Here we have to notice before going farther, the existence of a small meeting with a measure of intelligence as to the church of God being one body, previously to the meeting of the four in Fitzwilliam Square. They had been Independents; but it does not appear that they left that body so much from principle as from dissatisfaction with their ways. Nevertheless, God was working in their hearts by His grace and overruling the discipline of that church for their spiritual blessing. And how often this has been the case with individuals in all similar movements, of whom it may be said, " they went out, not knowing whither they went." But the Lord was guiding, and their dependence was in Him. It happened in this way:-
A young man, a medical student-afterward Dr. Cronin-had come up from the south of Ireland to Dublin for his health, about the year 1826. He applied for communion as a visitor, and was readily received at the different tables of the Independents; but when they learned that he had become a resident, this liberty was refused. He was then informed that he could no longer be admitted to the table of any of the congregations without special membership with some one of them. This announcement made a deep impression on his mind, and was no doubt used of God to turn his attention to the truth of the one body. If, he thought, all true believers are members of the body of Christ, what can that strange expression mean, special membership with the Independents? He paused, and after much exercise of conscience and prayer, he refused to submit to their church order. This forced him outside the gates of their Zion, and exposed him to the charge of irreligion and antinomianism. He remained in this outside place for several months, feeling deeply his loneliness and separation from many that he loved in the Lord. It was a time of trial in its way, and might have proved most injurious to his soul; but the Lord overruled it for blessing. To avoid the appearance of evil he used to spend the mornings of the Lord's day in secret. These seasons he found to be of great blessing spiritually, and also of deep exercise as to his future path. Such is the Lord's way with the instruments He is preparing for future testimony and service.
The young student was at length publicly excommunicated by name in a chapel, of which the Rev. William Cooper was the minister. This greatly affected him: he found it no light thing to be thus publicly denounced and avoided by those whom he esteemed as Christians. But the church had gone far beyond its proper jurisdiction. She has authority only from her Head in heaven to cut off those who have proved themselves to be wicked persons. " Put away from among yourselves that wicked person." (1 Corinthians 5) Thus the church in so acting received the deeper wound herself. One of the: deacons, Edward Wilson, secretary to the Bible Society, was constrained to protest against this step, which" led to his leaving the Congregational body.
These two brothers, Messrs. Cronin and Wilson, after studying the word for some time, began to see their way clear to come together on Lord's day morning for the breaking of bread and prayer. They first met for this purpose in the house of Mr. Wilson, Sackville Street. They were joined in a short time by two Miss Drurys, who left Mr. Cooper's where they were members; and also by a Mr. Tims, bookseller, Grafton Street. Mr. Wilson leaving soon after this for England, the little meeting was transferred to Mr. Cronin's house in Lower Pembroke Street, where several were added to their number.
The existence of this meeting, it may be said, was the result of circumstances, not of divine conviction. We believe both concurred. They were no doubt forced into the place of separation by the mistaken conduct of the Congregational body, but they were also led to fall back upon the sure word of God, to act under their divine instincts, and the unerring guidance of the Holy Spirit. This little meeting never formally broke up, but they united at once with those who began to break bread in Fitzwilliam Square; the accommodation was greater, and the principles of meeting substantially the same.
We now return to what may be fairly called the first meeting of " the Brethren," held in Fitzwilliam Square. Deep impressions of the truth may have been abroad upon the hearts of many at an earlier period than this, and that without conference; but with respect to the community of Brethren, so-called, we must start from this point. And here we have something more definite and positive, something more to be relied upon than general report or personal recollections.