A Historical Sketch of the Brethren Movement

H. A. Ironside's history of the so-called "Plymouth Brethren" stands today as one of the best and probably most readable histories of the movement ever written. Not only is it readable, but it is honest, and fair. This is a warts-and-all account written by a man who had a deep love for the movement he believed so strongly was a movement of God, and for the people who were involved in it.
H. A. Ironside was involved in the movement for many years, and even after he took up the head pastorate of Moody Church, during those years he must have always kept a close eye on her, sharing in her joys as well as her sorrows. Ironside is one of the most well-known Evangelical authors of the 20th century and was affectionately known in his time as the Archbishop of Fundamentalism.
In relation to the text itself it must be said that we have found a number of defective texts circulating online at the time of this printing, some charging a no small price for a butchered and mangled edition of this important history.
We have endeavoured to present a text that is faithful to the original while being accessible in a modern format. We have found some editions with only 13 chapters, chapter 11 "The Open Brethren" being completely omitted, with the second half of chapter 10 missing also. These edition, even some of the better ones are missing key footnotes, italics and subdivision

CrossReach Publications

The preparation of these papers, both in their original form as a series of articles in a periodical no longer published, Serving and Waiting, and in re-editing and adding more and later material for book publication, has been to me a definite labor of love. That the movement some of whose history I have endeavored to trace out has been, and still is, a very definite work of the Spirit of God, though like all other testimonies committed to man, seriously marred by the failing human element, is my sincere conviction.
I have been importuned by many persons to put these papers in permanent form, but for a number of years have refrained from doing this for I was not clear as to whether the doing so would be for the glory of God and the blessing of souls or not. But after much exercise of heart, considerable prayer for guidance, and consultation with leading men among the assemblies of brethren who have encouraged me to accede to this request, I have gone over the original papers, endeavored to correct any inaccuracies, and added much additional material.
The question has been raised as to whether the story of the divisions among the brethren is profitable, and some have suggested it would be kinder to eliminate this part of the story and tell only the other side. This does not seem to me to be right. Common honesty I feel would compel one to set forth the whole truth, so far as possible, in connection with the movement, hoping that the portion relating to strife and dissension might prove to be salutary reading for the brethren themselves, and give warning and instruction to other Christian groups that they may avoid the rocks which proved so disastrous to what was evidently a marked work of God.
I do not pretend to infallibility in discussing the many questions involved. I have had to depend on much ephemeral pamphlet literature. Many of the booklets contradicted one another and it has been difficult to ferret out the exact facts. But after conferring with many older brethren, numbers of whom are now with Christ, I believe I have been enabled to give a fair and straightforward account of what is here recorded.
During the past twelve years I have been pastor of the Moody Memorial Church of Chicago, an independent church standing very largely for the very truths which the brethren love and from which Dwight L. Moody profited so definitely. This has, in measure, cut me off from that full communion with assemblies of brethren which I enjoyed for years, but has in no sense lessened my love and respe

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