Alexander Gordon

“ The first York student to adopt the libertarian view was William Mountford (1816-1885) , author of 'Euthanasy' (1850) , who broke with the Hartleyan philosophy while at York (1833-8) . Martineau gained at York the highest honours (Christian Life, 23 June 1900, p. 302) ; his successful oration in 1825 bore the characteristic title 'The Necessity of cultivating the Imagination as a Regulator of the Devotional Feelings.' His father's death (1826) left on the family a burden of undischarged liabilities, all of which were paid in full. ”

“ His politics were of the old whig school; he was against disestablishment, desiring a comprehensive national church; he took the side of the southern states in the American war; in Irish politics he was strongly averse to home rule; he was opposed to free education and advocated a common religious teaching in board schools. ”

“ Martineau's confession of faith reflects the theology of Carpenter rather than that of Wellbeloved, and on the person of Christ carefully selects what was common ground with Arianism, but is remarkable at that date for its silence on the inerrancy and inspiration of scripture and the whole question of miracles. He bought a house, married, and took pupils. He was a chief promoter and the first secretary of the 'Irish Unitarian Christian Society,' founded 17 March 1830, and still in being. For his congregation he compiled a hymn-book (Dublin, 1831, 12mo) ”

“ In 1891 he resigned his principalship at Aberystwyth in order to become principal of the Welsh calvinistic methodist theological college at Bala, founded by his father. His policy of opening the college to students of all denominations was not responded to by many outsiders, but the college flourished greatly under his management. In 1898 he was the first to receive the diploma of D.D. from the university of Wales (founded 1893) . He died at Bala on 22 March 1900. ”

“ Personally he was a man of singularly winning characteristics; his massive head was full of strong good sense and marvellous knowledge of men and things; his robust energy was equalled only by his generous warmth of heart. ”

“ Old age gave grandeur to his countenance, and a refined gentleness to his demeanour. In his conversation as in his letters there was a rare combination of dignified modesty and courtly grace. His spoken addresses were simpler in style than most of his literary works, which, when richly wrought, reminded his critics of a kaleidoscope (R. B. Aspland's phrase; see also Life of F. P. Cobbe, ut sup. p. 146) . The delivery of his sermons was vivid and even dramatic, though without action; his lectures were mechanically dictated. Both sermons and lectures were written in Doddridge's shorthand. ”

“ Angell James, with great courage, insisted that 'the young man must have his fling.' A call in 1857 to Cavendish Street chapel, Manchester (with a much higher stipend) , was declined on James's advice. In 1858 he succeeded Rogers as lecturer on literature, philosophy, and homiletics at Spring Hill. ”

“ He at once established (20 May 1876) a weekly paper, the ‘Christian Life,’ as an organ of biblical and missionary unitarianism; in 1889 he bought up the ‘Unitarian Herald,’ a Manchester organ (which he had been invited to manage at its establishment in 1861) , and amalgamated it with his paper. In 1886, aided by Matilda Sharpe, younger daughter of Samuel Sharpe [q. v.] , he established a denominational school for girls at Channing House, Highgate Hill, and in consequence left Stepney to found a Unitarian chapel at Highgate. ”

“ In the management of University College, Liverpool, he took a leading part as vice-president. He was Hibbert lecturer in 1883, taking for his subject the Reformation. In February 1888 he received the degree of LL.D. from St. Andrews. His numerous avocations heavily taxed a robust constitution; in 1886 he spent six months in Italy; in 1887 his health was more seriously broken, and his congregation made provision for his taking a year's rest. He died at 13 Southhill Road, Liverpool, on 9 April 1888, and was buried on 12 April in the graveyard of the Ancient Chapel, Toxteth Park. ”

“ He kept up his love of foreign travel; his last visit to Greece was in 1891. Till May 1894, when he was attacked with asthma, his health and strength were marvellous. His last public appearance was at the opening of the college session in October 1894. He died at 9 Douglas Crescent, Edinburgh, on 2 March 1895, and, after a public funeral service in St. Giles's Cathedral, was buried in the Dean cemetery on 6 March. He left 2,500l. to the Edinburgh University for a Greek scholarship, limited to its theological students. ”

