Exclusive Brethren

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The Exclusive Brethren are a part of a diverse group of Christians generally described as Plymouth Brethren where they are distinguished from Open Brethren. They are found throughout Europe and in the English Speaking World.

Contents

[edit] General Overview

Exclusive Brethren or perhaps more accurately "Connexional" brethren (See Shuff) as opposed to Open or Independent Brethren. They are also commonly known as “Darbyites” after John Nelson Darby, one of the early Brethren leaders who brought about the rift with Open Brethren. EB believe that there is a necessary unity of the assembly which has to be practically expressed. Matters of fellowship and church discipline are not merely a matter of local responsibility but must be taken account of universally: actions in one meeting are universally to be accepted in the others. This means that once one of their branches has excluded a person from Christian fellowship, that person remains excluded from all other branches which must all treat the excluded person as a 'leper' (Leviticus 13-14). The adjective "exclusive" became a way to distinguish between those meetings which had separated over the Bethesda division of 1848, where the Plymouth Brethren became divided into two camps, one known as Open Brethren and the other as 'Closed' or 'Exclusive'. (Open Brethren allow each assembly to make its own decision about membership.) 'Needed Truth' Brethren are connexional even though they are sometimes associated with Open Brethren.

The EB do not generally use the term "Exclusive" for themselves, but others have named the group in this way, particularly because of their claim to separation from or exclusion of evil. They refer to themselves as "the Brethren", "those with whom we walk", "those in fellowship with us", "the assembly", or "the saints".

The term "Exclusive" does not refer to whether an assembly is free to receive "known believers" from denominational churches to the Lord's Table or not, nor in fact to whether a letter of commendation is required. Some Exclusive meetings are more open in practice than some Open Meetings. The latter can have a "fenced" or even a "closed" table.

There are common threads throughout all groups, e.g. the practice of household baptism and the centrality of the Lord’s Supper in weekly worship. There are two main historic branches of EB:

  • Raven/Taylor or London Brethren
  • Kelly/Lowe/Glanton and other Darbyite Brethren

[edit] Raven/Taylor or "London" Brethren

Raven/Taylor Brethren sometimes known as the “London” Party after their former HQ at Park Street. These brethren accepted the ministry of Mr Raven particularly in respect of his teaching on Eternal Life and also the ministry of Mr James Taylor Senior with respect to the Eternal Sonship question and the ministry of addressing the Holy Spirit in worship. They are a diverse group today. Some of this group have modified or qualified their acceptance of or rejected the teachings of Mr Taylor Senior but generally accept those of Mr Raven with reservations in some cases. Glanton meetings initially accepted, albeit with reservations, the teachings of Mr Raven but should not now be grouped with Raven/Taylor.

[edit] Kelly Lowe Glanton and other "Darbyite" Brethren

There were several other branches of Exclusive Brethren who generally followed the teachings of J.N.Darby, yet who are to be distinguished from the Taylorite Brethren described above. Neither would they have classified themselves along with the Open Brethren. The article on Plymouth Brethren refers to these as Closed Brethren. They have recently (see Shuff) more accurately been described as "Connexional" as opposed to "Independent" Brethren. This is because many groups of Non Symington/Taylor Exclusive Brethren are in fact more open in receiving known believers to the Lord's Table than some Open Brethren. They included:

  • Ames Brethren (USA and Bahamas only)
  • Kelly Brethren
  • Grant Brethren (USA)
  • Stuart (or Reading) Brethren
  • Lowe-Continental (Elberfelder) Brethren
  • Glanton Brethren
  • Tunbridge Wells Brethren
  • Brethren from 1827

Kelly/Lowe/Glanton This group represents over 50 years of reunions amongst non-Raven/Taylor Brethren culminating in 1974 (with the exception of a few Tunbridge Wells meetings in the UK and a more sizeable group of the same in the USA) with the formation the Kelly Lowe Glanton, Tunbridge Wells Group which have fellowship with one another. This group is the largest single group by far of Brethren on the European mainland. A fuller historical account of how this reunion came about is posted in The "Brethren" Since 1870 by W. R. Dronsfield.

