JOHN GLAS
Minister of the
congregational church in this place
died 2nd November 1773
aged 78 years
he long survived
CATHERINE BLACK
his beloved wife
interred in the same grave
and all his children fifteen in number
many of whom arrived at mature are
and nine lie here beside their parents
His character in the
churches of Christ is well known
and will outlive all
monumental inscriptions
Claimant: Glasite Congregation
Source:RT
JOHN GLAS was the son of Mr ALEXANDER GLAS, minister of
Kinclaven, and was born at Auchtermuchty on 21st September, 1695, where his
father was then minister. He was educated first at the parish school of
Kinclaven, and afterwards at Auchtermuchty and at Perth, completing his studies
at S. Leonard's College. On 6th May, 1713, he obtained his degree of Master of
Arts at the University of St Andrews, was licensed by the Presbytery of Dunkeld
in 1718, and placed as minister of Tealing in the following year. His success as
a popular preacher was rapid and great, but shortly after his settlement he
advocated certain views as to the constitution of the Church which did not meet
with the approval of his co Presbyters. In 1725 he formed a Society outside of
his church, which he conducted according to the principles that he had adopted,
although he still ministered to his regular congregation in the usual way. His
chief difference with the clergy of the National Church related to the
Covenants, the adherence to which was then regarded as obligatory upon all
members. He maintained that the Civil Magistrate should have no power to
interfere with the government of the Church; that "the National Covenants were
without warrant of God's Word; and that those who suffered in late times for
adhering thereto were so far unenlightened. That there is no warrant for a
National Church under the New Testament, and that a single congregation, with
its presbyteries, is in its discipline subject to no jurisdiction under heaven."
These views were so pertinaciously taught and acted upon by Mr GLAS that his
case was brought under the notice of the Church Courts, and he was suspended by
the Synod on 18th April, 1725. The Commission of the General Assembly continued
the sentence of suspension in May, 1728, he was deposed in October of that year,
and the deposition was confirmed by the Assembly Commission in May, 1730.
At this time he removed to Dundee and founded an Independent Church there in
accordance with his principles. He soon gathered around him a considerable
number of persons like minded with himself, and formed a regular congregation
known by the name of Glassites. In 1733 he returned to Perth, where his father
in law, Mr THOMAS BLACK, was minister, and here a small meeting house was built
by some of his adherents; but the spirit of intolerance was then so rampant that
an attempt was made to have him excluded from that Burgh as a fomenter of
discord. He remained in Perth, however, for many years, and soon found his
supporters increasing in numbers throughout Scotland. But he was still regarded
as a dangerous schismatic by the Established Church, and though on 22nd May,
1739, the Assembly reversed the sentence of deposition, it was declared "that he
is not to be esteemed a minister of the Church of Scotland until he shall
renounce the principles embraced by him that are inconsistent with the
constitution of the Church." It is worthy of notice that the Act of the Town
Council of Dundee constituting him a free Burgess was made shortly after he was
released from the ban of ecclesiastical censure. His principal clerical opponent
at this time was Mr JOHN WILLISON, minister of the South Church of Dundee from
1716 till 1750. The greater portion of Mr GLAS'S life after leaving Tealing was
spent in Perth; but he returned to Dundee towards the close of his career, and
died there on 2nd November, 1773, in the seventy ninth year of his age. His
wife, KATHARINE BLACK, whom he married in 1721, had long predeceased him, as she
died in December, 1749.
Source 3.
|
