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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 49 system. But, while he deprecated patronage in the abstract, he was equally averse to popular election. The plan which he promulgated, in his address, was similar in principle to the act in 1732. He proposed that one entire vote should remain with the patron, a second with the heritors, and a third with the elders ; the majority of these three bodies to decide the election of the minister. In order to obtain the concurrence of the patrons to this partial divestment of their power-“Let it be provided,” he says, “ that all vacant stipends shall be declared to become their absolute property, instead of being conveyed in trust for any other purpose ;” and, by way of explaining such an extraordinary clause, the Rev. gentleman adds-“ The vacant stipends are appropriated in law to pious uses within the parish, but indeed are very seldom so bestowed, and parishes would in fact suffer nothing by their total abolition !” This plan, as might have been foreseen, was not at all calculated to meet the views of the popular party ; but it had the effect of introducing the author to public notice, and of paving the way for his subsequent advancement, In 1784, only two years after the publication of his “Principles of Moderation,” Dr. Hardie was called, by the Town Council of Edinburgh, to be one of the Ministers of the High Church. Here he soon attracted notice as a preacher ; and an exposition which he gave of the Gospel according to St. John, was so generally esteemed, that an Edinburgh bookseller is said to have offered him a very considerable sum for the copyright. On the proposal being made to him, however, it was discovered that the lectures had never been written out, but delivered from short notes only. In consequence of delicate health, and finding himself unable for so large a place of worship as the High Church, he was at his own request removed, in 1786, to Haddo’s Hole, or the New North Parish, where he continued the colleague of Dr. Gloag until his death. In 1788 Dr. Hardie was elected to the Professorship of Ecclesiastical History in the University, vacant by the death of the Rev. Robert Cumming. For many years previously this important class had been in a languishing condition ; but the appointment of Dr. Hardie infused a new spirit among the students. His course of lectures was well attended ; and his fame as a Professor soon equalled, if it did not surpass, his popularity as a preacher. His views of church history took an extensive range ; and the boldness of his sentiments was not less vigorous than the manly tone of his eloquence. Although thus placed in a situation of high honour and importance, and his time necessarily much engaged, Dr. Hardie still interested himself actively in matters of public moment. He was one of the original members of the “ Society for the Benefit of the Sons of the Clergy of the Church of Scotland;” and in 1791, preached the first anniversary sermon before the Society: which was afterwards published. Other sermons, preached on public occasions, were also “ The Benevolence of the Christian Spirit ; a sermon preached in the Tron church of Edinburgh, 31st May 1791, before the Society for the Benefit of the Sons of the Clergy of the church of Scotland. By Thomas Hardie, D.D., one uf the ministers of the city, and Regius Professor of Divinity and Church History in the University of Edinburgh.” Creech, Is. VOL. IL H .
Volume 9 Page 66
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