AN Groves & JN Darby
This is a facsimile of an 1836 letter written to John Nelson Darby (JND) by the man who many credit as being the originator of the movement that became known as the Plymouth Brethren: A. N. Groves.
The letter indicates clearly that Anthony Norris Groves (ANG) was concerned by signs of sectarianism and rigidity in Darby’s teachings and he gently remonstrates with his old Trinity friend before returning as a missionary to India. Unfortunately, history proves that Darby ignored the warnings.
The Exclusive Brethren today treat Darby’s theory and interpretation of ‘Separation from evil’ as their foundational principle. It has led to heartache, ripped-apart families, suicide and even murder.
It is not often that a historical document such as this one can point so clearly to a moment when a future cult could have been avoided.
This letter was quoted in ‘The Pilgrim Church’ by E.H.Broadbent. On a whim I googled for it a few weeks back and found it here (http://www.bruederbewegung.de/pdf/grovesdarby.pdf) – apparently shortly before you posted it here.
I’m currently translating it into French, as in the French-speaking part of Switzerland there are still churches coming to terms with their ‘Darbyist’ past, for whom it might be helpful to see how far back the roots go.
The prescience of Groves is amazing.