PLY3IOUTH BRETHREN, a religions sect which sprang into existence about 1830-35 in Plymouth, Dublin, and other places in the British islands, and which has extended itself considerably throughout the British dominions and in some parts of the continent of Europe, particularly among the Protestants of France, Switzerland, and Italy, and also in the United States of America. It scents to have originated in a reaction against exclusive high church principles, as maintained in the church of England, with every thing of a kindred nature in other churches, and against a dead formali,m associated with " unevangelical" doctrine. Many of the first members of the new religious com munities formed in Plymouth and elsewhere were retired Anglo-Indian officers, men of :tuquestionable zeal and piety; and these communities began to appear almost simultane ously in a number of places. Their origin is, however, very much to he ascribed to the labors and influence of Mr. Darby, from whom the Plymouth brethren on the continent of Europe arc very generally known as Darbyites. Mr. Darby was a barrister, taming in the highest circles of society; and under deeply religious impressions, became a clergyman of the church of England, and lived for some time in a mud hovel in the county Wicklow, devoting himself to his \volt; but afterward left the church of England from conscientious scruples, and became :111 evangelist unconnected with any church. In this character, he labored both in England and on the continent of Europe, preaching in French, English, and German. lie also gave utterance to his opinions in numerous pamphlets, and in a quarterly periodical called The Christian ilibam, which for a number of years was the "organ" of the Plymouth.brethren. Ile continues to visit from time to time the communities or meetings of Plymouth brethren. Ills tenets, and those of the Plymouth brethren in general, are strictly Calvinistic: original sin and predestination, the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, the merit of his obedience, the power of his intercession, the gracious operations of the Holy Spirit lit regeneration and sanctifi cation, are prominent points. Millenarian views are also generally entertained the Plymouth brethren; and they usually practice the baptism of adults without regard to previous infant baptism. They acknowledge the :sacrament of the Lord's-supper, and
administer it. to one another in their meetings, usually on every Sunday, or "first day of the week;" in this, as hi everything else, refusing to acknowledge any special ministers. They utterly reject confirmation. Their most distinctive peculiarity, when contrasted with other Calvinistic churches, is their complete rejection of ecclesiastical organization. They suppose the whole Christian body in the world to have declined from truth and duty, like Israel of old, and, therefore, to have been "corporately rejected of God," and believe the true church to consist of themselves and of other chosen ones in the various Christian churches. They refuse to recognize any form of church government, or any office of the ministry; they insist much on the equal right of every 91011C member of the. church to prophesy or preach; and in their meetings, after each hymn or prayer, there is usually a pause, that any one, moved by the spirit, may undertake this office. They exclude persons known to have been guilty of gross sins from participation with diem in the Lord's-supper, until proof is afforded of repentance. The Plymouth brethren reject every distinctive appellation but that of Christians; although a special denomination is found necessary to designate them; and, in fact, no one not holding their views could remain associated with them. A great schism took place among them in consequence of doctrines preached at Plymouth and Bristol concerning the human nature of Christ; Mr. Darby vigoroesly opposing what he deemed a dangerous error, and lie and his adherents uttery separating from the fellowship of those who maintained or even refused to eon demi it. One of the most noted (if not notable) converts to the principles of the sect was the revivalist Guinness, who was baptized in 1860 by another Plymouth brother. lord Congleton. • On the continent of Europe. the Plymouth brethren have in many places given gieat trouble. to the Protestant churches, by their opposition to all ecclesiastical order or organi zation. See Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness's Answer to the Question: Who are the Plymouth Brethren? (Philadelphia, 1801.)