“ For five years after the removal (1853) of Manchester New College to University Hall, Gordon Square, London, Martineau travelled up to town every week in the session to deliver his lectures, till in 1857 he left Liverpool to share with Tayler the theological teaching of the college, as professor of mental, moral, and religious philosophy. ”

“ The bishop used to say, "Why do you always blow your nose in the pathetic part ?"' (Life of Wilberforce, 1882, iii. 25) .
Knox, as a whig, was not at the outset popular in his diocese. Like his predecessor, he resided at Holywood, co. Down. He made no secret of his opinion that, in the absence of extensive reforms, disestablishment was inevitable, and did his best to prepare for it. At an early period of his episcopate he had entertained the project of a cathedral at Belfast (in addition to the three existing cathedrals of the diocese) ”

“ He then took the three years' theological course at Aberdeen. The divinity professors, William Laurence Brown [q. v.] and Duncan Mearns [q. v.] , seem to have influenced him less than Patrick Forbes, professor of humanity and chemistry at King's College, who turned him from systems of divinity to the Greek testament. It was on the advice of Forbes, whose sons were going to Göttingen, that Blackie was sent with them in April 1829. ”

“ He was buried at Key Hill cemetery on 18 March. His statue, by Onslow Ford, is in the Birmingham Art Gallery. Being near-sighted, he constantly wore spectacles. His resolute face and knitted brow were no index to the tenderness of his sympathies; the great charm of his personality was in his rich and mellow voice. He married (21 Feb. 1855) Elizabeth, second daughter of William Dowling of Over Wallop, Hampshire; she survived him with a son, Mr. Alfred William Winterslow Dale, principal of University College, Liverpool, and two daughters. ”

“ SPEARS, ROBERT (1825–1899) , unitarian preacher and journalist, fifth son by the second wife of John Spears, foreman of ironworks, was born at Lemington, parish of Newburn, Northumberland, on 25 Sept. 1825. His father was a Calvinistic presbyterian, but the family attended the parish church. Brought up as an engineering smith, his love of reading led him to leave this calling and set up a school in his native village. ”

“ The premature death (31 Jan. 1822, aged 29) of Henry Turner, Unitarian minister at Nottingham [son of William Turner, 1761-1859; see under Turner, William, 1714–1794] , who had married (1819) Martineau's cousin, Catharine Rankin (d. 1 May 1894, aged 97) , produced his 'conversion' (Proceedings in connection with his retirement, 1885, p. 28) , and decided him for the ministry.
In September 1822 he entered Manchester College, York, as a divinity student under Charles Wellbeloved [q. v.] Classics and history were taught by John Kenrick [q. v.] , a scholar of distinction. ”

“ From 1804 he was secretary of the Suffolk Congregational Union. At the end of 1877 he published his 'History of Congregationalism and Memorials of the Churches of Norfolk and Suffolk' (8vo) , a work on which he had been engaged for five years. It shows wide and accurate research, and he had long been a collector of manuscripts, rare volumes, and portraits bearing on his subject. In person short and stout, he was a man of solid qualities and genial frankness. He died on 4 April 1886, and was buried at Wrentham on 9 April. ”

“ In September 1827 he became a student for the ministry at the Glasgow Theological Academy, under Ralph Wardlaw [q. v.] and Greville Ewing [q. v.] ; by the end of the year he was appointed classical tutor in the Blackburn Theological Academy, a post which he filled, teaching also Hebrew and all other subjects except theology, till December 1831, when he began the study of medicine at Edinburgh. ”

“ In October 1840 he became professor of classical literature in Manchester New College (now Manchester College, Oxford) , removed in that year from York to Manchester. His opening address was published in 'Introductory Lectures, Manchester New College' (1841, 8vo) . He published an abridged translation of Hubert's 'English Universities' (1843, 8vo) . His 'Catholic Union' (1844, 12mo; 2nd edit. 1854, 12mo) was a plea for a 'church of the future' on an ethical basis, leaving theological questions open. In 1846 he was appointed to the chair of Latin in University College, London. ”

