A vast number of periodicals were issued by all the different sections of the Brethren through their respective publishers. Classifying these is not an easy task as they can be grouped by section, editor, date, type (gospel, ministry), target audience (adult, children, young peoples, newly converted, etc.). Here I will just look at the most populat series, and those I have personal interest in collecting.
There is an ongoing project to make PDF scans of periodicals available online. These are hosted and viewable on a website; http://www.cw-archive.org/en. We still occasionally stumble accross a series we knew nothing about before, and also list here some series that are known of, but we have no volumes to scan yet!
Not a Brethren periodical exactly but there were many contributions by William Kelly and Samuel P. Tregelles.
"A medium of intercommunication between Christians on points of Biblical Criticism, Theological Science, Christian History, Biography, and Antiquarian research. This work is of the same size and general appearance as our old friend. Notes and (Queries, of which it is in fact an alter ego in a religioo domain. The first volume, in 374 pages,' contains twenty-eight numbers published in the course of 1854. The second volume, in 416 pages, contains thirty -one numbers published in the course of 1855. The third volume also comprises thirty-one numbers, extends to 518 pages, and appeared in 1856. A portion of vol. iv. is appended, containing the seven numbers which came out in 1857, and abruptly terminated the series in consequence of the unlooked-for decease of the excellent editor, Mr. L. H. J. Tonna." From: http://archive.org/stream/journalsacredli10cowpgoog/journalsacredli10cowpgoog_djvu.txt
Scans are available, also William Kelly's contributions can be read on STEM Publishing website.
Just 2 volumes published; the editor in later years left Brethren and went off doctrinally, embracing "non-eternity' views.
Seems it restarted in 1867 with the addition on the title; "Adapted for General Circulation".
After 1890 articles by associates of Mr Raven appear, so one must read with care.
More scans on CW Archive
"An Australian Gospel Magazine for old and young."
Two volumes were published.
The Bible Treasury 15 (1884), page 192 says that this magazine "will commence D.V. Jan 1st, 1885" so that vol. 1 and 2 were 1885 and 1886. Schofield probably went to the OB at the same time as Neatby (who left the Kelly-meetings in January 1887), which would explain why the periodical ceased.
In 1978, after the KLC / Glanton reunion, it merged with Scripture Truth.
Volumes 1-29 (1912-1940) are available here.
The primary publisher was Bible Truth Depot, so I imagine this periodical originated in the USA.
Text available from BTP; https://bibletruthpublishers.com/young-christian/lpvl23717
Text of articles available on BTP website.
Around 1940 the name appears to change to "News of Salvation and The Children's Gospel Magazine". Maybe it merged with another paper?
Note at the end of the last volume says; "After more than twelve years of this character of service, the editor of "Words in Season" and "Whosoever Will" has been compelled by broken health to bring htem to an end with this issue."
1892 volume was for those issued in 1890 & 1891. Probably rain in conjunction with "Words in Season".
By at least 1904 it had changed name to Tidings of LIGHT and Peace
The Joyful Message, starting 1931 was the continuation of this.
More scans on CW Archive.
17 volumes issues. The editor died in 1924 which seems to have been the cause of the cessation of this periodical.
An Index is available here.
The editor, Russell Besley, died in 1932 (mentioned in vol. 24, page 335) which was the reason that the magazine finished.
Large format.
Young persons type magazine; 10 volumes were issued, publication ceasing as the editor died, this is explained in the back of volume 10. It was replaced by Words of Truth.
Children's / Young Persons small format periodical.
I have only ever seen the one copy of this, which I have added. No idea if it had any relation to the original Things New and Old Magazine, or how long it went on for.
Continuation of "Acceptable Words" (which I don't have)
Medium-large format young persons magazine. I have a couple of volumes. [At moment can only find one, vol 6, 1901]
1917-1950 are available on CW.
Text version can be read online here: http://www.stempublishing.com/magazines/SQ/INTRO.html
At least 16 volumes published.
Many articles from the magazine available on STEM.
Sidney Thomson was editor together with Hughes from 1964-1976 then alone in 1976-1989, see vol. 1990, page 145 and page 241; see also page 25 (death of Hughes). The magazine was also issued in 1990 because Thomson left enough papers but it was finished then.
Very rare. Volume 9 is available on CW Archive.
