exerted great influence in the church courts and especially in the general assembly. For a time convener of the assembly's committee on foreign missions, he was appointed in 1887 convener of the general assembly's joint committee and business committee, positions which carried with them the leadership of the general assembly. He remained leader for twenty-one years, to the end of his life. His power was helped to some extent by his position on the Baird Trust, but it was mainly due to the vigour of his personality, his great capacity for business, his wide knowledge of the church, his magnanimity towards opponents, and good humour in debate. Among the main matters with which he dealt effectually, although he did not always escape charges of opportunism, were the enlargement of the membership of the general assembly, church reform, a case of heresy (the Kilmun case), changes in the educational system, and the agitation for amending the formula of clerical subscription to the Westminster confession. In 1896 he was elected moderator of the general assembly; and in 1902 he visited South Africa as one of a delegation to the presbyterian churches there, which was sent out jointly by the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church. The visit confirmed Scott's older desire for the reunion of Scottish presbyterians. From the larger movement inaugurated, or revived, by Bishop Wilkinson of St. Andrews [q. v. Suppl. II] for a reunion which should embrace the episcopalians also, he kept aloof. Scott was the author of the proposal that the Church of Scotland should confer with the general assembly of the United Free Church (24 May 1907). But before the negotiations began Scott's health suddenly gave way, and he died at North Berwick on 18 April 1909, being buried in the Dean cemetery, Edinburgh.
Scott published:
- 'Endowed Territorial Work: the Means of Meeting Spiritual Destitution in Edinburgh,' Edinburgh, 1873.
- 'Buddhism and Christianity: a Parallel and Contrast,' the Croall lecture, 1889–90, Edinburgh, 1890.
- 'Sacrifice: its Prophecy and Fulfilment,' the Baird lecture, 1892-93, Edinburgh, 1894.
- 'Our Opportunities and Responsibilities,' the moderator's closing address to the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1896.
- 'Lectures on Pastoral Theology.'
Scott was twice married: (1) to Isabella, daughter of Robert Greig, merchant, Perth; by her he had six children, of whom two survive, a daughter and a son, R. G. Scott, Writer to the Signet, Edinburgh; and (2) in 1883 to Marion Elizabeth, daughter of John Rankine, D.D., minister of Sorn, moderator of the general assembly 1883.
A portrait by Sir George Reid, P.R.S.A., painted in 1902, hangs in the offices of the Church of Scotland, 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh; a replica was presented to Scott at the same time. A bronze bust of him, the work of Pittendrigh Macgillivray, R.S.A., was placed in the vestibule of St. George's church by the kirk session and congregation, 1907.
[Private information; Scotsman, 19 April 1909; Layman's Book of the General Assembly, Edinburgh, 1907.]
SCOTT, CLEMENT WILLIAM (1841–1904), dramatic critic, born at Christ Church vicarage, Hoxton, on 6 Oct. 1841, was son of William Scott (1813–1872) [q. v.], then perpetual curate of Christ Christ, Hoxton, by his wife Margaret, daughter of William Beloe [q. v.]. After attending a private day-school at Islington, Scott was at Marlborough College from August 1852 until December 1859. On the nomination of Sidney Herbert, Lord Herbert of Lea [q. v.], a friend of his father, he entered the war office in May 1860 as a temporary clerk; was appointed a junior clerk on the establishment in January 1862, and retired on a pension in April 1879, without receiving any promotion during his service. Devoted to athletics in youth and middle age, he in 1874 played at Prince's Grounds, Hans Place, London, in the first game of lawn-tennis, together with Major Wingfield, the inventor, Alfred Thompson, and Alfred Lubbock.
From boyhood Scott had been interested in light literature and the drama. On the introduction of Thomas Hood the younger [q. v.], a colleague at the war office, he while very young assisted Frederick Ledger, editor of the 'Era.' In 1863 he became dramatic writer for the 'Sunday Times,' but retired after two years owing to the frankness of his pen, being succeeded by Joseph Knight (1829-1907) [q. v. Suppl. II]. He then wrote for the ’Weekly Despatch' and for the comic weekly paper ’Fun,' of which his friend Hood became editor in 1865; his colleagues included H. J. Byron, (Sir) Frank Burnand, and (Sir) William Schwenck Gilbert, with all of whom he grew intimate. In 1870 he joined the staff of the 'London Figaro,' contributing caustic criticism of the drama over the signature of Almaviva,
