Many writers have recorded the history of the "Brethren", commonly so-called. One account concerns a man named Edward Cronin. His father was a Romanist and he wasbrought up in that persuasion. His mother, however, was a Protestant who exercised considerable influence over her son, so much so that he gave up Roman Catholicism and became a believer in the Lord Jesus. He came to Dublin in 1826 while still a medical student, and accepted fellowship with various dissenting churches, but always as a visitor, never as a permanent resident. When it became known that he was a permanent resident in the city he was told that unless he accepted membership with one or other of the denominations he would not be allowed to take communion (as it was called).
After much prayer and exercise of conscience he refused to submit to the ruling of the independent churches and remained outside for several months. To avoid giving appearance of evil he took himself away on Sunday mornings to meditate, sometimes sitting under a tree or against a haystack. He found the separation from believers a heavy burden to bear.
At length he was publicly excommunicated. A certain Edward Wilson, Secretary to the Bible Society, was moved to protest at this action and he left the Congregational body. These two men, after studying the Word of God, began to see that they should come together on a Lord's Day morning to break bread. They met for that purpose in the house of Edward Wilson. Two sisters, the Misses Drury, and a Mr Tims joined them. When Mr Wilson departed for England they met in Edward Cronin's house. His words make telling reading. "It then became noised abroad, and one and another became affected by the same truth...Here Francis Hutchison found us and as we were becoming numerous offered us the use of his large room in Fitzwilliam Square". Here, four young Christian men, afterwards to become renowned amongst brethren, met to break bread, Mr Darby, Mr Cronin, Mr Bellett, and Mr Hutchison.
We may well wonder what has happened to the freshness of early exercises and the desires to be free of denominational links. There may never be another resurgence of that freshness, but there is no reason in the meantime for the ever-quickening rush to adopt the very things that were left behind so many years ago.
Edward Cronin's story may appear to be a simple one, but consideration of the pressures of the Establishment to remain within its fold takes the testimony into a sphere of deeper spiritual significance. God was in it and used it to influence others to sever their links with the denominations. The many withdrawals from these religious bodies caused no mean stir, and great concern reigned in ecclesiastical circles due to the departure of many men and women of considerable standing in the professions and well-known families in the land. Prophecies that the "Brethren" movement would fade out were not realised. The "Brethren" went from strength to strength.
There are many reasons for today's falling-away, but falling back into the denominations is not the answer. If it is believed that God was behind the coming-out, it is hardly likely that He will support a going-back. Perhaps the prayer of William Lincoln is worthy of consideration: "May I by God's grace be kept from joining anything".