Many more to download on cw-archive.
Seems to be a gospel version of 'The Remembrancer'; started in the same year. I have a few volumes (4,8,23,24)
Looks like it merged with Tender Grass at some point in the early 1900s.
A number of issues are available under B.C. Greenman's entry on the Bookshelf.
"Glad Tidings" was still issued in 1919 (see "Field and Work“ 1919, page 114).
Large format. More scans on CW Archive.
Beautiful large format periodical; 20 volumes issued, a note in volume 20 says it is the last volume;. to be continued as "Gospel Stories for the Young" and maybe also "Talks with my Girls". Many more scans on CW Archive.
In the last volume of My little Friend Annual it is said in the foreword: "In the December number you will have seen the notice that this is to be the last volume of this Magazine under its present title ; but we hope it will appear under the new title of 'Gospel Stories for the Young,' and Mr. J. W. Nicholls has kindly promised to act as Editor for the new Magazine, and C. J. L. will continue her interesting "Talks with my Girls,""
More scans on CW Archive.
Large format with; at least 27 annual volumes issued. Apparently the magazine originated in a suggestion of Samuel Ridout, who for many years wrote the Bible class lessons. [http://www.newble.co.uk/writers/Ridout/biography.html]
Many more scans on CW Archive. Large format; note in last volume (not in scan) confirms it was the final one issued.
Continued by The Springing Well.
Successor to Faithful Words and was eventually renamed The Gospel Graphic, though by then had moved from a 'Closed' to an 'Open' magazine, as per its editor, Alfred Holness.
This was The Springing Well renamed and slightly changed, though keeping the volume numbers, so started from Vol 17. By this time was an 'Open' rather than 'Closed' magazine. By 1929 had changed name to The Christian Graphic.
Would like to get more of these.
At least 22 volumes were issued.
"A Weekly Record of Christian Testimony and Effort."
Given the similarity in title, maybe it replaced The Latter Rain?
This article from Letters of Interest, "Pioneering by the Printed Page" has a lot of information about the early periodicals associated with Donald Ross, both in the UK and the USA.
Volumes 1-8 and New Series 1-13 were issued.
Later just called "The Witness".
[Founded by Ross in 1870 as The Northern Evangelistic Intelligencer, the magazine changed its name to The Northern Intelligencer in 1873, later The Northern Witness in 1875, and after Ross passed the editorship to J. R. Caldwell in 1876, it became The Witness in 1887 (an overdue reflection of its broadening influence), with the editorship passing on to Henry Pickering in 1914 at a monthly circulation of 16,000. It was long regarded as the principal Brethren review worldwide, and saw its monthly circulation climb to 30,000 by 1941 at the end of Pickering’s editorship.] From http://impact59.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/donald-ross-soteriological-retrospective-dec09.pdf
The numbering is curious, as 20 volumes of the original series were issued, before in 1891 commencing the 'New Series'. After 21 volumes of the N.S., in 1912 began the 'Enlarged Series'. This only lasted two years though, before in 1914 switching back to the original numbering and that year thus being volume 44!
The Witness merged with The Harvester in 1980.
Full details here
Prelude to The Missionary Echo and Echoes of Service
There were I think 13 volumes issued. I only have one volume. It continued as Echoes of Service.
See their website for more information.
At least 20 volumes were published.
I have the first volume; I don't know much else about it! Apparently Sims was loose OB and favoured women preaching etc. He has an obituary in Believers Pathway, and he was Canadian.
1906 issue says 39th year.
This article from Letters of Interest, "Pioneering in Printed Page" has some information about the periodicals issued by J.R.
Volumes 1-9 issued between 1891 and 1899 then from 1900 as New Series 1.
[John Ritchie continued as editor until his home call in March 1930 after which J. Charlton Steen, another well known gospel preacher and teacher of the Scriptures who had assisted Mr Ritchie for 4 years, assumed the editorship. He was an able Bible teacher but had a short tenure as editor as he was called home in September 1931. The third editor was another gifted Bible teacher whose writings are still read. William Hoste was editor until 1938. Mr Hoste studied at Cambridge University under Handley Moule. His studies of the Word of God convinced him that such teachings as baptismal regeneration apostolic succession and episcopacy were not found in the Word of God. As a result he was baptised by immersion and received into assembly fellowship. He laboured in the UK and Europe. After the death of William Hoste, Andrew Borland of Irvine, Scotland, served as editor until 1974. He taught English at Kilwinning Academy, a post that he held from his early days until his retirement. He was the author of a number of books and in great demand as a Bible teacher in Scotland and beyond. From 1974 until 1998 the editorship carried on by a committee ... The present editor is John Grant.] See here
Medium format children's magazine; I do not know how long it continued.
