| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Series |
| Ref No | MS 3674/3 |
| Alt Ref No | Items from MS 3674 Boxes 1 - 9 |
| Title | William Robertson Smith: Free Church College case |
| Date | 1870 - 1881 |
| Extent | 30 volumes, 83 items and 1 bundle |
| Description | Materials relating to the libel of heresy brought against William Robertson Smith by the Free Church of Scotland authorities, arising from his article "Bible" in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. This article effectively introduced the continental "Higher Criticism" to Britain, and provoked an outcry among sections of the clergy in the Free Church of Scotland and elsewhere by arguing that the first five books of the Old Testament had not been written by Moses. As a result of the case brought against him, Smith was removed from his professorship at the Free Church College in Aberdeen. |
| Access Status | Open |