BURG-GRAVE

(Germ, burg, castle; graf, count.) In the German Empire, a castellan or lord of a castle, having the right of private justice, imposing taxes, « . BURGHERS and ANTIBI RGHER8. In Ecclesiastical History. Owing to an undue exercise of patronage, which took place under the authority of the church of Scotland, or to the induction of a clergyman into a parish (Kinro ) against the declared sentiments of the congregation,.; schism took place in the church, which occasioned a aece ion from that establishment, and ultimately led to what la called the Burgher and Anti burgher denominations. Several clergymen, after years of painful discu ion, having protested against the violent procedure in question, anjd having thrown off subordination to the ecclesiastical authorities, were deposed (1740) from the office of the ministry and their parishes declared vacant (Union's Acts of A embly, sect. Patronage.) These clergyMi in number, though cut off from all connection with the church, enjoyed the unabated confidence of their respective us, who almost to a man adhered to them. Previously to their final separation from the establishment, namely, in 1733, four of that number had virtually proclaimed their independence, and had constituted themselves into an ecclesiastical court, called the A ociate Synod. To the deposed ministers and their adherents the name of Seceders was applied; and henct t e crigin of the Sece ion Church in Scotland. And so rajMdrr -: this body increase, that so early as 1745, they formed themselves in to a synod, which consisted of three different presbyteries.But while their numbers were thus augmented, and while the sphere of their influence was rapidly extending,a breach took place among themselves which was characterised by as much agitation and violence as that which had recently caused their ejection from the established church. The Sece ion Synod having instituted an inquiry into the lawfulne of certain oaths, not imposed by parliament, but generally practised, a question arose as to the nature of the oath imposed in royal burghs on persons when admitted to the privileges of a burge . Tho great point of debate was, whether it was lawful for a Seceder to swear the following clause:— " I profe and allow with my heart the true religion presently profe ed within this realm, and authorized by the laws thereof. I shall abide thereat, and defend the same to my life's end, re Bouncing the Roman religion called Papistry." The Synod was divided into two parties on this subject. The one contended,lhat though iney had condemned the manner in which the established church was at present administered, they had not expre ed and did not feel any objection to her standards; that, in seceding, they had not set up a new religion, but that, on the contrary, they had merely endeavoured to maintain in their original strictne and purity her constitutional principles both theological and ecclesiastical. The other party look a totally different view of the question, and insisted that the oath, being administered by members of the established church, must nece arily be taken in the sense in which it was understood by them; namely, as including all the corruptions and inconsistencies that attached to that establishment, and as consequently incompatible with Seceding principles and the solemn testimony they had raised against her errors and backsliding. This dispute, which commenced at the meeting of the Synod in 1745, continued to be maintained with in creasing acrimony for two years, or till 1747. The party that were in favour of the oath were called Burglitrs, the parly that opposed it were termed Anti burghers. In vair [s. 187]