Moderate Party (Scotland) facts for kids

The Moderate Party was an important group of clerics (church leaders) in the Church of Scotland during the 1700s. They are often compared to another group called the Evangelicals. However, this is a bit too simple. Most people in both groups saw themselves as true Christians. The leaders, Principal Robertson for the Moderates and John Erskine for the Evangelicals, were actually good friends. They respected each other a lot.

What Did the Moderates Believe?

The Moderates were a big part of the Scottish Enlightenment. This was a time when many new ideas in thinking, science, and art were developing in Scotland. The Moderates were involved in these new ideas.

• They were often quite open to new ways of thinking. They were careful about strong religious feelings, especially those seen in many revival movements of their time. For example, Dr. James Meek was very calm when he looked at the ""Cambuslang Wark"" revival.
• They did not like dogmatism, which means being too strict about beliefs. They also disliked overly complex religious systems. Some critics thought this made them too different from the Westminster Confession of Faith. This was the main set of beliefs for Reformed Christianity in Scotland back then.
• Their preaching (sermons) focused a lot on how Christians should behave. Some people felt they focused too much on this and not enough on specific religious beliefs. One Moderate said it was important to tell the difference between "fake" good and bad actions and "real" ones.
• Finally, they deeply respected the established rules and leaders of both the Church and the Government. They believed the Bible supported this respect. This view was also popular with the Scottish ruling class. These rulers often chose who would become ministers using laws called the Patronage Acts.

Moderates and Church Changes

The right of wealthy landowners to choose ministers for churches caused many disagreements. This power also gave them a lot of influence over church matters. This led to several groups leaving the Church of Scotland in the 1700s. These events are known as the Secessions.

However, the differences in religious ideas (theology) between the Moderates and the Evangelicals were also very important. For example, James Meek was a typical Moderate. He was chosen by the Duke of Hamilton. But his church members in Cambuslang did not like some parts of his preaching.

Important Moderate Leaders

Many Moderate church leaders achieved great things and were highly respected. It is hard to say they were just people put in place by powerful friends.

• Principal William Robertson of Edinburgh University was a famous historian. He was also a Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is a top leader in the Church.
• His successor, George Baird, also became a principal and moderator. He helped set up the Church's education system.
• Other important Moderates included Thomas Reid, a philosopher; George Campbell, a theologian; Adam Ferguson, a philosopher and historian; John Home, a writer of plays; and Hugh Blair, a literary scholar.

Even a later Evangelical minister, W.H. Porter, praised the Moderates. He noted that they gave the Church its "Paraphrases" (religious songs). He also mentioned that Campbell, who argued against the philosopher Hume, and Blair, a famous preacher, were Moderates. Even though Moderates mostly voted against foreign missions in 1796, a Moderate named Dr. Inglis founded the Mission to India in 1829. Porter also said that the Church of Scotland owes its education system to one Moderate leader and its colonial missions to another.