- Alexander Penrose Forbes
Alexander Penrose Forbes (
June 16 ,1817 -October 8 ,1875 ), Scottish divine, was born atEdinburgh .He was the second son of John Henry Forbes, Lord Medwyn, a judge of the court of session, and grandson of Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo. He studied first at the
Edinburgh Academy , then for two years under the Rev. Thomas Dale. the poet, inKent , passed one session atGlasgow University in 1831 and, having chosen the career of the Indian civil service, completed his studies with distinction atHaileybury College . In 1836 he went toMadras and secured early promotion, but in consequence of ill-health he was obliged to return toEngland . He then enteredBrasenose College, Oxford , where in 1841 he, obtained the BodenSanskrit scholarship, and graduated in 1844.He was at Oxford during the early years of the movement known as
Tractarianism , and was powerfully influenced by association with Newman, Pusey and Keble. This led him to resign his Indian appointment. In 1844 he was ordaineddeacon and priest in the Church of England, and held curacies at Aston, Rowant and St Thomas's, Oxford; but being naturally attracted to the Episcopal Church of his native land, then recovering from long depression, he removed in 1846 toStonehaven , the chief town ofKincardineshire . The same year, however, he was appointed to the vicarage of St Saviours, Leeds, a church founded to preach and illustrateTractarian principles.On October 28th, 1847 Forbes was consecrated to succeed Bishop Moir in the see of Brechin; He removed the episcopal residence to
Dundee , where he resided till his death, combining the pastoral charge of the congregation with the duties of the see. When he came to Dundee the churchmen were accustomed owing to their small numbers to worship in a room over a bank. Through his energy several churches were built, and among them the pro-cathedral of St Paul's.He was prosecuted in the church courts for
heresy , the accusation being founded on his primary charge, delivered and published in 1857, fit which he set forth his views on theEucharist . He made a powerful defence of the charge, and was acquitted with a censure and an admonition. Keble wrote in his defence, and was present at his trial at Edinburgh. Forbes was a good scholar, a scientific theologian and a devoted worker, and was much beloved. He died at Dundee on the 8th of October 1875.Principal works:
*"A Short Explanation of theNicene Creed " (1852)
*"An Explanation of theThirty-nine Articles " (2 vols, 1867 and 1868)
*"Commentary on the Seven Penitential Psalms" (1847)
*"Commentary on theCanticles " (1853)See Mackey's "Bishop Forbes, a Memoir".----
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