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<div style="text-align: center;">''Ardent Bible Students''</div>The Plymouth Brethren, or simply Brethren as they prefer to call themselves, are a peculiar religious people. Their most distinguishing characteristic is their complete rejection of ecclesiastical organization. They have no preachers. They are outside of all sects. They are great bible students and all members are well versed in the scriptures. Their faith is simple, their fervor great, though they are "zealous after numbers". The "general meetings", as they call them, are held for instruction in the bible, which is given by those who are more learned in the scriptures. The Brethren are unobtrusive and do not advertise themselves, though willing, when asked, to talk about their beliefs and meetings.

Apparently there were no leaders at the meetings here. All were seated. A number of a song would be called and then all would sing. After a song, someone would pray. Whenever a man felt moved to speak, he did so. It is safe to say that in proportion to the number who attended the meetings, which perhaps was between 100 and 200 there were never so many bibles at a meeting in this city.

With but very few exceptions every person in the hall had both a bible and hymn book. The latter is an edition especially for the Brethren. In the preface it states that poetry is not desired by them because it is "a creation of the human imagination". Simple in their worship the Brethren endeavor to emulate Christ in their daily lives and to follow to the best of their ability what they believe is His law laid down in the gospels.

There are probably not more than twenty-five Brethren living in Bloomington. At present they hold cottage meetings at 402 West Kelsey street, but intend soon to secure a room downtown and hold regular meetings there. The colony here was established by a Mr. Blount four or five years ago, he being here then as an evangelist. Recently he has moved to Bloomington."

The rest of the lengthy article expounds on a brief history of the PB, and some of its tenets. See the "sources" section to view the original article.

"Rev. Mr. Blount of this city is in Paxton, where he is assisting Mr. Frank Hathaway in a tent meeting. The denomination to which young men belong to is the Plymouth Brethren."