At least 16 volumes were published. Apparently later renamed "The Christian Worker" (ND - Open Brethren in Scotland).
Continuation of The Sunday School Workers' Magazine
Mentioned by Neil Dickson in "Open Brethren in Scotland" p172 .. never seen a copy.
I have volume 8, 1895 - not scanned yet.
This article from Letters of Interest, "Pioneering in Printed Page" has a lot of information about the early periodicals associated with Henry Pickering.
"The Evangelist first appeared in January, 1880 and was edited by William Shaw, of Maybole, Ayrshire and later by Henry Pickering." L.o.I. 1952.
The numbering is a bit confusing .. firstly seems there were 12 volumes issued before the New Series started in 1892. However these were not always labelled New Series, so easy to confuse the numbers with the original series. The 1899 volume is labeled as N.S. 9 which is surely a mistake and should be N.S. 8. The 1900 issue is labelled Volume 21, ie being the 21st year of issue, but then in 1901 we are back to Volume 10, Ie N.S. 10 assuming 1900 is N.S. 9 !! It then continues like this (without labeling them as 'New Series'), but by 1912 at least, it has reverted back to the original numbers, and thus that one being Vol 33!
Very nice practical periodical though.
Volume 7 (1886) has on the front: "Completing this Series and Size", and at notice in the December issue, "AT the suggestion of the Publishers, it has been decided to alter somewhat the appearance and arrangement of our little paper. The shape is not found convenient, particularly for the bound volumes, and this will be modified. Another disadvantage in regard to the volumes has been, that the advertisements appearing at the end of each monthly number had to be bound up with the other matter. This, and the constant repetition of the title at the commencement of each month, were disfigurements, when the twelve months came to be bound together. It is therefore intended in future to have a cover to each monthly part, to which advertisements, &c., wll be confined, and these covers will be removed before binding, so that the volumes will be much more presentable than hitherto. These and other minor improvements will, we doubt not, commend themselves to our readers. But the great matter is, after all, the contents and not the get-up. And as to this, we desire to seek the fellowship in prayer of (-}od's dear people. We have been much encouraged by the testimony of not a few, as to the help they have received from what they have found in these pages. But we seek for better things still, that God may be yet more abundantly glorified. Will all the readers of our little paper, before they lay it down each"
and another note: OUR ALTERATIONS. THE next number will (D. V.) be altered as follows :-— Size. Crown Bvo.-—same size as “Herald of Salvation ”-—-16 pages. .... “The Believer’s Pathway” and “Herald of Salvation" will be issued bound together in neat coloured cover, under the title of “Good Seed,”
Volume 8-11 is inscribed as edited by A.J. Holiday.
Volume 12 says 4 volumes were edited by William Shaw.
Volume 11 has a notice: "OUR esteemed brother, Mr. Holiday, owing to his late serious illness, has found it necessary to reduce the permanent ‘strain that resulted from his numerous responsibilities in the Lord’s service. In accordance with this desire, arrangements have been made to relieve him, in the meantime, of the editorship of “ The Believer’s Pathway. ’’"
Volume 1 New Series is inscribed, "Edited by Richard Ledger Smith of Dublin". This volume also says it is the "13th year of issue".
Many references to a periodical called "The Evangelist" published simultaneously with this one, but focused on the gospel, and another called "The Herald of Salvation" (according to a page at the end of NS3 this was edited by Alex Marshall." Also other magazines, called "Boys and Girls", and "Across the Seas."
"Believers' Pathway was first published in January, 1880. Its editor was William Shaw, of Maybole, Ayrshire, and later editors were A. J. Holiday, William Inglis, John Gray, James Hyslop, and Henry Pickering." L.o.I. 1952.
Very nice magazine; Notice in volume 11 confirms that was the last one.
The individual issues of this magazine appear to have been entitled "The Sower", but the volumes, and always advertised as "Tidings of Peace."
