Until about 1960, the people now referred to as the Exclusive Brethren, EB, or sometimes the Close Brethren, were a quiet, conservative, fundamentalist, evangelical Christian group who had ideas about remaining separate from the "world" which surrounded them. "In the world, but not of it," was a catch phrase at the time. They had evolved by a process of splitting from the other versions of Plymouth Brethren over the previous 130 years. They claimed not to have leaders, but recognised John Nelson Darby, J B Stoney , F E Raven , C A Coates , James Taylor and others as "gifts" from God to help "recover the truth as to Christ and His Assembly (Church)." The various splits that occurred were supposedly about "the truth," but more human factors such as personalities and geographical and tribal loyalties were probably more important than doctrine. The EB generally refer to the other branches of Plymouth Brethren generically as Open Brethren.
The name Exclusive Brethren (EB) probably derived from the longer "Exclusive Order of Plymouth Brethren"—a description used by the press in the early 1960s. The alternative Close Brethren is used to refer to their supposed closed and secretive nature. However neither name is used by the EB people themselves—they use no formal name.
Taylorite branch
The main group of Exclusive Brethren are called 'Taylorites ' after James Taylor Senior and Junior who led the church for much of the twentieth century.
This group is known for its secrecy; most of the generally available information about the church comes from those people who have left it. As a result, the Exclusive Brethren (along with other branches of the Brethren) gets negative press and is referred to using phrases like "an exclusive and secret religious sect" or "a secretive church".
After the death in 1953 of the powerful leader James Taylor, the organisation was left drifting. There were several "strong men" but none predominated. The members were largely bland, lower middle-class people with good intentions and good works, but who were being "subverted" by the rising wealth and "lax morals" of the Western world. The devotion of members to "separation" varied widely in practice. Unwritten rules forbid radio, television, cinema and smoking for EB. Members were usually content to have the respectability and sense of community that the EB system provided. It was usual for members to profess strong religious belief.
1959 Central Hall conference
The annual summer conference at the Methodist Central Hall in London was the de facto policy forum. At the Central Hall conference in 1959, there was a decisive confrontation between Gerald R Cowell of Hornchurch and the New York son of James Taylor (known as Jim Taylor, James Taylor Jnr, or just JTJr). Cowell was a saintly type with fine words and sermons in the best English tradition of brethrenism, whereas JTJr was regarded as a brash American with his late father as his only virtue. A small point of doctrine was chosen as a point of conflict, but the world EB leadership was the real prize. The battle was won by JTJr, and not long afterwards Cowell was ejected from the EBs, almost certainly on a false charge.
JTJr era
From 1960 JTJr consolidated power by surrounding himself with bright young men from the English-speaking world, and introduced an increasingly "hard line" of teaching. EB meetings ceased to be old men raking over their biblical knowledge, and took on a more gladiatorial atmosphere. Young people found this much more interesting. JTJr's teachings took people away from the comfort and laxity of post-WW2 society by banning membership of associations, banning eating with non-members, and eventually separating families into members and non-members who could not even speak to each other ever again. The JTJr era resulted in a huge increase in alcohol (especially Scotch whisky) consumption among EB. Twentieth century inventions that were encouraged rather than proscribed were: good cars, jet aeroplanes and international telephones.
Two natural Hales brothers from Sydney, Australia were amongst the brightest and most devoted JTJr followers. The elder was John Stephen Hales (JSH), and the younger, more charismatic, was William Bruce Hales (WBH), who married JTJr's daughter Consuelo. These Hales brothers toured EB meetings throughout the world and preached and enforced the JTJr revolution. They also were very keen on helping EB with business matters. This latter activity increased and in 1965 JTJr appeared to call a halt by arranging for the Sydney meeting to expel JSH and WBH for "commerce in the assembly." However about a year later, JTJr relented and the Sydney EB were forced to admit their "error" in expelling the Hales brothers and readmit them to the fold.
A substantial number of the EB faithful left the flock in support of G R Cowell, and a constant stream followed them through the 1960s. Not all these people agreed with each other, so various "rival fellowships" resulted. JTJr called these people "profitable losses."
Aberdeen Incident
In 1970 JTJr's behaviour in meetings was erratic. This came to a head in Aberdeen where he called people "bums" and other offensive names during services. After one of these Aberdeen gatherings, JTJr was found in bed with a married EB woman. This discovery divided the EB flock. The traditionalists said that Taylor's behaviour was immoral, whereas others said that it was just "the Lord testing the Brethren with an ambush." The two groups split, and this was echoed around the world, with suppression of information resulting in less schism in more distant parts.
Recent developments
JTJr died a few months later in New York and thus ended a turbulent decade. A new leader named James H Symington (JHS) rose up from Neche, North Dakota, and continued from where JTJr left off. Symington died in 1987 and, after a struggle, the power passed to John S Hales (JSH). In 2002, JSH died and was succeeded by his son Bruce David Hales (BDH). This was the second time in EB history that the position of "man of God," "the Lord's Servant" was inherited.
Under the leadership of Bruce Hales, some of the rules of separation have been relaxed. During Symington's reign, EB people were forbidden to own fax machines, mobile (cell) phones or computers as these were all "tools of the devil". Conveniently, the absence of these devices allows the EB leadership to control information flow to suit their purposes. (Mysteriously some EB leaders have fax machines. At one stage remote garage door openers were banned, but this has been reversed by BDH.) Internet information such as this article is forbidden, but surreptitiously accessed by young EB people in schools and public libraries. To "protect the young from the world", EB parents are expected to school their children at home, or send them to one of the EB schools. The educational attainment of these young people is usually low. The EB rules have prohibited post-school education for over 40 years, so an educational deficiency is now apparent throughout the EB.
Notable features of the EB are good entrepreneurial skills and low dependency on state welfare programs. EB members are expected to give generously to "the Lord's servants" which results in a good income for those who rise to prominence in the EB hierarchy . Since the JTJr era the extent of religious belief of EB members has declined. Membership is now a birthright, with almost no religious conviction required. There is little membership possibility for those not born into the EB world and relatively few of those born into EB families ever leave the EB world. They learn to live with the EB system and get on with life. Marriage and reproduction are encouraged activities and with meetings being held at least once a day in each area, there is little time left for reflection.
Politics
EBs have always eschewed the politics of government. They do not vote, even in countries where voting is compulsory. However, in 2004 the EBs held prayer meetings and donated money for the re-election of George W. Bush as USA president. In this they are aligned with the "religious right" of that country. A committee formed by EBs in Florida raised $530,000 for the reelection of Bush and of United States Senator Mel Martinez of Florida. $377,262 this amount came from a single donor, Bruce Hazell of London, England. None of the money was raised in Florida, according to a report filed with the Federal Elections Commission. [1]
External links
Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46
