its own tale. The number of
members of those dioceses must have diminished to an almost
incredible extent between 1716 and 1775. And we may also
gather that, as in Aberdeenshire, the greatest declension took
place between 1716 and 1746. What has been said about the
prevalence of Episcopacy in the Presbytery of Deer at the
beginning of the ISth century, may also be said about most parts
of the northem Highlands. In Ross-shire especially at that time
Episcopacy had a strong hold upon the mass of the people.
Loyalty was always a distinguishing character of the Highland
race, and the people adhered faithfully to the CJhurch even after
its separation from the State. From 1746 to th© ©nd of th© 18th
century there were several causes of a large falling off in those
parts of the number of CJhurch members. Thes© were the emigra
tion of many of the inhabitants to the British Colonies, the en
listment of large numbers of men into the ranks of the British
Army, and, above all, the w©akness of tbe Episcopal Church in
other parts of Scotland. She had become so much enfeebled by
constant persecution that she was unable to send to the Highlands
th© requisite number of ministers and religious teachers. For
these reasons the numerical position and strength of th© Church
in the mountainous districts diminished rapidly. In the face
of thes© adverse circumstance, the number of members remaining
in some of the congregations seems almost incredible. A good
example of this is to be found in the number of candidates con
firmed by Bishop Robert Forbes. (See " Grub's Ecclesiastical
History," IV., pp. 88, 89.)

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 163
HIGHLAND CONFIRMATIONS.
Bishop Robert Forbes, in his journal, describes his experi
ences in a visit which he paid to the Black Isle. He and his
party came to Arpafeelie, which is about a mil© distant from
Allangrange. Having proceeded to th© house of Donald Macrae
(spelled MacRaw in the Joumal), the Bishop read prayers and
preached, and then confirmed 197 persons, young and old. In
his company there were three presbyters — Ludovic Grant, John
Stewart, and Simon Gray. They, as well as Donald Macrae, the
catechist, spoke Gaelic fluently, and were most useful co-adjutors
to the Bishop during his sojourn. By far the greater niunber
of the people spoke nothing but Gaelic; only fourteeen or fifteen
of them knew anything about English. W© find, from the Bishop's
journal that the candidates confirmed by him at this and other
times amounted to 31 at Fortrose, 282 at Arpafeelie, and 480 at
Strathnaim. THE MULTITUDE FED.
A larg© number of people met th© Bishop at Arpafeelie.
Some of them had com© great distances, and had waited for him
from el©v©n o'clock in th© forenoon. Looking upon th© goodly
assembly, th© words of the Blessed Saviour recurred to the mind
of the Bishop — " I have compassion on th© multitude, because they
have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat ; and,
if I send them away fasting to thoir own houses they will
faint by th© way, for divers of them came from far." The
Father-in-God, having ordered and paid for a large supply of
provisions, distribution of them was mad© to the congregation
amounting to about 300 people. Coming out of Mr Macrae's
house, the Bishop was delighted with the scene before him. It
brought to his remembrance those words of S. Mark about Jesus —
" He commanded them to make them all sit down by companies
upon the green grass" (Mark vi. 2,3, 39). Th© congregation,
seeing Bishop Forbes and th© cl©rgy, rose to their feet, made a
profound salute, spoke many kind words in Gaelic, and waved their
bonnets round their heads. (See Bishop Forbes' Journals, edited
and compiled by the Rev. J. B. Craven, pp. 156, 157, 327-332,
341.) EMINENT HIGHLAND PRESBYTERS.
Two of th© b©st cl©rgy of Arpafeelie were the Rev. Allan
Cameron and the Rev. Farquhar Smith. Th© former, as we have

164 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
noticed, was the only voting clergyman in the Dioceses of Ross
and Caithness, when these Sees were committed to th© pastoral
care of Bishop Petrie. Mr Smith, the father of th© pr©sent much-
revered Dean of Argyll, was a model Highland pastor, equally
beloved by the poor of his congregation and by the Highland
lairds. H© was on© of th© pioneors of historical rosearch in cer
tain fields of our Church's history, and wrote a series of articles
called " The Dark Days of th© Church." Pastor Duncan, or Arch
deacon Mackenzie, was th© most noted incumbent of Strathnairn.
H© was scarc©ly ev©r at hom©, being really an itinerating evange
list. Th© Highland pr©achers of our Communion were scarce in
the days of persecution. Arpafeelie and Strathnairn, formerly
large congregations, hav© diminished very much from emigration
and other causes. What is greatly wanted for these charges is an
endowment fund to keep them from falling away altogether. Any
rich member of the Celtic race abroad could do much good by
contributing to such a fund. In this way he could help to
resuscitate these charges, and rebuild "the old waste places."
THE CHURCH IN THE NORTHERN HIGHLANDS.
What has been said about Bishop Forbes's services at Arpa-
feeM© and Strathnaim, and th© larg© numb©rs confirmed by him,
must load to the inferenc© that after the Revolution of 1690 th©
most of th© Gaelic-speaking inhabitants of thos© parts wor© members
of the Episcopal Church. Th© sam© causes that brought about
the depletion of the Church in Aberdeenshire also operated in the
mountainous districts. Ther© the peopl© in most instances were
left as "sheep without a shepherd," and the lapse of many
adherents was inevitable. Yet a remnant was left to hand on
faithfully to better days the lamp of evangelical truth and
Apostolical Order. BISHOP SEABURY.
Th© British Govornment in the eighteenth century committed
other mistakes besides th© persecution of a religion. The rulers
in the mother country unwisely endeavoured to impose taxation
without representation upon th© American Colonies. War fol
lowed, and in 1783 resulted in th© final victory of th© insurg©nts.
In that year Britain had to acknowledge the independence of the
United States. Prior to the civil war, the British Government
had never allowed Bishops to b© consecrated for America, and

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 165
th© end of the struggle left the Episcopal Church in th© new
republic in a stat« of chaos. It possessed neither Bishops nor
Diocesan government, and, as an Episcopal Church, would soon
have ceased to exist. American Churchmen did not sit still under
such an adverse state of matters. Forthwith the clergy of Con
necticut elected Dr Seabury, and sent him to England to be
consecrated by the English Bishops. At that time the latter could
not accede to this request, as th© postulant could not take the
oath of allegiance to George HI- In this sense, the candidate for
the Episcopate was a non-juror. " THE UPPER ROOM."
A great Oxford scholar and Dr Berkeley, Prebendary of Can
terbury, advised Seabury to apply for consecration to the non-
juring Bishops of Scotland. After som© consultation, the latter
agre©d to perform the sacred function. The candidate, having
come to Aberdeen, was consecrated Bishop by Primus Kilgour,
Bishop Petrie of Moray and Ross, and Bishop John Skinner, Co
adjutor of Aberdeen. The place of consecration was an " upper
room " in Bishop Skinner's house, which was situated in the Long-
acre, in the Granite City. A tablet on th© wall of the new
Univ©rsity buildings of Marischal College, placed there by Ameri
can Churchmen, marks the spot where the memorable event took
place. The newly-consecrated Bishop returned to his own land
full of thankfulness, and th© clergy of Connecticut met him at
Middleton on August 3rd, 1785. An address was presented by
them to their Episcopal head, in which it was declared of the
Scottish Bishops — " Wherever the American Episcopal Church
shall be mentioned in the world, may this good deed which they
have done be spoken of for a memorial of them!"
CONSECRATIONS AT LAMBETH.
Eighteen months afterwards, an Act of Parliament removed
the legal obstacles which hindered Seabury's consecration in
England, and in February, 1787, William White and Samuel Pro-
voost, two American Presbyters, elected by their brethren, wer©
consecrated Bishops in Lambeth Chapel. These prelates having
united with Seabury, consecrated others, who were th© means of
handing on th© American Episcopal succession to those coming
after them. Now the Episcopal Church of America has about
80 Bishops.

166 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT
SEABURY CENTENARY.
In 1884 th© centenary of Bishop Seabury's consecration was
celebrated in Aberdeen with great enthusiasm. Scottish, English,
Irish, and American prelates wer© present to giv© thanks to God
for what had been done in "the upper room" of Longacre on©
hundr©d years before that day. (S©e Stephen's " History of the
Scottish Church," II., 544-547; and Gmb's "Ecclesiastical His
tory," IV., 91-98.) The consecration of 1784 took place under
the dark shadow of the penal laws, and rendered som© of th©
principal parties concerned liabl© to punishmont. But the brave
deed brought blessings in its train, and from that day forward
th© tid© of prosperity set in for th© Episcopal Church of Scotland.
Seabury's consecration lifted th© oppressed Church out of her
seclusion, and proved to th© world that sh© waS' an integral and
important part of the Anglican Communion.
DEATH OF PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD.
Prince Charles Edward died at Rome on January 31st, 1788.
Whatever may have been the faults of his later days, his adven
turous expedition of 1745 proved that he was a man of courag©
and enterprise. The youthful leader — who marched on foot with
his Highlanders, and fired them with his own enthusiasm; who
routed Cope at Prestonpans and Hawley at Falkirk ; who advanced
within six days' march of London, and then executed that skilful
retreat to the Scottish Highlands; that doscendant of th© Bruce
and grandson of Sobieski — was, to say th© least, a man of no
ordinary mental calibr©. His d©ath brought rel©ase to th© per
secuted CJommunion, and stirred up fresh feelings of lif© and hope.
Th© non-juring prelates of Scotland continued to acknowledg©
Princ© Charles Edward as King of Britain after the Roman
pontifical court had refused to do so. That court had found
it to b© both impolitic and unwise te differ any longer
upon this subject with the powerful English nation.
Th© Scottish Bishops and clergy were now able to tak© th© oath
of allegiance to the House of Hanover; and why this was not
done on th© accession of Groorg© III., w© in thes© days may be at
a loss to understand. Henry, Duke of York, the brother of th©
deceased prince, was a Roman Catholic Cardinal, and for that
reason his claims were set aside. Our Jacobite airs and songs are
a souvenir of th© romantic expedition of 1745. Can there be any
Scotsman with "soul so dead" as to hear them sung with-

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 167
out ©motion? Th© pootry and songs of a nation are a noble
heritag©. (Se© Steph©n's "History of th© Scottish Church," II.,
550; and Grub's "Ecclesiastical History," IV., 101.)

I. Dispersion of the Clouds.
REPEAL ACT OF 1792.
The year 1788 was th© o©ntenary of th© Revolution, and
marked the close of an era of persecution and depression to the
Episcopal Church of Scotland. To bishops, clergy, and peopl© the
retrospect was one of sadness, and dark and stormy had been the
ecclesiastical sky. Th© first speck of blue app6ar©d wh©n S©abury
was consecrated at Aberdeen; and the storm-clouds began to dis
perse when the exiled prince was laid to rest in his Roman tomb.
PRIMUS JOHN SKINNER.
The first work before the Church was the removal of the
Civil Disabiliti©s, which had beset her for a hundred years. That
task was found not to be so easily don© as had s©emed at first
sight. Many years had to pass away before the last vestiges of
persecution had disapj>eared from view. The Scottish Bishops
wer© a stronger and more ©ffici©nt set of rulers than the dispirited
men who had gone before them. Another advantage was that
th©y had a Primus well qualified in every way to lead th©m on
to victory. This was Bishop John Skinner of Abordeen, a prelate
eminent for courage, zeal, and statesmanlike gifts of a high order.
THE SCOTTISH BISHOPS IN LONDON.
The Primus, Bishop Abemethy Drummond, and Bishop
Strachan were sent up to London by the College of Bishops to open
negotiations for the repeal of the penal laws. This could b© don©
by passing a Bill through Parliamont for th© purpose. They
arrived in the Metropolis on April 20th, 1789, and at once waited
upon those members of Parliament to whom they had received
introductions. Statements of their cas© had been prepared
beforehand, and thes© th©y put into the hands of all people of
influence to whom they made application. Calls were mad© upon
them by several noblemen, and valuable help came from the lead
ing men of the Established Church of Scotland. An interview
was requested from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and his Grace

168 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
granted it. He r©ceiv©d the northern prelates with every mark
of respect and kindness. Other English Bishops were friendly,
and on© of thom. Bishop Horsley, of S. David's, took up th© case
with zeal and feiwour. Everything looked well for the Scottish
Bill, and there wer© no signs of opposition from either Lords oi-
Commons. THE BILL IN THE COMMONS.
The measure was brought into the House of Commons on June
15th, 1789, and went through all the readings in fifteen days
without any opposition or dissent. Mr Henry Dundas was the
member who introduced it, and the seconder was Dempster of
Dunnichen. When ©v©rything appeared so promising, th© Bishops
learned that they had an opponent in the House of Lords in the
person of Lord Chancellor Thurlow. They thought that he felt
slighted, b©caus© he had not been consulted first of all. His
determined opposition was ascribed by them to this omission, and
an endeavour was at once made to propitiate him. Th©y apolo
gised to him for thoir unintontional delay in making their appeal
to him, and sent him copios of th© Bill. This passed the Commons
on Jun© 29th, and r©ached th© Hous© of Lords in safety.
CHANCELLOR THURLOW.
An oath had been inserted in the proposed measure which was
to take th© place of th© oath of abjuration formorly required.
Lord Thurlow, on his part, was determined to be contented with
nothing less than th© oath of abjuration. Howev©r loyal the
clergy w©r© now, they wer© to be mad© to disclaim th© Stuarts in
the past as well as in th© present. This was too much to expect
from honourable men. The English Nonconformists were expected
to tak© no oaths of this kind, and the same indulgence
should hav© been extended to th© Scottish clergy. On the second
reading of th© Bill the Chancellor moved that it be adjoumed " to
th© 29th of September." This motion virtually meant that the
measure of relief for th© Scottish Church was to be thrown out.
In those days th© wishes of th© Lord Chancollor in the legislature
appear to have had more influence than they have now. Things
were different in th© year 1905, when the votes of both Houses of
Parliament reversed the effect of a decision of th© Lord Chancellor
and his colleagues. (See th© Very Rev. Dean Walker's " Life of
Bishop John Skinner," pp. 78-93.)

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 169
THE BISHOPS RETURN HOME.
The Scottish Bishops returned to Scotland about the middle
of July, 1789. They had fought th© battl© of reUgious liberty,
and it was no fault of theirs that they had not at first succeeded.
Primus John Skinner was not th© man to sit still because of want
of success. He was the true leader, who was prepared to be up
again and doing. At once he began to devise measures for carry
ing on th© contest with renewed vigour, and as the first step in
this direction he resolved to summon a Council of th© Church, so
far as that could b© done under th© exceptional circumstances.
CONVENTION AT LAURENCEKIRK.
The Primus now determined to assemble a Convention of the
Church without dolay, and th© Colleg© of Bishops at once agreed
to the proposal. An intimation was sent to every Clergyman that
a general meeting of the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity would be held
At Laurencekirk on the 11th of November, 1789. Delegates from
the Laity were invited to be sent by each congrogation. Th© Con
vention met at th© appointed tim© and place, and was as numer
ously attended as could be expected. The Primus himself was
elected Chairman, and th© Rev. Roger Aitken, of Aberdeen, was
appointed Clerk of th© M©eting.
A full account of the unsuccessful mission to London was then
given by the Praeses of th© gathering. He reported everything
that he and his Episcopal brethren had done, and laid upon the
table all the letters and papers which had any bearing upon the
case. These he offered to read to th© assembly, if requested to
do so. They could also be handed round th© meeting for perusal
by any of its members. To a certain extent, he declared, their
efforts had been successful. The Hous© of Commons had given
their cause its unanimous sanction, and th© highest personages in
the nation had treated it with due respect. He stated that in
¦effect a decided advantage had been made, and that their Com
munion could now lift up its head. A Convention could not be
assembled earlier, because there was no opportunity of doing so,
though the Church had been consulted' by him informally. The
address of the Primus was well received, and not a word of dis
satisfaction was uttered. A resolution was passed acquitting the
Bishops of all blame for the failure of the measure, and
thanking th©m with on© accord for their zeal, alacrity, and inde-
iatigabl© diligence in all they had don© for the relief of the Church.

