ERSKINE, EBENEZER, founder of a considerable sect of seceders from the established church in Scotland, called the Secession Church, was born on the 22nd of June 1630. He studied in the university of Edinburgh, for some time acted as tutor and chaplain iu the family of the Earl of Rothes, and became a licentiate in divinity in 1702. In 1703 he was chosen minister of Portmoak in the slake of Kinross. He, became a vary popular preacher, and though his charge was in a retired district people flocked from distant parts of Scotland to attend on his ministration. After having resisted various offers of ministerial appointments in other places, he was prevailed on to accept of a charge in the town of Stirling in 1731, after he had served for twenty eight years in Portmoak. Mr. Erekine's first difference with his col leagues of tho Church of Scotland was in his support of the principles of "the Marrow of Modern Divinity,' a subject of great contention during the early part of the 18th century. He was one of several clergymen who, iu connection with this subject, were "rebuked and admonished" by the General Assembly. The secession of the body headed by Mr. Erskine was occasioned by the operation of the Act of Queen Anne's reign restoring lay patronage in the Church of Scotland, and, though not in all respects technically the same, it was virtually on the same ground as the late secession of " The Free Church." The presbytery of Kinross, led by Erskine's brother Ralph, had refused to induct a presentee forced on au objecting congregation by the law of patronage. In 1732, the General Assembly enjoined the presbytery to receive the presentee). At the same, time they passed
an act of Assembly regulating inductions, which, as it tended to euforce the law of patronage, was offensive to Mr. Erskine, and ho preached against it. After some discussion the General Assembly decided that he should be "rebuked and admonished," confirming a decision of the inferior ecclesiastical courts. Against this decision Mr. Erskine entered a " protest," in which he was joined by several of ' his brethren. lie was afterwards suspended from his functions. The I Assembly subsequently endeavoured to smooth the way for his recto ration, but be declined to take advantage of it, and he and his friends, including his brother Ralph, formally seceded in 1736. When the Secession was divided into the two sects of Burghers and Anti-Burghers, Mr. Erskine and his brother were of the Burgher party. lie died on the 22nd of June 1756. The Secession Church, re-united by the junction of the Burghers and Anti-Burghers in 1820, remained a distinct body till 1847, when a union being effected with the Relief Synod (a body which arose from Mr. Gillespie's secession from the established church of Scotland in 1752), the aggregate body assumed the name of the United Presbyterian Church.
Rama Easiurca, his brother, was the author of ' Gospel Sonnets,' and other religious works, but his celebrity chiefly rests on hie alliance with his brother Ebenezer in the founding of the sect of the Seceders in Scotland. He was born on the 13th of March 1635, became clergyman of the parish of Dunfermline in 1711, and died on the 6th of November 1752.