Laidlaw was a conservative theologian, basing his lectures on the teaching of the Reformation divines. 'In his best work, there was a fine combination of the biblical, the experimental, and the historical' (Memoir by H. R. Mackintosh, D.D., p. 37). While unsympathetic towards the views of William Robertson Smith [q. v.], he spoke in the general assembly of 1880 in support of a rejected resolution which confined the assembly's censure of Smith to a general admonition of caution in his public utterances on the theological questions in dispute.
In 1878 Laidlaw delivered the Cunningham lectures at New College, his subject being 'The Biblical Doctrine of Man.' The lectures were published in 1879 (Edinburgh; new edit, entirely recast, 1895; reprint, 1905). His most popular book, 'The Miracles of Our Lord,' in which scholarship was combined with orthodoxy (1890; 4th edit. 1902), also originated in a course of lectures. He further published 'Foundation Truths of Scripture as to Sin and Salvation' (Edinburgh, 1897, Bible Class Handbooks). His 'Studies in the Parables, and other Sermons' appeared posthumously in 1907. An ardent advocate of the reunion of Scottish presbyterianism, it w£is largely owing to Laidlaw's influence that the union of the Reformed Presbyterian church with the Free church of Scotland was brought about in 1876. Nine years later, in 1885, he was active in inducing representatives of the three large presbyterian churches to debate the possibihty of union. The conference, though abortive at the time, bore fruit later.
In 1880 Laidlaw became hon. D.D. of Edinburgh University. He died after some years of ill-health in Edinburgh on 21 Sept. 1906, and was buried in the Grange cemetery, Edinburgh.
In December 1869 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Hamilton, who survived him with one daughter.
[Memoir by H. R. Mackintosh, D.D., prefixed to Laidlaw's posthumously published 'Studies in the Parables, and other Sermons' (1907); Scotsman, 22 Sept. 1906; private information.]
LAMBERT, BROOKE (1834–1901), vicar of Greenwich, born at Chertsey, Surrey, on 17 Sept. 1834, was fourth son and fifth of the eight children of Francis John Lambert (1798–1876), younger son of Sir Henry Lambert (1760–1803), fourth baronet. Sir John Lambert (d. 1723), the first baronet, belonging to a Huguenot family of the Ile de Rhé, settled as a merchant in London soon after 1685. Brooke's mother, Catherine (d. 1851), only daughter of Major-general Wheatley, a Peninsular officer, was of Welsh descent. The family during Brooke's boyhood removed to Kensington.
After education at home and at a small school kept by James Chase, a clergyman of strong evangelical views, Lambert went in 1849 to Brighton College. Deciding to seek holy orders, he became a student at King's College, London. The excitement caused by the ejection of F. D. Maurice in 1853 from his professorship there stirred in him a regard for Maurice which influenced his churchmanship for life. In 1854 he matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, as a commoner, and graduated B.A. in 1858; he proceeded M.A. in 1861 and B.C.L. in 1863. He deliberately chose a pass degree in order that he might pursue his own wide course of reading without interference. He attended Stanley's lectures on ecclesiastical history and formed a friendship with him. At Whitsuntide 1858 he was ordained deacon, and was successively curate of Christ Church, Preston (1858-60), and of St. John's, Worcester (1860-3). After some months at Hillingdon, near Uxbridge, he offered himself as curate to the Rev. R. E. Bartlett, vicar of St. Mark's, Whitechapel. On the promotion of Bartlett, Lambert succeeded to the vicarage early in 1866.
As vicar of St. Mark's, Whitechapel, Lambert performed many duties which lay outside the ecclesiastical range. He joined the Whitechapel board of trustees and the vestry and became a member of the board of works and a guardian. His force of character and business capacities admirably fitted him for such offices. He began a thorough study of poor law administration and local government, on which while he was in Whitechapel his views matured very quickly. They found expression in a small volume called 'Pauperism: seven sermons preached at St. Mark's, Whitechapel, and one preached before the University, Oxford, with a Preface on the work and position of clergy in poor districts' (1871). Lambert here put on record the results of a census that he made of a portion of his parish and of careful inquiries into the earnings of the district, with calculations of the cost of living. He thus anticipated the scientific statistical methods of Mr. Charles Booth, as well as the teaching of the Charity Organisation Society on the uselessness of indiscriminate