170 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
PREPARATIONS FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT.
The Convention then appointed a Committee with full powers
to manage and carry on active measures, which wer© still held
necessary for the repeal of the penal statutes. This Committee
was to consist of three Bishops, thre© Presbyters, and thre© Lay
persons. If necessary a Secretary was to b© chosen, and agents
wer© to be sent to London. Thes© latter were to be styled
" Delegates from the Committe© of the Convention of th© Scottish
Episcopal Church." The Committ©© entrusted with such an
important commission wer© Bishops Skinner, Strachan, and Aber-
nethy Drummond; the three Presbyters, Aitken, Allan, and
Gleig; and three landed proprietors, Messrs John Patullo of Bal-
houffie, John Stirling of Kippendavie, and John Niven of Thorn
ton. Three friends of th© caus© in London, viz., Messrs William
Stephens, James Allan Park, and th© R©v. George Gaskin, formed
themselves into a committe© of correspondence to secure regular
and energetic co-operation. Everything was now in train for the
coming struggle on bohalf of th© great caus© of religious liberty.
(See Very Rev. Dean Walker's "Lif© of Bishop John Skinner,"
pp. 94-106.) LONDON AND ABERDEEN THE CHIEF CENTRES.
The movement for the removal of the C!ivil Disabilities now
took a definite and well-directed form. Th© Northern Committee,
though able and zealous, lived too far apart from each other to
attend many meetings. As a consequence of this, at one of their
first meetings the members had to direct their chairman and clerk,
who both lived in Aberdeen, to correspond in their name, and to
take steps for bringing the requisite measures to an issue. What
often occurs with Church Committees took place in this case. These
are rightly appointed to secure supervision and remove individual
responsibility, but th© principal burden of th© work generally falls
on one or two parties. In the advancement of th© Repeal Bill,
Primus John Skinner and the Rev. Roger Aitken had to bear the
chief weight of th© hard work involvod in such a contost. Th©
great centres from which th© campaign was directed wer© London
and Aberdeen. ATTEMPT TO PROPITIATE LORD THURLOW.
Mistakes mad© on the first occasion were avoided this time,
and the first thing done was an attempt to propitiate the Lord

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 171
Chancellor. A letter was sent to him by means of Bishop Warren
of Bangor, the only prelate who seemed to have any influence with
th© exalted legal official. Th© only reply which th© Primus and
th© R©v. Roger Aitken received was that th© Chancellor " did not
seem to understand the matter." This answer augured ill for the
measure, which would have to be piloted with th© greatest skill
and moderation. THE TEST ACT.
Another obstacle in the way was another Bill before Parlia
ment in favour of the English Nonconformists towards th© r©peal
of th© Test Act. Som© of th© English friends of the Scottish Bill
appeared to think that it would be safer to let th© English measure
b© disposed of in th© first place. Scottish Episcopalians and Non
conformists were both suffering wrongfully, th© f ormor on account
of their politics in days gone by, th© latter on account of their
religion. Th© treatment of thes© two parties was unjust in every
way, and completely at variance with all principles of religious
toleration and liberty of conscience. Had th© combatants joinod
their forces, they would hav© won a certain victory.
AN ERASTIAN LORD CHANCELLOR.
Lord Thurlow's opinions were steeped in Erastianism of the
deepest dye. To him the Church was nothing more than a creature
of th© State. From this point of view he looked down upon all
non-establisihed Christian bodies. He continued to be an obstinate
opponent of the claims of th© Scottish Episcopal Church, consider
ing that th© northem Bishops derived their authority from the
deceased Stuart claimant for the throne. H© also thought th©
Scottish prelates desirod th© sanction of law for territorial ecclesi
astical jurisdiction. To grasp th© idea that the Bishops did not
derive their spiritual authority from an earthly king was altogether
beyond his power. He could not comprehend that they wished
for no ecclesiastical rule outside of their own Communion.
POSTPONEMENT OF REPEAL BILL.
The best advisers of the Committee of the Convention wore
now decidedly of opinion that, considering th© opposition of the
Lord Chancellor, it would b© inexp©di©nt to urg© forward th©
Repeal Bill during th© session of 1790. Consequently, it was post
poned till the session of 1791, greatly to the disappointment of

172 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
th© Committee and all friends of th© good cause. After all the
delay of a year was not of so much account, and time was on the
side of the applicants. Sooner or later the day of victory would
come. PREPARATIONS FOR 179 2.
All th© Diocesan Synods of th© Church, including that of
Aberdeen, which led the way, concurred in passing th© raost en
couraging resolutions. These opinions cheered th© Primus and his
co-workers in their arduous undertakings. Repeated delays in
drawing up the Bill took away all hop© of passing it during th©
session of 1791. The tim© had come for th© so-called "slaughter
of th© innoconts," and the Scottish measure would at that time
have shared their fate. This actually turned out to be the case.
Th© Committee now strained ©very effort to prepare for the session
of 1792, and petitions were sent up to Parliament from various
bodies and some counties and burghs. Everything was ready for
action, and the hour of success was not far off. Se© Very Rev.
Dean Walker's "Life of Bishop John Skinner," pp. 107-1217.)
THE PRIMUS AGAIN IN LONDON.
Primus John Skinner went up again to London in March,
1792, to represent the caus© of his suffering Church in its continued
appeal to the justice of a British Parliament. He set to work at
one© with all his characteristic zeal and ©nergy. Leading politi
cians in th© Lords and in the Commons fell under the spell of his
influence. English Bishops were interview©d, and ©xpressed them
selves friendly to the undertaking. Only one of them, howover,
proved himself to b© helpful in a zealous and energetic way, and
that was Horsley, th© Bishop of S. David's. On© of the great
hindrances was the prevalent Erastianism which influenced many
others besides the hostile Lord Chancellor. Bishop Horsley and
th© Earl of Kelly did their best to place th© matter in a true
light, and remove ignorance and misunderstanding.
PREPARATORY MEASURES.
On the 2nd of April, 1792, Lord Kelly moved for l©av© to
bring in th© Bill. Two days afterwards it was read a second
time without any semblance of opposition from Lord Thurlow,
who merely observed that some alterations would be necessary.
The draft of the Bill was printed during th© Easter vacation in
order to be brought forward immediately after that festival. Lord

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 173
Thurlow was still the enemy of the measure, his mind being full
of imaginary difficulties and needless safeguards. To obviate thes©
he was told that Scottish Episcopalians wer© now as loyal as their
Presbyterian neighbours, and more loyal than many others. Their
exaggerated views of her©ditary right served to strengthen that
allegiance which they had now transferred to the Hanoverian line
of monarchs. What was now wanted by the Episcopal Church was
nothing more than the religious liberty which was the right of
every British subject.. Primus Skinner gave the assurance that his
CJhurch had now no connection with the exiled family, and that
the clergy were all prepared to take the oath of allegiance to
Greorge III. Territorial and political authority the Scottish per-
lates did not claim. They sought only for that spiritual jurisdic
tion which belonged to a kingdom not of this world. Toleration
belonged alike to all free-born Britons, and this was claimed as a
right by the Episcopal Communion. Episcopal clergy received
their spiritual commission from the Church, and not from the
Stat©. All things being now ready for action, the promoters of
the Bill were most anxious to push it forward. They would not
be turned aside from their purpose by either the Lord Chancellor
or his Erastian policy. No longer would they wait for the clouds
of political opposition to be rolled away.
THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
On the 21st of May, 1792, Lord Elgin moved the second read
ing of the freshly-drafted Bill in th© Hous© of Lords. He mad©
an excellent speech, in which he said all that could b© said for
faithful and loyal subjects. Lord Thurlow, who left th© Wool
sack to speak against the measure, declared that he wished to tak©
an extensive view of the subject. Instead of doing so, he gave
expression to opinions not only narrow-minded but Erastian in
the highest degree. He insisted that Established Churches wer©
absolutely necessary for the preservation of the Christian religion.
H© forgot that th© religion of Christ came into existence in opposi
tion to all th© secular powers of the world, and that Pontius Pilate
th© instrument of imperial power, put to death the Divine Founder
of th© Faith Hims©lf. Another erroneous statement of Thurlow's
was that before th© tim© of Constantino it was nover the practice
of th© Church to pray for kings. S. Paul's own words show th©
Lord Chancellor's deficiency in spiritual knowledge. Th© Apostle
said in his epistle to Timothy—" I exhort, therofor©, that, first of

174 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be
mad© for all men ; for kings and all that ar© in authority ; that
we may lead a quiet and peaceable lif© in all godliness and
honesty." RE-ORDINATION IMPRACTICABLE.
Lord Thurlow suggested that th© Scottish clergy could qualify
themselves for preferment in England by being re-ordained by an
English Bishop. He was promptly told by Lord Stermont that
not only would th© Scottish clorgy refus© to be re-ordained, but
that neither an English nor an Irish Bishop would consent to re-
ordain them. The Erastian Lord Chancellor did not know that th©
Bishops and clergy who took part in a service of re-ordination
would be liable to ex-communication.

BISHOP HORSLEY.
The Right Rev. Samuel Horsley, Bishop of St. David's, was
the only member of the Episcopal bench who took up the cause
of th© Scottish Episcopal Church in an enthusiastic way. In 1792
h© was decidedly th© most talented of the English Bishops.
Eminent both in science and theology, he skilfully defended Chris
tianity against the attacks of Priestley. He was successively
Bishop of S. David's, Rochester, and S. Asaph. Bishop Horsley's
intellectual power appears in all his compositions, and as the late
Professor Eadie declared, " he was a learned, mighty, fearless, and
haughty champion of the theology and constitution of th© Anglican
establishment." (See " Lif© of Bishop Horsloy," by the late Pro
fessor Eadie.)
As was to b© expected, this " polemical giant " made the great
speech of th© d©bate on the subject of th© " disabilities," and cor
roborated all that the previous speakers had said of th© Bill before
th© House. From his knowlodge of Scottish eccl©siastical history,
he was abi© to confute all th© errors into which his patron, the
Lord Chancellor had fallen. Horsley was Bishop of S. David's
in 1792. H© proved, in opposition to Lord Thurlow, that th©
early Christians always prayed, even for the princes that perse
cuted them. Doubtless S. Paul and his fellow-apostles' prayed for
the tyrant Nero. Th© refusal of the non- jurors to pray for King
George was a special case, which. Bishop Horsley said, had now
ceased to operate. The leamed prelate also showed that Parlia
ment had nothing whatsoever to do with Scottish orders. The

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 175
simple question before the House was — Were the members of the
Scottish Episcopal Church good subjcts, and were they fit to be
tolerated ? When it came to be a simple qu©stion of toleration no
one had a right to question the validity of their Orders. In regard
to their religious opinions, their very assimilation to th© Estab
lished Church of England constituted their difference from the
Established Church of Scotland. With roferenc© to the solemnisa
tion of marriages by the Scottish Episcopal clergy, they do so
legally, and their marriages were " good and valid by the laws of
Scotland." Thes© were the salient points of Bishop Horsley's
speech, and his arguments were unanswerable.
PASSING OF THE SECOND READING.
Lord Kinnoul having added a few words about the respecta
bility and the becoming and exemplary behaviour of the Scottish
Episcopal Church, the Bill passed the second reading without a
division. A clause was inserted requiring the subscription of the
xxxix. Articles, and the Primus, after some hesitation, agreed that
this should be done. LORD THURLOW'S EMBARGO.
Some restrictive clauses were contained in the measure, one
of which was greatly to b© r©gretted. That was a provision pro
hibiting clergymen of Scottish ordination from " taking any curacy,
benefice, or other spiritual promotion within that part of Great
Britain called England." That was the great blemish in the Act
of Relief, for which the opposition of the Lord Chancellor was
chiefly to blame. The hindrance may therefore fitly be styled
"Lord Thurlow's Embargo." We are also disappointed at the
lukewarm attitude of th© English episcopate. Only one, th© great
Bishop Horsley, exhibited real enthusiasm in advancing the Scot
tish cause, and for this his memory will ever be fragrant in the
northem communion. W© must look for som© working cause to
account for th© existence of any hostility to such an enactment
in favour of toleration and religious liberty. That is to be found
in the prevailing Erastianism and general want of spiritual anima
tion which at th© time pervaded th© whol© of th© Establish©d Church
of England. REVIVAL REQUIRED.
No stronger proof of the want of spiritual life in the Church
can be put forward than the fact that before the War of Independ-

176 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
©nee in America the Church of England had neglected to send
Bishops beyond th© Atlantic wav© to her children in the faith.
During all the long years previous to the Civil War th© Anglican
Church had left them without Episcopal supervision, and candi
dates for th© ministry of th© Church in Am©rica had to undertake
perilous voyages in sailing ships to obtain what ought to have been
bestowed at home. Many young men perished on th© stormy way,
going or roturning. This is a conclusive proof of th© g©neral d©ad-
ness in the body ecclesiastic in th© eighteenth century. The
re-action had already begun in the labours of John Wesley and
others, and was to be followed by the general and more powerful
revival of the nineteenth century.
FINAL PASSING OF THE BILL.
The Bill received the royal assent on June 15th, 1792. It
repealed the old penal laws, but enacted a new disability which
had n©ver before existed. Lord Thurlow's restriction was a con
tinuance of the persecution under a different phase. The Lord
Chancellor was dismissed from offic© on th© very day of the passing
of th© Act of Repeal. He had been at variance with Pitt, and
th© King could dispense with the services of Thurlow, but not
with those of his leading statesman. To the harassed and long-
suffering Episcopal Church of Scotland th© days of outlawry and
proscription were over, and th© era of prosperity had begun. The
Seabury Consecration was the first speck of blue in the darkened
sky, and now there followed the dispersion of the clouds and th©
sunshine of brighter days. (Se© Very Rev. Dean Walker's " Lif©
of Bishop John Skinnor," pp. 122-137.)
CONVENTION AT LAURENCEKIRK.
John Skinner was the chief agent in bringing the repeal
measure through all its various stages to a successful conclusion.
In a Convention of Clergy and Laity held at Laur©no©kirk on
August 22nd, 1792, h© recounted the steps taken to secur© the
repeal of the penal laws, and he described th© Act in d©tail. Ex
clusion from English livings was treated by him with emphatic
indifference. He declared that the Scottish Church should " have
none else for its ministers but those who expect their reward in
a better country than England, and from a Master whose kingdom
is not of this world." This was true indeed, but did not excuse
th© State for continuing, though in a lesser degree, to persecute a

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 177
religion. With reference to the subscription to the thirty-nine
Articles, the Primus stated that th© clergy wer© only required to
accept their "general doctrine." (See Stephen's "History of the
Scottish Church," II. , 554, 555; and Grub's "Ecclesiastical His
tory," IV., 110, 111.) The Convention approved of everything
that had been done in connection with the Repeal Bill. Th© Act
completely freed the laity.
GRATITUDE TO BENEFACTORS.
Scottish Churchmen should always remember with gratitude
for this great Act of deUv©rance the names of Primus John
Skinner, Bishop Horsley, the Rev. Dr George Gaskin, Mr James
Allan Park, and Mr William Stevens. The last three wer© th©
London Committee. THE QUALIFIED CLERGY.
Another benefit conferred on the Church by the Primus was
his bringing within her fold th© chi©f cl©rgy in English Orders
officiating in Sccotland. One of these, Dr Daniel Sandford, was
afterwards consecrated Bishop of Edinburgh on January 15th,
1806. This could scarcely have been possible without the Act Of
1792. (See Grub's "Ecclesiastical History," IV., 124; and
Stephen's "History of th© Scottish Church," IL, 557, 558.) In
after days this union l©d up to the successful attempts for remov
ing the obnoxious restrictions.

