William Moodie

He was also a philologist, and Professor of Hebrew (and Oriental Languages) at Edinburgh University.He was born on 2 July 1759, the son of Roger Moodie, Minister of Gartly, Strathbogie and his wife, Margaret Scott.

"Carefully avoiding those intricate discussions, which tend rather to perplex than to enlighten the mind, he was guided in his selection of subjects for discourse, by their general importance and utility ...The striking light in which he exhibited the truth of the gospels; the clearness with which he explained its doctrines and its precepts; the tenderness with which he applied its consolations to soothe the afflicted; the solemnity with which he warned the impenitent of the consequences of their guilt, and the earnestness with which he exhorted the righteous to persevere in the paths of holiness, roused the attention and interested the hearts of all whom he addressed.

"[2]However, he did feel obliged to refer to his opponents, at some length, in his final sermon before he left for Edinburgh three years later, telling them he bore them no ill-will, and leaving them to their consciences.

Six years later (1793) they added the post of Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages at the university, which he held in conjunction with his position at St Andrew's Church until he died.

[8] The same reviewer, while noting the elegance of the discourses, was scandalised at the lack of what he thought of as proper Christian content in the sermons – such as, the consciousness of human depravity, the need for conversion, repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, to avoid an otherwise certain eternal punishment.

Parishioners who felt their rights as Presbyterians were being over-ridden resented having so-called Moderate Ministers imposed on them – appointed by Patrons or presented by the local landowners.

The Evangelicals, as the opponents of the Moderates, were called, were by no means confined to the lower orders, but they were well represented among them and those in power feared the issue might be used as a front for more political unrest.

Moodie was very much a Moderate and supported measures "he thought conducive to the respectability of our eccesiastical establishment, to the maintenance of public order, and to the advancement of true religion".

It was in the middle of the French Revolutionary Wars and Britain was haunted by the threat of foreign invasion coupled with insurrection at home, particularly in Ireland and in the industrial areas.

They also adopted a Declaratory Act, against "unlicensed" or "vagrant" teachers of the gospel, especially those teaching outdoors or in unregulated Sabbath schools, where loose talk about democracy and Thomas Paine could lead to trouble.

A Public Admonition was drawn up, to be read out in every Parish, reminding their parishioners of the happy country in which they are blest to dwell, warning them about the evils of the French Revolutionaries, or of listening to the unlicensed teachers or attending unregulated Sunday schools.

When some Sabbath School teachers asked him to visit them to reassure them and him that they were law-abiding, orthodox Christians, he turned up, and without giving a moment's attention to them, told the pupils to leave immediately and their parent's would answer any questions.

Later, in 1805, he was part of a group of Edinburgh clergy who opposed the appointment of John Leslie as Professor of Mathematics at the university, for holding views "destructive of all religion".