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Rh thought such correspondence very useless.” In such humour as may be guessed from this extract, the rival leaders met with thirteen others, selected on no formal principle, but including sympathisers with each. Darby repeated the charge of sectarianism. Newton’s self-control was generally admirable, but for once it seems to have failed him utterly. According to Darby, he “broke out in great anger, saying, that he waived all formal objections, that he did seek to make a focus of Plymouth, and that his object was to have union in testimony there against the other brethren (that is, as explained, and is evident, their teaching), and that he trusted to have at least Devonshire and Somersetshire under his influence for the purpose; and that it was not the first time I had thwarted and spoiled his plans”.

This circumstance derived its importance from the use that Darby subsequently made of it. Newton afterwards published, at the request of a friend, a report of what he had said at the meeting of the fifteen. This report contained no geographical details of the kind that Darby mentions. Newton states that the charge preferred against him at the meeting in question was, “A systematic effort to form a sect, and discrediting and denouncing those who do not adopt the opinions which form its basis”. He allows that he would be open to this charge if he refused to hold communion at the Lord’s Table, or if he insisted that all should hold his views of truth before they were allowed to minister; but he affirms that he had never done either the one or the other. He describes the theological position of his opponents, “which,” he adds, “I feel bound in conscience to oppose in every legitimate way. … I desire to produce in the minds of the dear Brethren everywhere, the same strong sense that pervades my own, of the evil