Alexander Martin (Scottish minister)

Alexander Martin was born in Panbride in 1857, the son of the Rev Dr Hugh Martin, the local Free Church of Scotland minister. [2] He contributed to his father's entry in the Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 36. [3]

Martin studied at the University of Edinburgh and New College, Edinburgh.

In 1884 he was ordained to the Morningside congregation of the Free Church of Scotland, Edinburgh.

In 1897 he became Professor of Apologetics and Pastoral Theology in New College, Edinburgh, and succeeded Alexander Whyte as Principal from 1918 in the United Free Church of Scotland which continued till 1935 in the reunited Church of Scotland. During his time at New College, he served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland twice; in 1920 and 1929. He was appointed Cunningham Lecturer for 1928, and the subject of his lectures was Apologetics. The lectures were published in 1933 with the title The Finality of Jesus for Faith. [4]

In 1929 Principal Martin guided the United Free Church of Scotland into union with the Church of Scotland, serving as Moderator of the last General Assembly of the old United Free Church.[5]

He retired from New College in 1935, [6] and died on 14th June 1946. [7]

In 1887 he married Jane Thorburn, the daughter of the Rev Dr Thomas Addis DD, whom he assisted as minister of the Morningside congregation.[8]

Volumes

• Winning the Soul. (1896)
• The Finality of Jesus for Faith. (1933)

Pamphlets

• Christ the Centre of Christianity. (1883)
• Man's Debt to Man. (1888)
• The Problem of Apologetic. (1897)
• United Free Church Assembly Addresses. (1920)
• Church Union in Scotland: The First Phase. (1923)
• Church Union in Scotland: The First Stage Completed. (1925)
• Church Union: Nearing the Goal. (1928)
• The Re-union of the Scottish Church. (1929)
• Presbyterian Orders and the Admission of Ministers from other Churches. (1941) [9]