Rankin's biography - declined Virginia pulpits 'on account of disputes on psalmody'

Source: history-of-the-presbyterian-church-in-the-state-of-kentucky-with-a-preliminary-sketch-of-the-churches-in-the-valley-of-virginia
Page: 93
Type: quote
Confidence: high
Date mentioned: 1782
Topics: psalmody-controversy rankin-case rankin-biography virginia-presbyterians
People: adam-rankin archibald-scott alexander-mcpheeters
Places: Kentucky, Western Pennsylvania, Greencastle, Holstein, Nolachuckey, Lexington, Augusta County Virginia
Institutions: hanover-presbytery liberty-hall

Context

Davidson provides a biographical sketch of Rankin drawn from his autobiography, prepared shortly before his death for Gen. Robert B. McAfee (Lt. Governor of Kentucky). This section covers Rankin’s early life and the psalmody disputes that preceded his move to Kentucky.

Extract

The Rev. ADAM RANKIN was born March 24, 1755, near Greencastle, Western Pennsylvania. He was descended from pious Presbyterian ancestors, who had emigrated from Scotland, making a short sojourn in Ireland by the way. His mother, who was a godly woman, was a Craig, and one of her ancestors suffered martyrdom, in Scotland, for the truth. That ancestor, of the name of Alexander, and a number of others, were thrown into prison, where they were slaughtered, without trial, by a mob of ferocious assassins, till the blood ran ancle deep. This account Mr. Rankin received from his mother’s lips.

His father was an uncommon instance of early piety, and because the minister scrupled to admit one so young, being only in the tenth year of his age, he was examined before a presbytery. From the moment of his son Adam’s birth, he dedicated him to the ministry. He was killed in his own mill, when Adam, his eldest son, was in his fifth year.

[Education:] His purpose to enter the college of New Jersey was frustrated by the British troops being in possession of Princeton; and he afterwards lost a year’s study by a dangerous illness. He completed his studies with the Rev. Archibald Scott, an excellent scholar, of Hanover Presbytery, and graduated at Liberty Hall, about 1780. Two years after, Oct. 25, 1782, at the age of twenty-seven, he was licensed by Hanover Presbytery, and, about the same time, married Martha, daughter of Alexander McPheeters, of Augusta county.

He received three calls from the neighborhoods of Holstein and Nolachuckey, which he declined accepting, on account of disputes on psalmody; and in the following year visited Kentucky, and receiving a call at Lexington, removed thither with his family in 1784.

Significance

This biographical extract provides crucial context:

  1. Covenanting heritage: Rankin’s mother told him stories of ancestors who “suffered martyrdom, in Scotland, for the truth” - slaughtered “without trial, by a mob of ferocious assassins.” This martyr consciousness may have shaped his willingness to stand alone for principle.

  2. Dedicated to ministry from birth: His father “dedicated him to the ministry” from birth, adding a sense of divine calling

  3. Psalmody disputes predated Kentucky: He “declined accepting” three Virginia calls (Holstein and Nolachuckey) “on account of disputes on psalmody” - showing his convictions were formed before 1784

  4. The pattern: Rankin’s exclusive psalmody stance caused him to leave Virginia for Kentucky, then caused him to leave Presbyterians for Associate Reformed - the same issue driving repeated denominational movement

  5. McPheeters connection: His wife Martha was daughter of Alexander McPheeters - the same name appears later as a Presbyterian minister whom Rankin’s behavior affected

This establishes that Rankin was not a late-developing eccentric but held exclusive psalmody views from the start of his ministry, and was willing to decline pulpits rather than compromise on them.