Spottiswoode Society > History of the affairs of the Church and State of Scotland from the beginning of the reformation to the year 1568 > Volume 1

XXIV BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE
estate of Craighall in Perthshire, the representative of an
ancient family, and the intimate friend of Bishop Gadderar,
was consecrated at Edinburgh on the 4th of June 1727 by
that Prelate, assisted by Bishops Millar and Cant. Dr
Rattray had been elected by the presbyters in the ancient
Diocese of Dunkeld, who since the death of Bishop Falconer
had been deprived of Episcopal superintendence. The Dio-
cesan Bishops resolved to adhere to the practice of the Pri-
mitive Church, and, regardless of the influence of the Chevalier
and his " Trustees," increased their number to preserve the
Succession, in opposition to the College Party. Bishop Keith
was consecrated at Edinburgh as coadjutor to the then aged
Bishop Millar, along with Bishop Dunbar for Moray, on the
18th of the same month, by Bishops Millar, Rattray, and
Gadderar, the determined opponents of the College Party.
This consecration was caused by the death of Bishop Fullar-
ton in the beginning of May. Lockhart of Carnwath, one of
the Chevalier's active adherents and " Trustees," notices this
elevation to the Episcopate with bitter hostility. — " The fac-
tious Bishops — (this may appear an harsh epithet, but when I
reflect how little respect they shewed to the King [the Cheva-
lier], and their contempt of the authority of the College of
Bishops, I do not know one more proper wherewithal to
distinguish them from the other Prelates who were hence-
forth called the College Bishops) — these Bishops, I say, to
strengthen their party, proceeded to consecrate one Mr
Dunbar, a disciple of Gadderar in the North, and Mr Keith,
a Presbyter of Edinburgh ; but whether these promotions
were one or both at or about this time, or not for some-
time afterwards when Millar died, I do not exactly know,
I being then abroad ;* and the chronology of this circum-
stance is of no moment, seeing, be it sooner or later, they
did not think themselves bound to ask after the King's ap-
probation. The independence of the Church was now in all
1 Bishops Dunbar and Keith were consecrated at Edinburgh on the same
day. The former had been minister of Cruden before the Revolution, and
suffered severely by that event. He was elected by the Presbyters of the
Diocese of Moray to be their Bishop.