A sample single issue cover can be seen here https://www.amazon.com/Herald-Salvation-Illustrated-Magazine-Literature/dp/B003WM9X60/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=
There is an announcement in The Christian Week, Volume 2 (ie 1880)
"First published in 1878, The Herald of Salvation was originally edited by R. J. Hopkins. In 1893, when Alex Marshall returned from Canada, Mr. Pickering asked him to undertake its editorship, and from that time until Mr. Marshall's decease in 1928, The Herald was his favorite project Its present circulation is 27,000 copies per month." L.o.I. 1952.
Continued as "Fellowship"
"An expository & devotional magazine."
Apparently it was a "magazine launched especially to encourage Brethren outreach".
The Witness merged with The Harvester in 1980. Ten years later the latter had a UK circulation of around 2,000 and was in severe financial difficulties which led to its demise in 1995.
From https://www.preciousseed.org/history.cfm
It is hard to believe that the work of Precious Seed Committee has been going for sixty years. In 1945 several meetings were held in Taunton, Devon, for prayerful consideration of the situation which then existed. For some time brethren had been concerned about the lack of teaching with regard to New Testament church principles. Out of this desire came the magazine Precious Seed which would seek to be ‘a magazine to encourage the study of the Scriptures, the practice of New Testament Church principles and to stimulate interest in Gospel work’. Those early brethren have now all been called home but the pattern has been followed by their successors.
See https://www.assemblytestimony.org/
There were 7 volumes issued I believe, before it was renamed 'Our Record'?
After Donald Ross's death, C.W. Ross (D R's son) took over the editorship, which then passed to T.D.W. Muir for a while, before reverting in the last year of its issue to CW Ross again who wound it up with the official notification that Assembly Annals was to continue that line of magazine work. See October 1933 issue.
The first series began in January 1927 and the new series in July 1933.
"A Magazine Devoted to Ministry Concerning Christ and the Church."
Followed on from "Our Record" and was later renamed "The Uplook"
"was initially acceptable in conservative Gospel Halls, but soon became more and more aligned with looser GH’s and the conservative chapels."
Think just a renaming of Assembly Annals
Published weekly.
Published weekly.
Extolled 'Old Paths' around the time of the 1914 division. I'm told "Ended in rancor due to its unyielding conservatism being no longer palatable to the most of the upcoming generation of Gospel Hall brethren, whose organ is now only Truth & Tidings."
Canadian magazine of the stricter Gospel Halls.
"A monthly magazine devoted to the furtherance of Christian fellowship and testimony."
Winsor Chase was Editor by 1927.
Continuation of "Armour of Light", and itself continued by "Food for the Flock". I'm told it was "an important organ of the "Chapel" OB's.".
Towards the end of 1936, editorship transferred to LLOYD G. WALTERICK - see Vol 6, p313.
Foreign missionaries magazine, issued from same place as Light and Liberty.
Maybe just a personal paper of the editor?
Published from July 1934 to June 1996. It's former name was "Letters of Interest from the Home Field." According to Manchester Library http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/search-resources/special-collections/guide-to-special-collections/christian-brethren-collections/printed-material/periodicals/ the magazine had been continued as "Interest" since 1969 until it's end.
I'm told: "A fascinating magazine which is very hard to obtain in the UK. – organ of the Chapel assemblies in North America."
See also "Interest Ministries - Celebrating 60 Years of Service to God's Servants and Ministries" (1994)
"For the newly converted regardless of natural age."
"A monthly magazine for ministry of the Word and tidings of the Lord's work."
Very interesting history can be read here.
Announced at the end of Vol 2 of "The Treasury":
Mr. Franklin Ferguson, whose articles have been so much apprecialed in the past, now joins me in the editing of this and the new paper "The New Zealand Ambassador." .. The new paper will, we trust, go forth with God's blessing upon it from its first number, "The Ambassador" will, we believe be different in character to anything else in the field at present, as it will contain monthly sound gospel matter, one conversion, a dialogue for sceptics, and help for young believers. The size will be sixteen pages .. it will be issued on the 1st of each month, and the Treasury on the 15th as heretofore.
It was later called the 'Gospell Ambassador'.