II. Unity of Anglican Communion.
REPEAL ACT OF 1840.
As time went on attention was drawn to the blemish upon th©
R©p©al Act of 1840, and resolutions were formed by Churchmen to
take measures for its rectification. It was felt that th© existence
of th© restrictions impaired th© unity of th© Anglican Communion,
and that steps ought to b© taken to render the oneness of that
Church evident and plain to th© whol© world.
BISHOP LOW AT COVENTRY.
Th© Right Rev. David Low, Bishop of Moray and Ross, in
1833 wrote to the Rev. Dr Hook, Vicar of Trinity Church, Coven
try, intimating a long promised visit to the hom© of that English

178 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
divine. Dr Hook, replying to th© Bishop, said that h© had
mentionod his coming to Judge Park, who was deeply interested
in everything that related to the Scottish Church. Ther©upon
th© Judg© reminded the English Vicar of the iniquitous Act of
Parliament which prevented a Scottish Bishop from officiating in
England. Dr Hook replied that he would elevate a seat for the
Bishop within the altar-rails, so that though th© State might
silence him the Church would receive him with th© same Episcopal
honour as sh© would offor to h©r own diocesan. The Vicar was as
good as his word, and Bishop Low was received in his church with
all the honour which the Clergy of the place could show him.
This was not only out of respoct to his high personal character,
but also as a r©pr©sentativ© of a sister church. Th©y regarded
her as being most unjustly debarred from active Communion with
the Church of England. Their high estimation of a depressed
branch of the Anglican Communion found expression in the
public respect offered to on© of her indigenous Bishops. In the
noble Church of Coventry the Scottish prelate teok his rightful
place within the chancel rails, though from the stain upon th© Act
of 1792 h© could take no ministerial part in th© service. The
Bishop's visit to Coventry raised many friends to his Church in
Scotland, whose influence was afterwards to act most powerfully
on her behalf. THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
Bishop Low never lost sight of the defect in the R©p©al Act
of 1792. While r©U©ving th© Scottish clorgy from pains and
penalties for officiating at home, it expressly prohibited them from
performing divin© service south of the Border. The Bishop of
Moray and Ross took every opportunity of pressing this odious
and uncatholic restriction upon the attention of his correspondents.
Everyone who could b© r©ached by him in Church or State was
told of the glaring injustice to th© long-suffering body, and co
operation was soUcited in an attempt for its removal. At length
in 1835 Archbishop Howley gav© an assuranc© that th© grievance
had com© und©r th© notice and consideration of the English
Bishops. Th© Primate called the attention of a numerous
assemblag© of Bishops to th© disqualifying clause in the Act of
1792. They saw th© injustice at once, and sent a request for
further information on th© subject from Bishop Low and his Epis
copal colleagues. Particulars of th© injurious effects of th© damag-

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 179
ing clause, and of the modifications deemed necessary for remov
ing it were solicited from th© northern prelates. The latter were
told that such information would be treated with the greatest
respect, and with the sincere desire of acceding to their wishes.
At the same time, th© Archbishop hinted that it was not expedi
ent at present to bring forward measures relating to the Church
without urgent necessity.
¦< ACT, ACT IN THE LIVING PRESENT " (Longfellow).
Strange to say. Bishop Low's endeavours in this direction did
not meet with universal concurrence among Scottish Churchmen.
Many of them were so pleased with the exercise of religious liberty
at home that they had no wish for permission to officiate in Eng
land. At that particular time they doubted the prudence of an
attempt to secure greater privileges for their Church. While the
friends and associates of the Bishop were delighted with his ener
getic efforts, others wer© very lukewarm in regard to the proposal.
In England ther© was some opposition, notwithstanding th© good
will of the venerable Archbishop and other influontial parties.
Then the spirit of revival had begun to stir th© air at Oxford and
throughout th© whol© of England. Ther© were also some who
dreaded lest the public agitation of any ecclesiastical question might
endanger their own precarious interests. Resistance had the effect
of making the Scottish prelate all the more determined to act.
He wrote to Primus Walker asking him to compose a document
for signature by himself and th© other Bishops, in accordance
with th© wish of th© English metropolitan. While doing so,
the Bishop expressed his indignation at the ungenerous conduct
of those authorities of the southern Church who were trying to
thwart the scheme. The excuse always put forward by them was
that the time was not a fit season to make further exertion in th©
cause. A Scottish Baronot, who thought sirongly on the matter,
thus expressed his opinions to the Bishop—" Nin© years ago (and
thos© w©r© days of public tranquility) you know that the very
same claims were mad©, and the same caus© advocated; and you
know by whom: but without effect. Neither a time of tran
quility nor of agitation seems ever a fit season for making any
concessions to us. If no attention is paid to us in high quarters,
I am determined," added the outspoken Churchman, in
a translated Latin phrase, "to move heav©n and earth."
Delays occurred in the preparation of th© memorial, and in organis-

180 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
ing a definite campaign. Still the Bishop of Moray and Ross did
not ceas© to us© ©very means of influencing his fellow-Churchmen
both north and south of th© Border.

CLERGY OF SCOTTISH ORDINATION IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND.
Bishop Low always insisted that previous to th© Rovolution
of 1690, and from that date up to 1792, th© Episcopal Churches
of England, Scotland, and Ireland were identified, so that a clergy
man of on© of them was eligible to th© highest station in th©
other. The Bishop might have quoted many examples of this ; but
it will suffice to mention a few. Robert Leighton was in English
Orders, having been consecrated as Bishop of Dunblane, in West
minster Abbey, in 1661, by the Bishops of London, Worcester,
Carlisle, and Landaff . Imm©diately before his consecration, he was
ordained Deacon and Priest by the English Bishops. Leighton
afterwards became Archbishop of Glasgow, but resigned his Arch
bishopric in 1673. Retiring to the county of Sussex, h© liv©d at
Horsted Keynes, on an ©state belonging to his widowed sister.
There he assisted the clergy in their ordinary parochial duties,
preaching and reading th© services in the Book of Common Prayer
which h© loved so well. John Tillotson was in Scottish orders both
as Deacon and Priest, having been ordained in England during
the time of the Commonwealth by Sydsorf, Bishop of Galloway.
H© was consocrated Archbishop of Canterbury in 1691. Gilbert
Burnet, a celebrated writer, was born at Edinburgh in 1643. Hav
ing received a liberal education, h© was ordainod Deacon and Priest
in 1664 by Dr Wishart, Bishop of Edinburgh. In the same year
he became minister of Saltoun, in Scotland. He left the country
in troublous times, but returned with William of Orange in 1688.
His consecration as Bishop of Salisbury took place in the follow
ing year. James Greenshields was ordained by the Bishop of Ross
in Scotland after 1690, and afterwards was admitted to curacies in
the several Dioc©s©s of Down and Armagh. H© returned to Scot
land in 1704, and officiated there as an Episcopal clergyman.
Alexander Cairncross, who had been Archbishop of Glasgow from
1684 to 1687, was, by William III., appointed Bishop of Raphoe
in Ireland. He filled that See till his death in 1701. Dean
Durrel, of Windsor, and Dean Brevent, of Durham, were also
clergymen holding Scottish Orders. All of these, excepting
Leighton, who was consecrated on a Scottish title, wer© pastors

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 181
of Scottish ordination. Also the Scottish Bishops, after disestab
lishment, continued to be addressed by th© Sovereign under the
ecclesiastical titles which they had enjoyed before th© Revolution. In
the reign of Queen Anne the United Parliament passed an Act
relieving the Episcopal clergy from certain penalties imposed by
the Scottish Parliament. All these evidences were adduced by
Bishop Low to prove that previous to 1792 there had always been
reciprocity of Orders and preferment between the Episcopal
Churches of Great Britain and Ireland. The Scottish Convention,
he said, had abolished Episcopacy, just as Episcopacy had been
formerly abolished in England. Both Episcopal Churches had
been declared on those occasions not to be the religion of the State,
and this ivas all that the civil power could do. And he pertinently
added that no act of the Scottish Convention could extend to
England or affect the status of the Scottish Episcopal Church in
that country. A COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
At length a Committee was appointed to conduct operations
and endeavour to procure from the legislature a relief from the
grievance. The Committee consisted of three Bishops, three Pres
byters, and three Lay Members of the Church. Bishop Low was
requested to draw up such a memorial as the Archbishop of
Canterbury had desired. H© did so, and the draft of it was
afterwards submitted to the Bishops for their approval. The
memorial set forth that previous to 1690 the Episcopal Churches
of England, Scotland, and Ireland were treated as being identical.
Ther© were the instances just mentioned of English dignitaries
holding Scottish Orders. (See "Scottish Guardian Magazine" of
July and August, 1864, pp. 291-298, 300-302, 347-352.) The
Memorial also said that the Scottish penal laws imposed in 1746
and 1748 were severe and persecuting beyond what the times
required; and it was particularly to be observed that the opera
tion of them was restricted entirely to Scotland. All these were
repealed by a Bill passed in 1792, which at the same time made
enactments Uttle less severe and oppressive than those which had
been rescinded. The prohibitory clauses provided " that no person
exercising the function or assuming the office and character of any
Ordor, in th© Episcopal Communion in Scotland, as aforesaid, shail
be capable of Uking any benefice " in England, or officiating there,
unless h© sh^ll have been lawfully ordained by some Bishop of the

182 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Church of England or Ireland. A complaint was mad© in th©
sam© Memorial that Prosbyterian ministers b©cam© entitled to all
the benefits and privileges of th© Established Church of England
on their being ordained by an English Bishop; and that Roman
Catholic priests could be admitted to th© sam© privileges upon
their renouncing th© errors of popery. Th© memorialists com
plained of th© hardship and injustice of th© restraining clauses of
the Act of 1792, which they said affected their spiritual character
and civil interests in society. They craved and claimed to be
restored to their status in the reign of Queen Ann©. At th© sam©
time, they were willing that no clergymen of th© Episcopal Com
munion in Scotland, except such as had been ordained by an
English or Irish Bishop, should b© capable of accepting any pre
ferment in England, unless with the consent of the Bishop of th©
Dioces© and the Archbishop of the Province, and unless h© shall
have officiated as pastor in some congregation in Scotland at least
three years after having been in priests' orders.
PRESENTATION OF MEMORIAL.
The memorial was adopted and presented to the English Arch
bishops and Bishops. A petition to Parliament on the same sub
ject was written by Bishop Low, and presented som© time later.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and th© Bishop of London recom
mended the delegation of one of the Scottish Bishops to superin
tend th© progross of the Bill through Parliament. In accordance
with this recommendation, Bishop Russell was appointed to pro
ceed to London. " There," said the Bishop of Moray and Ross,
" his gentle, amiable manners and high literary attainments did
us much honour." THE BILL IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
The Bill was introduced into the House of Lords by th©
Archbishop of Canterbury on June 18th, 1840, and the presence
of Bishop Russell did much to speed its progress. It proposed to
empower any English Bishop to " grant permission to any Bishop
or clergyman of Scottish ordination to perform all the sacred func
tions of his Order in any Church within his own Diocese for any
on© or two Sundays, — th© permission being from time to time
renewable; under the provision that the party applying for such
permission should produce letters commendatory — in the cas© of a
Bishop from two Bishops of the Church to which he belongs, under

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 183
their hand and seal ; and in the cas© of a Priest from th© Bishop
exercising Episcopal functions within the district or place in which
such priest usually officiates." PASSING OF THE BILL.
Though the privileges to b© conferred were narrow, two im
portant principles were, at all events, conceded. They recognised,
in the first place, th© validity of the Orders of the Bishops and
Clergy of the Scottish Church, which some enemies wer© always
ready to gainsay. Secondly, they acknowledged the actually spiri
tual character of th© Scottish Bishops. The Archbishop's atten
tion was specially directed to these two points when h© introduced
the measure. Th© Bill, with som© amendments, passed both Houses
of Parliament, and received the royal assent on July 23rd, 1840.
A NIGGARDLY CONCESSION OF RIGHTS.
Bishop Low was highly gratified with this Act so far as it
went, and ©xpr©ssed himself in warm terms of thankfulness to all
those who had exerted their influence in its favour. At the same
time, he did not fail to express his strong dissatisfaction with the
remaining embargo which prevented clergymen of Scottish ordina
tion from holding any preferment in England. The Parliament
conceded to the Scottish CHiurch a niggardly instalment of justice
and religious liberty, which has always advanced by slow degrees.
(Se© Steph©n's "History of the Scottish Church," II., 607; and
the Rev. William Blatch's "Memoir of Bishop Low, pp. 211-227.)
A SCOTTISH BISHOP AT LEEDS.
Th© beneficial effect of the Act of 1840 was exemplified in
th© person of Bishop Low himself. The Consecration of the Parish
Church at Leeds gav© an opportunity for illustrating th© inter
communion existing between the English Establishment and the
sister Churches of Scotland and America. Dr Hook, who formerly
entertained Bishop Low at Coventry was then Vicar of Leeds.
After the petition for consecration had been read at the door of
th© church, th© Archbishop of York, th© Bishop of the Diocese,
th© Bishop of Moray, Ross, and Argyll, the Bishop of New Jersey,'
and the clergy proceeded up th© nav© of th© church repeating the
24th Psalm. The ©pistl© was r©ad by th© Bishop of New Jersey,
and the Gospel by th© Scottish Bishop. The sormon on th© solomn
occasion was preach©d by the Bishop of New Jersey. He said

184 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
that on his return to his own land, American Churchmen would
remember how, " when f©rv©nt Seabury set out on his venture for
th© cross, the Bishops of the Church of Scotland heard his prayer,
and sent him back with th© authority and grac© of th© Episcopate to
be th© first apostl© of th© W©st." Having ref©rr©d to th© presence
of representatives of the English, Scottish, and American Epis
copate at the soul-stirring service, h© said that it was th© clearest
and most powerful demonstration, " which this age has shown, that
Christ's Church everywhere is one." On that day the tall,
meagre, and venerable figure of th© Scottish Bishop created much
sensation, his very designation coming upon th© public ©ar with a
feeling of strangeness. This was the first occasion for one hundred
and fifty years on which a Scottish Bishop had been so recognised
in th© Established Church of England. (See Rev. William Blatch's
" Memoirs of Bishop Low," pp. 228-238.)