These brethren can generally be described as "Darbyite" as they do not accept the concept of "progressive ministry" by which the practices and teachings of brethren evolve according to "current light" or "current ministry". Neither do they accept the concept of "authoritative ministry" as being divinely sanctioned and binding on those in fellowship as is often found amongst Raven/Taylor Brethren. Reunion with ex-Taylor meetings and reception of ex-Taylor Brethren has been hampered by mutual suspicion over acceptance or otherwise of the doctrines of Raven and Taylor regarding Christ's Eternal Sonship (there being no disagreement over his Deity), Eternal Life, Christ's atoning sufferings in the grave and the matter of addressing the Holy Spirit in prayer and worship.

The main publishers and booksellers in the UK for the Kelly Brethren are:

The Kelly Lowe Glanton group has recently suffered from widespread division because of association with certain members of one of the Taylor parties (Oxted-Rogers group) and liberal & New Age doctrine coming from some Dutch teachers. Some analysis of what lies behind the spectrum of differing groups can be read in 'Narrative of Facts' by E N Cross or found on the German Brethren site, in these two PDF articles by Philip Nunn:

[edit] Taylorite branch

Taylor/Symington/Hales Brethren are often called “Exclusive Brethren”. They are also known as Taylor Brethren, Peebs (for PBs - Plymouth Brethren), or Jims by those who have left them though they often refer to themselves simply as "Christian Bretheren". They represent the largest single grouping of Exclusive Brethren, numbering (very approximately) 40,000 worldwide. Those who remained in fellowship with James Taylor Junior after 1970 have remained broadly undivided, although the group does suffer from individual defections from time to time, as well as losing members due to its own disciplinary procedures.

They are a separatist Christian group whose current leader is Australian businessman Bruce David Hales, known to them as the Elect Vessel and the Man of God. Followers maintain a strict code of conduct so that they associate only with other followers and avoid activities such as watching television, listening to radio, using the internet, membership of professional or other associations, or voting. They practice separation from the world in its strictest form among brethren generally, and will not eat or drink with those not in the fellowship. Those who have departed from or been excommunicated by them are mostly ostracised, though members of the fellowship are quite happy to engage in business activities with those not under discipline (excommunicated). They have been the subject of quite widespread controversy and unwelcome publicity, at various times since the mid-1960s. As regards doctrine, while not openly eschewing the ministry of their “Men of the Recovery”, their public ecclesiological stance seems to be at odds with the published writings of Darby/Raven/Taylor Senior, whose memory they revere nevertheless.

Nicknames sometimes given to the Symington-Taylor EB by those outside the sect include "blue lights", "hankyheads" (due to the requirement for females to wear a headscarf in public and when attending meetings), and "the religion". They are also often called 'Taylorites', after James Taylor, Sr. and James Taylor, Jr., who each led the church during separate periods for much of the twentieth century. These Brethren themselves do not use or encourage the term 'Taylorite'; in identifying themselves to government, they sometimes use the designation given by the 1936 US Census of Churches: "Plymouth Brethren IV".

Until about 1960, the people now referred to as the Taylor Exclusive Brethren, EB, or sometimes the Closed Brethren, comprised a quiet, conservative, fundamentalist, Christian group who desired to remain spiritually separate from the world surrounding them, and also from the divisions and confusion they perceived in Christendom. They did not support 'clericalism' (the making of a distinction between those who teach or lead and those who serve other functions within the church), but recognised John Nelson Darby, J B Stoney, F E Raven, C A Coates, James Taylor Sr and others as gifted of God to help "recover the truth" as to Christ and His Assembly (Church). None of these men ever presumed to be "world-wide leaders", nor did they tolerate any person or persons assuming any official position.

