Gospel Hall Brethren assemblies are independent, but often have many similar characteristics to each other. They are known for having no musical instruments in the building, and maintain a strict observance of traditional brethren practices. Their basis of fellowship and reception to the Lord's Table differs from both the Exclusive Brethren and the Bible Chapel Brethren assemblies. While both the latter groupings generally believe that the basis for reception is the One Body, the Gospel Hall Brethren teach that reception is based on assembly fellowship. They do not believe in a casual or occasional fellowship based on the scripture, "continuing steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine". To receive a believer to the Lord's Table, (even a visitor), is to receive them to the full rights and responsibilities of the assembly. Taking this principle, these assemblies generally receive only from other assemblies, and some assemblies only receive from other Gospel Hall Brethren assemblies. Unless the believer is very well known, a letter of commendation is required, in keeping with the practice of the New Testament.
History
The Gospel Hall Brethren movement spread out from the work in Scotland after the great Revival of 1859. Evangelists like Alexander Marshall and Donald Ross, who were in fellowship with the Open Brethren assemblies, did much work in spreading the gospel, and planting assemblies. Many of the Gospel Halls in Canada were pioneered by these great Scottish evangelists. Initially, Donald Ross, a close friend of Duncan Matheson did not hold to the Needed Truth teaching that reception was to the local assembly. However after Matheson's death, Ross began to hold this. Alexander Marshall broke with the Needed Truth faction early on, over their insistence that any two or three gathered together could not be called an assembly, and could not break bread together. Marshall believed that, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" was sufficient proof that, in his opinion, the Needed Truth brethren were not following the New Testament Pattern. The Needed Truth Brethren continued to assert that only gatherings connected to an already existing assembly could be considered an assembly. "Informal" gatherings were not recognized as being the Lord's Table.
In the middle of the 20th century, the line of separation between the Bible Chapels and Gospel Halls in North America became more pronounced. Robert McClurkin who was welcome in both groups lamented this in his Open Letter to the Assemblies. Sadly a rigid line of demarcation was being drawn. It was McClurkin's opinion that dissemination of Needed Truth literature was at least partly responsible.
From time to time, people have wondered how the Gospel Hall Brethren could be historically part of the Open Brethren movement, yet tend to be even more exclusive than the Exclusive Brethren (Kelly-Lowe-Glanton, NOT Taylorites). The answer lies in the connection between the Scottish evangelists who pioneered Gospel Hall assemblies and the leaders of the Needed Truth Brethren.
In Northern Ireland, the Open Brethren consists both of assemblies much like the North American Gospel Hall brethren, and also assemblies similar to the North American Bible Chapel brethren. However, the strict line of separation does not exist in that land as it does in Canada. A believer from a Bible Chapel in Canada may not be received to a Gospel Hall in Canada, but a believer from that Chapel, and that Hall could break bread together in an assembly in Northern Ireland no matter what title was given for the building. Over the years, this has made for dilemmas for workers visiting North America from Northern Ireland: Which group of Open Brethren can they fellowship with while in North America?
For the early connection between Scottish evangelists like Munro, Ross, Marshall, Ritchie, Vine, etc to the Needed Truth movement, see Rice Thomas Hopkins 1842-1916: An Open Brother by Ian McDowell.
Note that the above comments apply particularly to the Closed Brethren in North America. The situation in other countries may be somewhat different. For example, in Northern Ireland, the line of demarcation between "tight" assemblies and "loose" assemblies is not as clear cut as it is in Canada. The terms, "tight" and "loose" can be disparaging, but they are only used here for ease of identification, without any harm or offence being intended.
The Needed Truth teaching that there is only one Church of God within any given city (or district) is not held by the Gospel Hall Brethren. These Brethren however believe that all those who are saved will go to heaven but are cautious as to keep out the false doctrine, as Paul warns in the Bible. They would be very welcoming to any one, whether saint or sinner attending the Gospel Meeting held at most Gospel Halls on a Sunday afternoon.
Links
- GospelHall.Org Gospel Hall's in the USA
- Heaven4sure.com
- gospelhall.org.uk Gospel Hall's in the United Kingdom
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Last updated on Wednesday July 16, 2008 at 06:12:25 PDT (GMT -0700)
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