Robert Balmer (1787–1844), was successively a minister of the
Burgher Seceder,
New Licht Burgher Seceder and
United Associate Synod of the Secession Churches in Scotland.
Balmer was born at Ormiston Mains, in the parish of
Eckford,
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh ( gd, Siorrachd Rosbroig) is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the north-west, and Berw ...
on 22 November 1787.
He evinced considerable abilities and a disposition towards the
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith, the prototype being the Great Commission. The '' Encyclopedia of Christianity'' defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", in ...
. He entered the
University of Edinburgh in 1802, and in 1806 the Theological Hall at
Selkirk, under
George Lawson of the Secession Church. In 1812 he received licence as a preacher from the
Presbytery of Edinburgh, and in 1814 was ordained minister in
Berwick-upon-Tweed, where he remained till his death. In 1834 he became a professor of pastoral theology at the United Secession church, and later a professor of systematic theology. In 1840 he received a
D.D.
A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity.
In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ra ...
from the
University of Glasgow.
Balmer had great influence in the denomination to which he belonged. When certain discussions arose among his brethren on some
Calvinistic doctrines, he supported the less stringent views. At a meeting held in
Edinburgh in 1843, to commemorate the bicentennial of the
Westminster Assembly, he delivered a speech in favour of Christian union, which attracted the attention of
Thomas Chalmers and others, and led to important measures being taken by
John Henderson of Park
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
for promoting that cause. Balmer did not publish much during his life but two volumes of ''Lectures and Discourses'' were posthumously published in 1845, a full year after he passed on 1 July 1844.
References
;Attribution
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balmer, Robert
1787 births
1844 deaths
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Ministers of Secession Churches in Scotland