ABERNETHY, John, Irish dissenting clergyman and pioneer of toleration: b. Coler aine, 19 Oct. 1680; d. 1740. The son of a Non conformist minister, he graduated successively from Glasgow and Edinburgh universities, was licensed to preach before coming of age, urged to take an important charge in Antrim at 21, and two years later was ordained there. The work he did there for many years was of the most remarkable kind, in drafts on body, brain, soul and will; and he was eminent in all. In 1717 he was invited at once to Dublin and Belfast; the Synod assigned him to Dublin; he refused to leave Antrim and was considered a Church mutineer; a furious quarrel followed, developing into the fight in the Irish Presby terian Church between "subscribers* and "non subscribers" (Abernethy's party), the latter formally barred out in 1726. The real question at issue was of old orthodoxy versus the liberalizing opinions which he disclaimed holding, but which have of course long since left his position far behind. In 1730 he was
nevertheless called to Dublin. The next year came up the question of the Test Act, really involving the whole subject of religious tests in civil life; and Abernethy took a firm stand against "all laws that, upon account of mere differences of religious opinion and forms of worship, excluded men of integrity and ability from serving their country,' asserting near a century ahead of his time that a Roman Catholic could be such. His 'Tracts' were later col lected, and did good service in the Catholic Emancipation fight of the next century. Abernethy was the bravest of the brave, not only in advocating unpopular truths to his own harm, but in resisting the highest dignitaries in the cause of right. Consult 'Diary,' 6 vols.; Duchal's 'History of Irish Presbyterian Church.'