Photograph of the 1959 Central Hall, London Meeting where GR Cowell (standing) had his final public battles with James Taylor Jr (seated behind with hands in lap). Many well-known Exclusive Brethren faces appear on the platform, including AJ Gardiner and P Lyon.
Enlarge
Photograph of the 1959 Central Hall, London Meeting where GR Cowell (standing) had his final public battles with James Taylor Jr (seated behind with hands in lap). Many well-known Exclusive Brethren faces appear on the platform, including AJ Gardiner and P Lyon.

[edit] History since 1959

[edit] 1959 Central Hall conference

The annual summer conference at the Methodist Central Hall in London functioned as the de facto policy forum. At the Central Hall conference in 1959, a decisive confrontation took place between Gerald R Cowell of Hornchurch and the New York son of James Taylor Sr (known as Jim Taylor, James Taylor Jnr, or just JTJr). The members regarded Cowell as a saintly type with fine words and sermons in the best English tradition of Brethrenism, whereas James Taylor Jr appeared rather brash. JT Jr urged immediate separation from the world, whereas Cowell proposed a line of compromise. The brethren sided with James Taylor Jr. The movement excommunicated Mr Cowell less than a year after the Conference, and judged him 'unfit for Christian fellowship'. Students of history could see then similaritiy between this and the rivalry between Stalin and Trotsky which resulted in the latter's expulsion from the Communist Party and subsequent assassination.

[edit] Divisions Pre-1970

Pre-Aberdeen Outs A number of meetings and individuals left the Raven/Taylor group during the ministry of Mr Taylor Senior or Taylor Junior but chiefly as a reaction to the ministry of the latter. Some meetings have reunited with some of the 'Post Aberdeen "Outs" but they do not form any one group together. The number of meetings is very small and many have joined other brethren and other denominations.

[edit] Aberdeen incident of 1970

In 1970 JTJr exhibited, what was considered by some, erratic behaviour in meetings and this came to a head at Aberdeen in Scotland, where he called people "bums", "bastards" and other names during services. After one of these Aberdeen gatherings, JTJr was accused of immoral conduct with a married EB woman, by persons who would not accept his ministry and which JTJr immediately refuted as lies. The incident divided the EB flock. The traditionalists believed his accusers, whereas his supporters believed JTJr to be a pure man and that this incident was used to expose those who were in opposition to JTJR. The two groups split, and consequently divisions occurred around the world, with less schism in more distant parts. At Aberdeen only two families remained supporters of J Taylor Jr after the 1970 incident and in Scotland, the majority of Brethren chose to listen to JTJr's accusers.

[edit] Developments amongst Taylor Brethren since 1970

JTJr died in 1970 in New York after a turbulent decade for his followers. A new leader named James H Symington (JHS) came from a pig farm in Neche, North Dakota. Symington died in 1987 and shortly after, the leadership passed to John S Hales (JSH). In 2002, JSH died, and his son Bruce David Hales (BDH), an Australian businessman, succeeded to the leadership. For the second time in EB history the position of "Man of God" or "the Lord's Servant" fell to a son to follow on from his father.

[edit] "Out" Taylor Brethren since 1970

General Developments After the events of 1970 a large number of meetings which could be described as Post Aberdeen Outs felt unable to continue in fellowship with James Taylor Junior and separated from him in the immediate aftermath of meetings at Aberdeen. They have divided several times since then and are very fragmented. Some meetings have become de facto independents others have joined with Pre Aberdeen Outs. Some retain the concept of "authoritative ministry" and they have varying degrees of freedom to attend services in other meetings and churches. They have a wide variety of doctrinal viewpoints and practices having reacted to a greater or lesser degree to Taylorite teachings. The Kingston Bible Trust under the auspices of the “Croydon” group produces a selection of ministry in the Darby/Raven/Taylor category.

After the Aberdeen division in 1970, the "Outs" meetings continued to have fellowship together until 1972 when they divided into 2 main groups, starting with some who left the gathering in Edinburgh ostensibly in support of a brother who was a member of what some felt was an 'unequal yoke' according to 1 Corinthians 6 v 14.