III. Triumph of Religious Liberty.
REPEAL ACT OF 1864.
The grudging and limited recognition of Scottish Orders made
by th© R©p©al Act of 1840 was far from giving satisfaction, and
very soon steps began to be taken for the removal of the remaining
disabiliti©s. Th© measure of 1840 could not be looked upon as
final. THE BUGLE CALL.
A sormon preached in Westminster Abbey by Bishop Wilber
force of Oxford, in 1852 was thebugl© call to renewed action for
the removal of the remaining disabilities. Th© son of th© man
who roused a nation to action for th© liberation of the slaves was
a fit person to sound this call. As a Bishop, th© R©stor©r of th©
Episcopate was no mer© appanage of th© State, but a
leader in th© armi©s of the living God. In the cours© of his
ihost eloquent discours©, the preacher said that the present legal
impediments " to th© service of the clergy, both of Scottish and
American ordination, in our Church undoubtedly must b© con
sidered." Alluding to th© Act of 1840, he declared that it had
not the effect of identifying the interests of th© two Churches from
the imperfect extent of its operations. It had also th© result of
embarrassing the relations of th© Episcopal Church of Scotland

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 185
with that of Ireland, before unaffected by civil legislation. The
English revival begun at Oxford about seventeen years before this
sermon was preached had re-invigorated th© Anglican Church, and
was sapping Erastianism to its v©ry foundations. On© of its
primal consequences was to prov© before the whol© world that the
branches of th© Anglican Communion in England, Ireland, Scot
land, and America wer© identical in evangelical truth and apos
tolical order. (See " Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal " for 1852,
pp. 210, 211.) ANSWER TO THE BUGLE CALL.
The summons to battle for tho cause of religious liberty was
answered at one© from Scotland. The Diocesan Synod of Glasgow
and Galloway, which met on September Sth, 1852, passed resolu
tions regarding the civil disabilities which aff©ct©d th© Episcopal
churches north and south of the Cheviots. Th© Synod complained
that Scottish clergy wer© d©clar©d inadmissibl© for preferment in
th© Church of England. Communion between the two churches
wasi on this account fettered and made imperfect, whereas formorly
they stood in the closest relation to each other. It was averred
by the meeting that th© Church in Scotland, which cheerfully
accepted th© services of English and Irish clergymen, laboured
under serious disadvantages by reason of the anomalous prohibi
tion. Th© members of the Synod agreed in thinking that the
evils guarded against by the restrictions could easily b© pr©vented
without a serious breach of unity. They requested the Bishops
of the Church to give their attention to the subject, and take
such steps as might seem most likely to lead to a remedy of the
grievance. Th© Synod thankod the Lord Bishop of Oxford on
account of th© anxiety he had shown for th© removal of thes©
restrictions, as well as for the lively inter©st which h© had always
tak©n in everything that concerned the welfare of the Church.
(See "Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal" for 1852, pp. 210, 211.)
LUKEWARMNESS IN ENGLAND.
In 1853 the demand for the redress of the grievances was re
newed in Scotland. The clergy were exhorted to act unitedly with
their frien(k and send up a petition to Parliament for professional
©mancipation from penal enactments. Some of the dignitaries of
th© Church of England regarded this movement with indifference.
Their apathy at on© tim© threatened to lead to the abandonment

186 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
of the task. Notwithstanding this, a strenuous endeavour was
mad© near th© clos© of th© Parliamentary session of 1853 to pro-
cur© th© removal of the most unjust, unnecessary, and invidious
restrictions. (See "Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal" of 1853, p.
107.) A PRIVATE BILL.
The first direct step taken to abolish the stigma which had
been imposed upon th© indigenous Scottish clergy took the shape
of what was called a private Bill on behalf of an individual clergy
man. The Bill was intituled — " An Act to enable George Shipton,
clerk, to exercise his office of priest, and to hold any Benefice or
Preferment in the United Church of England and Ireland." Mr
Shipton was Episcopal clorgyman of Stornoway, in th© island of
Lewis, and had been ordained priest in 1851 by Alexander, Bishop
of Argyll and The Isles. Having been presented to th© perpetual
curacy of Barlow, in the county of Derby, and in the Diocese of
Lichfield, he was unable to accept of th© appointmont on account
of th© restrictions containod in th© statutes of 1840. The private
Bill placed Mr Shipton on exactly the sam© footing with his
brethren in English Orders. Nothing could hav© been more applic
able by way of precedent. It foretold that bofore long the old
unjust enactment, which was a disfigurement to any Christian
Statute Book, would b© entirely erased. (Se© " Scottish Ecclesi
astical Joumal " for 1856, pp. 106, 107.)
THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE, M.P.
On th© 24th of July, 1856, a discussion took place in Parlia-
m©nt on the threatened withdrawal of a small biennial grant of
£1200, which for a considerable time had been given to the Scot
tish Episcopal Church. Taking advantage of th© opportunity,
the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone made a splendid appeal to th©
Governmont to remove the civil disabilities from the Scottish
clergy. Th© principal facts of th© case wer© well brought out in
his speech, and in that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. A
member of Parliament declared that the religious disabilities under
which the Scottish Episcopal clergy laboured wer© a disgrace to-
modern civilisation, and a reproach to the statute-book. During
the debate, Mr Gladstone obtained a promise from th© Chancellor
of the Exchequer not to oppose th© removal of the disabilities
from the Scottish clergy. (See " Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal "
of 1856, pp. 122, 123.) In th© course of this debate in the House-

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 187
of Commons it was felt that the general ignorance upon th© Bub-
j©ct was th© tru© caus© why th© disabilities were not removed long
ago. A COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
At an Episcopal Synod held in Edinburgh on September 25th,
1856, a Committe© was appointed consisting of th© Bishops of
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Moray, and St. Andrews to confer with the
English Bishops on the subject of th© r©moval of the disabilities.
Petitions wer© ordored to be prepared and pres©nted to both
Houses of Parliament for the attainment of the same object. (See
" Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal " for October, 1856, p. 160.)
Strang© to say, there were som© of the Scottish clergy themselves
who deprecated th© removal of th© disabling statutes. They
thought that the Scottish Church required all the indigenous clergy
for her own services, and could spare non© of them for th© Church
of England. Removal of th© impediments, they said, would
facilitate th© migration of many of them to a richer Church and
a sunnier clime. (See " Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal " for 1856,
pp. 153, 154.) Th© Episcopal Synod movement required " immedi
ate action, unity of purpose, cautious procedure, and regard for
ecclesiastical authority." The Bishops thought that no tim© should
be lost, and that car© should be taken not to mar a good work
by ill-considered action. (See "Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal"
for November, 1856, pp. 170, 171.)
STATEMENT OF THE CASE.
Th© Episcopal Synod Committe© on September 25th, 1856,
prepared and sanctioned a statement of the case. After giving a
summary of the history of th© Episcopal Church from 1661, and
the ©ffects of th© insurrections of 1715 and 1745, th© statement
described the Act of 1840, with its advantages and disadvantages.
One of its benefits was that the Scottish Bishops wer© recognised
in English law as Bishops, and th© Priests were recognised as
Priests. Moreover, both Bishops and Priests were legally admis
sible " to porform Divin© servic©, and pr©ach, and administer the
Sacraments" in the Churches of England and Ireland. At th©
sam© time, they wer© absolutely excluded from all possibility of
holding cure or benefice in a Church of which they, in common
with every member of th© Scottish Episcopal Church, so soon as
th©y crossed the Border, considered themselves members. The
compilers of th© statement prayed for a repeal of the prohibition.

188 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
which had no longer, as they b©U©v©d, any ground whatsoever to
T'^t upon, ©ither in an ecclesiastical or civil point of view. (See
" Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal " of March, 1857, pp. 39, 40.)
POSTPONEMENT OF BILL.
The Parliam©ntary s©ssion of March, 1857, was cut short sud
denly, almost before it had proceeded to business, and the first
session of th© n©w Parliament was expected to be both busy and
stormy. For this reason, at such a time, there was no prospect
of redress from the legislature. All that th© Scottish Church
askod was the restoration of reciprocity regarding preferment in
England and Scotland which formerly existed between 1661 and
1792. (Se© " Scottish Ecclesiastical Joumal " of March, 1857,
pp. 41, 42.) OPINION OF COUNSEL.
The Committe© of Bishops submitted to Counsel the case of
the disabilities of the Scottish clergy. This was done by preparing
for counsel a full statement of historical events and previous logis-
lation boaring upon th© subject. Th© statem©nt was prepared by
Mr Mundell, the junior counsel employed. There were several
points on which the Committee requested tb© opinion of Messrs J.
Addams and William Adam Mundell, emin©nt l©gal practitioners
of Doctors' Commons, London. These were: —
1. Assuming th© l©gislature to have be©n silent on the subject,
would a Scottish priest, upon producing his Letters of
Orders to an English or Irish Bishop, be entitled to claim
institution to a benefice?
2 . Hav© the Statutes requiring registration of Orders any effect
upon th© validity of Orders in th© Scottish Church?
3. Could a Romish priest ordained by a foreign Bishop claim
institution on presenting his Letters of Orders? Would
ther© be any distinction had th© Orders been conferr©d by
a Romish Bishop within the UniEed Kingdom?
4. Wh©th©r, but for the restrictive legislation, would all degrees
of the Scottish Episcopal priesthood b© entitled to take
privileges with the Clergy of England and Ireland?
All of these questions, with the exception of th© second part
of th© third, were answered by Counsel in the affirmative. Re
garding the second part of the third question. Counsel replied

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 189
that there would be no difference whether the Orders in question
had been conferred by a foreign Romish Bishop or by one in th©
Unit©d Kingdom. (See " Scottish Ecclosiastical Journal " of
April, 1857, pp. 55-58.) A NEEDFUL WARNING.
Shortly after this, th© Lord Advocate sounded a note of warn
ing to the members of the Scottish Episcopal Church. H© said
that it was a mistake to suppose that by dropping their peculiari
ties and adopting English modes they would put themselves in a
better position. In his opinion the bold assertion of the independ
ence of the Church would in every way b© best for their interosts.
Acting on such wise advice, Scottish Churchmen would do well
to conserve the position of their own national Communion Office.
(See "Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal" of April, 1857, pp. 62,
63.) SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLIES.
The Disabilities' Bill of the Episcopal Church came up before
th© Established Church Assembly in 1857. It was brought for
ward in the shape of an overture from the Presbyterian Synod
of Lothian and Tweeddale. This resolution, promoted by th©
Rev. Mr Phin, Presbyterian minister of Galashiels, stated " that
th© said Bill would injuriously affect the interests of Protestantism
and the constitutional rights and privileges of th© Church of
Scotland." Th© subordinate Court, therefore, humbly overturned
th© G6n©ral Ass©mbly summoned to meet at Edinburgh on May
21st, 1857, "to appoint a Committee to watch over any such
measur©." Th© overture was dismissed as being premature and
unnecessary. (Se© "Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal" of Jim©,
1857, pp. 97, 98.) In th© Free Church Assembly of the same
year, a motion was mad© that a Committee b© appointed to watch
over the Episcopal Disabihties' Bill when it should b© introduced
into Parliament. Th© motion was passed, th© debate showing that
th© l©aders did not understand th© real import of th© proposed
measure. (See "Scottish Ecclesiastical Joumal" of 1857 pp
98, 99.) ANOTHER PRIVATE BILL.
Lord Redesdal©, in the House of Lords, explained that a
Bill which was being introduced was intended to enable the Rev.
Mr Shepherd, who had been ordained in the Scottish Episcopal

190 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Church, to hold an English benefice. This turned out to b© a
mistak©, as th© petitioner was in American Orders, and was not
ordained in Scotland. The Earl of Shaftesbury moved that the
Bill b© referred to a Select Committee, who should consider
whether or not it was desirable that some general measur© on the
subject should be introduced. The Bill was read a second time,
and afterwards passed. (See "Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal"
of 1857, p. 99.) TERRITORIAL TITLES.
In th© progress of the debate on Mr Shepherd's private Bill
some of the speakers objected to Bishop Skinner using the terri
torial title of Bishop of Aberdeen. They said it was both
objectionable and an innovation. It was not an innovation, for
a similar territorial titl© was used in a Bill which passed through
both Houses of Parhament in 1851. Sovereigns of Great Britain,
called th© disestablished Scottish Bishops by their territorial
titles'. Moreover, who has any right to object to th© Free Church
employing the designations of Free Presbytery of Edinburgh or
Fre© Synod of Lothian? All bodies of Christians have a right
to use territorial titles as applied to themselves, when they fiud
it convenient. (See " Scottish Ecclesiastical " of 1857, p. 109.)
INACTION IN 1858.
Little was done in 1858 to advance the Caus© of emancipa
tion from th© civil restrictions. Most ecclesiastical minds in
Scotland were th©n engrossed' with the consideration of the
Eucharistic Controversy. IMPORTUNATE PETITIONERS.
The Scottish Episcopal Clergy were lik© the importunate widow
who persisted in making her request to th© unjust judge, till h©
was constrained to grant it. Any clergyman, who could give
satisfactory reasons for seeking th© r©moval of th© disability in
his own individual case, could obtain relief by th© expensive pro
cess of a private Act of Parliament. This was done in several
cases till the legislature became wearied out by the applications.
In five different instances it had recognised the right of a clergy
man, who had given satisfactory reasons for a relaxation of the
law in his favour to obtain such rolaxation. At last an applica
tion for such alleviation was mad© by th© R©v. Mr Grieve, Epis
copal clergyman of Banchory-Ternan, which was refused by the

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 191
House of Commons. The lower Chamber refused, because it
thought it time to put a stop to private Bills of this description.
Th© rejection excluded not only Scottish ordained clergy, but also
pastors of American Episcopal ordination, from offic© in th© Church
of England. SCOTTISH COMMUNION OFFICE.
Some objected to the Scottish Communion Office as a bar to
perpetual relief from the unjust law. In reply to this, it must
be stated that there is no doctrinal difference between the English
and Scottish Offices; and divines of high name and orthodoxy
agreed in thinking the Scottish Office " more conformable to primi
tive models, and mor© edifying than the English."
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTION GROUNDLESS.
Another objection to the abolition of the restrictions was that
the Church of England might suffer by the introduction to her
ministry of persons whom the Bishops in that country would con
sider educationally unfit for the sacred office. The objection was
groundless, for th© Scottish Episcopal Church of th© time required
" that no person be received as a candidate for Holy Orders who
shall not have first gone through a regular acad©mical cours© in
som© university or college."
A GENERAL MEASURE DEMANDED.
The relations between the Episcopal Churches of England and
Scotland were noticed in the House of Commons in connection
with the rejection of Mr Grieve' s Bill. The measur© had been
rejected by a majority of 232 to 84. This happened mainly from
th© objections to private Bills, as they wer© termed, for making
exceptions to th© general law of the land, without any very special
individual gri©vanc© being alleged. It was felt that the Scot
tish Bishops and Clergy should draw up a plain statement of the
existing prohibitions with regard to their position when in Eng
land, the extent to which they desired thes© r©strictions to b©
r©moved, and th© security which they offered in respect to the
most important objections to be urged in England against such
removal. As regards th© Colonial Clergy th© matter had been
broached in the English Convocation, and it was thought that
a Committee of the two Houses of that body might b© appointed
to draw up a roport upon th© entire cas© with a view to legisla-

