V. RELIEF THEOLOGICAL HALL. A friendly feeling having subsisted between Rev. Thomas Gillespie and the Evangelical party in the Church of Scotland, the students of the Relief Church were educated at the University Divinity Halls. In 1795 the subject of theological education was brought before the Relief Synod, and the appointment of a Professor of Theology urged, but the question was delayed. For several years prior to 1822, the care of students had been entrusted to Presbyterial Committees. In 1822 the Rev. William MacIlquham was Moderator of Synod, and in his sermon strongly urged the appointment of a Professor. An overture by the Rev. James Kirkwood of Edinburgh in the same direction was addressed to the Synod, and thereafter sent down to Presbyteries. Various occurrences had rendered the adoption of the measure expedient. A Relief student, in 1820, had been refused enrolment in a Northern theological hall because he was a Dissenter, and an overture was before the General Assembly threatening all students of theology with an examination before Established Presbyteries before entering the Hall. A petition, too, from twenty-five students of the Relief Church had been presented to the Presbytery of Glasgow, asking them to support the Synod's overture. In 1823 the overture was adopted, and it was resolved that a Professor be appointed, and a Committee instructed to draw out the constitution of the intended institute. The Rev. James Thomson, afterwards Dr Thomson, was elected Professor. During 1824 the session was short, but in 1825 the session opened with cheering prospects, a library having been collected, and thirty-nine students being enrolled.* Dr Lindsay, who was then a senior student, states that " on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, one hour was given to lectures and one to examinations; on Saturday and Monday, one hour was devoted to hearing discourses. Essays were written every week by the students and examined by the Professor. On Monday afternoon, the students gave an account of the sermons they had heard on Sabbath. Greek was read in the class on Tuesday, and Hebrew on Friday." Glasgow University Hall had been the place where the largest number of Relief students were previously educated. Yet, to show the appreciation that University had of Mr Thomson's qualities, they conferred the degree of D.D. upon him in 1827, the first honour of the kind they had conferred on a dissenting minister. GOODWIN, JAMES, from Glasgow. Brechin. * GLASSFORD, PETER, from Glasgow. Alnwick, RENWICK, ROBERT, from Glasgow. Ayr. Theological Magazine for 1827, p. 148. gow (Greenhead). Clack Glas GIFFEN, JAMES, from Campbelton. Saltcoats. Did not obtain a charge. Agriculturist. HAMILTON, JAMES, from Strathaven. Largo. ton). Berwick. America, 1847. MACFARLANE, JAMES, D.D., from Glasgow (Bridgeton). Joined the Established Church, and became minister of Duddingston. Moderator of the General Assembly in 1865. RUSSELL, JAMES, from Strathaven. Old Kilpatrick. URE, JOHN, from Balfron. Teacher in Balfron. WALDIE, CHARLES, from Kelso. Dalkeith. WALKER, GEORGE, from Falkirk. Port-William. America. Fourth-year Students-2. LINDSAY, WILLIAM, from Clackmannan, of which his father was minister. Perth (East). M'CREATH, THOMAS, from Ayr. South Shields. REID, ADAM, from Wishawtown. Went to America after receiving license in 1832. WILSON, JOHN, from Old Kilpatrick. Bellshill. 1 Student of the third year, not before in the Hall. WHYTE, JOHN, from Calton, originally from Ireland. Went to America. I Student of the fourth year. LOGAN, RICHARD, from Anderston. Edinburgh (Roxburgh). Joined the Established Church, and became a minister in Dundee. Session 1828. 29 students enrolled-namely, 6 of the first year, 5 of the second, 5 of the third, and 13 of the fourth. 6 Students. BORLAND, JOHN, from Hutchesontown. Lanark and Glasgow. BROOKS, GEORGE, from Musselburgh. John stone. MILLER, JAMES, from Dunse. Clackmannan. MUIRHEAD, JAMES, from St Ninians. Wooler. RAMSAY, ANDREW, from Tollcross. Hawick. VALLANCE, JAMES, from Paisley (First). Leven. Session 1829. 25 students enrolled-namely, 9 of the first year, 6 of the second, 4 of the third, and 6 of the fourth. 9 Students. BANKS, JAMES, from Saltcoats (East). Paisley (Canal Street). BARR, WILLIAM, from Kilbride (East). Jedburgh. CALLENDER, from the Original Secession. Joined the Establishment. CAMPBELL, GEORGE O., from Roberton, of which his father was minister. Strathaven. CROSS, JAMES, from Dalkeith. Langholm. JARVIE, JAMES, from Anderston. Carluke. LINDSAY, ALEXANDER, from Tollcross. Lesmahagow. LUKE, ALEXANDER, from Perth (South). Went to America. RITCHIE, WILLIAM, from Ayr (Cathcart Street). Berwick.. Session 1830. 26 students enrolled-namely, 5 of the first year, 7 of the second, 9 of the third, 5 of the fourth. 5 Students. JACQUE, GEORGE, from Douglas (Established Church). Auchterarder. LIVINGSTON, MARTIN WILSON, from Kilsyth. Musselburgh. MACMICHAEL, NEIL, D.D., from Kilmarnock. Dunfermline. M'LAY, WALTER, from Milngavie. Strathaven. SMITH, JOHN, from Falkirk. Burnhead, Penpont. THOMSON, THOMAS D., from Edinburgh (St James' Place), of which his father was minister. Author of "Religion," and other poems. Joined the Independents after attending two sessions. Ordained at Blackburn, 1840. Translated to Haddington, 1841. Received again into the Relief Church. Died June 1847. THORBURN, JOHN. Aberdeen, Deering, Gatehouse. TURNER, GEORGE, LL. D., from Hutchesontown. Went to Samoa, as an agent of the London Missionary Society, along with Henry Nisbet. Had the degree of LL. D. conferred on him by the University of Glasgow. Author of "Nineteen Years in Polynesia." Translator of the Scriptures into the tongue of Samoa. Session 1840. On the 30th September, the students presented Professor Thomson with a pair of gold spectacles. 44 students enrolled-namely, 13 of the first year, 9 of the second year, 14 of the third year, and 8 of the fourth year. 13 Students. Student of the third year. DAVIDSON, JOHN, who had previously attended three sessions of the United Secession Hall. Dr Thomson died on 25th June 1841. The session of 1841 accordingly was conducted by a Committee. The Revs. William Beckett and George Brooks were appointed to read the lectures of Dr Thomson, and conduct the duties of the chair. Mr Beckett read the lectures, and conducted examinations thereon; prescribed exercises to the students; perused and commented on them. Mr Brooks superintended the examinations on the Greek and Hebrew, besides reading and criticising the weekly exercises. special minute, conveying the thanks of the students to Messrs Beckett and Brooks, was inserted in the records of the Hall at the close of the session. Session 1841. A His BURGESS, W. ORME, from Kirkby-Stephen, DUNLOP, JAMES, A.M. Biggar. LEGGATT, WILLIAM, from Bridgeton. Teacher out as missionary to China in connection with NICOL, FRANCIS, from Ayr. Joined the Established Church. ROGER, ALEXANDER. Joined the Free Church. SCLANDERS, ALEXANDER BANKIER, A. M., from Bridgeton. Bathgate. Session 1843. 42 students enrolled-namely, 5 of the first year, 17 of the second, II of the third, and 9 of the fourth. 5 Students. BALLANTYNE, JOHN. Earlston. BROWN, DAVID, from Kilmarnock. Joined the Established Church. Was minister of St Bernard's, Edinburgh, Scoonie, and St Enoch's, Glasgow. |