Robert Arnot
Encyclopedia
Robert Arnot Scottish Presbyterian Minister, Professor of Divinity
in St Andrews University, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
in 1794.
Arnot seems not to have published anything and was described by one historian as "no scholar". He owed his career to the influence of Robert Dundas
, who managed Scotland on behalf of his father Henry Dundas. The Principal of St Andrews, George Hill, described him in 1791. "There is not a more staunch friend to the true principles of moderation, or a man more firmly attached to the Constitution, in the whole Church than Dr Arnot." He was therefore a loyal member of the so-called Moderates
in the Church of Scotland
. Thomas Chalmers
in a letter from Anstruther
1800 says
"Dr Arnot resides in Kingsbarns
, and will, I believe, win over the people by the popularity of his manners". This related to the legal challenge of some of his congregation to his appointment as Minister there in 1800, in conjunction with his appointment to the Divinity Professorship.
Presbytery on 5 Sept 1769. He was ordained Minister at the Parish
of Ceres, Fife
on 30 August 1770, where he oversaw (and perhaps even prepared) that Parish's report for the Statistical Account of Scotland. He was elected Clerk to the Presbytery in December 1777. He resigned this post on 16 October 1792 to take up his post as Professor of Divinity at New College, (nowadays, more commonly called St Mary's College, St Andrews
). This had been achieved as a result of much lobbying, and the support of Dundas, and possibly as compensation for a failure to get the Chair of Ecclesiastical History. (http://books.google.co.uk/booksid=lBgq1_LgvJEC&pg=PA497&dq=Arnot+Divinity+St+Andrews&hl=en&ei=Luf8TOLNA42JhQe7lfCoDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Arnot%20Divinity%20St%20Andrews&f=false)
. The King's letter to the Assembly, written by Henry Dundas reflected the troubled times and urged "we cannot press too earnestly upon your minds the necessity of redoubling your common efforts to check that prevalent spirit of licentious innovation, by which the present times are so unhappily distinguished, and which threaten to fill the whole Christian world with violence and confusion". The Assembly responded by indicating that the war against France had its full support, as did measures against disaffected people in Britain. However, they did add "it affords us the greatest satisfaction to be able to assure your Majesty, that the sound principles of loyalty, and of attachment to the constitution in Church and State, are fixed in the hearts of the great body of your Majesty's subjects in Scotland". The Assembly published strict orders to all Ministers to ensure the regular reading of the Bible in the Parish schools, along with the Shorter Catechism. They also required every Minister to inspect the schools to ensure these activities took place regularly. In addition, the Assembly thanked the King for his efforts to spread the Protestant religion in the Highlands and Islands.
to the parish of Kingsbarns
, and took up the post in 1800, after seeing off a challenge that he could not be both a Professor and a Parish Minister.This challenge went as far as the General Assembly, where a very heated debate took place. Some of the speeches against Dr Arnot were later printed - especially that of William Lawrence Brown, Principal of Marischal College
- and helped foment a growing opposition to the Moderates, which eventually led to the Great Disruption of the Church of Scotland, when the many Ministers left on the principle of opposition to Patronage and formed the Free Church of Scotland
.
In 1799 he lobbied hard, proclaiming his loyalty as good Dundas man, for Principalship of the United College in St Andrews
, along with a living at St Leonards. He had strong support among the faculty, but so did his rival, and neither would give way so Dundas went outside the University for someone "independent".
Arnot was not averse to challenging appointments himself. In 1804, the Professor of Medicine, James Flint tried to secure the succession of his son John to his post, by getting him appointed joint professor. Arnot refused to attend the inauguration and took the matter to court. the Court of Session
turned down his challenge, but this was overturned five years later by the House of Lords
..
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
in St Andrews University, 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....
in 1794.
Arnot seems not to have published anything and was described by one historian as "no scholar". He owed his career to the influence of Robert Dundas
Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville KT, PC, FRS was a British statesman, the son of Henry Dundas, the 1st Viscount. Dundas was the Member of Parliament for Hastings in 1794, Rye in 1796 and Midlothian in 1801. He was also Keeper of the Signet for Scotland from 1800...
, who managed Scotland on behalf of his father Henry Dundas. The Principal of St Andrews, George Hill, described him in 1791. "There is not a more staunch friend to the true principles of moderation, or a man more firmly attached to the Constitution, in the whole Church than Dr Arnot." He was therefore a loyal member of the so-called Moderates
Moderate Party (Scotland)
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...
in 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....
. Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers , Scottish mathematician, political economist, divine and a leader of the Free Church of Scotland, was born at Anstruther in Fife.-Overview:...
in a letter from Anstruther
Anstruther
Anstruther is a small town in Fife, Scotland. The two halves of Anstruther are divided by a small stream called Dreel Burn. Anstruther lies 9 miles south-southeast of St Andrews. It is the largest community on the stretch of north-shore coastline of the Firth of Forth known as the East Neuk,...
1800 says
"Dr Arnot resides in Kingsbarns
Kingsbarns
The village of Kingsbarns lies on eastern coast of Fife, Scotland, in an area known as the East Neuk, 6.5 miles southeast of St Andrews and 3.6 miles north of Crail....