192 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
tion. Th© Committe© would, of course, requir© from th© Scottish
Church, as well as from the Colonial Churches, some document
giving security that the Candidate for preferment in England
had attained to a certain status in literary and academical
qualifications. (See " Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal " of July,
1859, p. 118.) LORD PALMERSTON.
Lord Palmerston's objections to the passing of Mr Grieve's
Bill were given by that statesman in most precise terms. He said
" that he wished to state in few words the grounds upon which
he should giv© his vote against this Bill. Th© discussion, as far
as th© legal arguments had gone, had been a discussion on th©
m©rits of th© law, and no doubt on that point enquiry might
be advisable. It might be a fit subject for the House to enter
tain, whether th© present law should or should not be continued;
and if not, in what degree it should be modified. But in prin
ciple there was a great objection to all Bills establishing excep
tions to the general law of the land ; and though he might regret
that th© r©verend g©ntleman interested in this question should be
put to unnecessary expens©, it was nev©rtheless tim© to put a stop
to private Bills of this doscription. If, howover, it was deemed
right that the law should be reconsidered on its own grounds, he
was quite ready to assent to any such enquiry. (See " Scottish
Ecclesiastical Journal " for July, 1859, pp. 121, 122.)
A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
The action of th© House of Commons in dismissing Mr
Grieve's private Bill for th© removal of his clerical disabilities
was a blessing in disguise. By this rejection attention was drawn
to the hardship inflicted upon the Scottish Episcopal Clergy by
th© unjust r©strictions. For som© years th© mindsi of Scottish
Churchmen had been so much engrossed with th© Eucharistic con
troversy and th© proposal to convene a Greneral Synod that nothing
definite was attempted about this important matter. Early in
th© summer of 1864 the Parliamentary campaign was again
resumed, under th© leadership of th© Duke of Buccleuch in the
Hous© of Lords. Goneral satisfaction was express©d wh©n th©
Earl of Doncaster introducod into th© Upper House " a Bill for
th© removal of th© disabilities" which aff©cted th© Scottish or
dained clergy.

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 193
EXPLANATIONS OF THE BILU
Th© Bill was introduced for second reading to th© House of
Lords on June 26th, 1864, by the Duk© of Buccl©uch. Fram©d
under th© guidance of eminent English lawyers, and proposed by
on© so much respected by His Grace, th© m©asur© was certain to
b© successful. It was explained that th© "disabilities" affected
the power of th© Scottish clergy to hold pr©f©rment south of the
Border. They could pr©ach, administer th© 3acram©nts, and do
all things compotent to th©ir Order in England, but their licence
to officiate ther© had to b© r©n©wed ©v©ry second Sunday. The
disqualifications had originally been imposed for purely civil and
political reasons, but from 1716 to 1792 they had applied to Scot
land only. In the latter year they were removed so far as they
affected th© clergy performing th© duties of their Office in Scot
land. An obstacle to their complete abolition arose from the
personal ill-will and misunderstanding of Lord Chancellor Thur
low. He caused a proviso to be included in the Act of relief,
which for the first time declared th© Scottish ordainod cl©rgy in
capable of holding English benefices. In th© Act of 1792 nothing
was said about Ireland. Anothor Bill in 1840 so far romoved
th© disability, but at th© sam© time declared it unlawful for
Scottish ordained ministers to do more than officiate for two
Sundays at a time, and that with the express sanction of the
Bishop of the Dioces© in th© Established Church of England and
Ireland. The mention of Ireland, introduced into th© Act of
1840, inflicted a fresh injury, for th© Church of Iroland had
always previously be©n open for duty to th© Scottish clorgy. Th©se
facte were laid befor© Parliament and th© general public in 1864.
It was also pointed out at that time that th© " disabilities " had
been purely civil and personal to th© clergy, and in no way
ecclesiastical. FULL COMMUNION.
About th© middle of th© nineteenth century it was the prac
tice of som© ignorant poople to speak of the Scottish Episcopal
Church as not being in full communion with th© Church of Eng
land. Misguided peopl© of this class ignorod the fact that the
Scottish Bishops ministered in England as they did in Scotland.
They conflrmed in southem churches. Bishop Eden of Moray did
so in the Diooese of Lichfield and in th© Diocese of Exeter.
Bishop Ewing of Argyll ministerod in this way in the Diocese
of Londou, and the Bishop of Brechin in that of Canterbury. Th©

194 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Church of England had recognised th© Scottish clergy as having
been validly ordained and competent to minister in spiritual
things. Th© Rev. Mr Shipton and th© Rev. T. A. Purdy, or
dained by Scottish Bishops, had been enabled by Act of Parlia
ment to hold preferment in England; and the Right Rev. Dr
Trower, a Bishop consecrated in Scotland, had been appointed by
th© Crown to the Bishopric of Gibraltar. This appointment was
mad© by Letters Patent, in which his consecration by the Scottish
Bishops was recited, and its validity acknowledged. Such a state
ment of facts mad© in 1864 was of gr©at use in demolishing the
argument that th© CSburch of England was not in full oom
munion with th© Scottish Church.
ATTITUDE OF ESTABLISHED CHURCH.
On May 21st, 1864, th© Gen©ral Assembly of the Established
Church of Scotland took up an ovortur© by th© Rev. Dr Lee and
others " regarding th© Scottish Episcopal Disabilities Removal
Bill." In r©gard to it, h© moved that a committee be appointed
" to tak© the sam© into serious consideration and to report to an
eaxlj meeting of the General Assembly." The overture was
opposed by several members of th© hous©. Admiral Hope John
ston© did not think it nooessary or expedient that the Assembly
should move in the matter. He thought they might leave the
Bill to be discussed and taken care of by th© British Parliament.
Other members said the Bill did not infringe at all upon th©
rights of th© Scottish Establishmont. A dignified and temperate
tone pervaded the whole discussion, and was gratefully appreci
ated when reported in th© public prints. Th© committe© was
appointed to make a return on the subject, but eventually it did
not recommend that any opposition should b© mad© to the Bill.
(Se© "Scottish Guardian Magazin©" of Jun©, 1864, pp. 232-235.)
Th©r© -wer© th©n 172 clergy in the Episcopal Church of Scotland,
of whom 70 were in Scottish Orders. Th© rest had been ordained
by English Bishops. All that was wanted was that th© privilege
undoubtedly beloiiging to th© 100 should be ©xtend©d to the
70 also. (Se© " Scottish Guardian Magazine," pp. 210-213.)
SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
Among the Parliamentary notices in th© daily journals of
May 26th, 1864, ther© stood first th© announcement — " Scottish
Episcopal Clergy Disabilities Removal Bill," "second reading and

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 195
the Lords summoned." Attracted by th© notice, "The Strangers'
Gallery " was crowded, and th© Hous© of Lords was well filled
with peers, on the night of what was ©xp©cted to be a grand debate.
Nineteen Bishops wer© in their places, in " unsullied lawn," show
ing by their presence that they fully appreciated th© importance
of th© subject to be discussed. Their demeanour must
hav© been vastly unlike that of the pred©cessors on th© Epis
copal bench in 1792. Then th©y were cold, polite, and listless;
now they wer© keenly ahve to th© d©ep significance of th© ques
tion at issue. Th© Oxford Rovival of the nineteenth century had
don© its work. In 1864 th© Einglish prelates had higher views
of th© Church and of their Episcopal Office, and th© Restorer of
the Episcopate was there himself to plead for the Scottish Church.
THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH.
The Duke of Buccleuch, after presenting several petitions to
the House, rose to move that th© Bill for th© removal of th© dis
abilities be read a second time. H© pr©faced his motion by a brief
historical review of previous legislation, and by a statement of the
present position of those whom th© Bill was intended to rolieve.
He also pointedly referred to the universal ignorance which pre
vailed on th© subject of th© Scottish Church. On that very
night some of the Bishops themselves could fitly have been in
cluded within th© pal© of th© ignorant. (See " Scottish Guardian
Magazin©" of July, 1864, pp. 291-293, 302.)
EARL GRANVILLE.
On th© Duke of Buccleuch resuming his seat, Lord Granville,
as the lead©r of th© House, explained the cours© which th© Gov
emment had decided to take with reference to th© Bill. H© said
that he would not oppose th© socond roading of the Bill, on the
understanding that th© nobl© Duk© would not object to refer it
to a Select Committee. Having this in view, he invited the
Bishops to express their opinions, and so guide th© d©cision of
the House. THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
The appeal of Lord Granville at once brought to his feet th©
Primate of All England, Archbishop Longley. In a few well-
turned s©ntences, his Grace ©xpressed his cordial approval of the
measure, and his concurrence in th© hope that the promoters of
th© Bill would acquiesce in the cours© pursued by th© Govern-

196 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT
ment. His reasons were that many distinguished members of th©
Church had received Orders in Scotland, and that the Communion
of th© two Churches had lasted for a great many years. At this
point it s©em©d as if the compromise would be at once accepted,
had not a movement at the ©xtr©m© end of the Episcopal bench
betokened the opposition that was to coine from that quarter.
(Se© "Scottish Guardian Magazine" of July, 1864, pp. 293, 302.)
THE BISHOP OF DURHAM.
Bishop Baring of Durham having risen, entered a formal pro
test against granting to such a Bill, as he termed it, the privilege
of a second reading. H© quoted Lord Thurlow as an authority
for maintaining intact th© rights of English clorgy to a monopoly
of th© English ben©fic©s. In support of his argument, he mis
represented Bishop Horsley, who in 1792 had been the enthusi
astic friend of th© Scottish Church. This prelate also stated, as
the result of his own experience, that the further you went north
th© mor© ignorant and uneducated th© candidates for Orders be
came. He argued that if Durham was so much worse, in this
respect, than his former Diocese, Gloucester, a fortiori, what
must be the condition of any Dioces© north of the Tweed ? Bishop
Baring's profession of a personal attachment to Episcopacy pro
voked an ironical cheer from a member of the Upper House. H©
sat down with the formal amendment that the Bill be " read a
second time this day six months." (Se© "Scottish Guardian
Magazine" for July, 1864, pp. 293, 294, 303.)
THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK.
The Archbishop of York (Thomson) now followed with a
speech which was most disappointing to the friends of religious
liberty. He admitted that a grievance existed which demanded
a remedy, but claimed for English curates all th© vacant benefices
south of the Cheviots. His Grace also took occasion to animad
vert in hostile terms upon th© Scottish Communion Offic©, but
stated, at the same time, that he did not wish to oppose th©
second reading of th© Bill. H© agreed to its being referred to a
Select Committee. LORD KINNAIRD.
Lord Kinnaird said he was prepared to vote for the second
reading on the same condition. (See " Scottish Guardian Maga
zine " for 1864, pp. 295, 296. 303.)

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 197

THE BISHOP OF LONDON.
The Bishop of London, afterwards Archbishop Tait of Canter
bury, now contributed his quota to this memorabl© debate, and
his words carried conviction and weight along with them. His
speech was clear, logical, and fluent; and h© n©ver wandered from
his subject. He never failed to bring into every discussion in
which he took part th© sterling quality of practical common-sens©.
Hia distinguished audienc© w©re told that th© Scottish Episcopal
Church was th© only distinct ropresentativ© in Scotland of th©
doctrines th©y profe^ed in common with her. In that Church,
h© averred, they had th© only opportunity in Scotland of wor
shipping God according to their own forms. Th© Bishop then
corrected the Bishop of Durham for his misrepresentation of good
Bishop Horsley of a former generation. He said the worcb of th©
latter were merely a protest against a practice not unknown to
Episcopal Bishops of ordaining persons on Scottish titles. The
speaker then ref©rr©d to the Bishop of Durham's fear lest th©
learning of th© Church of England should suffer in consequence
of the invasion of illiterate persons into Scotland to be ordainod
in that country. Bishop Tait proclaimod his belief that this
inundation of ignorance which was to submerge the Diocese of
Durham from its northem barri©rs was a false alarm. His Lord
ship then made an appeal to facts which must hav© been especi
ally distasteful to his right reverend antagonist. Taking up the
ordination question, h© said it would b© inter©sting to know th©
practice pursued. No one, he said, could b© ordained by a Scot
tish Bishop unless he had either a University Degre© or had been
at the Theological College. A few years ago s©v©n m©n presented
themselves at Trinity College, Glenalmond, for matriculation, of
whom three wer© rejected. His informant. Bishop Tait said, after
being five years at Glenalmond, received ordination at the hands
of a Scottish Bishop, and afterwards came to England. There he
found that every one of the thre© who had been rejected for matric
ulation had found a refug© as a Clergyman either in the Dioces©
of Durham or Carlisl©. Of cours©, continued th© speaker, that
may be an exceptional case, but it is still quite possible that ignorant
persons may b© ordained in the northern dioceses of England as
well as in Scotland. A burst of approving cheers and laughter
was called forth by this clev©r r©tort of Bishop Tait, and showod
most clearly that it had told upon the House.

