Robert Balmer (1787–1844), was successively a minister of the Burgher Seceder,

New Licht 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 ...

Burgher Seceder and United Associate Synod of the Secession Churches in Scotland. Balmer was born at Ormiston Mains, in the parish of Eckford, Roxburghshire on 22 November 1787. He evinced considerable abilities and a disposition towards the Christian ministry. He entered the

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in 1802, and in 1806 the Theological Hall at Selkirk, under George Lawson of the Secession Church. In 1812 he received licence as a preacher from the

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, and in 1814 was ordained minister in

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, where he remained till his death. In 1834 he became a professor of pastoral theology at the United Secession church, and later a professor of systematic theology. In 1840 he received a D.D. from the

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. Balmer had great influence in the denomination to which he belonged. When certain discussions arose among his brethren on some

Calvinistic Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...

doctrines, he supported the less stringent views. At a meeting held in

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in 1843, to commemorate the bicentennial of the

Westminster Assembly The Westminster Assembly of Divines was a council of divines (theologians) and members of the English Parliament appointed from 1643 to 1653 to restructure the Church of England. Several Scots also attended, and the Assembly's work was adopt ...

, he delivered a speech in favour of Christian union, which attracted the attention of

Thomas Chalmers Thomas Chalmers (17 March 178031 May 1847), was a Scottish minister, professor of theology, political economist, and a leader of both the Church of Scotland and of the Free Church of Scotland. He has been called "Scotland's greatest nine ...

and others, and led to important measures being taken by John Henderson of Park for promoting that cause. Balmer did not publish much during his life but two volumes of ''Lectures and Discourses'' were posthumously published in 1845, a full year after he passed on 1 July 1844.

References

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Balmer, Robert 1787 births 1844 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Ministers of Secession Churches in Scotland