Ralph Erskine (18 March 1685 – 6 November 1752) was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

churchman. Ralph Erskine was the son of Henry Erskine. He was also the younger brother of another prominent churchman,

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, ...

. He was chaplain and tutor to the 'Black' Col. John Erskine from 1705 to 1709. After studying at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, Ralph was ordained assistant minister at

Dunfermline Dunfermline (; sco, Dunfaurlin, gd, Dùn Phàrlain) is a city, parish and former Royal Burgh, in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. The city currently has an estimated population of 58,508. Accord ...

in 1711. He ratified the protests which his brother laid on the table of the assembly after being rebuked for his

synod A synod () is a council of a Christian denomination, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. The word ''wikt:synod, synod'' comes from the meaning "assembly" or "meeting" and is analogous with the Latin ...

sermon, but he did not formally withdraw from the establishment till 1737. He was also present at, though not a member of, the first meeting of the "associate presbytery". When the severance took place over the oath administered to burgesses, he adhered, along with his brother, to the

burgher Burgher may refer to: * Burgher (social class), a medieval, early modern European title of a citizen of a town, and a social class from which city officials could be drawn ** Burgess (title), a resident of a burgh in northern Britain ** Grand Burg ...

section. His works consist of sermons, poetical paraphrases and gospel

sonnet A sonnet is a poetic form that originated in the poetry composed at the Court of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the Sicilian city of Palermo. The 13th-century poet and notary Giacomo da Lentini is credited with the sonnet's invention, ...

s. ''The Gospel Sonnets'' have frequently appeared separately. His ''Life and Diary'', edited by the Rev. D Fraser, was published in 1834. There is a larger than life size

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...

statue of Ralph Erskine on a pedestal, not far from the High Street in the centre of Dunfermline. He was a Free Gardener being Initiated in the Dunfermline Lodge of Free Gardeners in 1721.

Quotes

* "Faith, without trouble or fighting, is a suspicious faith; for true faith is a fighting, wrestling faith." – Ralph Erskine, 1733 * "A rigid matter was the law,
demanding brick, denying straw,
But when with gospel tongue it sings,
it bids me fly and gives me wings"
– Ralph Erskine

References

Citations

Sources

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External links

* * 1685 births 1752 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish chaplains Scottish educators 18th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland Scottish diarists Scottish autobiographers Free Gardeners Ministers of Secession Churches in Scotland {{Scotland-reli-bio-stub