S E C 



SEC 



SECEDERS, formed from the Latin word fecedo, to 

 feparate or withdraw, in Ecclefiajttcal H'ljlory, an appella- 

 tion comprehending thofe who are diiienters from the efta- 

 blifhed church of Scotland. This kind of i'eceffion took 

 place in the year 1727, when John Glas, difapproving 

 every eltabllihment of a national church, maintained that all 

 churches ought to be congregational ; or, in other words, 

 that no general church ihould be formed for a nation, but 

 that each religious fociety in a kingdom or i^ate fliould be 

 felf-conilituted, and controuled only by itfelf. For this 

 and foine other opinions he was fufpended from his mini- 

 i^erial funftions ; and, for continued contumacy, depofcd 

 from the rank of miniller, tiril by a provincial fynod, and 

 afterwards, •vt%. in 1730, by the general aflembly of the 

 Scots cliurch. Perfiiting, however, in the propagation of 

 his fentinients, both by preaching and writing, he formed 

 feveral congregations, of which the mod numerous was that 

 of Dundee. The feceffion of Mr. Glas and of his imme- 

 diate difciplep was followed by that of feveral other divines, 

 who, on different grounds, determined upon withdrawing 

 from the eltablifliment. The two brothers, Ralph and 

 Ebenezer Erikine, enhilcd, about the year 1730, in this 

 number, and contributed very much to give reputation and 

 influence to their caufe. The fcceding miniftry alleged va- 

 rious infringements in the cor.ftitution of the kirk ; but as 

 thev defpancd ot redrefs, they refolved to eftablirn new con- 

 gregations. They complained of the laws of patronage, 

 and wifned for a popular cleftion of minifters ; they pleaded 

 that the right of protcll againll the proceedings of the af- 

 fembly had been invaded, and that the rulers of the kirk not 

 only aClcd arbitrarily, but luffered its dodlrincs to be cor- 

 rupted. For the freedom of their animadverfions on thefe 

 points, four miniltcrs were fufpended from their parochial 

 functions in 1733 ; and though they were remllated by the 

 alTembly in the following year, the ground of complaint re- 

 mained, and they refufed to rejoin the eftablifhment. From 

 the clergy and laily they gained an acceffion of llrength, 

 more particidarly after they had publifhed a lecond " Tefli- 

 mony of the Reafons of their SecefTion." Upon a citation 

 to appear before the affembly, the jurifdiclion of which 

 they refufed to acknowledge, they were debarred, in 1740, 

 from the exercife oi all clerical functions in the church, and 

 excluded from all it-i emoluments. The Seceders are rigid 

 Calvinilts, llritt ai'.d fcrvcre in their diicipline, and fomewhat 

 lultere in their manners. 



When the lecefTion had formed three prelbvteries, a divi- 

 fion took place among them, in 1747, in confequence of an 

 oath, which fome of them deemed inconfillent with the fen- 

 timents avowed in their " Teltimony." This was the ordi- 

 nary oath of a burgefs, in fupport of the true rcligicn 

 eftablilhed by law. We cannot, faid one party, called 

 " Antiburghers," confcientioully honour with that appella- 

 tion the eitablifhment from which we have feceded ; while 

 the other members of the fynod, denominated " Burghers," 

 contended that the oath might lafely be taken, as the re- 

 ligion of the ilate was ilill the true faith, though many of 

 its oflenfible votaries had departed from its principles, or 

 Icofely proftiltd it. The Antiburghers prevailed in the 

 contelt, and obtained a vote, that the oath was incompatible 

 with the teflimony ; and they even excommunicated the 

 members by whom it was vindicated. This difpute long 

 continued to maintam the feparation of the Seceders in dif- 

 tindl fynods. Of thefe two claffes, the Antiburghers are 

 faid to be the moll confined in their fentiments, and leafl 

 diipofed to afl'ociate with any other body of Chrillians. 



