F W Newman (1805-1897) - describes the impact J. N. Darby had on his spiritual quest for knowledge
Francis William Newman (brother to Cardinal F. H. Newman) was well-connected to the early founders of the Plymouth Brethren. Indeed, in the early 1830′s, he served as an assistant to Anthony Norris Groves, considered by many to be the original founder of the ‘separatists’ who eventually came to be better known as the ‘Brethren from Plymouth‘.
In 1850 F.W. Newman published his Phases of Faith, or Passages from the History of my Creed. There is little doubt in reading the full document that Darby held immense sway over him. A description of a later visit to Oxford describes with awe the impact that Darby had on those around him.
Newman’s descriptions of Darby are quite dramatic, but even more than his word pictures of “the Irish clergyman” is his obvious love and admiration for JND. There are some telling insights into Darby and the manner in which he was able to take control rapidly among any level of society.
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A doctrinal analysis of Exclusive Brethren ‘Separation’
Criticizing the doctrinal origins of the Exclusive Brethren can be a dangerous ambition. The history and objectives of this strange seclusionist cult are intentionally steeped in the mists of tradition, conscience and the horror of even suggesting that any existing, or former, ‘Man of God’ (one of the internal titles given to Exclusive Brethren leaders) could possibly do something wrong! Today, the very concept of criticism is in the process of being carefully bred-out of the group. One of the irrefutable symptoms of being a cult is this intolerance toward internal questioning and criticism.
The following December 2009 blog entry presents in a refreshingly clear and concise manner exactly what is wrong with the Exclusive Brethren interpretation of what it is to be ‘separate from the world’. The author Milt Rodriguez (never an Exclusive Brethren member) also portrays a perfect summary of why Brethren divide so many times – how many ex-Exclusive Brethren have heard the dread words: ‘I can no longer walk in fellowship with you… I therefore withdraw from iniquity‘ …
The Dominion of Opinion that follows is recommended as one of the better doctrinal explanations of where the Exclusive Brethren went wrong with their malformed hypothesis of what ‘Separation from Evil’ really entails.
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