CAMERONIANS, a Presbyterian sect in Scotland, which arose in the persecuting times of Charles II. They derived their name from one Richard Cameron, a young clergyman, who, having received ordination in Holland, where he had gone previous to the affair at Bothwel, returned to his native country, became a zea lous and a popular field preacher, took an active part in the opposition, which was then made to the oppressive measures of the king, and was at last killed, along with several of his adherents, in an engagement which took place between them and the royal troops at Airsmoss, in the year 1680. When government found, that the Pres byterians could not be subdued into conformity, by the harsh and tyrannical measures which had hitherto been employed, it was, agreed to attempt the same object by gentle methods ; and for this purpose, an indulgence, as it has been called, was granted by the king's authority, in 1669, to such of the ejected ministers as had " lived peaceably and orderly." They were allowed to return to their respective parishes, and exercise their profes sional functions ; and patrons were at liberty to present them to vacant churches. But the act was clogged with cei taro reservations and restrictions, which rendered the indulgence very disagreeable to men of scrupulous con sciences. A second indulgence was issued by the lords of council, in 1672, holding out similar liberties, and qualified by similar conditions. Of these acts many took advantage, without themselves chargeable with any violation of their covenant engagements. Many, ton, who considered them as an encroachment on their reli gious rights, accepted of the boon which they offered, with a declared exception to their legality, and satisfied themselves with giving an open testimony against the Erastian power, exhibited in the acts of the council, and the ecclesiastical supremacy which had been exercised by the king. There were several, however, who pe remptorily refused compliance upon any terms, and re sisted every effort that was made to procure their sub mission. These were the persons afterwards denominat ed Cameronians. They conceived that such compliance necessarily involved an acknowledgment of the power, which the civil rulers claimed to give or withhold at pleasure their unalienable privileges, and consequently a dereliction of those principles which they were bound to maintain, both from a regard to Christ, the only head of the church, and from a regard to the solemn vows which they had taken before the world ; and therefore they determined, whatever might be the consequences of their conduct, to separate from their conforming breth ren, and struggle with the hardships and difficulties of their situation, till Providence should bring them deliver ance. To the persecution, which, in consequence of their
disobedience, they had reason to expect, they were soon subjected. The most arbitrary and vexatious proceed ings were instituted against them. And such oppres sions were practised, and such punishments inflicted, as were sufficient to instigate and to justify that rebellious spirit, which they afterwards displayed. It is very easy, as it is very common, to stigmatise these people with the epithets, fanatical and seditious ; and it is not to be dented, that, in some instances, they went farther than either pru dence or duty could warrant. But if we say this of men who were comparatively unenlightened, whose. con sciences were insulted in the nicest points, and who were hunted like beasts of prey, Lecitube they would not he conic the worst of slaves to the worst or masters, what language should be held with respect to the riders whom they opposed—rulers who, by deeds of folly, injustice, and inhumanity, the most abominable in our national re cords, drove them into extremities, which they would otherwise have abhorred, and by which they must have been more certain of entailing misery upon themselves, than of giving any serious uneasiness to their oppressors ? The Cameronians undoubtedly were intolerant, and gave harsh names and illiberal treatment even to the Presby terians, whose general sentiments corresponded with their own, but from whom they found it necessary to se parate. The charge of intolerance, however, should not be brought against them, by the admirers of Charles or of James. Their violent attachment to the reformation rights and the solemn covenants, may appear, to superfi cial thinkers, an expression of great weakness and igno rant zeal ; but a very moderate attachment to these ob jects, which certainly contained the leading principles of liberty, was at that period equivalent to no attachment at all ; neither indicative of sincerity, nor fitted to accom plish any substantial good. And, however much sonic of us may condemn, and others of us lament their ex cesses, both in doctrine and in practice, it is not very diffi cult to trace some connection between those very ex cesses, and the religious liberty which we enjoy—a con nection well calculated to soften our censure, and dimi nish our regret.