Under this article we may mention another party in Scot- 

 land, who quitted the eftablilhment, and alTumed the title 



of the " Reformed Prefbytcry." Lamenting the defedlioii 

 of the national rulers, and the majority of the people, from 

 the true principles of the reformation, a party of religious 

 malecontents renounced all conncftion with the " revolution 

 kirk," and under the guidance of Mac-Millan and Nairn, 

 formed a feceding prelbytery. By thefe miniller?, others 

 were felefted for the fame funftions ; and the feceffion has 

 been continufd to the prefent time. B'- fides the congrega- 

 tions of this complexion in North Britain, there are feveral 

 in Ireland, and fome in North America. The members 

 profefs to fellow the fcripture as their principal guide, and 

 the ordinances of the Weftminfter aliembly in the next 

 place. They difapprove the high authority adumed by the 

 ilate over the church of Chrill, as the rcfult of worldly po- 

 licy, rather than a claim juftified by the genuine Ipirit of 

 religion. Yet they fubmit peaceably to the higher powers, 

 and do not indulge in the clamours of fedition, or the mur- 

 murs of difaffeftion. Their public worfliip is conducted 

 much in the fame manner with that of the diiienters in South 

 Britain. 



Another confiderablc feft departed, in the year 1 7^2, from 

 the Scots eftablilhment. A miniller named GiUelpic, who 

 oppofed the reception of a new miniller, whofe appointment 

 was not agreeable to the majority of the inhabitants of In- 

 verkeithing, was expelled from the church in which he offi- 

 ciated ; and he was foon joined by others, who, like him- 

 felf, wifhed paftors to be elefted by the people; and they 

 formed a congregation in Dunfermline. The " Prefbytery 

 of Relief," in allufion to the dcfired relief from the arbi- 

 trary rigour of the laws of patronage, was the denomination 

 adumed by this body of fccedcrs. More liberal than the 

 generality of Prefbytcrians, they were willing to admit into 

 their communion all thofe who feemed worthy of being 

 called Chrillians, however they might differ with regard to 

 particular points. Their congregations multiplied ; and 

 about the clofe of the laft century, the adociation poffefled 

 above dxty places of wordiip. Both claffes of the " Se- 

 ceders" and " Relief" include about 300 minifters, who are 

 ftrift Prefbyterians, though they fecede or dident from the 

 eftablidied church of Scotland. Adams's Religious World 

 difplayed, vol. iii. Cooke's edition of Mofheim's Ecc. 

 Hift. vol. vi. 



SECERRiE, in Ancient Geography, a town of Spain, in 

 the Tarragonnenfis, upon the route from the Pyrenees to 

 Cailulo, between Aquse Voconix, or Voconia; and Prie- 

 torium, according to the Itinerary of Aiitoniue. 



SECESPITA, among the Romans, a knife with a round 

 ivory handle, adorned with gold and filvcr, which the fia- 

 mcns and priefts ufed at facriiices. 



SECHELLES, in Geography', a cluder of rocky ifles 

 in the Indian fea, compofed of a reddifh granite, and gene- 

 rally low. On thefe are found fome marine animals and 

 vegetables, with different fpecies of palm-trees. S. lat. 4° 



SECHES. See Secas. 



SECHI, , m Biography, an excellent performer on. 



the hautbois, in the fervlce of the eleftor of Bavaria, in 1772, 

 who, if we had never heard Fifciier, would have delighted 

 us much more than the fpirit of parallel would allow. 

 However, in a duet with Rheiner, a performer of great 

 merit on tiie badoon, we were reminded of the two Bez- 

 zozzis at Tiirin ; for as their inftruments, fo their genius 

 and abilities feemed made for each other, there being a like 

 correfpondence in both. 



SECHIEN, in Geography, a town of Perfia, in the pro- 

 vince of Kerman, on the north coall of tlie Perfian gulf; 

 J 41 miles S. of Sirgian. 



SECHIUM, 



