Emelia Geddie

Emelia Geddie (1665 – 2 February 1681) was a Scottish Presbyterian child prophet and "exemplar of godliness."

Biography Geddie was born in 1665 at Hilltown of Falkland, Fife, Scotland. Her parents were the staunch Presbyterians John Gedde (fl. 1647–1697) and Anne Wallace (fl. 1657–1691), daughter of an Ayr schoolmaster. Her father was clerk to the Marquess of Atholl, but lost his position after he was reported to the privy council of Scotland for attending field conventicles. He also refused to sign the Test Acts introduced in the reign of King James VII of Scotland.

As a child, Geddie was pious, knew large sections of the Bible by heart, chided sabbath-breaking servants, rebuked her social superiors for complying with episcopacy, composed her own grace before meals and had prophetic intimations. Her religiosity was interpreted by Presbyterians a sign of God speaking through her and she was considered an "exemplar of godliness." After returning to Scotland, Geddie became sought after as a spiritual counsellor, attended prayer meetings and conferred with covenanter ministers, including Donald Cargill. She was often asked her opinions on serious matters, for example the defeat of the Presbyterians at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679. Hog described Geddie in discussion as: "so close to the respective Purposes, and so well instructed from the Word, as if she had been an aged and experienced Divine."

Hog's book of Geddie's life and sayings was published and republished over several editions. An 1805 version was recommended by George Whitefield. In 1821, a version of Hog's book, The Life of Emilia Geddie, was printed in an American first edition of 6'000 copies for the New England Tract Society.

In 1782, the Scottish minister and theologian John Brown featured Geddie's life and sayings in his work The Young Christian, or, The Pleasantness of Early Piety Exemplified, which was published in Glasgow.