Inquiry makes it very evident that the Open Brethren have adopted the principle that association with those holding evil doctrine does not defile unless the evil doctrine is imbibed, and therefore they are free to receive individuals, believed to be sound in the faith, without reference to their associations. The earliest evidence that this is their principle of reception is contained in what is known as “The Letter of the Ten.” This was a letter drawn up and signed by ten leaders of Bethesda, in July 1848, in which they sought to justify the course they had pursued. In this letter we find this principle clearly stated. They say, “Supposing the author of the tracts were fundamentally heretical, this would not warrant us in rejecting those who came from under his teaching, until we were satisfied that they had understood and imbibed views essentially subversive of foundation truth.” Here they plainly assert that they were prepared to receive those still in association with a heretic.
This principle, to which the Open Brethren owe their origin, first asserted in 1848, has been maintained throughout their history. In 1864 Lord Congleton, a leading Open Brother, said as follows: “Every dear child of God that is walking consistently with such a profession, come he from whatever quarter he may, would be received.”
In 1872 Mr. Muller, another highly respected Open Brother, asserted this principle in no uncertain language. He wrote as follows: “All who love the Lord Jesus and are fundamentally sound in the faith we receive, though they may not be able, as we could wish, to forsake certain persons or views or systems. In this way we purpose to persevere, because we consider it God’s order (Rom. 15:77Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)).
“Again we have received persons, these sixteen years, who came from persons preaching damnable heresies. But we examined them, and as we found them, sound or not in foundation truths, so they were received or rejected.”
In 1883 Mr. James Wright, another leader among the Open Brethren, stated that it was still the principle which guided the Open Brethren in their practice as to reception. He wrote as follows: “In reply to your inquiry, the ground on which we receive to the Lord’s table is soundness in the faith and consistency of life of the individual believer. We should not refuse to receive one who we had reason to believe was personally sound in the faith and consistent in life, merely because he or she was in fellowship with a body of Christians who would allow Mr. Newton to minister among them.”
In 1921 the writer of “The Principles of Christians called ‘Open Brethren’ ” admits this principle. Describing the origin of Open Brethren, he says, on page 93, “The Bethesda Church, in which Messrs. Muller and Craik ministered, refused to admit any who were convicted of holding the evil doctrine themselves, but did not exclude those who came from Mr. Newton’s meeting.” Here then we have the fact admitted, without a word of disapproval, that while the Open Brethren would not receive anyone convicted of holding evil doctrine, yet they would not exclude those who came from the meeting where the error was taught.
Finally, an Open Brother, in a 1929 pamphlet entitled “The Local Assembly,” says that the Open Brethren have strictly adhered to the “important principle” that in the matter of reception the only responsibility of an assembly is “to deal with the actual beliefs and practices of any individual who might seek fellowship.” Further this writer quotes with approval the extracts already given from “The Letter of the Ten,” as well as the letter written by Mr. James Wright.
Thus we have a chain of evidence from 1848 to 1929 proving that in the matter of reception the Open Brethren do not take into consideration the association of the one they receive, or, to put this principle of reception quite plainly, they hold that association with those holding evil doctrine does not defile unless the evil doctrine is imbibed.
Such then is the “open” principle of reception. Is this principle false or true? In attempting to answer this question we must ask, not, What does an Exclusive Brother say? nor, What does an Open Brother say? but, What does Scripture say?