neutrality became impossible. The test was forced on Bethesda in April, 1848, when Captain Woodfall[1] and his brother applied for communion. These gentlemen, well-known friends of Newton’s, had been in the habit of communicating at Bethesda Chapel whenever they passed a Sunday in Bristol. Darby had a few firm adherents even within the flock of Müller and Craik, and some opposition was made to the application. Finally, Captain Woodfall was admitted, on the ground that he had been travelling on the Continent and might be presumed to be ignorant of the state of the controversy; but it was determined that Mr. Woodfall must first be visited, and his “soundness” ascertained. At Craik’s prudent suggestion the three objectors were appointed as visitors, and Woodfall was eventually admitted on their testimony.
These three men were Alexander, Stancombe (who in after years had cause to rue the day that he became a supporter of Darby’s programme), and Nash. They afterwards felt aggrieved that the burden of investigation had been thrown upon them, and discontent continued to smoulder.
“About the 20th of April, 1848, after the reception of Colonel Woodfall and his brother, Mr. Darby came to Bristol, and as usual called on Mr. Müller, by whom he was asked to preach the following Sunday evening at Bethesda. … In the intercourse between them nothing passed that indicated the course that a few days later Mr. Darby initiated. Mr. Darby stated his inability to preach in Bethesda, having previously engaged to preach somewhere on his road to Exeter. But notwithstanding this friendly intercourse, not many days after, he intimated publicly, at a large meeting of labouring brethren in Exeter, that he could no more go to Bethesda because the Woodfalls had been received. All were not prepared
