James Grant carefully traces the progress of the Plymouth Brethren and the major figures involved from the origins in Ireland to Plymouth and then to Bethesda. He quotes from the tracts and pamphlets of the time and leaves the reader in no doubt who was in control and by whose orders the Bethesda division was instigated.
Grant has a number of unique insights and information about the Darbyites following Bethesda, not least of which is a remarkable chapter dealing with Brethren Hymnology.
The publishers of the first Brethren hymnals were apparently adept at taking a well-known hymn and altering the words very subtly so that the Brethren doctrines would be thus embedded. Grant provides a number of examples of this practice – which seem to be an early form of subliminal advertising?
Grant proves his point and states: “There lies against the compilers of the Darby hymn book the double charge of transposition and unjustifiable mutilation …”.
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London in the 1870's - PAUL-GUSTAVE DORÉ (1832–83)
An unusual and fascinating compilation of one man’s journey through a wide variety of sects, religions, faiths and weird places during the 1870′s in London. This is a large book with over 450 pages and we recommend a rainy weekend to fully appreciate and enjoy. The articles were mostly originally published by the author in the ‘Daily Telegraph’ with the instruction: “they should be strictly descriptive articles, expressing no opinion pro or con.”
Rev. Davies visits two groups of particular interest: a Plymouth Brethren group and Mr. Newton – we supply those below as an extract.
The writer has the opportunity to watch a Plymouth Brethren Communion Service, listen to William Kelly and then to hear Mr. Newton teach on prophetic matters. As to whether the Priory, Islington is exclusive by nature, Rev. Davies answers that by remarking on their ‘calm’ self-description: ‘The One Assembly of God in London‘.
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J N Darby (1800-1882) - Architect of the Exclusive Brethren
Originally published in 1866, Groves produced two later editions (1876 and 1880) explaining “It has been my aim to soften what seemed harsh … endeavoured to avoid all judgment of motives.” So in this edition, the reader is receiving the softest version possible. (We know how some of you will appreciate this.)
Groves outlines the history leading up to Bethesda and the aftermath very succinctly. By creating a narrative of facts and by the use of quotations from published words by the participants, Groves has produced a concise explanation of the doctrinal components in a fairly readable form.
There are some rare extracts and quotations which are difficult to locate elsewhere. The one constant of Plymouth Brethren early history that all commentaries of the time agree upon is the immense influence that J. N. Darby accumulated.
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This letter from the Collected Writings of J.N. Darby displays the origin of the harshness with which the Exclusive Brethren treat those whom they discipline.
Parts of this letter deal with JND’s view of setting up new ‘tables’ (forcing a division in a town) and also in how to view those who are no longer in fellowship. The entire premise in Darby’s viewpoint stems from the fact that he assumes only his church to be the witness in any one place. This is the very definition of ‘Exclusivity’ and many believe that this is the core problem of the Exclusive Brethren.
Just a few years before this letter was published, Darby set up a ‘new table’ in Plymouth. This was done to force a division in Plymouth and in turn led to the 1848 Bethesda Division where the entire Plymouth Brethren were ripped in two.
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The title page to an anonymous 1852 pamphlet deriding the teachings of Darby
This anonymous 1852 pamphlet is written by someone with considerable ‘inside’ knowledge of the Plymouth Brethren and, as it is published just 4 years after Bethesda, some may consider it an important addition.
The last section of the pamphlet contains a controversial theory – it builds upon the Darbyite belief that the Exclusive Brethren represented the ‘One Assembly of God’ and the author presents these principles in full.
The author then suggests that the Plymouth rift was seen as an opportunity by Darby to establish himself and his pre-millenial rapture theories – by linking together Newton and his alternate prophetic versions and branding them as “evil”. It is a section worth reading twice – if you can deal with the intense doctrinal debate.
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Darby, Craik, Müller and Newton - 4 of the main players in the Bethesda Division.
The author may be unknown, but is certainly well informed in this carefully woven contemporary explanation of events, statements and attitudes that surrounded the Newton/Darby battle and the events following the 1848 Bethesda rift.
This document should be read in the light that it is somewhat of a critique of Darby’s own ‘Narrative’ and should therefore be read in conjunction with Darby’s own words.
