views of “the Brethren,” and small assemblies were formed, drawn together under the consciousness of the blessing of the promise realized to those who met together for worship simply in the name of Jesus; but as these assemblies increased over the country, the question of Church government, let it be called by what name it may, naturally arose, and the question was, Whether they were to stand “without connexion” with one another, or be subordinated to “one common centre.”
This question is put in a letter written by Mr. Wigram, as early as A.D. 1838.
“My dear Friend and Brother,—there is a matter exercising the minds of some of us at this present time, in which you may be (and in some sense certainly are) concerned. The question I refer to is, how are meetings for communion of saints in these parts to be regulated; would it be for the glory of the Lord and the increase of testimony to have one central meeting, the common responsibility of all within reach, and as many meetings subordinate to it, as grace might vouchsafe—or to hold it to be better to allow the meetings to grow up as they may without connection and dependent upon the energy of individuals only? I think I have no judgment in the matter save that (as those who have the fellowship of the divine mind,) our service ought to be intelligent, and whatever is done to be done wittingly. As to feeling, I do indeed long to find myself more distinctly associated with those who as brethren will feel and bear their measure of responsibility, but this is all I can say; for truly, provided there be in London some place where the wanderer can find rest and communion, my desire is met; though the glory of the Lord will, of course, be still to be cared for.“Oct. 6, 1838.”[1]“I am, dear brother, yours in Jesus,
(Signed)“G. V. W.”
This letter is of importance in this inquiry, as it shews clearly the two opposite principles present to the writer’s mind; the one, that which Mr. Darby has since carried out with an iron hand, never contemplated in 1838; the other, that in which the saints in Bethesda have sought to maintain their ground, under “the energy of individuals” raised up of God to feed the flock committed to their care. This “energy of individuals” is just the energy of the faith and gift of “the pastors and teachers” given to the church, which it has been Mr. Darby’s great aim in every case to keep down and suppress; for he could but see that the full energy of individual faith and faithfulness, was utterly incompatible with the principle of the one centre under one control, which thus early seemed to be looming in
- ↑ Quoted from page 4 of “The New Opinions of the Brethren,” published by Benjamin L. Green, Paternoster Row, London.