“ On Müller's failure he carried on the school for a few months, but in September 1847 he was admitted as a theological student at Spring College, Birmingham. Here he found great stimulus in the prelections of Henry Rogers (1806–1877) [q. v.] , and came into intimate relations with John Angell James [q. v.] , though he preferred the preaching of George Dawson (1821-1876) [q. v.] In 1853 he graduated M.A. at the London University, taking the gold medal in philosophy.
From the autumn of 1852 he had relieved Angell James by preaching once a month at Carr's Lane chapel ”

“ Dale omitted the passages impugned.
Very early in his lifelong pastorate at Carr's Lane Dale had realised the need of church extension; new congregations were planted out at Edgbaston, Moseley, Yardley, and Acock's Green. As a public man he first made his mark in connection with the bicentennial (1862) of the Uniformity Act, by his vivid reply to John Cale Miller [q. v.] An invitation, in the same year, to a Melbourne pastorate caused his congregation to rally to him with renewed attachment. His Birmingham ministry steadily grew in power ”

“ The opening lecture of his second session was on 'The Living Language of the Greeks' (1853, 8vo) . He succeeded (May 1855) in establishing an entrance examination for the junior Greek class. While Blackie promoted in his class a good deal of enthusiasm of various sorts, and always exerted a sterling moral influence, he was rarely successful in creating an appetite for Greek scholarship. If it existed, he did his best to foster it, and was very kind to struggling students. ”

“ It is difficult to classify Blackie's writings, in which prose and verse were often inter-mingled. Nothing he has written has kept so permanent a place as his hymn, 'Angels holy, high and lowly,' written by the banks of the Tweed on his wedding tour (1842) and first published in 'Lays and Legends' (1857) .
His chief publications were : 1. 'Faust . . . translated into English Verse,' 1834, 8vo; 1880, 8vo. 2. 'On Subscription to Articles of Faith,' Edinburgh, 1843, 8vo. 3. 'University Reform,' Edinburgh, 1848, 8vo. 4. 'The Water Cure in Scotland,' Aberdeen, 1849, 8vo. 5. ”

“ Dublin, on the other side of the Dargle. In this cure he remained, without further preferment, till in 1893 he was appointed parish priest of Ballybrack and Killiney, co. Dublin, by archbishop Walsh. His income never exceeded 200l. a year; most of a sum raised for him by his friends was lost in Wicklow copper mines. Beloved by his parishioners, his social charm made him a coveted guest in the highest circles of Dublin society. ”

“ As president of the general synod of the Irish church, his characteristic qualities of fairness and moderation came effectively into play. He retained to the last his activity of body, presiding at the Armagh diocesan synod a fortnight before his death. He died at Armagh of heart disease on 23 Oct. 1893, and was buried on 27 Oct. in the old church (a disused ruin) at Holywood. Portraits of him are at Armagh Palace and at the see house of Down, lie married, on 5 Oct. 1842, Catherine Delia, daughter of Thomas Gibbon Fitzgibbon of Ballyseeda, co. ”

“ In 1867 he was elected co-secretary of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association with Aspland, on whose death (1869) he became general secretary, ‘put new life into every department,’ and nearly quadrupled its income. ”

“ Hindered from preaching, Feilde began to produce translations of writings of foreign divines; the earliest of these, dedicated to Lady Tyrwhit, is dated ‘from my poore house in Grubstreat, this second of November, 1577.’ His most curious piece, the ‘Caveat’ (1581) , shows a good deal of reading, and is valuable for the documents embodied. He edited the reports of conferences held by protestant divines with Edmund Campion [q. v.] ”

“ MARTINEAU, JAMES (1805–1900) , Unitarian divine, youngest son and seventh child of Thomas Martineau (d. 21 June 1826) , camlet and bombazine manufacturer, by his wife Elizabeth (d. 26 Aug. 1848, aged 78) , eldest daughter of Robert Rankin, sugar refiner, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, was born in Magdalen Street, Norwich, on 21 April 1805. His father, of Huguenot lineage, had a maternal descent from John Meadows or Meadowe [q. v.] , the ejected puritan, which connected him with the family of John Taylor (1694-1761) [q. v.] ”