The exclusive Darbyites “became increasingly introverted and mystical over the years,”[7] while the open brethren continued to focus on the “missions of faith” developed by Anthony Norris Groves in India and George Müller with his orphanages in Bristol. In 1853 they founded their first missionary magazine, The Missionary Reporter. In 1859, the religious revival that reached Britain had a transformative effect on many congregations, producing new leaders such as Joseph Denham Smith. Ulster became one of the strongest centres, and expansion took place in Scotland and northern England. In London, Thomas John Barnardo began his rescue work with orphans. Dwight L. Moody of Chicago met George Müller and Charles H. on a trip to England. Spurgeon, a young man in a Dublin congregation, Henry Moorhouse, who would profoundly influence his preaching style as he preached in Moody`s church and revolutionized his work as an evangelist. The separation of the Independent or Open Brethren from the Exclusive Brethren occurred when John Nelson Darby denounced Benjamin Wills Newton, an elder of the Church of Plymouth, then the largest of the Brethren`s meetings, for his disagreements over prophecy and the organization of the Church. Darby forced him to admit his theological errors, and then attacked George Müller and Henry Craik at Bethesda Chapel in Bristol for accepting two other members of that congregation, even though they were not implicated in any of Newton`s errors.

It is very difficult for someone who has experience with the organizational peculiarities of the “exclusive” Plymouth Brethren to objectively comment on those of the “open” Plymouth Brethren. (When I speak of “exclusive,” I am not referring to Taylorists, but to those who believe that they alone have the Lord in their midst or practice the doctrine of the “one place.” “Open” brethren are autonomous, which means that each congregation works differently from another “open” congregation, so they cannot be lumped together to say that they ALL work in this or that way. Unlike “exclusives”, who usually all work the same way, no matter where they meet. I know of a Bible chapel that would not allow a visitor to break bread if they didn`t bring a letter from their home meeting or if they had never been to a PB church before. You would be asked to watch on a Sunday first. They would classify their assembly as a “guarded” assembly. I know of open meetings that have a pastor. Have a worship band and sing only 7-11 songs.

Allow women to pray and participate in ministry and distribute hymns at BB meetings. Do not have elders per se, but hold monthly meetings of men to decide the affairs of the chapel. Have one or two elders and run it like a company/dictatorship. Ask another brother to nominate to open the BB meeting each week. Totally expect the HS to lead throughout the BB meeting. Have a hymn for the BB meeting. Have several hymns, including a choir book, for the BB meeting. Have3 a piano to help with singing in BB meetings.

Do not authorize instruments at a meeting. Wear jeans and shorts to BB Meeting. Do you have a dress code for the BB Meeting.In other words, you can`t pick one and use a wide brush to label ALL the “open” brothers how an assembly works. They do not all adapt to each other, as “exclusives” more or less do. I worked in the “Exclusives” (Die mit Bible Truth Publishers) for 34 years. I have been with the “open” brothers for 27 years. Justification by faith alone (sola fide) asserts that Christians obtain salvation by grace by faith alone, not by their own works (see Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:23). Open brothers attach great importance to the concept of salvation.

The brethren teach that the consequence of human sin is the condemnation to eternal death in hell. Christ`s death on the cross paid the price of sin, and His resurrection is proof that eternal life is available to anyone who wants it. The only requirements are that each individual accept the vicarious payment of his or her own sin by believing in the death of Christ. The Plymouth Brethren schools are run by the members themselves. Schools are located all over the world. At school, little emphasis is placed on religious aspects. They also hire qualified non-fraternal teachers to maintain the high standards of the school. The curriculum and teaching methods are accredited by the competent educational authorities. Boys and girls are treated equally.

Until recently, Brethren churches rarely used the word “church” in their names. Open Brethren groups generally called their places of worship “Gospel Halls” or “Gospel Chapels,” the latter generally being slightly less sectarian (i.e., more open to working with non-Brethren Christians) than the former.