Page:Neatby - A history of the Plymouth Brethren.djvu/32

20 Spirit, also seen by us very clearly. Here Francis Hutchinson joined us, and as we were becoming numerous, offered us the use of his large room in Fitzwilliam Square.” (Italics my own.)

This was apparently in November, 1829.

Cronin furnishes a curious account of the attitude of his seniors.

"“At this time dear J.G. Bellett and J.N. Darby were more or less affected by the general state of things in the religious world, but were unprepared to come out into entire separation. They looked suspiciously at our movements, feeling still able to attend and minister in the Church of England, as well as to come occasionally to our little assembly.”"

This representation is largely borne out by Bellett’s own language, as will shortly appear. It involves indeed no disparagement of Darby or Bellett, even from the point of view of the Brethren. It is quite as much the part of the simpler intellect as of the bolder spirit to move rapidly in times of change. But Darby seems always to have grudged Cronin his undoubted priority. Indeed, Darby never shone in any kind of relation of rivalry; and this accounts for his rather ungenerous reference to Cronin’s claims. “Five of us,” he writes, “met at Fitzwilliam Square—Bellett, Cronin, Hutchinson, the present Master Brooke, who was frightened away by Hutchinson, and myself. As Hutchinson had disputations, I proposed meeting next Sunday. We did, at H.’s house. Brooke did not come. I have read since that Cronin had already met with Wilson and some others, but they had broken up—of that I know nothing. I afterwards went down and worked at Limerick.” Information being very accessible, Darby’s contented ignorance about the beginnings of a movement that restored,