ANTIBURGHERS. A name taken by one of the divi sions Into which the Associate Synod or Secession Church of Scotland split up in 1747. The trouble arose over the burgess-oath which burgesses were required to take in certain corporate towns. One party maintained that it could not be taken by consistent Seceders. The other party, though they thought It Inexpedient for Seceders to take the oath, would not refuse to do so. Those who refused to take the oath formed themselves into the " General Associate Synod " or " Anti-burgher Synod." Those who would not take It became the " Associate " or " Burgher Synod." Later on another split occurred owing to differences of opinion about the powers of the civil magistrate in matters of religion. It was felt by many that the views of the old Covenant required to be modified. In 1804 therefore a new Declaration of Principles or " Testimony " was put forth. Thomas
McCrie (1772-1835), Archibald Bruce (1746-1816), James Aitken, and James Hog, however, professed to adhere " to the true constitution of the Reformed Church of Scotland," and in 1806 started the " Constitutional Asso ciate Presbytery," the members of which were called also " Old Light Anti-burghers." Another division had in 1799 formed themselves into the " Original Burgher Presbytery " or " Old Light Burghers." In 1820 the " New Light " sections of the Burghers and Anti-burghers were re-united as the " United Secession." In 1827 the " Old Light Anti-burghers " united with the " Associate Synod of Protesters " (formed in 1820 in opposition to the " United Secession "), and the two bodies became the " Associate Synod of Original Seceders." Cp. BURGHERS. See J. H. Blunt.