The Movement In And Around London

by Chamings, A. R. G. | Category: Spiritual Movements Seventy Years Ago | Apr 1963

It is evident, both from correspondence which passed at the time and from the earliest volumes of Needed Truth, that the divine movement of seventy years ago which is under review owed much to brethren in the London area and in particular to Mr. C. M. Luxmoore, as he then was, a practising pharmacist living in Battersea. As corresponding editor he had written that "it is proposed to issue a New Quarterly Magazine" to be entitled Needed Truth, the first number of which would "appear on the first of October, 1888, if the Lord will".

Six years later, on November 20th, 1894, when Mr. Luxmoore was resident in Willesden, a letter was sent to him "with the fellowship of assemblies in the North West (London) district," addressed "To the Brethren at Willesden, London."

"Beloved Brethren in Christ,

When many of those who were among us two years ago deemed it needful to separate from the fellowship they were then in, we did not see the necessity of taking such a step, and have since then endeavoured (as we have always done) to refuse association with any holding Open Brethren principles. This, however, has caused difficulty in our assembly, as there was not unanimity of judgement as to whom we should receive, and some withdrew and sought fellowship with those who had definitely separated from Open Brethren. It has now become manifest to us that a middle course cannot be the mind of the Lord; therefore, in fellowship with the assemblies who two years since withdrew from the old association, we send out this circular to intimate our change of position, and to make known that our only fellowship from henceforth in assembly capacity will be with them."

This letter, "signed on behalf of the ten saints of like mind" indicates that the separation had taken place in London in 1892. In May, 1893, Mr. Luxmoore, Mr. J. Gibb, Mr. J.T. Jarvis, Mr. A. Blair, and other London brethren wrote a letter "To overseeing men and others helping amongst Saints" inviting them ("especially ... from all parts of London and District and from the Southern, Eastern and Home Counties") to meet in London to confer on "The crisis through which the Assemblies have passed". They wrote

"Beloved Brethren,

Within recent years God has been pleased to unfold something of His will as contained in His Word touching the Church of God and the Fellowship of Saints.

It is indeed clearly evident from Scripture that in human organizations and in man-made confederacies the Christian ought not to be. Whatsoever sect, mission, or union a believer may be in, God calls him out and bids him not even to touch the unclean thing.

But further than this, God not only calls out, He also calls in: into a Fellowship which is of His Son Jesus Christ as Lord. In this Fellowship there is; in every town to which it reaches, one Church of God, and only one. In many cases they who are in it break the bread in many buildings, but yet form one Church of God with one circle of overseeing men. We understand this Church of God to be a company of which the limits are well defined so that all know what persons are in it and who are not in.

Moreover, we believe God's Will to be that the Churches of God in any district shall be so definitely united together by means of intercourse between overseeing men and otherwise, that the churches of the district shall form a united circle, just as clear and well defined as the church of God in the town, in each case a definite 'within' evidently to be distinguished from a well marked 'without'.

That we have been slow to learn all this we freely confess, and that there is much still to be learnt by us we well know. Therefore it indeed behoves us to exercise great patience towards all, and particularly towards such as have, as yet, not so read in the Scriptures of Truth.

Nevertheless, we are increasingly convinced that the time has come when we should more definitely seek to carry out that which we have learnt, and cease to go on with a state of things in which it has been impossible to carry out the will of the Lord in reference to the assembly of God.

But we are very anxious at this crisis to avail ourselves of the counsel of all who are likeminded, and at the same time to act in the clear light of day; thus to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man.

We have, therefore, decided to invite overseeing and helping brethren to confer with us on these matters.

In issuing this invitation, we have great difficulty in knowing exactly to whom to forward it, and therefore desire beforehand to crave indulgence if this circular should through ignorance or inadvertence on our part fail to reach any for whom it is meant."

Later that year (on September 1st, 1893) and following the conference in London, a circular letter, signed by J. A. Boswell (Edinburgh), T. B. Home (Birkenhead), Edward Foster (Cardiff), C. M. Luxmoore (London), and others, was sent to the Overseeing men of every district where the Assemblies are acting upon the principles of Scripture, and seeking to be entirely separate from lawless meetings.

That such districts should send men to represent them in whom they have confidence, each district to bear its own expense. Also, that they should invite any exercised person that might in their judgement be helped by such a meeting

In order that all may be thoroughly acquainted with the principles held and taught by each other, it has been suggested that the first part of the meeting should - after united prayer - be devoted to reports from the separate districts as to their position and their fellowship. This would reveal any point of divergence, which could afterwards be fully discussed.

In convening this meeting we would express our deep thankfulness to our God for manifest help in these perilous times, although conscious of much failure on our own part.

Also, we would earnestly urge upon Saints to make this meeting a matter of much prayer, that fellowship in everything may be complete, and that a united testimony, according to Scripture, may be manifested to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

And so the facilities (the penny post) and speed of travel of that "modern" age enabled brethren to communicate quickly with each other, and on September 15th and 16th, 1898, to meet each other in Leeds and consolidate the "great work" of this another remnant

day (Nehemiah 4.19).

Chamings, A. R. G. | Apr 1963
Spiritual Movements Seventy Years Ago