The three formal charges against Rankin at his 1792 trial

Source: history-of-the-presbyterian-church-in-the-state-of-kentucky-with-a-preliminary-sketch-of-the-churches-in-the-valley-of-virginia
Page: 88
Type: quote
Confidence: high
Date mentioned: 1792
Topics: psalmody-controversy rankin-case church-trial transylvania-presbytery exclusive-psalmody
People: adam-rankin james-crawford robert-steel robert-patterson john-maxwell james-trotter david-logan
Places: Kentucky, Stonermouth Church, Mount Zion
Institutions: transylvania-presbytery

Context

Davidson describes the trial that took place at Stonermouth Church on April 25, 1792. The Committee of Prosecution had been appointed in October 1789, but Rankin fled to London for two years before the trial could proceed. When he finally returned, the charges were formally prosecuted.

Extract

The result of their labors appeared in several formal charges and specifications against Mr. Rankin, which, as they were not digested in as orderly a manner as they might have been, may be here reduced to three heads, viz: That Mr. Rankin had traduced his brethren; that he had unwarrantably debarred from the table of the Lord, all such as used or approved Watts’ Psalmody; that he had pretended to extraordinary Divine revelation through the medium of dreams.

[At the trial…] Witnesses were examined on both sides upon oath, and subscribed the record with their own hands; after which the defendant was heard for himself. He made no attempt to exculpate himself from the first and second charges, but plead justification. He was about to enter into an argument upon the general subject, but was called to order, and directed to confine his remarks to the simple question of fact, “Had he or had he not conducted himself as was alleged?”

[Regarding the third charge about dreams…] Mr. Crawford was accordingly sworn; and deposed, that Mr. Rankin had, on a certain occasion, excused himself to deponent from assisting at a sacrament when Watts would be used, in consequence of a warning he had received in a dream; that he had informed him, that in all matters of consequence he was under an extraordinary Divine direction; that it was in obedience to such a direction he had removed to Kentucky; and that, in the same extraordinary way, he knew that Dr. Watts’ Psalms would be finally laid aside in the Church, at some future time, not specified.

The first and second charges were found to be sustained by testimony, and the defendant’s own confession. The third charge was sustained by the testimony of five witnesses, viz: Messrs. Robert Steel, Robert Patterson, John Maxwell and James Trotter, members of Mount Zion congregation, and Rev. James Crawford.

Significance

This extract is essential for understanding what Rankin was actually tried for:

  1. Charge 1 - “Traduced his brethren”: This was about his language - calling Watts supporters “deists,” “blasphemers,” etc.

  2. Charge 2 - Barring from communion: This is the most theologically significant charge - Rankin made exclusive psalmody a term of communion, refusing the sacrament to Watts users

  3. Charge 3 - Claims to revelation through dreams: This charge shifted focus from theology to alleged fanaticism

Key procedural detail: When Rankin tried to argue theology (“plead justification”), he was “called to order” and told to answer only whether he had done the acts charged. The Presbytery refused to engage his theological arguments - they confined the trial to behavioral questions.

The witnesses against him on the third charge were four members of his own Mount Zion congregation plus Rev. Crawford. This shows internal division within his church, not just conflict with Presbytery.