198 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
EXAMINATION FOR ORDINATION.
Th© Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Durham must
have had an imperfect knowledge of the standard of Scottish
education. The Candidates for Orders from Glenalmond were
either graduates of Universities or had parsed a difficult entrance
examination before th© b©ginning of thoir studies in the Theolog
ical College. Ordinands in England in general possessed only the
pass degrees of Oxford or Cambridge, or, having no degrees, had
learned divinity at some less important seminary. In 1864 com
petent judges knew perfectly well that the Scottish pass degree
excelled in value the pass d©gr©es of th© English Universities.
" The fountain-head " of ignorance was not to be found in either
th© highlands or lowlands of Scotland. Now candidates for Orders
in th© Scottish Episcopal Church, bosides other educational quali
fications, must comply with th© following rule : — " No person
shall be admitted to the Holy Order of Deacons or of Priests who
has not obtained a Degree or equivalent certificate in som©
University or College approved of by a formal resolution of th©
Episcopal Synod, or who has not obtainod a C©rtificate from a
Central Board of Examiners, to be appointed by the Episcopal
Synod for th© whol© Church, that he is duly qualified in the liberal
Acts." (S©a Code of Canons of 1890 of the "Episcopal Church
in Scotland," XL, 1.) THE EARL OF AIRLIE.
When the Bishop of London sat down the Earl of Airlie ex
pressed his satisfaction that the Episcopal bench had assented to
th© second reading of th© Bill on th© understanding that the
measure was to b© r©f©rred to a Select Committee. (Se©
"Scottish Guardian Magazine" for July, 1864, pp. 297-303.)
THE BISHOP OF CARLISLE.
The Bishop of Carlisle (Waldegrav©) at one© took sides with th©
Bishop of Durham, and attacked the Scottish Church. H© com
plained that its members, comprising a larg© portion of th© upper
classes, did not support their Bishops and Clergy as they ought.
Adverse allusions to the latter were also made by him, which could
have been as readily applied to English Pastors. At all ©vents
at this stage th© buzz of conversation in the Hous© proved that
Bishop Waldegrave's audienc© did not appear to consider his

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 199
arguments likely to affect materially th© decision of the pe©rs.
(Se© "Scottish Guardian Magazine" for July, 1864, pp. 297,
298, 303.) THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH.
The Duk© of Bucclouch th©n expressed his readiness to
accede to . the suggestion of Earl Granville that the Bill be
referred to a Seclect Committee. This declaration had th© immedi
ate effect of thinning th© Hous© of half its mombers, and th©
depletion would hav© been carried on further still in th© course
of Lord Harrowby's brief criticism of the Bill, had it not been
observed that the Bishop of Oxford was making his way down to
the table. This at once arrested the attention of th© departing
p©©rs, as it was evid©nt that th© northern prelates were not to
escap© without a castigation from th© w©apons of his polished
armoury. (See " Scottish Guardian " of July, 1864, pp. 298, 303.)
THE BISHOP OF OXFORD.
Bishop Wilberforce of Oxford, styled the Restorer of the
Anglican Episcopate, said that he recorded his solemn protest
against the exclusiveness which asserted that th© temporalities of
the Church of England wer© th© property of the English clergy
alone. He struck hard at Bishops Baring and Waldegrave when
h© said that the practice of receiving from across the Border candi
dates for Confirmation was mor© truly a " Mesopotamian proc©©d-
ing " than bringing clergy from Scotland. Th© speaker concluded
by averring " that one great danger of the English Church arose
from th© narrowing influonce of her insular position; and he
rejoiced, if the sacred deposit of truth were preserved, that she
should in every direction extend sisterly fellowship to the sister
Churches." (See "Scottish Guardian Magazine" for July, 1864,
pp. 291-298 and 302-303.) Th© Bishop of Durham having with
drawn his amendment, the Bill was read a second time and ref©rr©d
to a Select Committee. After som© f©w alterations at the hands
of this committee, it was read a third time in th© House of Lords
and passed. HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Scottish Disabilitios Bill was read for th© first tim© in
the House of Commons on June 17th, 1864. On July 13th, 1864,
Sir William Heathcote moved the second reading of th© Bill, giv
ing at th© same time a history of the origin of the disabilities.

200 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
He referred especially to Chancellor Thurlow's adroitness in insert
ing a clause in the Repeal Act of 1792. This proviso prevented
th© Scottish Episcopal Clorgy from holding any benefices in Eng
land other than they held before. The debate did not rise to so
high a lovel of interest in the Commons as it had done in th©
Lords ; and after considorabl© opposition the Bill was read a second
tim© and ord©r6d for the third reading. This took place on July
22nd, 1864. On the final division there voted — For the third
reading, 34; against, 10; majority, 24. The Bill was then read
a third tim© and passed. (Se© "Scottish Guardian Magazin©"
for August, 1864, pp. 347-352.)
PRIMUS EDEN AND HIS COLLEAGUES.
The passing of the Disabilities Bill through Parliament in
1864 was the final victory in th© long struggl© of th© Scottish Epis
copal CJhurch for religious liberty. Since that tim© ther© has been
complote reciprocity in regard to clerical work between the Churches
of England and Scotland, which has been advantageous to both
communions. In the closing years of the contest. Primus Eden
was the main-spring and leader of all th© movement, and his
statesmanlike abilities and wide influence led to th© final victory.
His Episcopal colloagues seconded his endeavours in everything.
It should also be recorded that the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone,
th© greatest statesman of his age, took intense interest in th© Bill.
EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS.
In th© various Diocesan Synods th© Scottish Bishops expressed
the thanks of the Church to all who had so willingly given their
help in the late Parliamentary compaign. Bishop Forbes led th©
way in the Diocesan Synod of Brechin, which met in August, 1864.
H© said — " I should be acting very remissly if I did not express
the obligations which we owe to th© distinguished nobleman who
took charge of th© Bill in th© House of Lords. ... To him,
humanly speaking, we ow© th© success of th© measure." Th©
Bishop referr©d to His Grac© the good Duke of Buccleuch. Th©
Bishop of Brochin, in his Synod, also thanked Sir William Heath
cote, member for the University of Oxford, for his statesmanlike
speech when conducting the Bill through the Commons; Mr Hugh
Hope, of th© firm of Hope & Connell, who acted as Parliamentary
agents; and th© Established Church of Scotland for her graceful
and dignified attitud© in r©ferenc© to the Bill. Similar votes of

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 201
thanks were made in the other Scottish Dioceses to all friends who
had stood by the Scottish Church in the contest. In addition to
thos© already mentioned, Scottish Churchmen must always hold in
grateful memory the names of Archbishop Tait, Bishop Wilber
force, and th© Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone. (Se© " Scottish
Guardian Magazine" for September, 1864, p. 381.)
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIX YEARS OF PERSECUTION.
The Scottish Episcopal Church endured 176 years of perse
cution, from 1688 to 1864. Of this period, the first 104 years
was marked by persecution of a most virulent type. All through
th© summer of 1689 th© register of the Privy Council is full of
petitions from prisoners who were confined in th© Edinburgh Tol-
booth and othor places. (Se© Stephen's " History of the Scottish
Church," p. 436.) Episcopacy was then strong in th© north of
Scotland, but weak in the south-west. In 1695 an Act of the
civil Government extended its protection to such of the Episcopal
clergy as would tak© th© oaths then enjoined; but, in regard to
discipline, confined them to their own parishes. By far the
greater number of the clergy in the shire of Aberdeen, having
complied with this rule, continued in the possession of their kirks
and manses. Still, this did not fre© them at all from th© v©xatious
persecutions of their adversaries. With more or less violence th©
persecution of the Episcopal clergy continued till 1792, when the
penal laws against both clergy and laity were repealed. At the
same time, however, a clause was inserted in the Act of Repeal,
by which the Episcopal ministers were deprived of an ecclesiastical
right previously enjoyed by them without question. That was the
privilege of accepting work and pref©rment in the Established
Churches of England and Ireland. The imposition was a new
disability inserted in the enactment under th© influence of an
Erastian Lord Chancellor, and was not repealed till 1864. Prac
tically it was a vestige of persecution left upon th© Church up to
that date. Ther© was no valid roason for this infliction, for th©
m©mb©rs of the Episcopal Church had now become the King's
most loyal subjects. From thes© considorations the question arises :
How is it that so much was known about the persecutions of the
Presbyterians during 27 years of the seventeenth century, and so
little about those of th© Episcopal Church during th© whol© of the
eighteenth century? How was it that in th© f ormor period the
operations of th© dragoons of Claverhous© or "Bonnie Dundee"

202 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
were made widely known, while in th© eighteenth century tb© raids
of Gl©nkindi©'s Dragoons upon th© Episcopal clorgy and their
families were little reported? The reason is not far to seek. The
Presbyterians had a historian well fitted to write the history of
th© sufferings of their ministers' — and that was the Rev. Robert
Wodrow. THE REV. ROBERT WODROW.
This well-known ecclesiastical writer was born in Glasgow in
1679. He was the son of a Professor of Divinity in the University
of that city. For som© tim© h© was the College librarian, and
subsequently became Presbyterian minister of Eastwood, near
Glasgow. Here he spent th© rest of his life, and wrote the well-
known history of the persecutions of his Church from " Th©
Restoration to th© R©volution." This was given to th© world
in 1721, i.e., about 34 years after th© events recorded had taken
place. The book was dedicated to George I., and a reward of
£100 was paid over to the author by royal order. (See " Repre
sentation of the State of th© Church," p. 17; and "Lif© of
Wodrow," by the Rev. James Taylor, D.D.)
NO HISTORIAN OF EPISCOPAL PERSECUTIONS.
From the circumstances of th© case, ther© was no such com
petent historian to rocord the sufferings of the Episcopal clergy
during th© eighteenth century. They did not becom© much
known till the earlier part of the nineteenth century. The Epis
copal clergy, driven from their kirks and manses, had become
homeless and beggared mon. The had neither th© leisure nor the
heart to write a history of th© sufferings of their brethren. An
Episcopal minister in 1716, if h© w©re a non-juror, was under
stood to carry his lif© in his hand. If h© had pray©d for th©
Chevalier during the insurrection, he could be charged with sedi
tion, which was punishable with death. This possibility th©
Presbyteries were ready to flaunt in their faces. Had they
written and circulated a history of their wrongs, they might have
expected capital punishment, but certainly no pecuniary reward.
HISTORY OF PERSECUTIONS IN 1716-17.
This short account of the persecutions of the Episcopal clergy
in 1716-1717 is the only one handed down to us. It was com
piled at the manse of Cruden from th© labours of a sub-committee

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 203
who were appointed to draw up a r©pr©sentation of the afflicted
state of th© Episcopal Church of Scotland at that time. On©
copy of the document was lost or suppressed, and th© other was
printed in London in 1718. What makes us wonder is that the
book was printed in the metropolis of Great Britain, right under
th© ©y© of th© persecuting Government. Th© compilors had rightly
calculated that it was safer to have the publication completed
there than under th© surv©illano© of their argus-eyed enemies.
Presbyterians and Episcopalians can now join together in strongly
repudiating th© persecuting acts of their forefathers on both sides.
They were alien to th© gentle spirit of the Great Master and of
all His tru© discipl©s. W© in th© present day ar© not to blame
for wrong actions committed in other ages. The pastor who
went to prison for conscience's sake has expressed this truth
humorously in his song called "Tullochgorum": —
"Come, gie's a sang," Montgomery cried,
" And lay your disputes all aside ;
What signifies't for folks to chid©
For what was don© before them."
Students of succeeding generations will criticise most closely both
th© statem©nts of Wodrow and those of his opponents. His
torians will require to have all their facts very clearly proved. " Time
will be the best saviour of th© just." " Gr©at is th© truth and
it will prevail." In this spirit we may conclude our short disserta
tion upon th© persecutions of 1716 and 1746.

HISTORICAL RESEARCH.
Active historical research is still required to elucidate the
ecclesiastical history of Scotland for th© century immediately fol
lowing th© Revolution. Valuable information about the perse
cutions has already been gleaned from Kirk-Session, Presbytery,
and Synod Records; and from th© r©ports of the Scottish Courts
of Justice of thos© days. From such storehouses of historical
facts much still remains to be gath©r©d. Information also fre
quently comes to hand from unexpected quarters. Time is
always on the side of truth, and historical events can be judged
mor© calmly and with a mor© unbiass©d mind at a distanc© of tim©
than immediately after th©y hav© occurred.

204 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
CHURCH AND STATE.
No Church or Christian body can ©v©r b© entirely dissociated
from the State. To the civil power all must apply for the settle
ment of questions relating to proporty or contract. In England
th© Episcopal Church is th© State Church ; in Scotland the Epis
copal Church was once the State Church, but was disestablish©d
in 1690 because her bishops and clorgy would not take the oath
of allegianc© to William of Orange. Connection with the State
has its advantages, and also its disadvantiages. In Scotland it
was not always beneficial for the Episcopal Church to be con
nected with th© State. An illustration of this is the different
kind of reception given to the inauguration of the Book of Common
Prayer in th© reigns of Charles I. and Queen Anne respectively.
In th© first case, ite introduction led to a popular tumult and to
th© dethronement of Episcopacy. In the reign of Queen Anne
the Liturgy was received most cheerfully in the Disestablished
Church of Scotland. It spread universally, " without any law
to' enforce it but that of its native beauty, purity, and simplicity,
so agreeable to the Gospel-spirit, adapted to all capacities, and
so wonderfully contrived to excite devotion." (See " Repersen ta
tion of the State of th© Church," p. 20.)
UNION.
Much is now said about a possible blending of th© hith©rto
opposing forces of Presbyterianism and Episcopacy, in the near
or far future, and earnest men on both sides are banding them-
s©lv©s tog©th©r to furth©r this laudable consummation. They do
not los© sight of th© great difficulties in the way. At present,
indeed, it is impossible to form any plan or scheme that would
be practicable and agreeable to both parties. But all things
are possibl© with God, and in His own appointedi soason H© may
accomplish what men ar© ©ver ready to pronounce impossible.
Union is the work of God; to divide is a device of th© adversary
of the soul. God has been the help of His servants in ages past,
and He will not desert them in the years to come. We need
never despair of the City of our God in this world of time. " Her
foundations are upon th© holy hills. Th© Lord loveth the gates
of Zion mor© than all th© dwellings of Jacob. Very excellent
things are spoken of thee, thou City of God. The Lord of Hosts
is with us; th© God of Jacob is our Rofug©." (Psalm Ixxxvii.
1, xlvi. 7.)

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 205

APPENDIX.
List of th© Episcopal Clergy, nam©d as having been persecuted
in 1716-1719, in " The Representation of the State of th© Church."
Th© usual charg© was preaching or otherwise ministering to their own
people. Th© persecutions consisted of fines, imprisonments, oust
ing from kirk and manse, banishment, or some other hardship.
In 1717, seven Episcopal Clergy from the shires of Angus and
the Mearns wer© fined before th© Criminal Court of Edinburgh
to th© amount of £500 each. Their offence was preaching Christ
Crucified. (See "Representation of th© State of th© Church,"
p. 106.) Alexander, Rev. Mr, Kildrummy.
Andrew, John, Aberdeen.
Barclay, Rev. Mr, Old Aberdeen.
Barclay, Rev. John, Peterhead.
Bennet, Rev. Dr, Aberd©en.
Blair, Rev. Mr, Aberdeen.
Campbell, Rev. Mr, Alva.
Craig, R©v. Al©xand©r, Fras©rburgh.
Dunbar, Rev. William, Cruden.
Dunbreck, Rev. Mr, Aberdeen.
Garden, Rev. Dr George, Aberdeen.
Garden, Rev. Dr Jam^, Aberdeen.
Gordon, Rev. Mr, Aberdeen.
Gordon, Rev. Mr, Rhynie.
Guthrie, Rev. Mr, Fetteresso.
Hay, Rev. Mr, Aberlour (Aberlosor).
Hay, Rev. Mr, Montwhitter.
Hepburn, Rev. Alexander, St. Fergus.
Idel, Rev. Mr, Coul.
Innes, Rev. Mr, Gamri©.
Jeffrey, Rev. Mr, Alford.
Keith, Rev. Mr, Ellon.
Leith, R©v. Mr, Lumphanan.
Livingston©, R©v. Mr, K©ig.
Livingstone, Rev. William, Old Deer.
Lunan, Rev. Mr, Daviot.
Maitland, Rov. John, Forgu©.
Maitland, Rev. James, Inverkeithnie (brother of former).

206 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Maitland, Rev. Mr, Nigg (near Aberdeen).
Maitland, Rev. Mr, Nigg (son of f ormor).
Moor©, R©v. Alexander, Fraserburgh.
Murray, Rev. Mr, Old Aberdeen.
Rainsey, Rev. Mr, Dire (Deer).
Robertson, Rev. Mr, Strathdon.
Swan, Rev. Mr, Pitsligo.
White, Rev. Mr, Maryculter.

