DARBYITES (PLYMOUTH BRETHREN). - A separatist movement that arose in Ireland between 1827 and 1829 and spread to England. Its adherents (among whom were A. N. Groves, founder of the Baghdad mission, Mr. Parnell [Lord Congleton], and J. Nelson Darby [v.], who gave the sect its name and impetus) met privately to “break bread” and pray. From their English center in Plymouth they were also called Plymouth Brethren.
They sought to remedy the evils of the Anglican Church by returning to the simplicity of the primitive Church, without bishops, without liturgy, and without confessions of faith. Among their doctrines, the absolute certainty of eternal salvation stands out, though it is conditioned by the obligation to perform good works as a pledge of final perseverance. Ministers are designated by the faithful without any special ceremony. They prefer to hold worship in homes and private halls. The Eucharist or “the breaking of bread” is a simple memorial of Our Lord. The numerous missions of the Darbyites have organizations different from other Protestant missions and, to avoid any external control, reject support from foreign societies or organizations. There is, however, a society called “Christian Missions in Many Lands” (C.M.M.L.), formed by the Darbyites, which receives reports from missionaries and publishes them in some journals along with news about the countries and missions where they work; it makes known their needs, collects all alms and gifts, and sends them to the missionaries without interfering in their affairs. The Plymouth Brethren or American Darbyites publish the journal *Voice from the Vineyard*, while the English publish *Echoes of Service*. In the latter, abundant information can be found about their missions in Italy (on the Plymouth Brethren or Italian Darbyites, V. GUICCIARDINI, FRANCESCO, PIERO).