Carson, Alexander, Lld

Carson, Alexander, LL.D., a Baptist minister, was born in Scotland about 1776, but early removed to Ireland. He began his public life at Tubbermore as a minister in connection with the Presbyterian Synod of Ulster, but having changed his opinions as to Church government, and adopted the views of the Independents, he seceded in 1803. Embracing Independent Baptist views, he formed a society at Tubbermore, of which he remained pastor to the time of his death. He wrote, in 1803, his Reasons for separating from the Synod of Ulster; and afterward produced numerous books and pamphlets —on baptism and other subjects of controversy — which are highly esteemed by the Baptists. Though a strenuous advocate of immersion, he was not a "close" communionist. After many years of incessant activity, pastoral and literary, he died at Belfast, Aug. 24, 1844, from the effects of a fall into the Mersey at Liverpool a few days before. Dr. Carson was an earnest and often bitter controversialists dogmatism and arrogance detract greatly from the effect of his arguments. He is often right, often wrong; but, whether right or wrong, he is equally self-confident. Besides a number of pamphlets, reviews, etc., he published The God of Providence the God of the Bible (18mo): — Theories of Inspiration (18mo): — The Knowledge of Jesus (18mo): — The Unitarian Mystery (8vo): — Examination of the Principles of Biblical Interpretation of Ernesti, Stuart, Ammon, etc.: — a Treatise on Figures of Speech, and a Treatise on the Right and Duty of all men to read the Scriptures (N. Y. 1855, 12mo): — Baptism, in its Mode and Subjects, with a Sketch of the Life of Dr. Carson (Phila. 1857, 5th ed. 8vo). — Jamieson, Cyclopcedia of Biography; Reid, History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, 3:449.