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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forCameroniansThe name given to a body of ScotchCovenanters in the reign of Charles II. They were so named because one of their leaders was Richard Cameron. They claimed to be the true representatives of the principles of those who framed the original Coven-ant. Cameron was one of those responsible for the anti-monarchical Declaration, which was read at Sanquhar in 1680. He was killed in the battle of Airdmoss in the same year. The Cameronians were organized in " societies," and were also called Society People. On the death of Cameron, James Renwick succeeded to the leadership. Renwick boldly disowned " the usurpation and tyranny " of James, Duke of York, and in 1688 was executed. In 1706 John Macmillan became leader of the Societies. In conjunction with Thomas Nairn, in 1743 he founded and organized a new body, " the Reformed Presbytery." Originally the Reformed Presbyterians were forbidden by a formal Act of Testimony to exercise the franchise or to take the oath of allegiance. In 1863, however, the Scotch synod decided " while recommending the members of the Church to abstain from the use of the franchise and from taking the oath of allegiance, discipline to the effect of suspension and expulsion from the Church shall cease." A minority of the Reformed Presbyterians refused to accept this decision, and formed a new body with the same name. In 1876 the older and larger body of Reformed Presbyterians united with the Free Church of Scotland. See Schaff-Herzog; J. H. Blunt. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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