John Cairns
Encyclopedia
John Cairns Scottish
Presbyterian divine, was born at Ayton Hill, Berwickshire, the son of a shepherd.
He went to school at Ayton and Oldcambus, Berwickshire, and was then for three years a herd boy, but kept up his education. In University, but during 1836 and 1837, owing to financial straits, taught in a school at Ayton. In November 1837 he returned to Edinburgh
, where he became the most distinguished student of his time, graduating MA in 1841, first in classics and philosophy
and bracketed first in mathematics
.
While at Edinburgh he organized the Metaphysical Society
along with Alexander Campbell Fraser
and David Masson
. He entered the Presbyterian Secession Hall in 1840, and in 1843 wrote an article in the Secession Magazine on the Free Church Movement, which aroused the interest of Thomas Chalmers
. The years 1843-1844 he spent at Berlin
studying German philosophy and theology
.
He was licensed as preacher on February 3, 1845, and on August 6 ordained as minister of Golden Square Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed
. There his preaching was distinguished by its impressiveness and by a broad and unaffected humanity. He had many calls to other churches, but chose to remain at Berwick. In 1857 he was one of the representatives at the meeting of the Evangelical Alliance in Berlin, and in 1858 Edinburgh University conferred on him an honorary D.D. In the following year he declined an invitation to become principal of Edinburgh University.
In 1872 he was elected moderator of the United Presbyterian Synod and represented his church in Paris
at the first meeting of the Reformed Synod of France. In May 1876, he was appointed joint professor of systematic theology and apologetics with James Harper, principal of the United Presbyterian Theological College, whom he succeeded as principal in 1879.
He was an indefatigable worker and speaker, and in order to facilitate his efforts in other countries and other literatures he learnt Arabic
, Norse, Danish
and Dutch
. In 1890 he visited Berlin and Amsterdam
to acquaint himself with the ways of younger theologians, especially with the Ritschlians
, whose work he appreciated but did not accept as final.
On his return he wrote a long article on "Recent Scottish Theology" for the Presbyterian and Reformed Review, for which he read over every theological work of note published in Scotland during the preceding half-century.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Presbyterian divine, was born at Ayton Hill, Berwickshire, the son of a shepherd.
He went to school at Ayton and Oldcambus, Berwickshire, and was then for three years a herd boy, but kept up his education. In University, but during 1836 and 1837, owing to financial straits, taught in a school at Ayton. In November 1837 he returned to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where he became the most distinguished student of his time, graduating MA in 1841, first in classics and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and bracketed first in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.
While at Edinburgh he organized the Metaphysical Society
Metaphysical Society
The Metaphysical Society was a British society, founded in 1869 by James Knowles. Many of its members were prominent clergymen.Papers were read and discussed at meetings on such subjects as the ultimate grounds of belief in the objective and moral sciences, the immortality of the soul, etc...
along with Alexander Campbell Fraser
Alexander Campbell Fraser
Alexander Campbell Fraser was a Scottish philosopher.Born at Ardchattan, Argyll, the son of the parish minister, he was educated at the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, where, from 1846 to 1856, he was professor of Logic at New College...
and David Masson
David Masson
David Masson , was a Scottish writer.He was born in Aberdeen, and educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and at Marischal College, University of Aberdeen. Intending to enter the Church, he proceeded to Edinburgh University, where he studied theology under Dr Thomas Chalmers, with whom he remained...
. He entered the Presbyterian Secession Hall in 1840, and in 1843 wrote an article in the Secession Magazine on the Free Church Movement, which aroused the interest of Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers , Scottish mathematician, political economist, divine and a leader of the Free Church of Scotland, was born at Anstruther in Fife.-Overview:...
. The years 1843-1844 he spent at Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
studying German philosophy and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
He was licensed as preacher on February 3, 1845, and on August 6 ordained as minister of Golden Square Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
. There his preaching was distinguished by its impressiveness and by a broad and unaffected humanity. He had many calls to other churches, but chose to remain at Berwick. In 1857 he was one of the representatives at the meeting of the Evangelical Alliance in Berlin, and in 1858 Edinburgh University conferred on him an honorary D.D. In the following year he declined an invitation to become principal of Edinburgh University.
In 1872 he was elected moderator of the United Presbyterian Synod and represented his church in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at the first meeting of the Reformed Synod of France. In May 1876, he was appointed joint professor of systematic theology and apologetics with James Harper, principal of the United Presbyterian Theological College, whom he succeeded as principal in 1879.
He was an indefatigable worker and speaker, and in order to facilitate his efforts in other countries and other literatures he learnt Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, Norse, Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
and Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
. In 1890 he visited Berlin and Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
to acquaint himself with the ways of younger theologians, especially with the Ritschlians
Albrecht Ritschl
Albrecht Ritschl was a German theologian.Starting in 1852, Ritschl lectured on "Systematic Theology". According to this system, faith was understood to be irreducible to other experiences, beyond the scope of reason. Faith, he said, came not from facts but from value judgments...
, whose work he appreciated but did not accept as final.
On his return he wrote a long article on "Recent Scottish Theology" for the Presbyterian and Reformed Review, for which he read over every theological work of note published in Scotland during the preceding half-century.
Principal Publications
- An Examination of FerrierJames Frederick FerrierJames Frederick Ferrier was a Scottish metaphysical writer. He introduced the term epistemology.-Education and early writings:Ferrier was born in Edinburgh, the son of John Ferrier, writer to the signet...
's Knowing and Being, and the Scottish Philosophy (a work which gave him the reputation of being an independent Hamiltonian in philosophy) - Memoir of John Brown, D.D. (1860)
- Romanism and Rationalism (1863)
- Outlines of Apologetical Theology (1867)
- The Doctrine of the Presbyterian Church (1876)
- Unbelief in the 18th Century (1881)
- Doctrinal Principles of the United Presbyterian ChurchUnited Presbyterian Church of ScotlandThe United Presbyterian Church of Scotland was a Scottish Presbyterian denomination. It was formed in 1847 by the union of the United Secession Church and the Relief Church, and in 1900 merged with the Free Church of Scotland to form the United Free Church of Scotland, which in turn united with...
(Dr Blair's Manual, 1888).
Biographies
- MacEwen, Life and Letter of John Cairns (1895).
- Cairns, JohnJohn Cairns (1857-1922)John Cairns was a United Presbyterian Church minister, writer and biographer. He was born on 13 April 1857 at Stichill in Roxburghshire. He was the son of Rev. David Cairns, United Presbyterian Church minister at Stichill, and of Elizabeth Williamson Smith. He was educated at Edrom Parish School...
, Principal Cairns. Edinburgh: Oliphant, Anderson and FerrierOliphant, Anderson and FerrierThis Edinburgh book publishing firm produced many hundreds of books mainly on religious and biographical themes, especially during its heyday from about 1880 to 1910. It is probably best remembered for its memorable ‘Famous Scots Series’ with their distinctive red and gilt covers. Forty-two of...
, 1903, ("Famous Scots Series")