Stuart Robinson was an American clergyman, presbyterian journalist and religious journalist born on November 14, 1814 in Irland. He was known for his publications like: The Church of God, an Essential Element of the Gospel (1858); Slavery as Recognized in the Mosaic Civil Law (1865); Discourses of Redemption (1868) etc.
Background
Stuart Robinson was born in Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, the fourth son of James and Martha (Porter) Robinson, both of Scotch-Irish descent. The father, for a time successful as a linen merchant, lost his property and emigrated to America in 1816, settling first in New York City, and later in or near Martinsburg, then in the state of Virginia. His mother died when Stuart was about twelve years of age, and the boy was put out to work on the farm of some German Presbyterians, Troutman by name, who, seeing his promise, took him to the James M. Brown, their pastor.
Education
Brown trained and educated him as if he had been his own son; he attended the clergyman's private school and the academy at Romney, and then entered Amherst College. Graduating in 1836, he studied during the following year at Union Theological Seminary, Virginia. After teaching in an academy at Charleston (1838 - 39), he spent a year at Princeton Seminary.
Career
He was licensed by Greenbrier Presbytery April 10, 1841, and ordained October 8, 1842. The same day he was installed pastor of the church at Kanawha-Salines , from which he was released May 8, 1847. He served the Presbyterian Church at Frankfort, Kentucky, from June 18, 1847, to September 2, 1852, and the Fayette Street Church (Independent) in Baltimore for nearly one year, at the end of which time he organized the Central Presbyterian Church of that city, continuing as its pastor until October 27, 1856. In this year the General Assembly transferred him to Danville Theological Seminary, Kentucky, to fill the chair of church government and pastoral theology. On April 27, 1858, he became pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Louisville, Kentucky, which position he retained until June 16, 1881. In addition to his pastoral work he did much teaching. While at Kanawha-Salines he conducted a school; at Frankfort he carried on a flourishing seminary for girls, and for a time in Louisville he taught a boy's school. Robinson also entered the field of religious journalism. In collaboration with Thomas E. Peck he published in Baltimore (January 1855 - November 1856) the Presbyterial Critic and Monthly Review, a controversial journal which sought to maintain the pure traditions of Presbyterianism. In Louisville he bought the Presbyterian Herald, changed its name to True Presbyterian, and became its aggressive editor. He contended especially for the "spirituality of the church, " insisting that the church should deal only with spiritual matters and take no stand on the political issues dividing the nation. His zeal brought him into sharp conflict with other Presbyterians in Kentucky, especially Dr. Robert J. Breckinridge, a former colleague in Danville Seminary. During the Civil War he was suspected of disloyalty and, facing active persecution, in July 1862 sought refuge in Toronto, Canada. Here he preached, lectured, and wrote; aided Southern refugees; and refuted a slanderous charge of conspiracy to infect the Federal armies with yellow fever. His paper was suppressed by the military authorities in 1864. Returning to Louisville in April 1866, he resumed the editorial direction of the publication, which had been continued with the same policy under the title Free Christian Commonwealth. He was a commissioner to the General Assembly of 1866 at St. Louis, which refused to seat him and his colleagues from Louisville Presbytery because of a "Declaration and Testimony" signed by members of this Presbytery protesting against the political deliverances of the Assembly since the beginning of the war. It was mainly through Robinson's efforts that the main part of the Synod of Kentucky, excluded finally from the Northern Assembly, was induced to unite with the General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian Church in 1869. He was elected moderator of the Assembly that year by acclamation. Through his influence the Southern Church (Presbyterian Church in the United States) in 1875 became a constituent member of the Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches throughout the World. Among his publications were: The Church of God, an Essential Element of the Gospel (1858); Slavery as Recognized in the Mosaic Civil Law (1865); Discourses of Redemption (1868); The Infamous Perjuries of the 'Bureau of Military Justice' Exposed (1865), a letter to Hon. Mr. Emmons.
Achievements
Religion
In Louisville he bought the Presbyterian Herald, changed its name to True Presbyterian, and became its aggressive editor. He contended especially for the "spirituality of the church, " insisting that the church should deal only with spiritual matters and take no stand on the political issues dividing the nation.
Membership
Moderator of the Assembly
Connections
In September 1841 he married Mary Elizabeth Brigham, eldest daughter of William Brigham, a native of Massachusetts. they had eight children, five of whom died in early childhood.
He died of cancer of the stomach, having been active in religious and civic affairs almost to the end.