A children's Gospel magazine. Magazine later merged with the 'Joybell's' children's magazine put out by the Postal Sunday School Movement in New Zealand. Now Ceased.
Nice medium-large format magazine; aimed at young people. Papers by A.T. Schofield, Robert McKilliam, J Denham Smith, J G Bellett etc. C.H. Spurgeon said of it "Answering to its title, this excellent serial is sure to benefit its readers; may they be as many as the stars!"
I know March 1916 was issue 339.
It was founded by Henry Pickering.
This page gives some information, though maybe partly mixed up with another magazine, http://www.victorianperiodicals.com/series3/single_sample.asp?id=127826
"A missionary paper for our young people".
⚠️ These volumes are here for historical interest; they may contain useful articles in places, but also teaching on church fellowship which was contrary to established principles.
See Wikipedia article for some more details.
"Needed Truth was not published during the years 1909-13, when "Wholesome words" was substituted for this publication." CBA
Also see; http://www.brethrenhistory.org/qwicsitePro2/php/docsview.php?docid=3158
The years following the schism in 1892 from the Open Brethren,
which became known as ‘the Separation’, brought to the fore new
teachings from the Churches of God (or as they are more commonly
known, the Needed Truth).2 Certain areas of doctrine which were
before held by their teachers in a much broader context were now
narrowed down to apply only to themselves. Articles written prior to
the schism of 1892 in Needed Truth, which had originated as an
Open Brethren magazine, indicate that some doctrines had become
quite incompatible with the eventual formalized position after 1892.3
The new lines of teaching diminished the original areas of
commonality between Churches of God and Open Brethren. The
adherents of the new party were made to think of themselves as
particular and distinctive from that from which they had separated.
Not a brethren periodical, in fact has a number of articles attacking JND, but the PDF does have notes of meetings at Rawstorne Street on pages 9.16.17.49 etc. Also many references to the controversy at the time, and other things of historical interest.
A Monthly Journal of Evangelistic and Temperance Work on All Railways.
Not a Brethren periodical but appears to have followed Dispensationalist lines and been important in the development of pre-Millennialism in North America.
Contains articles by CHM, JND, J.Denham Smith etc.
Volumes seem to be 6 issues each.
Chimes was the church publication of the church founded in Sunderland by A A Rees. Rees was very close to the Brethren and even some of its members served in Brethren missions. Though not strictly a Brethren publication, it is of interest. Marsh was the second pastor of this church
Contains the odd article of (Brethren) interest.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fundamentals
Hi Thomas, I don't know if you have any idea of the dates of the magazine where this information is present? Many of them have been digitised and available on the CBA website.
I have been to the meeting at Faubourg Saint Honoré and it is within a gated modern development, definitely very different than how it might have been in the first half of the 19th Century!
The 1st Editor of "Words of Help" was Ernest Pettman.
Edmund Harold Chamberlain - 28th February 1908 ~ 1st March 1982. https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/edmund-harold-chamberlain-24-svg5hs
Grace Ellen Chamberlain (Barnard)
https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/grace-ellen-barnard-24-2gjhv6c
Hallo Dave Crow. Just saw this, and it appears your enquiry about Canaan and the heavenlies was never replied to. I don't presume to know the best answer, but much has been written on this. Probably you've found satisfation.
Nevertheless, Harry Ironside for one dealt with this in his exposition on "The Heavenlies." JN Darby also, eg "Raised and seated together." Enjoy
Greg's suggestion that County Clare 'must have been a significant locale at the outset of the "brethren" movement' is confirmed by the threatening letter received by JND in February 1829 telling him to keep his "Bible business" out of Corofin where he was apparently working with Edward Synge. This connection is referred to in B W Newton's recollections [Wyatt MV Book viii. 22] where he remembered how concerned JND was when he learnt that Synge had been shot (but not fatally) on Ash Wednesday 1831. There is an informative (albeit hostile) account of Synge's evangelistic activity by Flan Enright, 'Edward Synge: the Dysert Proselytiser' in The Other Clare vi (March 1982) pp.8-11. In The Manchester Times (23 Dec 1843) Edward Synge was described as allied to 'that extreme Calvinistic party, seceders from the Church, known in Ireland as the "Darbyites"'. There is further evidence of an early Brethren connection with County Clare in the involvement of Thomas Mahon of Ennis.