1. Renton Meetings - Those who whislt rejecting the ministry of James Taylor Jr, did not immediately dissociate from everything that had been introduced by him, preferring to test each matter on its own merits. The main events of this division started in Scotland but divided the group worldwide. The closed table still operates among these brethren but it should be noted that they welcome other believers to attend their other meetings.

2. Non-Renton or Strang Brethren. These brethren rejected the ministry of James Taylor Junior but many accepted the concept of "authoritative ministry" ie that you could only have fellowship with those with whom you agreed with on matters of doctrine and ministry. The closed table was still maintained. A new edition of the Little Flock Hymn Book was produced in 1973 for use among this group. This Hymnbook maintained the general Taylorite doctrines of addressing the Holy Spirit in worship and addressing God as the triune One. It restored many previously deleted hymns from earlier editions, restored many hymns to their original forms but added no new compositions and continued the practice of excising hymns of those no longer in fellowship without taking account of the intrinsic worth of each individual hymn. A new version of Tunes for this edition Little Flock Hymn Book was produced by Frank Frost, Archie Broadbridge and John Mason in 1979. It removed a number of tunes from the 1965 Supplement which nevertheless remains in print at the Taylor/Symington Depot.

Further Divisions amongst Post Aberdeen Brethren In 1974 further disagreements arose and another division occurred amonst the Strang Brethren. Fundamentally it was between the Oxted Brethren - those rejecting the concept of "Authoritative Ministry" and wishing to maintain "an available mount of communion for every consistent believer" thus reverting to a Darbyite position, and those known as the Frost (so-called after Frank Frost, one of the signatories of the letter of withdrawal) or Croydon Brethren who accepted "Authoritative Ministry", maintained a closed table and rejected fellowship or shared ministry with other believers.

The Oxted meetings, sometimes known as Rogers Meetings after George Rogers of Oxted, continued as a loose federation of meetings often drawing on help for ministry from other groups of Brethren and indeed other Christians from other denominations. They are also able to minister at meetings and churches which are not generally associated with them. They are now few in number and although they have informal links with each other, there is no centralised control nor is there any list of their meetings. One meeting at Haywards Heath was briefly considered in the 1980s for association with the reunited Kelly Lowe Glanton group but difficulties arose over matters of doctrine and authority (on both sides) and on perceived Kelly Lowe Glanton centralizing tendencies.

The Frost or Croydon Meetings divided again in 1991/2 over the issue of "Authoritative Ministry". The London Party reverted to a more Darbyite pattern of ministry but nevertheless maintain a closed table. They do in some instances engage in Evangelism with other believers and are mainly free to attend other places of worship as well as welcoming others to their meetings. They have reunited with some Raven-Taylor group meetings which rejected the ministry of James Taylor Junior in the 1950s and 60s.

The Croydon Party whilst very welcoming of fellow believers to all meetings are generally unable to participate in Gospel outreach with other believers nor even to enter other places of worship or meeting rooms for burials and weddings where the ministry is not under their direction. They do not allow other Christians to take part in their meetings. In common with the London Group they are not able to invite other Christians to minister among them nor are they able to minister at other meetings/churches but only amongst those with thom they are officially in fellowship. Both of these groups maintain lists of meetings with whom they are in fellowship.

The Frost/Croydon Group known by some as "Permafrost" suffered another division in 1999 based mainly on matters of "administration" a weakness which has afflicted Exclusive Brethren of all types from their earliest beginnings.

[edit] Sociology of Taylor Brethren

The Taylorite Exclusive Brethren have acquired a reputation for maintaining their privacy, so most of the information about the church has to come from those people who have left the group. As a result, they often get a negative press, and commentators tend to refer to them using phrases such as "an exclusive and secret religious sect" or "a secretive church". If people born into Taylor Brethren families opt out or are excommunicated by the fellowship, even their parents, siblings, spouse and children disassociate themselves from them. EB members however, retain a strong sense of belonging to a desirable community; they commonly refer to it as 'The Position' or 'The Assembly', and to their leaders as 'The Men of the Recovery'.

