Print this page
REPRESENTING THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF 2X2 HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS ON THE INTERNET
The REAL TRUTH about "the truth"
Life and Ministry of William Irvine
CHAPTERS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Chapter Index
Chapter 13
1914 and After
Revised September 1, 2010
The 2x2 Group Continues
1914 - A Name is Chosen in The U.K. – “The Testimony of Jesus”
1916 - Crocknacrieve Annual Convention
1918 – The FIRST Official Split
1920 - Last Convention Held at Crocknacrieve
1921 - Staffordshire's Workers Convention
1914 - THE AFTERMATH. Dealing with World War I required new rulings, as the group had not existed during a war time previously, so had no historical methods to use. It was a year of Decisions and much upheaval and regrouping for the chief workers.
1914: A NAME IS CHOSEN in the United Kingdom – THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS: The whole world turned upside down in 1914, and the British Empire joined World War II on August 4. Reportedly, the sect registered in Britain under the name of "The Testimony of Jesus" with their Conscientious Objectors Board. [NOTE: The 1914 registration has not been confirmed by TTT.] Likely they chose this name by reading it in the following scripture passages:
REVELATION 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the TESTIMONY OF JESUS Christ, and of all things that he saw.
REVELATION 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the TESTIMONY OF JESUS Christ.
REVELATION 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the TESTIMONY OF JESUS Christ.
REVELATION 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the TESTIMONY OF JESUS: worship God: for the TESTIMONY OF JESUS is the spirit of prophecy.To the outside world, however, they were known best as “Cooneyites.” Ed Cooney wrote:
-
"In 1914 when all of military age were required to register, Andy Robb
registered himself as Independent Faith Mission. I registered myself
as Christian, and advised Willie Gill to council all to do likewise, but he
said 'Let us take the name we call ourselves by ‘The Testimony of Jesus.’
At that time I am sorry to say I used to go contrary to my conscience, to
avoid differing from my fellow workers. I gave in to Willie in this
respect and so erred, but have confessed my sin to God, and God has forgiven
me. We have committed the same sin in the U.S.A. in calling ourselves 'Christian
Conventions.' We should repent and take the consequences." (Ed
Cooney’s Testimony, written at time of Wm. Irvine’s Death
– 1947)
Regarding their newly registered official name, Alfred Magowan wrote:
"It has often puzzled me how we came to speak of being ‘in The Testimony.’ I have not read anything in the Bible about that. Do you know where we got the name from, or how it came to be a denominational distinction? Some speak of being ‘in the Truth,’ as if it was some sort of Religious Order." (Outline Of The History of a Peculiar People From 1900-1931 By Alfred Magowan, p. 19)
Ed Cooney’s biographer, Patricia Roberts wrote about this change:
It is not known whether or not Wm Irvine had any input in the selection of a name for the group. However, when he refers to the group in his letters, he nearly always uses the name of “The Testimony,” sometimes shortened to “The Testy.” Also, his references to the Alpha Gospel and pre-1914 Alpha Message refer to the 2x2 group or duration of the group in the time he was associated with it; i.e. before he left the group.“There was yet another major change which took place in the fellowship in 1914. This was the year the First World War broke out, and all of military age were required to register. In doing so, it was necessary to state one's religion. And although the fellowship had a variety of nicknames, such as Pilgrims, Tramp Preachers, Go Preachers, Dippers, Cooneyites, it had no legal or official name. These nicknames were given it by outsiders but the members of the fellowship did not use any of them. Without adopting it as a name, however, they did refer to themselves as the 'Testimony of Jesus,' often shortened to 'Testimony.' We do not know who introduced this name, but it was in use by members in referring to themselves early in the movement's history.
“Since they were by conviction pacifists, they wished to register as Conscientious Objectors. The problem was what to call themselves….(Willie) Gill who was the head worker in England at the time, said, ‘Let us take the name we call ourselves by, the ‘Testimony of Jesus.' Thus in 1914, the fellowship in the British Isles, officially took the name of 'Testimony of Jesus,' and was duly listed as such with the Conscientious Objectors Board. Edward (Cooney) was chosen to represent them before a judge in London so as to obtain the status of conscientious objector for the brethren of military age. He succeeded in getting this for the workers, but not for the saints, some of whom had to go to prison for their convictions.” (Life & Ministry of Edward Cooney by Patricia Roberts, p. 119)
In New Zealand, the group also assumed the name of “Testimony of Jesus,” and twenty-eight (28) men of military age bearing this name were imprisoned:
-
"Only Quakers and Christadelphians could produce the necessary written
constitution opposing military service. After importing written evidence
from America, in July, 1917, Seventh-day Adventists joined this select group.
