Moderate Party (Scotland)
Encyclopedia
Moderates, in church terms is, normally, though not exclusively, used to refer to an important party of clerics in the Church of Scotland
during the 18th century. They are often contrasted with Evangelicals
, though this is very much a simplification. Most members of both parties considered themselves orthodox Christians and the leaders - Principal Roberston
for the Moderates and his Edinburgh University colleague, John Erskine
for the Evangelicals - had a very warm and mutually respectful relationship.
The right of the landowning gentry
to nominate Ministers to Parishes, and their consequent influence on Church matters, underlay the various Secessions (of 1733
and 1752, in particular) from the Church of Scotland
which took place in the 18th Century. However, the theological differences between what became known as Moderates and Evangelicals were significant indeed. (See the case of The Reverend Doctor James Meek
, a typical Moderate who had been nominated by the Duke of Hamilton and opposed by his Cambuslang
Parishioners on aspects of his preaching).
On the other hand, the significant achievements and stature of many Moderate clerics - such as Principal William Robertson
of Edinburgh University and one-time Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
; his successor as Principal (and also Moderator) George Baird
, who set up the Church's education system; Thomas Reid
, philosopher; George Campbell
, theologian; Adam Ferguson
, philosopher and historian; John Home
, dramatic poet; and Hugh Blair
, literary scholar - makes it difficult to dismiss them as insincere placemen.
As one later evangelical minister (Rev. Porter in References below) said, the Moderates "gave us our Paraphrases; Campbell, who replied to Hume
, M'Knight the communicator, Hill the theologian, and Blair the preacher, were Moderates. Though in 1796, the Moderates were mainly, not entirely, responsible for the defeat of Foreign Missions proposals, yet in 1829, the Mission to India was founded by Dr Inglis, a Moderate. Principles Blair and M'Farlane were both moderates, yet to the one the Church of Scotland owes her Education Scheme, to the other her Colonial scheme."
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
during the 18th century. They are often contrasted with Evangelicals
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, though this is very much a simplification. Most members of both parties considered themselves orthodox Christians and the leaders - Principal Roberston
William Robertson (historian)
William Robertson FRSE FSA was a Scottish historian, minister of religion, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh...
for the Moderates and his Edinburgh University colleague, John Erskine
John Erskine (theologian)
John Erskine , the Scottish theologian, was born near Dunfermline at Carnock, on 2 June 1721. His father was the great Scottish jurist John Erskine of Carnock and his grandfather was Colonel John Erskine of Cardross who had been in William of Orange's army when it invaded England in the Glorious...
for the Evangelicals - had a very warm and mutually respectful relationship.
- They were characteristically very much part of the Scottish EnlightenmentScottish EnlightenmentThe Scottish Enlightenment was the period in 18th century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments. By 1750, Scots were among the most literate citizens of Europe, with an estimated 75% level of literacy...
contributing to and deriving intellectual nourishment from an impressive range of scholarly activities of the time - literary, philosophical, historical and scientific. - They shared - far too easily, in the view of critics - widespread scepticism of Puritanical enthusiasm evident in the many revival movements of the age. (Dr Meek'sJames MeekJames Meek was Minister of Cambuslang from 1774 until his death. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1795, but is most remembered as the model Enlightenment cleric who wrote the entry for Cambuslang in the First Statistical Account of Scotland.-Biography :James...
cool appraisal of the "Cambuslang Wark"Cambuslang WorkThe Cambuslang Work, or ‘Wark’ in the Scots language, was a period of extraordinary religious activity, in Cambuslang, Scotland...
is a good example.) - They distrusted dogmatism and what they thought of as overly-intricate system building. In the eyes of some critics, this led them close to heresyHeresyHeresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
- or at least, far from the Westminster Confession of FaithWestminster Confession of FaithThe Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
, which was the acknowledged foundation of Reformed Christianity in BritainKingdom of Great BritainThe former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
at the time. - Their preaching concentrated - again, too much so, in some eyes - on ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
conduct, rather than the details of creedCreedA creed is a statement of belief—usually a statement of faith that describes the beliefs shared by a religious community—and is often recited as part of a religious service. When the statement of faith is longer and polemical, as well as didactic, it is not called a creed but a Confession of faith...
