Ralph Erskine (minister) explained
| Ralph Erskine |
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| Appointed: | --> |
| Retired: | --> |
| Birth Date: | 18 March 1685 |
| Buried: | Dunfermline |
| Nationality: | Scottish |
| Religion: | (1) Church of Scotland
(2) Secession Church
(3) Burgher Seceder |
| Partner: | --> |
| Previous Post: | --> |
Ralph Erskine (18 March 1685 – 6 November 1752) was a Scottish churchman.
Family
Ralph Erskine was the son of Henry Erskine. He was also the younger brother of another prominent churchman, Ebenezer Erskine.
Career
He was chaplain and tutor to the 'Black' Col. John Erskine from 1705 to 1709. After studying at the University of Edinburgh, Ralph was ordained assistant minister at Dunfermline in 1711. He ratified the protests which his brother laid on the table of the assembly after being rebuked for his synod 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 section.
Literary works
His works consist of sermons, poetical paraphrases and gospel sonnets. The Gospel Sonnets have frequently appeared separately. His Life and Diary, edited by the Rev. D Fraser, was published in 1834.
Memorial statue
There is a larger than life size bronze statue of Ralph Erskine on a pedestal, not far from the High Street in the centre of Dunfermline.[1]
Free Gardeners member
He was a Free Gardener being Initiated in the Dunfermline Lodge of Free Gardeners in 1721.[2]
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[3]
References
Sources
- Erskine, Ralph. 10. 755–756. 1.
- Book: Fraser . Donald . The life and diary of the Reverend Ralph Erskine, A.M., of Dunfermline, one of the founders of the secession church . 1834 . William Oliphant . Edinburgh .
- Gordon . Alexander . 17. Erskine, Ralph. 1.
- Book: Harper . James . Eadie . John . Lindsay . William . Lives of Ebenezer Erskine, William Wilson, and Thomas Gillespie, Fathers of the United Presbyterian Church . 1849 . A. Fullarton & Co. . Edinburgh .
- Book: MacEwen . Alexander Robertson MacEwen . A.R. . The Erskines (Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine). Edinburgh. Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier . 1900.
- Book: McCrie . C. G. . The Free Church of Scotland : her ancestry, her claims, and her conflicts . 1893 . T. & T. Clark . Edinburgh . 59-60 . 29 June 2020.
- Book: McKerrow . John . History of the Secession Church . 1839a . William Oliphant and Son . Edinburgh . 1 . 12 July 2020.
- Book: McKerrow . John . History of the Secession Church . 1839b . William Oliphant and Son . Edinburgh . 2 . 12 July 2020.
- Book: Scott . Hew . Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation . 1923 . Oliver and Boyd . Edinburgh . 364 . 4 . Hew Scott.
- Book: Scott . Hew . Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation . 1925 . Oliver and Boyd . Edinburgh . 30-32 . 5 . Hew Scott.
- Book: Small . Robert . History of the congregations of the United Presbyterian Church, from 1733 to 1900 . 1904a . David M. Small . Edinburgh . 1 . 12 July 2020.
- Book: Small . Robert . History of the congregations of the United Presbyterian Church, from 1733 to 1900 . 1904b . David M. Small . Edinburgh . 2 . 12 July 2020.
- Book: Thomson . Andrew . Struthers . Gavin . Historical sketch of the origin of the Secession Church and the History of the rise of the Relief Church . 1858 . A. Fullerton and Co. . Edinburgh and London . 12 July 2020.
- Book: Young . David . Brown . John . Memorials of Alexander Moncrieff, M.A., and James Fisher, fathers of the United Presbyterian Church . 1849 . A. Fullarton . Edinburgh .
Notes and References
- Web site: Robertson . George . Rev. RALPH ERSKINE (1685–1752) – SECESSIONIST MINISTER . Dunfermline Historical Society . 13 February 2019.
- Robert L.D. Cooper. The Origin and History of the Order of Free Gardeners, Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No.2076 (2000)
- Web site: Archived copy . 2014-01-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202182413/http://www.thevillagechurch.net/mediafiles/uploaded/0/0e1142083_1347994169_0e1142083_article-christian-responsibility-and-mosaic-law.pdf . 2 February 2014 .