This retrospect earns its place in the peebs.net archive due to its attempt to steer a neutral course in a battle that was often anything but – by all parties concerned.
“No proof can be greater, that religious animosity is at its height, than when neutrality in a controversy is treated as an unpardonable crime; it is a deep degradation of the Christian name and character, a manifestation of that spirit of revenge which will allow nothing peaceful, nothing unlike itself, to be in its neighborhood …”
“There have been falsehood and misrepresentation to an extent I could not have believed before the late events.”
- Mr. Newton“Mr. Newton’s personal veracity is openly and fairly impeached. Mr. Newton’s veracity has been impeached; I impeached it.”
- Mr. DarbyContinue reading »
Bethesda Chapel where the Letter of the Ten was read out in 1848
The Letter of the Ten – this famous document outlines the principles of what was to become known as the ‘Open’ Brethren or more popularly, the Plymouth Brethren.
It had taken 3 years from the time that J.N. Darby had set up a ‘Separate Table’ in Plymouth to the time that he forced the first of the many divisions that the Exclusive Brethren would experience.
By comparison, the Plymouth Brethren would only have one – the ‘Needed Truth’ division in the late 19th century.
The entire tone of the Letter is one of reasoned restraint:
“… we would neither desire nor expect that the saints here would be satisfied with the decision of one or two leading bethren. Those who felt desirous to satisfy their own minds, would naturally be led to wish to peruse the writings for themselves. For this, many among us have no leisure time …”
“If a brother has a right to demand our examining a work of fifty pages, he may require our investigating error said to be contained in one of much larger dimensions; so that all our time might be wasted in the examination of other people’s errors, instead of more important service.”
The Ten were: Continue reading »
John Nelson Darby (JND)
A highly detailed and meticulously recorded narrative of events at and surrounding Ebrington Street in Plymouth during 1846 written by John Nelson Darby.
Although JND states in the first paragraph that the narrative is not aimed at “clearing up one’s own grounds of conduct…” it is nevertheless a comprehensive document that seeks to place the writer as far above the events as possible.
Much of the described conversation and events in this often fascinating document seems petty today – a little more than two educated and powerful men bickering at each other; but at stake was a growing new movement and a sphere of influence that was starting to spread internationally.
No matter whether Newton (often referred to as ‘Mr. N’ by JND) was a heretic or heaven-forbid, doctrinally incorrect, it was John Darby who instigated the eventual division and history shows he did so with extreme predjudice!
“I had rather see my child die than be under the moral influence that rules at Ebrington Street.”
- JND
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The Rectory, Wittersham, Kent - birthplace of C. F. Cornwallis
Caroline Frances Cornwallis was an English author. She was born in 1786 at Wittersham in Kent and died in 1858. She was an advocate of higher education for women.
We have a five page extract from an early work, believed to have been compiled by Caroline Cornwallis, that contains a segment describing the early Plymouth Brethren. This was published prior to the Bethesda Division and indicates that the ‘Separatism’ that has marked Brethren for so long was prevalent within a few years of their formation.
Cornwallis provides a number of quotations, including this prophetic statement from a contemporary commentator:
“If the tenets of the Plymouth Brethren be consistent with themselves, they necessarily withdraw them from all society, and every existing form of Christianity, shutting them out from all co-operation with the holy and benevolent, for the relief and blessing of their poor and sinful fellow-creatures, making it sinful to fulfil the duties of a subject, a citizen, etc.”
- Rust (‘Examination of the Opinions of the Plymouth Brethren’ – 1843)Continue reading »
John Nelson Darby
Although not published until 1864, this collection of letters between Rev. Kelly and J.N. Darby commences in 1839 and the views of Darby are therefore significant in the light of his later actions and attitudes.
Topics covered include Darby’s own feelings regarding the Roman church as well as the C of E.
Darby outlines his belief in the importance of having one (Darby-approved) church in a town – an aspect of the Exclusive Brethren that remains to this day.
Darby used this principle notably in the English town of Plymouth, from where the Plymouth Brethren gained their name. Following a doctrinal dispute with an old friend, Darby forced a split in the Plymouth congregation by setting up a second communion table. This action precipitated a chain of events that led to the entire Plymouth Brethren being ripped apart during the mid 1840′s … an event known as the Bethesda Division.
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