. “It was of great importance”, said one, “to discriminate between the artificial virtues and vices, formed by ignorance and superstition, and those that are real." - Lastly, they had profound respect for the established hierarchiesHierarchyA hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
of both ChurchPresbyterian polityPresbyterian polity is a method of church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply...
and GovernmentHistory of ScotlandThe history of Scotland begins around 10,000 years ago, when humans first began to inhabit what is now Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last ice age...
. This attitude they shared with LutheranismDoctrine of the two kingdomsMartin Luther's doctrine of the two kingdoms of God teaches that God is the ruler of the whole world and that he rules in two ways....
- and indeed, cited scriptural authority for it. It was, though, also congenial to the Scottish ruling class, who appointed Ministers, using the Patronage ActsPatronagePatronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
.
The right of the landowning gentry
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
to nominate Ministers to Parishes, and their consequent influence on Church matters, underlay the various Secessions (of 1733
First Secession
The First Secession was an exodus of ministers and members from the Church of Scotland in 1733. Those who took part formed the Associate Presbytery and later the United Secession Church....
and 1752, in particular) from the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
which took place in the 18th Century. However, the theological differences between what became known as Moderates and Evangelicals were significant indeed. (See the case of The Reverend Doctor James Meek
James Meek
James Meek was Minister of Cambuslang from 1774 until his death. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1795, but is most remembered as the model Enlightenment cleric who wrote the entry for Cambuslang in the First Statistical Account of Scotland.-Biography :James...
, a typical Moderate who had been nominated by the Duke of Hamilton and opposed by his Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
Parishioners on aspects of his preaching).
On the other hand, the significant achievements and stature of many Moderate clerics - such as Principal William Robertson
William Robertson (historian)
William Robertson FRSE FSA was a Scottish historian, minister of religion, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh...
of Edinburgh University and one-time Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
; his successor as Principal (and also Moderator) George Baird
George Husband Baird
George Husband Baird was a Church of Scotland minister, educational reformer and the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1793 to 1840.-Early life:...
, who set up the Church's education system; Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid
The Reverend Thomas Reid FRSE , was a religiously trained Scottish philosopher, and a contemporary of David Hume, was the founder of the Scottish School of Common Sense, and played an integral role in the Scottish Enlightenment...
, philosopher; George Campbell
George Campbell (Presbyterian minister)
George Campbell was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, minister, theologian, and professor of divinity. Campbell had three focuses to his intellectual life: language, theology, and rhetoric. He was primarily interested in rhetoric since he believed that the study of rhetoric would enable his...
, theologian; Adam Ferguson
Adam Ferguson
Adam Ferguson FRSE, also known as Ferguson of Raith was a Scottish philosopher, social scientist and historian of the Scottish Enlightenment...
, philosopher and historian; John Home
John Home
John Home was a Scottish poet and dramatist.-Biography:He was born at Leith, near Edinburgh, where his father, Alexander Home, a distant relation of the earls of Home, was town clerk. John was educated at the Leith Grammar School, and at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated MA, in 1742...
, dramatic poet; and Hugh Blair
Hugh Blair
Hugh Blair FRSE was a Scottish minister of religion, author and rhetorician, considered one of the first great theorists of written discourse....
, literary scholar - makes it difficult to dismiss them as insincere placemen.
As one later evangelical minister (Rev. Porter in References below) said, the Moderates "gave us our Paraphrases; Campbell, who replied to Hume
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
, M'Knight the communicator, Hill the theologian, and Blair the preacher, were Moderates. Though in 1796, the Moderates were mainly, not entirely, responsible for the defeat of Foreign Missions proposals, yet in 1829, the Mission to India was founded by Dr Inglis, a Moderate. Principles Blair and M'Farlane were both moderates, yet to the one the Church of Scotland owes her Education Scheme, to the other her Colonial scheme."