The EB have a reputation for good entrepreneurial skills and for a low rate of dependency on state welfare programs. They have a reputation for caring for their own, in particular for their own young, sick and aged [1]. Few people not born into the EB world become Exclusive Brethren members, and relatively few of those born into EB families ever leave.

The church encourages marriage and family life; children live at the family home until they marry. Contraception is not considered acceptable, but is practised by some.

In business, EBs were not allowed to own computers or fax machines. It has recently been reported by Australia's ABC[2] that they have in their possession a letter from July 2005 from the Brethren leadership. The letter states "no authority is given for individual businesses to purchase their own computer equipment." National Office Assist is an accountancy company that operates out of the same business address as two other companies owned by Bruce D. Hales. The sole director and secretary is a senior member of the Exclusive Brethren, John Kenneth Anderson. This National Office Assist does own computers.

Amongst Taylor Brethren, meetings occur once a day on Monday through to Saturday, and four or five times on Sunday. These meetings include the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion at 6am Sunday), a prayer meeting, scripture readings, and gospel preachings. The church encourages general participation by all adult males, with a family atmosphere prevailing. Women ('sisters') may only 'give out' (choose and announce) the hymn for singing at the beginning and end of each meeting and during the breaking of bread service; apart from the communal hymn-singing women are required to be silent in church meetings, which the Brethren believe is according to Scripture.

In 2005, a web-site appeared, describing itself as "the only site endorsed by the [Taylorite] Exclusive Brethren". The site provides very basic information about the Exclusive Brethren way of life.

[edit] Politics

EBs generally have eschewed the politics of secular society. They do not vote, even in countries which have compulsory voting, stating that they believe in the power of prayer in support of good government. In most recent years however, the Taylor/Symington/Hales EBs have been exerting political influence in a number of countries, in support of mainly right-wing governments that would tend towards conservative Christian values. EBs consider they have a responsibility to support "good government" and in doing so, they seek the benefit of all.

[edit] Australia

In the 2004 Australian election the Taylor Exclusive Brethren were linked to advertisements campaigning for the re-election of John Howard. [3] [4]

In March 2006, members of Taylor EB placed advertisements and distributed leaflets attacking the Australian Tasmanian Greens in the Tasmanian state election. [5]

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Daniel Hales, brother of the Elect Vessel Bruce Hales, explained how they could support political parties and not vote: "I see it as a sin and you don't. So I'm very happy for you to vote because to you it's your obligation to the community. But to me, it's my conscience that doesn't allow me to vote." [6]

Claims aired on the ABC Four Corners program, accused the group of being a cult, leading to the break-up of families, and avoiding the issue of suicide among their members.[7]

Prime Minister John Howard has admitted to meeting with the Exclusive Brethren, stating he had "met a lot more fanatical people in my life than [that group]." Howard explained the Brethren were "entitled to put their views to the Government," and went on to say that he had no problem with the fundamentalist Christian sect.[8]

[edit] Canada

In 2005 the Exclusive Brethren attempted to influence a gay-marriage parliamentary vote by waging an aggressive but anonymous campaign (identifying themselves only as CCP or Concerned Canadian Parents) using direct-mail and advertising with a full page ad in the Hill Times newspaper, a Parliament Hill weekly directed at Senators studying Bill C-38. [[9]]

[edit] New Zealand

In 2000, as a result of their avowed disinterest and lack of involvement in the political process, Exclusive Brethren-owned businesses were granted an exemption from legal requirements under the Employment Relations Act to allow union representatives onto the premises to talk with employees. As a result of the lobbying and other campaigning, there are now calls to change the relationship between Exclusive Brethren-owned businesses and labour unions [1].

In the 18 months leading up to the 2005 New Zealand General Election, a group of Taylor Exclusive Brethren met with and lobbied many members of Parliament, particularly MPs of the centre-right National Party but also including the parliamentary leaders of the centre-right New Zealand First and United Future parties and the neo-liberal ACT party with no success. Late in the election campaign they spent approximately NZ$1.2 million producing and distributing to letter boxes at least eight pamphlets attacking the policies of both the socially liberal and centre-left Labour party and the Green party. Though not mentioning the National Party, the wording and colour of the pamphlets hinted at support for National. The leaflets appealed for the election of a "government that would prosper the country economically and govern in a morally upright way". The pamphlets caused some controversy and seven Exclusive Brethren held a press conference in front of television cameras to explain themselves. [10] [11] Some National MPs have claimed the Brethren lost them the election by getting involved.

