THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
Ellon and Udny, Aberdeenshire, 1764; was appointed to the Longacre congregation, Aberdeen, 1775; was consecrated coadjutor to the bishop of Aberdeen, 17S2, succeeding to the bishopric, 1786, and being elected primus, 1788. His significance rests on two facts: (1) he was active in the transmission of the Scotch episcopal succession in America, having part in the consecration of Samuel Seabury (q.v.; also see Protestant Episcopalians, I., § 2); (2) also in the ending of the non-juring Scotch schism. He presided at the synod at Aberdeen April 24, 17S8, which resolved to pray for George III. as king, and later visited London in the interest of his church. He published A Course of Lectures (Aberdeen, 1786); A Layman's Account of his Faith (Edinburgh, 1801); and Primitive Truth and Order Vindicated (Aberdeen, 1803).
2. English Presbyterian; b. at Inverurie (14 m. n.w. of Aberdeen), Aberdeenshire, Scotland, July 18, 1851. He was educated at the University of Aberdeen (MA., 1876), Free Church College, Aberdeen (1876-77), New College, Edinburgh (1877-80), and the universities of Leipsic (1876) and Gottingen ( 1S77) . He was Hebrew tutor at New College, Edinburgh (1879-80); held Free Church ministries at St. Fergus, Banffshire (1880-86), and Kelso, Roxburghshire (1886-90); and since 1890 has been professor of Hebrew and apologetics in Westminster College (the theological college of the Presbyterian Church of England), Cambridge, England. He has written Historical Connection between the Old and New Testaments (Edinburgh, 1899) ; and has edited Ezekiel for The Expositor's Bible (London, 1895); Isaiah for The Cambridge Bible for Schools (2 vols., Cambridge, 1896-98) ; and Genesis for the International Critical Commentary (1910).
SKINNER, THOMAS HARVEY: Presbyterian pastor and educator; b. near Harvey's Neck, N. C, Mar. 7, 1791; d. at New York Feb. 1, 1871. He was graduated from Princeton College, 1812; was copastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, 1812-16; then pastor of the Arch Street Church, same city, 1816-32; professor of -sacred rhetoric at Andover, 1832-35; pastor of the Mercer Street Presbyterian Church, New York, 1835-40; and professor of sacred rhetoric and pastoral theology in Union Theological Seminary, New York, 1848-71. He wrote Aids to Preaching and Hearing (1839), Hints to Christians (1841), Life of Francis Markoe (1849), Discussions in Theology (1868); he also translated and edited Vinet's Pastoral Theology and Homiletics (18.54). Dr. Skinner was a leader in the New School branch of the Presbyterian Church, a preacher of great spiritual power, an able theologian, and a pattern of saintly goodness.
Bibliography: G. L. Prentiss, A Discourse in Memory of T H. Skinner, New York, 1871; idem, The Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York: historical and biographical Sketches of its first fi ft y Years, ib. 1889; idem, The Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, its Design and another Decade of its History, ib. 1899.
SKOPTZI. See Russia, II., § 5.
SKREFSRUD, skrefs'rud, LARS OLSEN: Norwegian missionary to India; b. at Faaberg (84 m. n. of Christiania), Norway, Feb. 4, 1840; d. at Benagaria, near Ebenzer, India, Dec. 11, 1910. On
account of poverty he was unable to attend the gymnasium, but by application he acquired a remarkable education, being gifted with the ability to use about forty-five languages. He attended Prochnow's missionary training-school in Berlin, graduating after a period of brilliant achievements; he was then sent by the Gossner society to Purulia, India, but friction arose with the German members of the mission, and Skrefsrud sundered his connection and established in 1867 the Santhal mission, which became in many ways a model. In the interest of the mission he several times visited Europe, first in 1873-74, when his lectures resulted in the formation of the first European Santhal mission committees; in 1881-83, when he was ordained by the Church of Norway; and in 1894-95, this time also visiting America. His contributions to linguistics were notable and numerous; among them may be mentioned A Grammar of the Santhal Language (Benares, 1873); Santhal-English and English-Santhal Lexicon (material completed in 1904 after a period of preparation covering thirtyfive years); and a translation of the Bible into Santhal — one of the most difficult languages known. John O. Evjen.
SLATER, WILLIAM FLETCHER : English Methodist; b. at Uttoxeter (30 m. n. of Birmingham), Staffordshire, Aug. 25, 1831. He was educated at Wesleyan College, Didsbury (graduated 1855), and the University of Cambridge (B.A., 1875), and held successive pastorates in his denomination at Allendale (1855-58), Newcastle-on-Tyne (1858-60), Glossop (1860-63), Sunderland (1863-66), Harrogate (1866-69), Barnsley (1869-72), Cambridge (1872- 1875), Leeds (1875-78), Edinburgh (1878-81), Liverpool (1881-84), and London (1884-87). From 1887 to 1903, when he retired from active life, he was professor of Biblical languages in Wesleyan College, Didsbury. In theology he is an Evangelical Arminian, and has written: Religious Opportunities of the Heathen before Christ (Sunderland, 1866); Methodism in the Light of the Early Church (Fernley lecture; London, 1885); Faith and Life in the Early Church (1892); the Gospel of Matthew in The Century Bible (1900); and Limitations, Divine and Human (1906).
SLATTERY, CHARLES LEWIS: Protestant Episcopal; b. at Pittsburg Dec. 9, 1867. He received his education at Harvard University (B.A., 1891) and the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, Mass. (B.D., 1894); was made deacon, 1S94, and priest, 1895; was master of Groton School and rector of St. Andrew's, Ayer, Mass., 1S94-96; dean of the cathedral of Our Merciful Savior, Faribault, Minn., 1896-1907; rector of Christ Church, Springfield, Mass., 1907-10; and became rector of Grace Church, New York City, 1910. He was also lecturer in Seabury Divinity School, Faribault, Minn., 1905-07, and in Berkeley Divinity School, 1909-10. He is the author of Felix Reville Brunot (New York, 1901); Edward Lincoln Atkinson (1904); The Master of the World; a Study of Christ (1906); Life Beyond Life; a Study of Immortality (1907); The Historic Ministry and the Present Christ; an A ppeal for Unity (1908); and Present-Day Preaching (1909).