HWGA 3

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Section 3 – Darby’s Second Visit 1864 (Dec. 6, 1864 to July 23, 1865

On August 12, 1864, from Zurich Mr. Darby writes, “D.V. I purpose leaving in October for Canada, I suppose by Halifax and Boston.” On December 9 at Montreal. From Collingwood, Ontario about February 1865 writes, “Blessings have gone on here… our meeting (conference) was a very happy one indeed… a few meet here.” Toronto on March 7th. Then in June from West Townsend, Massachusetts writes:

“Here I am only, in passage, for a few days with our brother _______ to meet and also to read with a few to whom he has been blessed. I suppose we shall visit Boston… he would be more there at the center of the work, but I daresay that the Lord sees it good he should wait for more maturity in himself, and fuller sowing of seed which (as I have said to others) is going on in America now. Gathering will come in its time… in general those who get loose from systems here rejects the immortality of the soul or some such thing.” New York on June 23, 1865… “I was in Boston for some days in the midst of their destructionists and annihilationists.

The work gathers up those who did not let themselves be carried away, who had got out of the sects and who looked for the Lord’s coming… A door opened in Boston, and I was greatly begged to stay. One devoted man I trust delivered from danger, having just now as I was leaving got a fine room, which he wants me to speak in… if I return now, as I suppose is probable, perhaps from Quebec on August 5th (our conference at Guelph is July 15th) I should, if health and strength permits, think of being back for the States next summer… here in New York it has been complete confusion…

It is work of patience and I shall soon have to leave, but I am hopeful thru the Lord… It is difficult, with such a scattered, desultory work, to give anything very precise, were a positive work carried on I believe a good deal would be done, but it would require great patience and firmness, discontentment would be found plenty; solid and founded in truth and caring for it as foundation in fear of God, a good deal rarer still grace does its work and I should be hopeful if the workmen were such."

Mr. Darby writes from Hyde, England, on October 25, 1865, so he must have sailed from New York after the Guelph meetings.

New York was then a city of 900,000 people and Boston of 250,000 population.

In England the controversy over Mr. Darby’s book on “The Sufferings of Christ” was going on, and Mr. W.H. Dorman, an important brother, left and joined the Open Brethren, along with Mr. Darby’s own brother, who were the chief opposers of Mr. Darby’s book.

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