In September 2006 the political position of the Exclusive Brethren in New Zealand was further muddied when a member of the Exclusive Brethren admitted writing a letter central to the then current series of political smears, in this case against the Prime Minister, Helen Clark's husband, Dr Peter Davis. [12]

In 2006, Prime Minister Helen Clark alleged that the group had been involved in spreading "baseless rumour, slander and lies, the Sunday Star Times newspaper, chose to make that a public issue." This comment came after accusations that her husband, Peter Davis might be homosexual appeared in the newspaper.[2] It was also alleged that a private investigator had been hired by the group to follow Peter Davis [3]. It was later confirmed that private investigators had been hired by members of the group to investigate Labour MPs [4].

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Gerry Brownlee and Economic Development spokeswoman Katherine Rich have expressed concerns about the Exclusive Brethren's lack of political sophistication and loss of female voters for the New Zealand National Party at the last general election [13].

Also in September 2006, it came to light that the Exclusive Brethren had approached New Zealand First, United Future and the Maori Party during the coalitiion negotiations following the 2005 election, attempting to persuade all three to enter a coalition with National [5].

In October 2006, Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Prime Minister, Helen Clark mentioned the Exclusive Brethren in "mirth" during her opening speech at the Labour Party's annual conference. She also said that it was time to move on. Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen further attacked the Exclusive cult in his closing comments to the conference.

In November 2006 Nicky Hager published a book (The Hollow Men) detailing, amongst other issues, the involvement of the Exclusive Brethren with the National Party. This was seen as one of the reasons for the resignation of party leader Don Brash.

[edit] Sweden

According to Swedish Daily Aftonbladet, the Exclusive Brethren have funded an advertising campaign supporting the centre-right Alliance for Sweden in the Swedish 2006 elections. The advertisements and fliers were signed 'Nordas Sverige', which is not a registered company in Sweden but has a Swedish agency run by Christian business-owners who were concerned to enlighten voters as to the implications and consequences of another reign of ultra-socialism. The money trail leads back to a company named 'Nordas, Ltd' operating from Liverpool, UK, run by members of the Exclusive Brethren [6].

[edit] United States

In 2004 the Taylor EBs held prayer meetings and donated money for the re-election of George W. Bush as President of the United States. In this they aligned themselves with the "religious right" of that country. A committee formed by Taylor EBs in Florida raised $530,000 for the re-election of Bush and of United States Senator Mel Martinez of Florida. $377,262 of this amount came from a single donor, Bruce Hazell, from England. The committee raised none of the money in Florida, according to a report filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

[edit] Hymnbooks and Music

The Little Flock Hymnbook exists in almost as many variations and editions as there are distinct groups of Exclusive Brethren. In 1840 the Central Tract Depot published G. V. Wigram's "Hymns for the Poor of the Flock". This was followed in 1856 by his "Hymns and Spritual Songs for the Little Flock" which gathered together hymns from diverse collections used among Brethren and on which all subsequent versions are based. This was revised in 1881 by by J.N.Darby, an edition which is still in print, published by Bible Truth Publishers of Addison, Illinois, USA and available from Chapter Two, etc.

[edit] Raven/Taylor Hymnbooks

Amongst Raven/Taylor Brethren, every new doctrinal development was reflected in renewed activity in hymn composition in English and other European languages especially Swedish. Doctrinal shifts were often followed by marked re-editing of the hymns themselves to bring them into line with current ministry which often necessitated the production of a new edition. The main editions are 1903, 1932, 1951, 1962, and 1973 of which there is a Taylor/Symington (1973 Amendment) edition and a separate Kingston Bible Trust (1973 Re-Selection) edition. From the 1940s, foreign language editions were gradually brought into line with English editions so that brethren could, where possible, sing together the same hymns in the same metre. The 1962 hymnbook thus appears in varying quality in 10 or more languages. The Swedish editions in particular have a long tradition of translating English hymns especially Gospel songs for outreach. The English editions themselves have included translations from Swedish, French, Spanish and German. Taylor/Symington Brethren use their English Hymnbook universally regardless of the local language.