Copy of Papers in the Supplement of the "Representation of
the Church." The numbers in Roman numerals are those
in the Supplement. Number I.
Copy of the obligation required by the Presbytery of Deer
from th© R©v. Alexander Moor©, Episcopal incumbent of Fraser
burgh: —
" I, Mr Al©xand©r Moore, being informed that the Synod of
Aberdeen met at Aberdeen the  Day of April, 1716, did
peremptorily appoint the several Presbyteries within their Bounds,
to call (and cite) befor© them the several Episcopal Ministers and
Pr©ach©rs, in order to enquire into and censure them as they
should se© cause, for their behaviour in the time of th© late con
fusion, and considoring I was compelled to som© pi©oe of conduct
in th© said late time, which might probably expos© m© to th©
cognisance of the Presbytery of Deer; and I, having inclination
to live privately and peacably, th©r©f ore do hereby solomnly engage,
promise, and oblige myself, that I shall not preach, nor exercise
any part of th© ministry in any place within th© bounds of th©
Presbytery of Deer, or Synod of Aberde©n, so long as the Lord,
in His holy and wise providence, shall continue the legal estab
lishment of th© Presbyterian Government, within this part of the
kingdom of Great Britain, called Scotland. And to this I hereby
oblige myself, under pain of any censure the said Presbytery of
Deer, or Synod of Aberdeen, shall think I deserve, in case I con
travene or break my abov© ©ngag©m©nt. In witness whereof
thes© Presents are written and subscribed at  , the Day of  ,
before witness."

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 207
Number II.
The following is a copy of one of the libels executed against
Mr Dunbar and others during th© year 1716: —
" Th© Presbytery of  , taking to consideration that 
having been incumbent in th© Church of  at th© late unhappy
Revolution, did pretend to hav© tak©n th© oaths to th© civil
Grovemment, and subscribed the Assurance, and did continue to
exercise the office of th© holy ministry ther© under the protec
tion of th© law. Yet nevertheless it is alleged th© said  bas
engaged himself in the late unnatural, unjust Revolution against
our gracious and only lawful and rightful Sovereign, King Greorge
in order to dethrone His Majesty, and overturn and destroy the
Protestant Succession in his royal family, and to establish a Popish
Pretender on the throne of tbese realms, to the utter subversion
of th© tru© Protestant roligion with our laws and liberties. And
did, upon th© twentieth and fourth day of November last, or on©
or other of th© days of th© said month, keep a public fast for
success to the arms of the Pretender, praying for him under th©
nam© and titl© of King James the Eighth; or in on© or other of
the days of th© months of September, October, November,
Dec©mb©r, January, or February last, publicly in the said Church ;
and kept a public thanksgiving upon th© second day of February
last, or one or other of the days of the said month, for the safe
arrival of the said Pretender in Scotland. The Sabbath preced
ing having read his Proclamation for the said end, as also read,
or supposed to be read from th© pulpit of th© said Church, divers
proclamations or orders omitted by th© Pretender's authority, for
paying CJe^ and contributions to him, and levying men for his
service; casting off all allegiance to our only lawful and right
ful Sovereign, King George; neglecting to pray for His Majesty
as required by authority," both civil and ecclesiastic. By all which
the said  has deserted th© Protestant cause, and espoused th©
inter©st8 of a Popish Pretender, contrary to his oath, duty, and
the obligations he is under, and is guilty of a very atrocious
scandal, and is act and part of that most wicked design and con
trivance that has been formed, and carrying on for extirpating
the true Protestant rehgion, and destroying its possessors, and to
overturn the pr©s©nt happy Establishment in this land ; and instead
thereof to settl© popory and arbitrary power among us. There
fore, the Presbytery appoints John Smith in Carness, their officer.

208 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
to pass and lawfully summon the said  personally, or at his
dwelling-house, upon ten free days, to compear befor© them at
— - — upon th© eighth day of May n©xt, to answor to the premises,
and to hear and se© th© sam© sufficiently proven and verified; and
being proven and verified, to hear and see sentence pass against
him, censuring him as the said Presbytery shall judge he deserves ;
with certification if fail to compear, they will proceed according
to the Form of Process, and appointe a tru© copy hereof, and
of the list of witnesses to be delivered lo th© said  , or at his
dwoUing-bous© in du© form. This, by th© ordor of th© Presby
tery, is given at the Kirk of Tyrie, this nineteenth day of April,
in the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixteen, and sub
scribed by  , ©tc." (See "Representation of the State of the
Church," pp. 79-81.)

Number III.
" The Lieutenant-Deputy, Justice of Peace, and Sheriff-Sub
stitute, their Letter to the Clergy."
Reverend Sir,
Notwithstanding of several Addresses that the Sheriff
has mad© to you to forbear Preaching, and the using of any minis
terial Function within your Parioch, after your being deposed by
the Presbytery; yet we understand, not only by your Answers to
th© Sheriff, but th© particular Address from your Presbytery to
us, you are still preaching in C!hurch or House, and refusing access
to th© Presbytery; upon which account Application was made to
General Carpenter, when at Aberdeen, to giv© Orders to th©
Commandant of His Majesty's Forces at this Place to afford Parties
¦whenever d^ired by the Deputy-Lieutenants, Justices of Peace,
or Sheriff -Depute, for to apprehend your Person, and to give Access
to the Presbytery to your Churches. Yet we, being unwilling to
use violent Courses, if other can do, w© thought fit rather to give
you this Trouble, intreating you will not only deliver th© Keys
of your Church to the Presbytery, but give them such Satkf action
that we shall not be farther troubled by them, otherwise you may
b© assured w© will forthwith order a Party for apprehending your
Person, and procuring Access to your Church. And that w© may

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 209
know what we hav© to do; you will return an Answer forthwith.
Direct to the Sheriff-Depute in Aberdeen; we are
Your very humble Servants,
Aeth. Forbes of Echt, Lieut. -Dep.
Arch. Forbes, Justice of the Peace.
Francis Forbes, Sheriff-Substitute.
Aberdeen,
December 7,
1716.

Number IV.
" Glenkindie and Mr Forbes, Sheriff-Substitute, their Orders
to the Soldiers to take Possession of the Churches."
Whereas we are required by the Presbytery of Ellon, to give
Access to the Ministers of the established Government into the
Church of Cruden, presently possessed by Mr William Dunbar,
Intruder there, who tho' he be deposed (for his rebellious Practices)
by the said Presbytery, contumaciously keeps Possession and
Preaches in the said Church : These are therefore desiring and
commanding you, William Mekeldnie, and the men under your
Command, to march to the Kirk of Cruden, and take Possession
of the said Church upon Saturday Afternoon, the twenty-ninth
instant; and upon the next immediate following Sabbath you are
to admit a Minister of the Established Government to preach at
the said Church, and to debar the late Incumbent, Mr Dunbar,
therefrom. And after divine Service, you are to deliver the Keys
of the said Church to the Minister of the established Government.
Given under our Hands and Seals at Peterhead, the seven and
twentieth Day of December, Seventeen Hundred and Sixteen. And
for doing of all which, this shall be to you a sufficient Warrant.
Signed and seal'd.
Pa. Strachan.
Francis Forbes, Sheriff-Substitute. N

210 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.
Number V.
" The Sheriff-Substitute, his Letter to Mr Maitland at Forgue."
Sir, I meet with several Complaints against you as a Disturber
of the Government, and Incendiary in the Countrey you live in,
which I am apt to believe, since your Principles and Actings in
the Time of the Rebellion are very well known to me. I am
very loth to meddle with any that once had your character, but
you persisting in the ways of Rebellion will oblige me to look
after you. I therefore send you this Intimation, that you forth
with remove your self and Family from the Manse of Forgue, and
giv© over your pretended ministerial Function within that Parioch,
or otherwise, depend upon it, I'll take all Methods to seize your
Person, and bring you to Tryal for High Treason; in order to
which, upon your Return to me (if not satisfactory) I will cause
send a Party of the Forces to lye at Turriff allenarly upon your
Account. I am. Sir, Your humble Servant, Francis Forbes.
Aberdeen, November 9, 1716.
Number VI.
"Mr Maitland's Answer to the said Letter."
Forgue, Nov. 12, 1716.
Sir, Your's of Date at Aberdeen, the ninth current, came to
my Hands yester night, and I give you thanks for the plainness
and openness of it. I do not question you meet with many
Complaints and loud Outories against me, but am not sensible,
I have given just Ground or Occasion for them, and without
prescribing to a Person who acts in your Capacity and Station,
it is very becoming and necessary not to listen too readily to
those, who ar© known to be very much prejudiced against me.
I know that he whom (though most unfit and unworthy) I serve
in the Gospel, was traduced and r©pr©s©nted as a Mover of
Sedition, and Perverter of the Nation, though his Doctrine and

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. . 211
Example had no tendency that way, but the contrary; and the
Disciple is not abov© the Master.
You are pleased to say, that you are very loth to meddle
with any that once had my Character; and I leave to tell you,
that my Character is altered much to th© Advantage, having
received Ordination from the Hands of an Orthodox Bishop, and
therefore I am a truly authorized Minister of th© Gospel, with
which my mind (agreeably to th© Sentiments of the Catholic
Church in all Ages, founded upon the clearest and most con
vincing Reasons, drawn from Scripture and Apostolical Tradition)
is so fully satisfied, that I would not, for any worldly considera
tions, part with the latter, and take with the former. You
desire m© forthwith to remove myself and Family from th© Manse
of Forgue and giv© over my pretended ministerial Function
within that Parish. As to the former, I humbly conceive there
is no Law by which I can b© oblig'd to quit that Hous©, till th©
Term of next Whitsontide; and though there were, yet consider
ing that it is the Winter Season, and that I am unprovided of
any other Place of Residence, I am hopeful and confident, that
neither yourself, nor any other, exercising Civil Power, will con
tribute to put me to such a Hardship. As to the latter, you will
perceive from what is above, that I am in Holy Orders, so that
my Ministerial Function is not pretended. Farther, you may
b© pleased to consider, that I exercise my office on th© Lord's
Day within my own House only; and what less can be expected
from any clergyman ? And though several others come to be my
Hearers, yet I have no Maintenance from them ; and I pr©sum©
it will appear to yourself, as it does to me, that it would b©
extremely indecent and unbecoming on my Part to shut the
Doors against them. So that when all is duly pondered, I cannot
think that this way of Management, after this true Account of
Matter of Fact, will giv© any offenc©. I hope this Answer will
give you Satisfaction, and so prevent you being put to any
farther Trouble about me, and the using any methods to seize
my Person, or distross my Family. I entreat you will favour me
with your sentiments upon my case thus laid befor© you.
I am. Sir, Yours, ©to., John Maitland.
Forgu©, Nov©mb©r 12, 1716.

212 A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT.

Heading of Supplement.
" Th© above Representation brings th© History of th© Per
secution only to the first of January 1716-17, which did not stop
there; for the Clergy, being turned out of their Churches by
military Force, as is above related, thought themselves bound in
Duty and Conscience to exercise their ministerial Function by
reading Prayers, and preaching, &c., to their People, who zealously
adhered to them, in their own Houses; and though this was a
most charitable Duty in the Clergy, and was done in a most peac-
abl© manner, and which the Clergy could not omit, without giving
up their peopl© to th© Impr©ssions of seducing Teachers, and
immoral Practices; yet it was so grievously taken by the Pres
byterian Judicatories, that forthwith they applied to the Justices
of Peace within the Shire, tbat they would interpose their
Authority for suppressing the said meetings. Accordingly the
Justices met at Aberdeen the 23d of January, 1716-17, and issued
out the following Advertisement, which for the greater Authority
they caused to b© printed at Aberdeen.
" Advertisement by the Justices of Peace of the County of
Aberdeen, met at Aberdeen the 23d of January, 1716-17."
" The said Justices of Peace being certainly informed, and
having got several Complaints exhibited to them, that the Ministers
deposed by the Judicators of the Established Church of Scotland
do, notwithstanding of the Sentence of the Church pronounced
against them, and after their Churches were declared vacant, not
only continue to pr©ach and officiate as Ministers within their
former Churches, or some other parts of their Parishes, but like
wise do raise, abet, and encourage unlawful Riots and Tumults,
to the Disturbance of the Peace, and chiefly to oppose th© Minis
ters and Preachers sent by the legal Presbyteries to supply the
said vacant Churches: And the said Justices of Peace being
ordained by the Laws and Acts of Parliament to cause the sen
tences of th© Establish 'd Church to b© obey©d and put to due
Execution; and all riotous Assemblies and Tumults being by a
late Act of the British Parliament punishable by Death; and the
said Justices of Peace being resolved, according to the Trust com
mitted to them, to put the Laws to due Execution. Therefore
they do hereby prohibit and discharge all Ministers and Preachers

A TEN YEARS' CONFLICT. 213
who are deposed by the Judicators of the Establish'd Church of
Scotland, and their Churches declared vacant, within th© said
County of Aberdeen, to preach or exercise any part of the minis
terial Function within the said Churches, or in any part of the
said Parishes, nor in their own Houses, except allenarly before those
in their own Family, and none others: And that they do noways
encourage, raise, and abet any tumultuous Meetings or Assemblies,
to the disturbance of the publick Peace, or Hindrance of the
Ministers sent by the Establish'd Church to supply the said
Vacancies; and ordains thes© Presents to be printed and pub
lished by th© Readers of th© several Parish Churches within this
Shire from their Latrons (Desks) immediately after divine Service,
the next Lord's Day after Receipt hereof. Given at Aberdeen
the said 23d of January, 1717 years, by Arthur Forbes of Echt,
Justice of Peac© and Praeses to the said Meeting, subscribing
Arthur Forbes, Praeses.

THE END.

Il^DEX

Abernethy - Drummond, Bishop,
167-170.
Advertisement, 212.
Airlie, Earl of, 198.
Aitken, Rev. Roger, 169-171.
Alexander, Rev. Mr, 205.
Allen, Rev. Mr, 170.
Anderson, Rev. David, 40, 58, 59.
Anderson, Rev. James, 32, 45-47,
52-55, 58, 61, 62, 64, 70, 71,
73, 75, 77, 86, 87, 91, 98-101,
110-112.
Anderson, John, 140, 141.
Andrew, John, 123, 205.
Anne, Queen, 15, 23, 25, 78, 85,
86, 90, 116, 125, 135, 142, 144,
181, 182, 204.
Argyll, Earl of, 116.
Arpafeelie, 163, 164.
Arminianism, 11, 12.
Arminius, 11.
Atholemen, 147.
Auchinleck, Rev. Alexander, 52-55,
58-60, 62-65, 71-78, 80-83, 86-88,
92-98, 101, 103, 104, 106, 125.
Auchmedden, 98, 99, 105, 107.
Auchrynie, 108, 109.
Augustus, Fort, 149.
Balhoufie, 170.
Banchory-Ternan, 190.
Barclay, Rev. John, 43, 45, 79, 80,
81, 85, 88, 98-91, 205.
Baring, Bishop, 195-199.
Beaton, David, 104, 105.
Bennet, Rev. Dr, 205.
Berkeley, Dr, 165.
Bisset, John, 33.
Blair, John, 33, 38, 45, 48, 51.
Blair, Rev. Mr, 122, 205.
Bourignianism, 15, 96, 97, 103-105.
Bourignon, Madame Antonia, 15,
16.
Boyndlie, Laird of, 49-53, 72, 73,
110, 111.
Braemar, 116.
Bray, Vicar of, 138, 139.

