that something more was demanded in nonconformist services than had yet been witnessed. He was himself one of the first ministers to introduce into nonconformist churches the chanting of the rhythmical psalms of the Old Testament according to the authorised version, and he gave a great impetus to the movement for improved services, which afterwards spread through the nonconformist churches.
For many years before he died Binney was regarded as the Nestor of the denomination to which he belonged, and his influence spread to the other side of the Atlantic and also to the colonies. In 1852 he received the degree of LL.D. from the university of Aberdeen, and an American university subsequently conferred D.D. He was twice elected chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, and he preached a great number of special sermons before that body. In 1869 he retired from the pastorate at Weigh House Chapel after a ministry of forty years in that place. He subsequently undertook some professorial duties in connection with New College, and occasionally preached in London pulpits, his last sermon being delivered in Westminster Chapel in November 1873.
The closing months of his life saw him afflicted by a depressing and insidious disease, Dr. Allon states that he fell into a condition of great despondency, but it was a failure of the body rather than of the mind. Before the end the cloud lifted, and he died on 24 Feb. 1874. Dean Stanley was amongst the divines who took part in the funeral service at Abney Park Cemetery.
Binney was a voluminous writer of verse, chiefly of a religious character. His poetry, however, was distinguished rather for its devotional element than for any imaginative qualities. One of his hymns, 'Eternal Light! Eternal Light!' is widely known.
[Sermons preached in the King's Weigh House Chapel, London, 1829-69, by T. Binney, LL.D., 1st and 2nd series, edited, with a Biographical and Critical Sketch, by Henry Alien, D.D.; Thomas Binney, a Memorial, by the Rev. J. Stoughton, D.D.; Thomas Binney, his Mind, Life, and Opinions, by the Rev. E. Paxton Hood; Annual Register, 1874, and the journals of the time; the works of Dr. Binney.]
BINNING, Lord. [See Hamilton, Charles.]
BINNING, HUGH (1627–1653), Scotch divine, was son of John Binning of Dalvenan, Ayrshire, by Margaret M'Kell, daughter of Matthew M'Kell (or M'Kail), the parish clergyman of Bothwell, Lanarkshire, and sister to Hugh M'Kail, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, and uncle to one of the youthful martyrs of Scotland—Hugh M'Kail, who was hanged at Edinburgh on 22 Dec. 1666, for his alleged participation in the rising at Pentland. Binning was born at Dalvenan in 1627. His father had a considerable inherited landed estate, and Hugh was given a liberal education. He easily outstripped his schoolfellows of twice and thrice his years, and in his thirteenth and fourteenth years his gravity and piety were recognised with a kind of awe by all. Before his fourteenth year he proceeded to the university of Glasgow, entering himself for philosophy. The professors were startled by his premature learning a view to serve God in the holy ministry.' James Dalrymple (afterwards Lord Stair), who had been his professor of philosophy, having resigned in 1647, Binning was induced to become a candidate for the chair. All members of the universities in the kingdom who had 'a mind to the profession of philosophy' were invited to 'sist' themselves before the Senatus and 'compete for the preferment.' The principal of the university (Dr. Strang) had his candidate, and strenuous efforts were put forth to carry him, mainly on the ground that the candidate was a 'citizen's son,' and subsidiarily 'of competent learning,' and of 'more years.' An extempore disputation between the two candidates was suggested; thereupon Binning's rival withdrew, and left him to be unanimously elected before he was a brilliant course of lectures, and tried to rescue philosophy in Scotland from the 'barbarous terms and unintelligible jargon of the and having obtained license as a minister of the Gospel, he received a call to the parish of Govan near Glasgow on 25 Oct. 1649. On 8 Jan. following he was ordained at Govan, and resigned his professorship in the following year. Soon after he married Mary (sometimes erroneously given as Barbara), daughter of the Rev. James Simpson, parish minister of Airth (Stirlingshire), who has been wrongly been described as an Irish minister. He still carried on his philosophical and other studies, but was duly attentive to his sermons and pastoral duties. Wherever he was announced as a preacher, vast crowds assembled. When in 1651 the unhappy division took place in the church into resolutioners and protesters, he sided with the latter. He then wrote and