A new edition, "Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Flock of God" was published in New Zealand in 2001 by R.D. Church and E. J. Forrest through the Joseph Bywater Trust. This collection is based on the 1951 edition and gathers together many hymns from all the preexisting collections restoring hymns to their original wording where possible and adding some new compositions.

[edit] KLG Hymnbooks

The KLG grouping have had 2 major hymnbooks since Mr Kelly's "Hymns Selected and Revised in 1894" edition. Following the reunion of 'Kelly' (1894 users) and 'Lowe' brethren (1881 users) in 1926, the 1928 edition was compiled by W J Hocking and is still in use by a few 'Kelly' and Open Brethren meetings. The 1978 edition followed the 1974 reunion with 'Glanton' brethren (1903 users) and 'Grant' brethren (1881 users) and is used by these "reunited" brethren. This latter book has drawn more widely from Hymns in common use but does not contain hymns addressing the Holy Spirit in line with traditional Darbyite teaching. Foreign language editions have developed and continued in their own distinctive traditions.

[edit] Gospel Hymns

Gospel Hymnbooks have been produced by most branches of EB. The Little Flock editions have always contained a selection of Gospel Hymns but both Raven/Taylor and KLG wings of the movement have from time to time used separate (sometimes privately printed) collections of Gospel Hymns in the gospel, and outreach meetings. Chapter Two have re-published 'The Evangelists' Hymnal', edited by Dr. W.T.P Wolston. This book is used by some Glanton and some Open Brethren assemblies.

[edit] Tune Books

Little Flock Tune Books have been published in 1883, 1904, 1932, 1954, 1965, and 1979. CT Lambert's edition of 1932 published both words and tunes with an appendix "Containing a few hymns suitable for the Christian Household". It is still published in SOL/FA by the Symington/Taylor Depot. The other Tune Books had Tunes only, listed in metrical order. The KLG 1978 hymn book and the Gospel Hymn Book were both published with a music edition. UK tunebooks have drawn particularly from German Collections and all editions (but especially the 1965 edition) have drawn on EB tunewriters and musicians to produce collections of a high calibre both in terms of musical editing and in the quality of the compositions themselves. Composers of note include T. Willey, T. Collins, Miss La Thangue, Miss S.M. Walker, C. Leflaive, C.T. Lambert, R.A. Evershed, Peter S. Pope, E. Carrén, John F. Harvey, and Gordon Miller.

[edit] Where are they now?

All of the Exclusive brethren groups with the exception of the Taylor/Symington/Hales Group are numerically in decline. (See Shuff Appendix 1) There is no official membership but a decline in support for these groups has often benefitted other Christian Brethren and Evangelical Churches. After 1970, many former EBs who lived in London went to Westminster Chapel where Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones was the minister[14]. Ex-EB people are to be found in most denominations, and some are agnostics or atheists.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Scoop (2006). http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0609/S00554.htm [Call for removal of union exemption from Brethren]. Retrieved 30 September, 2006.
  2. ^ ABC Online (2006). PM: Dirty politics in New Zealand. Retrieved September 19, 2006.
  3. ^ Stuff (2006). Furious Clark defends husband. Retrieved September 24, 2006.
  4. ^ Stuff (2006). Brethren dug dirt on Clark - detective. Retrieved September 24, 2006.
  5. ^ New Zealand Herald (2006). http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10403711 [Brethren plot to rule the roost]. Retrieved 30 September, 2006.
  6. ^ "Extrem sekt stöder alliansen", Aftonbladet, 2006-09-13. Retrieved on 2006-09-13. (in Swedish)

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links

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