|
PREFACE
Shortly after Professor Hastie's death, in
1903, a movement was set on foot for the purpose of perpetuating his
memory in Glasgow University, and particularly in connection with the
subject of Theology, of which he was so great a master. A considerable
sum was speedily subscribed, and it was decided that the memorial should
take the form of a Lectureship. The Trustees did me the honour of giving
me the first appointment, and in the spring of this year I delivered,
under the Hastie Foundation, a course of Lectures on the "Aberdeen
Doctors," a subject suggested to me by Dr. Hastie himself. As no formal
biography of Dr. Hastie has appeared, I thought it would not be out of
place to make his remarkable career the subject of the Introductory
Lecture; and as the question of Union between the chief Churches in the
country is so much in the air at the present moment, I thought it right
to make this the theme of my last Lecture. This of course I could do in
perfect keeping with my subject, for it was a question on which the
Doctors themselves gave a pronouncement, not of course in its present
aspect, but as it forced itself upon them in their day. I have put into
Appendices information which could not find a suitable place in the
Lectures themselves. The biographical and historical matter which they
contain will, I hope, be of some service to any who may wish to
prosecute the matter further.
I wish to express my indebtedness to Mr. J.
B. Douglas, M.A., for his assistance in the preparation of the volume,
and to my friend Mr. William Wallace, LL.D., for many helpful
suggestions.
CONTENTS
|