Other sects possessed only an unwritten tradition of pacifists biblical interpretation
which, when it was later ruled that written evidence was not necessary, the
relative autonomy of their churches and theological idiosyncrasies of many
of their members made impossible to substantiate. The largest of these,
The Testimony of Jesus, had 28 imprisoned objectors by the war's
end...No apparent efforts were made to sway them, though, in contrast to the
pressures on 20,000 United States objectors sent to camp until alternative
work could be provided, which caused 16,000 of them eventually to take up
arms." (King and Country Call - New Zealanders, Conscription
and the Great War by Paul Baker pp. 170-175; Auckland University Press,
1988) Read Chapter 20 for more on World
War I.
1916 – JULY - THE ANNUAL CONVENTION was held at Crocknacrieve again this year. It lasted a week, and it "was reported that the gathering, while not a record one, was large.” World War I was still going on. Ed Cooney occupied the platform, along with George Walker, Willie Gill and Wilson Reid who was back from Africa for a home visit. Conflict was still brewing between the workers and Ed Cooney. Eddie urged the workers to return to the gospel they had preached in the beginning before the Living Witness Doctrine heresy was introduced. They viewed Cooney as being “out of step” with his fellow workers. Wilson later wrote about first noticing a change in Eddie Cooney at this time:
“As regards the cause of the trouble, it is not a thing of today or yesterday but a matter of years. The first I clearly saw of it was in 1916, although others can trace it back much further. About this time Eddie began to change his testimony and went back to claim he was saved at 17 years old, which was many years before he began walking in the Truth. Many things I heard him say then I did not fully understand until long after. As I look back now I can see where he was then heading to at the time. I returned to Africa from where I had come in 1913, and did not see Eddie again until 1921. Things had developed further with Eddie and he had begun teaching things on his own without consulting any of the brothers.” (December 13, 1928 Letter by Wilson Reid to Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ)
Patricia Roberts explained it: “The chief workers were faced with a dilemma. On the one hand, they felt that if they allowed Cooney to remain in fellowship, he would undo its `foundation’ which was according to them the Doctrine of the Living Witness, thus undermining their authority. In Cooney’s view, however, this was not the foundation on which the fellowship had been built, but a heresy which had crept in later, circa 1905, and which in 1914 God had shown to him to be a flesh and blood revelation that savored not of God, but of man.” (Life & Ministry of Edward Cooney by Patricia Roberts, p 135)
1918 - THE FIRST OFFICIAL SPLIT - THE KINGDOM IS DIVIDED: From 1914 to 1918, the workers continued to lead their flocks in their respective territories. Meanwhile, the former leader, Wm Irvine, continued with the group with the status of a worker through 1918, and did not separate completely from them until the workers judged Irvine as having “departed from the faith.” Then in 1918, the group split for the FIRST TIME. A definite schism occurred in The Testimony. While some saints and workers continued to follow Irvine, embracing his new doctrine, the majority remained loyal to the other workers and what they had been taught from The Early Days by the workers. Thus, there was a parting of the ways: the workers went their way with the greater part of the friends and William Irvine went his way with a few followers. He would gain more as time went on.
Wm Irvine believed that after August 3, 1914, only those who left The Testimony, and followed his new visions could be saved. Those who died following The Testimony prior to that date were also saved. Both the workers and Irvine firmly believed they had God’s ONLY true Message on earth at that time. So now, there were TWO “Only Right” Methods on this earth with the same founder, Wm Irvine. Eventually, we will find that Irvine was responsible for the formation of three (3) “Only Right” Methods, each of which believes they are "God's only true way or children." (With the dismissal of Edward Cooney in 1928, discussed in Chapter 15 later, another group will be formed.)
