Rev. Adam Rankin, author of the first book ever printed in Kentucky,
was born in Pennsylvania, March 24, 1755. He was graduated from
Liberty Hall, now Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia,
when about twenty-five years of age; and two years later he was
licensed to preach by the Virginia Presbytery. Rev. Rankin came to
Lexington, Kentucky, in 1784, to accept the pastorate of the
Presbyterian church. He also conducted a school for some time, but his
one thought was Psalmody, which became "his monomania." He created a
schism in his church by insisting that Dr. Watts's imitation of the
Psalms of David be expelled from the church worship, and that the
Psalms in their most literal dress be chanted. His brethren
disapproved of his views, but they could not discourage him or cause
him to discard his contention. Everywhere he went he preached and
wrote upon his favorite subject. Rev. Rankin's Kentucky brethren made
life unbearable for him, and he went to London, where he remained for
two years. When he did return to Kentucky it was to face accusation
after accusation, and church trial after church trial, until he was
finally suspended. Rev. Rankin was a strange, eccentric man, a dreamer
of dreams, a Kentucky Luther, and, perhaps, a bit crazed with the
bitter opposition his views received. His latest, boldest dream was
that Jerusalem was about to be rebuilt and that he must hurry there in
order to assist in the rebuilding. He bade his Lexington flock
farewell, and started to the Holy City, but, on November 25, 1827,
death overtook him at Philadelphia. Rev. Rankin was the author of
several theological works, but his _A Process in the Transylvania
Presbytery, &c._ (Maxwell and Gooch, At the Sign of the Buffalo, Main
Street, Lexington, 1793), is the first book ever printed in Kentucky,
if the _Kentucky Acts_ which John Bradford published in the same year
be excepted. Many days were required to print this little book of
Rankin upon the hand-press of the publishers, though it contained but
ninety-six pages, divided into five parts. Although it is not great
literature, it is the first book that can, in any wise, come under
that term published in this State. It is surely of more literary
importance than Bradford's _Acts_. Rev. Rankin was, as were nearly all
of the early Kentucky theologians, a prolific pamphleteer. His
_Dialogues_ (Lexington, 1810), is really his most important
publication, but it has been greatly overlooked in the recent rush
among Kentucky historical writers to list _A Process_ as the first
book published in Kentucky. His eccentric career as a man and preacher
is, after all, of more interest than his work as an author.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. _History of the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky_, by
R. H. Davidson (New York, 1847); _The Centenary of Kentucky_, by
R. T. Durrett (Louisville, Kentucky, 1892).