In the Scottish church of the 18th and 19th centuries, a burgher was a member of that party amongst the
seceders
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. They were often referred to as seceders.
The underlying ...
which asserted the lawfulness of the burgess oath.
The burgess oath was that oath a town
burgess __NOTOC__
Burgess may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Burgess (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Burgess (given name), a list of people
Places
* Burgess, Michigan, an unincorporated community
* Burgess, Missouri, U ...
was required to swear on taking office. The secession church in Scotland split in 1747 into the Burghers and the
Anti-Burgher
The Anti-Burghers were opponents of the Burgher Oath on theological grounds.
History First Secession
In 1733 the First Secession from the Church of Scotland resulted in the creation of the "Associate Presbytery". This church split in 1747 ov ...
s over the lawfulness of the forms of the oath then current in Scotland, the contentious clause being that in which the burgess professed the true religion professed within the realm. According to Dale Jorgenson, "...The Patronage Act, enacted under the reign of
Queen Anne (1702-14), gave lay patrons the right to present ministers to parishes. This act of patronage was an affront to classic
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
, and resulted in a division between Burghers who accepted the Burghers' Oath and its consequent patronage, and the Anti-Burghers who would not accept the oath."
Notable Burghers
*
Robert Balmer
Robert Balmer (1787–1844), was successively a minister of the Burgher Seceder, New Licht Burgher Seceder and United Associate Synod of the Secession Churches in Scotland.
Balmer was born at Ormiston Mains, in the parish of Eckford, Roxbu ...
('New Licht' - subsequently Professor of Theology of the
United Secession Church
The United Secession Church (or properly the United Associate Synod of the Secession Church) was a Scottish Presbyterian denomination.
The First Secession from the established Church of Scotland had been in 1732, and the resultant "Associate Pre ...
)
*
John Brown of Haddington
John Brown of Haddington (1722 – 19 June 1787), was a Scottish minister and author. He was born at Carpow, in Perthshire. He was almost entirely self-educated, having acquired a knowledge of ancient languages while employed as a shepher ...
(ordained after the 1747 'Breach' and died before the 'Auld Licht'/'New Licht' division), Professor of Theology of the
Associate Presbytery
*
John Dick, 'New Licht' Professor of Theology of the
Associate Presbytery
*
Ebenezer Erskine
Ebenezer Erskine (22 June 1680 – 2 June 1754) was a Scotland, Scottish minister whose actions led to the establishment of the First Secession, Secession Church (formed by dissenters from the Church of Scotland).
Early life
Ebenezer's father, ...
(one of the 1733 seceders) (died before the 'Auld Licht'/'New Licht' division)
*
Ralph Erskine (seceded 1737) (died before the 'Auld Licht'/'New Licht' division)
*
James Fisher (one of the 1733 seceders) (died before the 'Auld Licht'/'New Licht' division)
*
George Lawson (1749–1820), 'New Licht' Professor of Theology of the
Associate Presbytery
*
Michael Willis
Michael Willis, (born October 4, 1949), is an American television and movie character actor. Willis' credits include movie roles in ''Pushing Tin'' and ''Men in Black'', and several episodes of '' Law & Order''.
Willis was born in Lancaster, P ...
'Auld Licht' Professor of Theology, son of the next
*
William Willis, 'Auld Licht' Professor of Theology, father of the previous
Theological Professors
Before the 'Auld Licht'/'New Licht' division (1747-1800)
1.
James Fisher (1749-1764)
2. John Swanston (1764-1767)
3.
John Brown of Haddington
John Brown of Haddington (1722 – 19 June 1787), was a Scottish minister and author. He was born at Carpow, in Perthshire. He was almost entirely self-educated, having acquired a knowledge of ancient languages while employed as a shepher ...
(1768-1787)
4
George Lawson(1787-1800)
New Light (1800-1820)
1
George Lawson(1800-1820)
2.
John Dick (1820)
Old Light (1800-1839)
Annals and statistics of the original Secession church: till its disruption and union with the Free church of Scotland in 1852, page 611
/ref>
1. William Willis (1800-1803)
2. George Hill (1803-1819)
3. William Taylor (appointed interim Professor, 1818) (1819-1833) (died 1836)
4. Michael Willis
Michael Willis, (born October 4, 1949), is an American television and movie character actor. Willis' credits include movie roles in ''Pushing Tin'' and ''Men in Black'', and several episodes of '' Law & Order''.
Willis was born in Lancaster, P ...
(1835-1839)
References
Citations
Sources
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Presbyterianism in Scotland
Schisms in Christianity
History of the Church of Scotland
18th century in Scotland
19th century in Scotland
18th-century Calvinism
19th-century Calvinism
Church of Scotland
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