IRVINE’S ONLY WAY: “The just shall live by faith…To hear and obey God's Message for today by His Sent Servant (meaning Wm Irvine) is the ONLY faith that can save from Wrath. My prophesy, like Noah's, Abram's and Moses', is the ONLY foundation for faith that can save.” (November 15, 1932 Letter to Robert Beard )
WORKERS’ ONLY WAY: “…the chief workers set themselves above their fellows in the same manner as Irvine had done and, as Irvine said in his letter, ‘they enjoyed the rise to power and prominence’… As Irvine had gloried in the false doctrine which asserted that he was the only channel, either directly or derivatively, through which any could be saved, so they now claimed this pre-eminence for themselves." (Life & Ministry of Edward Cooney by Patricia Roberts, pp 116-117)
1920: LAST CONVENTION HELD AT CROCNACRIEVE: Sarah West wrote: "...William Irvine and Edward Cooney asked my husband (John West) and I if we would be willing to have convention in our home. We were willing and conventions were held there (Crocknacrieve) until 1920 when we sold it and came to live at Rossahilly, Ballinamallard. After that conventions were held at Mullaghmeen." (From: August 31, 1954 Statement by Mrs. Sara West, who was married to John West, owner of Crocknacrieve Convention Grounds)
In
1921, John and Sara West sold Crocknacrieve to Simon and Penelope (Penny Barton) Loane, parents of the late Warren Loane. Mr. Loane's mother was an early worker, and one of the first workers to go to Switzerland. She is mentioned in the Impartial Reporter as "P. Barton." The earliest mention of any worker being in Switzerland is Miss P. Barton of Pettigo. The Impartial Reporter stated in their July 9, 1914, issue regarding the Crocknacrieve convention, that "Two preachers, one of whom is Miss Barton, Pettigo, have lately returned from North Italy and Switzerland.” Her sermons at Crocknacrieve Convention were mentioned in the Impartial Reporter from July 1908 thru 1909. No mention of her after that until 1914. Then she appears at the 1914 Crocknacrieve convention having returned from Italy and Switzerland. (July 9, 1914 p 8 Impartial Reporter)
Mildred Penelope Matilda Barton (Penny) was born April 25, 1885 in Pettigo, Co. Fermanagh. Penny was the 8th child, and her sister, Susie, was the 9th child of Captain Charles Robert Barton and Henrietta Martha Mervyn Richardson. These two women were members of the Landed Gentry (the gentry who own land--considered as a class). It is said that the Barton girls played with Queen Victoria's children. The Barton's of The Waterfoot in Pettigo, Co. Fermanagh have a long history in Ireland, England and France. Penny and her sister Susie were both in the work for a time; however Penny left the work and on August 27, 1918, she married Simon Christopher Loane, a cattle dealer. They had 4 sons. Penny died August 6, 1971. Her sister, Susan Cecil(e) Grace Barton (Susie) was born December 24, 1886 in Pettigo, Co. Fermanagh, was a sister worker until she died March 2, 1968. Penny left the fellowship and her children were not brought up in it. No one else in the Barton family professed. (http://www.thePeerage.com)
Subsequent Fermanagh County conventions were held at Mullaghmeen on property of William West, a brother of John West. In 1928 when the group split, the previously scheduled convention at Mullaghmeen for July, 1929 was attended mainly by those who allied with Edward Cooney. The other group of Friends and Workers began to hold their annual convention at "Greenhill, near Brookeborough, where Mr. Albert Pogue placed his house, out-offices and lands at the disposal of those attending." (July 9, 1931 Impartial Reporter) Later that convention was moved to property owned by the Reids at Gortaloughan, where it is held today (in 2008). The locals refer to the group as the "Reidites."
1921 STAFFORDSHIRE WORKERS' CONVENTION:
The fact that William Irvine and Ed Cooney were connected with the same movement
as George Walker and other well known early workers can be proven through
photographs of these individuals together on the same photograph. Contained
in the Photo Gallery
of Telling the Truth is a photograph familiar to many, that of the Staffordshire,
England 1921 Workers' Convention which pictures and lists 208 workers total
on one photograph. Ed Cooney is shown as No. 69, along with George Walker
(No. 17), James Jardine (No. 12), Willie Gill (No. 49), and Jack Carroll (No.
93).
PHOTOGRAPHS DOCUMENT REALITY: The first true photograph was made in 1826, according to The World Book Encyclopedia. Therefore, photography was possible for approximately 75 years before the oldest workers' picture to surface was taken—the Bicycle Boys, in 1899. IF this fellowship continued from the apostles, wouldn’t there exist pictures of workers taken prior to 1897? Although many are able to turn up old pictures of their ancestors dating back into the 19th century, they are unable to locate photos of the worker who “brought the gospel” to them--worker photos dated prior to 1899. Can this be mere coincidence?The Secret Sect contains a picture on Page 13 of William Irvine, George Walker and William Gill; a picture of Ed Cooney along with George Walker, William Gill and Jack Carroll is shown on page 72, which positively links them to the same fellowship.
The Telling The Truth Photo Gallery contains a photo of William Irvine with Jack & Mae Carroll, Willie & Elizabeth Jamieson.
1924 - DEATH JOHN SULLIVAN, a worker on the 1905 Workers List: Wm. Irvine wrote: “...I had another (letter in June, 1924) telling me that John Sullivan, the chief worker in Queensland, had been smitten with heart trouble and paralysis of the left arm, and said it took place when he spoke against my friends and me in convention. He had also spoken against E. Cooney. So that tho the mills of God grind slow, they grind exceedingly sure.” (August 9, 1924 Letter to Loitz) NOTE: John Sullivan died unexpectedly, age 50.
Go to Chapter 14
Go to Top of Page