Brevent, Dean, 180.
Brown, Alexander, 9.
Brown, Eev. James, 6, 7, 11-15,
17, 21, 26-31, 33, 34, 36, 38-41,
44-46, 49, 53, 55, 61-64, 67, 77,
97-199, 101, 104-109.
Buccleuch, Duke of, 193, 195, 199,
200.
Buchan, Colonel, 110, 111.
Buchan, Earl William, 4.
Burnet, Bishop Gilbert, 180.
Burnet, Rev. Dr, 122.
Burnet, Rev. Robert, 6.
Byers, George, 7.
Cairncross, Archbishop, 180.
Calder, Harie, 13.
Calvin, John, 11.
Calvinism, 11.
Cameron, Rev. Allan, 162.
Campbell, Rev. Mr, 129. 205.
Campbells, The, 152, 153.
Carpenter, General, 208.
Carstares, Rev. William, 23, 48,
115.
Centesima, 103, 104.
Charles I., 204.
Charles II., 1, 158.
Charles Edward, Prince, 145-147,
149, 166.
Chein, John, 84, 86.
Chevalier, Old, 116, 127, 139, 160,
207.
Cheyne, Rev. James, 8-13, 16-18,
20, 21, 24, 25, 28-30, 32, 53.
Cheyne, Eobert, 14.
Christie, Isobel, 82, 84.
Christie, Bishop, 91.
Claverhouse, or " Bonnie Dun
dee," 201.
Clerk, Mr, 100-102.
Columba, St., 4.
Communion Office, Scottish, 191.
Connachar, Rev. John, 158.
Cooper, Andrew, 83-85, 87, 92-94,
96.
Cope, Sir John, 145.

INDEX.

215

Coul, 139-142.
Coynach, Hill of, 154.
Craig, Eev. Alex., 25-27, 28, 46-49,
65-70, 78, 80-86, 89, 92, 123, 205.
Crawford, Lord, 323.
Cruden, William, 106, 107.
Cumberland, Duke of, 146, 148,
150, 152-154.
Culloden Moor, 146-149, 152, 161.
Dalgarno, Rev. Alex., 16, 17.
Davidson, Rev. Alex., 82, 83, 85,
86.
Davidson, William, 111, 112.
Dempster of Dunnichen, 168.
Downie, Isabel, 159.
Drostan, St., 4.
Drumossie Moor (see Culloden
Moor), 146, 148.
Duffus, George, 19.
Dugall, James, 93.
Dunbar, Bishop William, 126, 128,
129, 132, 205, 207, 209. I
Dunbreck, Rev. Mr, 122, 205. I
Dunbennan, 132, 133. |
Duncan, Rev. John, 98, 99, 101, ;
HI, 112. !
Duncan, Pastor (see Archdeacon j
Mackenzie), 164.
Dundas, Mr Henry, 168.
Durrel, Dean, 181.
Eden, Primus, 193, 194, 200.
Edie, Margaret, 18.
Elgin, Lord, 173.
Elphiston of Warth, 18.
Erastianism, 66, 85, 91, 103, 105,
113, 132, 171-173, 175, 185.
Erastus, Thomas, 66. -
Ewing, Bishop, 193.
Falconer, Bishop, 91.
Farquhar, Rev. James, 6, 13, 18,
29, 30, 31, 40, 46, 50, 51, 138-
141.
Farquhar, Eev. Mr (Dumfries),
154.
Fechell, Laird of, 108, 109.
Forbes, Archibald, 209.
Forbes, Arthur, of Echt, 130, 137,
209, 212.
Forbes, Bishop A. P., 193, 200. I
Forbes, Francis, Sheriff-Substi
tute, 130, 131, 133-135, 209-211.
Forbes, James, 13.
Forbes, Master of, 96, 97, 103-105.
Forbes, Sir Eobert. 52, 53.
Forbes, Bishop Eobert, 162-164.
Forbes. Eev. William, 58, 59, 62.
Forrest, Mr William. 82, 83, 94,
96.

Fraser, Alexander, 10th Lord, 6.
Fraser, Sir Alexander, 6.
Fraser, Alexander, 10, 14. 26, 27.
Eraser. Mr Charles, 148.
Fraser, James, 95. 97, 98.
Fraser, John, 94.
Frasers. 147.
Frasers of Philorth. 5.
Fraser. William, of Philorth, 11th
Lord, 5.
Fraser, William, Bailie, 73, 74, 76,
84. 86.
Fullerton. Bishop John. 41, 42.
Gamrie, 131.
Gabriell. Walter. 71-73. 78, 80. 81.
Garden, Eev. Dr George. 14-16.
17-19, 96, 97. 104. 117, 122, 205.
Garden, Eev. Dr James, 122, 205.
Gaskin. Eev. George, 170. 177.
Gavel, Laird of. 109.
Gladstone. Eight Hon. W. E.,
186, 200.
Glasgow, Diocesan Synod of. 185.
Gleig. Bishop, 170.
Glenalmond. Trinity College. 197,
198.
Glenflnnan, 145.
Glenkindie's Dragoons, 122. 126.
131. 132. 202. 209.
Gordon, Alexander, 61. 64. 82. 83.
88. 89. 92-95. 97. 103. 104.
Gordon of Barak. 18. 82, 84.
Gordon. James. 18. 19.
Gordon. Janet. 82.
Gordon, Elizabeth. Katherine. and
Mary. 84.
Gordon, Eev. Mr. 98, 101. 104. 106-
112. 205.
Granville, Lord. 195. 199.
Grant, Eev. Ludovic, 163.
Grant, Eev. Simon, 163.
Greenshields, Rev. James. 113.
180.
Greig. Andrew. 94. 95. 97. 98.
Greig. David. 94, 95, 97. 103. 104.
Greig. Eev. Mr. 157.
Grieve. Eev. Mr. 190-192.
Guthry, Rev. Andrew. 6. 7, 13. 14.
17. 18. 20. 25. 34. 35, 45, 48.
55. 59. 61. 62. 64, 82, 87. 88.
93, 99. 101, 102, 105. 106.
Guthrie. Rev. Mr Fetteresso. 205.
Haliburton, George. Bishop of
Aberdeen, 3. 46. 66, 110.
Hardie. Mr, 154.
Harrowby, Earl of. 199.
Hawley. General. 148. 166.
Hay. Bailie, 59. 61. 62. 64.
Hay, Rev. Mr. 129. 205.

216

index.

Heathcote, Sir William, 199, 200.
Henderson, John, 94, 95, 97, 103,
104.
Henry, Duke of York. Cardinal,
160.
Hepburn. Eev. Alex., 78. 80. 81.
83. 86-91, 126, 205.
Hook, Very Eev. Dean, 177, 178.
183.
Hope. Mr Hugh. 200.
Hope and Connell, 200.
Horsley. Bishop. 168. 172. 175. 177.
Howart, Eev. Alex., 6. 9. 12, 13.
Howley, Archbishop, 178-183, 196,
197.
Huison, George. 84. 86.
Huison, Eev. William. 82, 83.
Idel, Eev. Mr, 139, 142, 205.
Innes, Eev. Mr, 205.
Inveraray, 158.
lona, 4.
Irvine of Carnfield, 18.
Irving, Mr Robert,
Jeffrey, Eev. Mr, 129, 142, 205.
Keiths of Inverugie, 5.
Keith, George, Earl Marischal, 5.
Keith, Eev. George, 7-9, 80, 98-100.
Keith, Mr George, of Whiteriggs,
9, 10, 94, 95.
Keith, Eobert, Abbot of Deer, 5.
Kelly, Earl of, 172.
Kilgour, Primus, 165.
Kinnaird, Lord, 196.
Kinninmonth, Laird of. 108-110.
Kinnoul, Lord. 175.
Laughs of Fyvie, 119, 122, 143. 154.
Laurencekirk. Convention at. 169.
170. 176.
Laing. Eev. Mr. 138. 142. 205.
Law. Eev. William. 9. 11, 13, 20
24, 25. 36. 37. 40. 44-46. 49,
52, 53, 105-109, 111, 112.
Lee. Eev. Dr. 194.
Leighton. Archbishop. 180.
Leitch. Dr William. 66.
Leith. Eev. Mr. 138, 142. 205.
Leslie. Eev. Mr. 97. 98. 101 104
108. 110.
Liklie. Eev. Henry, 59, 61, 62. 64.
Lindsay. John. 78.
Livingstone, Rev. Mr, 205.
Livingstone. Rev. William. 110
126. 151. 153, 154, 161, 205.
Longley, Archbishop, 195.
Low, Bishop David, 177-183.
Lunan, Rev. Mr, 205,

Lyall, Mr James, 104, 105.
Macrae, Donald, 163.
Mackenzie, Archdeacon, IM.
Maitland, Rev. James, 133, 205.
Maitland. Rev. John. 133. 134. 205,
210.
Maitland. Eev. Mr. of Nigg, 138,
139, 141. 206.
Maitland, Rev. Mr. son of former.
Maitland. William. 104. 105.
Mar. Earl of. 116, 117.
Marischal, Earl, 6, 7. 9. 10. 86-89.
98. 99. 102, 105. 106. 117.
Mekeldnie. William. 132, 209.
Meldrum. George. 34, 35, 38, 39,
44. 46. 47. 68, 69.
Meldrum, John, 9-11, 19, 20.
Melville, 3.
Meston, Professor William, 114,
115.
Mill, Alexander, 43.
Montcalm, 148.
Montese, General, 126.
Moore, Eev. Alexander, 16, 17, 32.
36-40. 42, 43-49. 52, 53, 58. 59,
66-86, 89, 92, 123-126, 206.
Moore, Rev. James, 14, 15. 36. 39.
Murray. Alexander. 111. 112.
Murray, George, 111, 112.
Murray, Rev. Mr, 206.
Niven, Mr John, 170.
Office, Scottish Communion. 196.
Ogilvie. Colonel. 108. 109.
Ogilvie, Mr William. 89, 90.
Ogston, William, 83-86, 92. 93, 95.
Oliphant, John, 123.
Osburn, Mr, 35-37, 42, 45.
Palmerston. Lord. 192.
Park. George. 111. 112.
Park. Judge. 170. 177. 178.
Parker. Archbishop. 61.
Paterson, Archbishop. 41.
Paterson, Eobert. 159.
Patronage. 30, 31, 144.
Patullo, Mr John, 170.
Payne, Neville, 22.
Penal Laws, 143, 150, 154, 158, 181.
Petrie. Arthur. Bishop of Moray.
162. 165.
Petrie, Eev. Mr. 157.
Phin. Eev. Mr. 189.
Pirie. George, 7. 84. 86.
Pitt, William. Prime Minister.
176.
Prayer. Book of Common. 112, 113
143. 156.
Prestonpans. Battle of. 145. 166.

INDEX.

Provoost, Bishop Samuel, 165.
Purdy, Rev. T. A., 194.
Rabblers' Rout, 115.
Ramsay. Rev. Mr, 106, 138.
Ranken, George, 108, 109.
Eeid, William, 111, 112.
Eepeal Act of 1792. 167. 176. 177.
181. 182. 183.
Eepeal Act of 1840. 177. 181. 184.
193.
Eepeal Act of 1864, 184. 200.
Eepresentation of State of Church,
120, 121.
Eickart, Helen. 111. 112.
Eickart. John. 112.
Eobertson, Alexander, 84. 86.
Eobertson. Eev. Mr. 79. 80. 126.
206.
Eoss. Archbishop, 41.
Sage. Bishop John. 41. 42. 91.
Saltoun, Lord. 31. 32. 36. 37. 49.
52. 72. 73. 75-77. 82. 106.
Saltoun. Master of. 59-64. 75. 77.
Sandford. Bishop Daniel. 177.
Scottish Nag's Head Story. 61. 62.
Seabury, Bishop, 164, 165, 176, 184.
Seabury Centenary, 166. 167.
Secret Meetings of Clergy, 118.
Semple. Margaret. 87. 88.
Schives. David. 10. 14.
Shaftesbury. Earl, 190.
Shand, George. 84. 86.
Sharpe. Archbishop. 5.
Sharpe. Margaret. 5.
Shepherd, Eev. Mr. 189. 190.
Sheriffmuir. Battle of. 116.
Shipton. Eev. Mr. 186. 194.
Shirell, William, 111, 112.
Sibbald, Sir Eobert, 6.
Simpson, Alexander, 13.
Skinner, Eev. John, Dean. 153-157.
159. 161. 203.
Skinner. Primus John, 157. 165.
167. 169, 170. 172. 173, 176, 177.
Skinner, Bishop William. 190.
Smith. David. Alexander, and
EHzabeth. 82. 84.
Smith. Rev. Farquhar, 163, 164.
Smith, George, in Barak, 82, 84.
Smith, John, 111. 207.
Smith. William. 111. 112.
Spense. Nicoll. 85. 87, 90, 103, 104.
Sobieski. 166.
Stevens. Mr William. 170. 177.
Stewart. Rev. John, 163.

Stirling, Mr John. 170.
Strachan. Bishop. 167. 170.
Strachan. Mr Patrick. 126. 209.
Sutor, Magnus. 43.
Swan. Rev. Mr. 79. 80. 93. 206.
Sydserf. Bishop. 180.
Symson. Rev. Alex, or William.
82-84. 86.
Tait. Archbishop. 197. 198, 201.
Taylor, Eobert. 82. 83.
Taylor. William. 197. 198. 201.
Thom, George. 111. 112.
Thom, James, 104.
Thomson. Archbishop. 196. 198.
Thurlow. Lord Chancellor. 168.
170-173. 175, 176. 193. 196. 200.
201.
Tillotson. Archbishop John. 180.
Toleration Act, 115. 118. 125. 136.
142.
Torture in Eeign of William IIL,
22
Troup,' Eev. Mr. 157.
Trower. Bishop. 194.
Tullibardine, Marquis of. 145.
Turner. John. 101.
Udny, Eev. Thomas. 6. 7. 13. 41.
43. 46. 49. 50. 55. 58. 59. 61-63.
65, 67. 77. 90, 91. 98. 99. 101,
102. 106-110.
Union. 204.
Union. Act of, 23, 68. 71. 77. 116.
144.
Urquhart. James. 84. 86.
Waldegrave, Bishop. 197-199.
Walker. Rev. Mr. 154.
Walker. Primus. 179.
Warren, Bishop. 171.
Watt, Mr William, 104. 105.
Webster, Rev. Mr, 62, 77, 78. 84.
87, 88. 101. 108. 109.
Westminster Confession. 1. 7-12.
18. 19, 26. 27, 34. 96, 110. 111.
White, Rev. Mr. 206.
White. Bishop William. 165.
Whyte, George. 96.
Wilberforce. Bishop Samuel. 184,
185, 195. 199. 201.
Williamson. David. 46. 47.
Willocks. William. 84. 86.
Wills. James, 72, 73. 80, 81.
Wishart. Bishop. 180.
Wodrow. Rev. Robert. 202, 203.
Wolfe, General. 148, 149.

ERRATA.
On page 88, seventh line from top, 1?0S should be 1708.
On page 98, seventh line from top, Mrs Anderson, &c., should be
Messrs Anderson, (fee.
On page 104, second line from foot of page, inverted commas should
be inserted before " This day, &c."
On page 150, seventeenth line from top, prohbiit should he prohibit.
On page 151, sixth line from foot of page, of Ireland should be or
Ireland.

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