, and will, I believe, win over the people by the popularity of his manners". This related to the legal challenge of some of his congregation to his appointment as Minister there in 1800, in conjunction with his appointment to the Divinity Professorship.
Life
He studied (most likely at St Andrews) and was licensed by CuparCupar
Cupar is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town is situated between Dundee and the New Town of Glenrothes.According to a recent population estimate , Cupar had a population around 8,980 making the town the ninth largest settlement in Fife.-History:The town is believed to have...
Presbytery on 5 Sept 1769. He was ordained Minister at the Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Ceres, Fife
Ceres, Fife
Ceres is a village in Fife, Scotland, located in a small glen approximately 2 miles over the Ceres Moor from Cupar and 7 miles from St Andrews. The former parish of that name included the settlements of Baldinnie, Chance Inn, Craigrothie, Pitscottie and Tarvit Mill.-The village:It is one of the...
on 30 August 1770, where he oversaw (and perhaps even prepared) that Parish's report for the Statistical Account of Scotland. He was elected Clerk to the Presbytery in December 1777. He resigned this post on 16 October 1792 to take up his post as Professor of Divinity at New College, (nowadays, more commonly called St Mary's College, St Andrews
St Mary's College, St Andrews
St Mary's College of the University of St Andrews, in Fife, Scotland - in full, the New College of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - was founded in 1538 by Archbishop James Beaton, uncle of Cardinal David Beaton on the site of the pedagogy or St Johns College .St Mary's College was...
). This had been achieved as a result of much lobbying, and the support of Dundas, and possibly as compensation for a failure to get the Chair of Ecclesiastical History. (http://books.google.co.uk/booksid=lBgq1_LgvJEC&pg=PA497&dq=Arnot+Divinity+St+Andrews&hl=en&ei=Luf8TOLNA42JhQe7lfCoDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Arnot%20Divinity%20St%20Andrews&f=false)
Moderator
In a similar fashion, in 1794 he was "elected" Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of ScotlandModerator 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....
. The King's letter to the Assembly, written by Henry Dundas reflected the troubled times and urged "we cannot press too earnestly upon your minds the necessity of redoubling your common efforts to check that prevalent spirit of licentious innovation, by which the present times are so unhappily distinguished, and which threaten to fill the whole Christian world with violence and confusion". The Assembly responded by indicating that the war against France had its full support, as did measures against disaffected people in Britain. However, they did add "it affords us the greatest satisfaction to be able to assure your Majesty, that the sound principles of loyalty, and of attachment to the constitution in Church and State, are fixed in the hearts of the great body of your Majesty's subjects in Scotland". The Assembly published strict orders to all Ministers to ensure the regular reading of the Bible in the Parish schools, along with the Shorter Catechism. They also required every Minister to inspect the schools to ensure these activities took place regularly. In addition, the Assembly thanked the King for his efforts to spread the Protestant religion in the Highlands and Islands.
Disputed appointments
In 1799, he was presented by the HeritorHeritor
Heritor, was a privileged person in a Parish in Scots Law. In its original acceptation, it signified the proprietor of an heritable subject, but, in the law relating to Parish government, the term was confined to such proprietors of lands or houses as were liable, as written in their title deeds,...
to the parish of Kingsbarns
Kingsbarns
The village of Kingsbarns lies on eastern coast of Fife, Scotland, in an area known as the East Neuk, 6.5 miles southeast of St Andrews and 3.6 miles north of Crail....
, and took up the post in 1800, after seeing off a challenge that he could not be both a Professor and a Parish Minister.This challenge went as far as the General Assembly, where a very heated debate took place. Some of the speeches against Dr Arnot were later printed - especially that of William Lawrence Brown, Principal of Marischal College
Marischal College
Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
- and helped foment a growing opposition to the Moderates, which eventually led to the Great Disruption of the Church of Scotland, when the many Ministers left on the principle of opposition to Patronage and formed the Free Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900)
The Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish denomination which was formed in 1843 by a large withdrawal from the established Church of Scotland in a schism known as the "Disruption of 1843"...
.
In 1799 he lobbied hard, proclaiming his loyalty as good Dundas man, for Principalship of the United College in St Andrews
United College, St Andrews
The United College is one of the two statutory colleges of the University of St Andrews in St Andrews, Scotland...
, along with a living at St Leonards. He had strong support among the faculty, but so did his rival, and neither would give way so Dundas went outside the University for someone "independent".
Arnot was not averse to challenging appointments himself. In 1804, the Professor of Medicine, James Flint tried to secure the succession of his son John to his post, by getting him appointed joint professor. Arnot refused to attend the inauguration and took the matter to court. the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
turned down his challenge, but this was overturned five years later by the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
..
Death
On 24 May 1772 he married Helen Barclay, who outlived him and died 4 April 1816. The Reverend Doctor Robert Arnot died on 2 July 1808.Sources
- Academic patronage in the Scottish enlightenment: Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews universitiesRoger L. Emerson, Edinburgh University Press, 2007
- Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, by Hew Scott
- Acts of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1638-1842 from British-History.ac.uk