What can we learn from breaking Glas!

So from the post a few days ago What can we learn from John Glas?

In his endeavours to find God in the Bible he reviews all his thinking and that of his peers and denomination. As he seeks to find "truth the real truth he encounters a different opinion. There is nothing wrong with a difference of opinion is there? Some like the colour Purple some like Red others Green! In the search for a Colour one can come across a new shade.

So John Glas, prayerfully checks his understanding of what he is reading and what he sees and hears around. his look in  the book of Acts brings him to see that he and the Church are missing out in aspects and work that should be done.  Many new revivals/awakening have come from earnest prayer and seeking to find the truth or re find truth. for every person there could be a separate interpretation

 Take a town or city there could be several Churches in the place each with a different outlook , each being taught a different way or Gods leading being different. It doesn't make it wrong it means God is more powerful and in control to "allow" this to operate.

As Glas found inconsistencies with the Church of Scotland and what he found in the New Testament, he led a church movement that would be governed by the simple order in the New Testament rather than by human councils and synods. His deep research concluded that the Kingdom of Christ is Spiritual! The introduction of a feast, simple meal (broth and bread),the Kiss and feet washing. His "influence" on rediscovery has made an impact in many denominations and churches such as

Scotch Baptist, Church of Christs, Brethern, Community church, Scottish Baptists, Old Scots independents, Haldaneites, Disciples, Walkerites,and Inghamites...

 Can we sum up

• Prayerfully look to an understanding
• Take recognition of others opinions but strife to find the right understanding
• Revisit book of Acts and ask what is working in todays Church?
• Take care when "control"  takes over and stumbles others
• Do we need to instigate more basic feasts in our church as a sign of care and community?
• The Kingdom of Christ is spiritual!

 Note

 Clyde Reid, in his law of religious evasion, states:

 "we structure our churches and maintain them, so as to shield us from God, and to protect us from genuine religious experience".

 he continues...

" Adult members of Churches today, rarely raise serious religious questions for fear of revealing their doubts, or being thought of as strange."

Why so many different Baptists?

Baptists Variance

The following is a little, general. There will be differences but for the most it holds good. In different countries where the viewers are there will be differences. I am not promoting Baptist theology but informing readers who might be interested. I would far rather be in dialogue about Kingdom stuff! So... add a comment.

Ana-Baptist

Originally the name given to a German "sect" which rose in 1521. They taught Adult/Believers Baptism as opposed to infant baptism. The term was used later for various sects with a similar view.

Closed Baptists

Branch of the Baptist Church which is exclusive in outlook and doubtful of inter-Church communication.

General Baptists

Branch of the Baptist Church which is Arminian in theology, general as distinct to "closed". Most English Churches are of this type.

Open Baptists

Generally "open" in reference to the communion table i.e. open to believers, as opposed to closed to non-members (Particular).

Particular Baptists

Branch of Church which is closed in membership and closed for communion i.e. the table is for members only.

Reformed Baptist

A branch of the Church which is strong on Calvinistic theology and reluctant to have inter-Church dialogue.

Seventh Day Baptists

Members of a sect founded by John James, who was executed in 1661. His preaching was strong on the second coming of Christ.

“Scotch" Baptists

Founded by McLean and Carmichael with a Glassite influence. Calvinistic with plural "Elders." None left in Scotland however a few similar Churches are found in Wales.

Scottish Baptists

Majority of Churches in Scotland would claim to be Scottish Baptists, "general" in outlook, "open" in Communion. Although not all are closed, membership tends to be closed I.e. membership for those who have been baptised as believers/adults.

Liddell, Plean House,...Haldanes...Scotch Baptist and ironworks!!

As I was carrying out a little research a few weeks ago I came across a few bits of interest to pass on to you budding historians. 



I was reading the paper:

The Scotch Baptist Tradition in Great Britain by D.B Murray 

For now all you need to know is that Scotch Baptists were a group of belivers coming from various backgrounds but are not directly linked to Scottish Baptists of today. ( More on that another time)

So Murray mentions a letter by John Cowan an elder in Galashiels who on 11 December 1848 wrote to James Everson.
 He was congratulating Everson for his pamphlet "Reasons for being a Scotch Baptist".

I continued to explain about his workload which although busy was nothing like Eversons.  He contues to say that He visited Mr and Mrs Liddell at Plean House. He continued to Stirling and on to Glasgow in the following days.

Now having lived near Plean I wondered about the "Liddells".

Who were they what did they do etc.

Here is what I discovered.

Andrew Liddell

The visit was to Andrew (B 1789- 1854) and Margaret Liddell, Andrew son of Andrew (B 1736) a school teacher in Bainsford who became a clerk at the Iron works, Falkirk. Margaret was married previously, with children and had a son Robert Mclaren.  I will talk about Andrew Liddell (1789). 

Andrew was married to Janet Goodsir in 1820 and in 1829 on the 2 Novemebr he married Jessie Peddie. Interestingly enough there was a ante-nuptial contract which implies he had assets. So to have a will ( 19/6/1855 at the National Archives Kew) he must have had a measure of wealth.

Andrew as a young person was an assitant to father andrew at the iron works.
At 18 Andrew moves to work in the foundry at Edinburgh and then Leith. It was is wish to be surgeon but things took a different turn. He moves to Glasgow to become a partner in an iron foundry business around 1814/15. His Brother Robert Maclaren advancing funds to contribute to the capital after a retiring partner left.  

Andrew now the main person in the foundry works on till retirement at age 44 gives the business to his nephew (Maclaren) which stage he becomes a Pastor at a Church in Brown street which he had purchased for the use of the congregation.He was a member of the Scottish Baptist Connexion, but he also had interests in Mechanics, Science, Philosphical Society, Arts, Patents Philanthroic work with the likes of the homeless destressed and temperance work. He was also a magistrate. He died in Novemeber 1854 at Bardowie House Baldernock. 

 Now having lived in Plean house, remember Cowan letter what happened?

Plean House picture on Hiveminer.com

Plean House

 Come back tomorrow.....