Brethren Archive



Comments:
Tom said ...
Can anyone provide some biographical information ?
Saturday, Feb 24, 2018 : 02:40
Samuel said ...

Got a biographical article from wikipedia in Portuguese. All you need to do is translate it !

Richard Holden Origem: Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre. Richard Holden (Dundee, 1828 — Lisboa, janeiro de 1886) foi um missionário escocês, um dos pioneiros do Protestantismo no Brasil.[1] Era filho de um casal anglicano. Converteu-se à Igreja Episcopal aos 21 anos, depois de passar uma experiência mística e a cura de uma doença. Esteve no Brasil em 1851 como comerciante e foi quando iniciou a aprender português. Estudou teologia e português em Ohio, nos Estados Unidos. Traduziu o Livro de Oração Comum e muitos hinos tradicionais anglo-americanos para o português. O Departamento de Missão da Igreja Episcopal e a Sociedade Bíblica Americana o enviaram ao Brasil em 1860. Fundou uma capela em Belém do Pará em 1860, aproveitando do fato que o capitão americano Robert Nesbitt, já havia iniciado a distribuição de bíblias na cidade. Usava a imprensa local para difundir o evangelho e, apoiado por certos políticos brasileiros e com líderes maçónicos, colocou-o na vanguarda dos primeiros estágios da Questão Religiosa e acabou por se envolver em uma polêmica com bispo católico romano de Belém, Dom Antônio de Macedo Costa. Viajou pela bacia do Amazonas, distribuindo Bíblias e panfletos evangélicos nas vilas e cidades ribeirinhas. Em 1862 mudou-se para Salvador, na Bahia, onde sofreu três atentados de morte. Polêmico, entrou em conflito com o Departamento de Missão da Igreja Episcopal Americana, que o subsidiava. Em 1864, outro missionário, Dr. Robert Kalley convidou-o para vir ao Rio de Janeiro, para sucedê-lo como pastor da Igreja Evangélica Fluminense, assumindo o cargo de pastor-auxiliar em fevereiro de 1865. Holden começou a aderir algumas doutrinas darbistas, como o Dispensacionalismo e a organização eclesiástica de total autonomia da igreja local, que deveria ser presidida por um colégio de anciãos leigos. Isto gerou um conflito na Igreja Evangélica Fluminense e, em 1871, Holden deixou o Rio rumo a Inglaterra e Portugal. Holden iniciou a primeira Casa de Oração – Irmãos em Portugal em 1871. Em 1876 editou um hinário Hinos e Cânticos Espirituaes em português e, em 1877, inaugurou o prédio da Assembleia dos Irmãos de Amoreira, bairro de Lisboa. Em 1878 um grupo de 26 pessoas oriundas da Igreja Evangélica Fluminense, fundaram a primeira Casa de Oração – Irmãos. Em julho do ano seguinte Holden veio ao Brasil para organizar esta igreja. Holden faleceu em Lisboa, sendo enterrado no cemitério protestante da cidade.

Referências Ir para cima ↑ Braga, Henrique Rosa Fernandes (2004). Ensaios Históricos do Protestantismo Brasileiro. Rio de Janeiro: Livraria Kosmos Editora. pp. Página 324. Consultado em 24 de novembro de 2017

Saturday, Feb 24, 2018 : 07:29
Samuel said ...

In addition, according to      http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2012STFSC/FOF3%20Advancements%20in%20Pauline%20Truth%20through%201870,%20Part%202.pdf ,  he has written a very interesting tract on dispensationalism <<Holden, Richard. The Mystery, the Special Mission of the Apostle Paul, the Key to the Present Dispensation. Reprinted as “The Mystery: Ephesians 3” in The Christian’s Friend, in 1876. http://www.stempublishing.com/magazines/cf/1876/The-Mystery.html>> 

It would be interesting to see an original version of this dispensational tract, which was issued by W H Broom in 1870.

Saturday, Feb 24, 2018 : 07:39
Samuel said ...
Excerpt from “The Encyclopedia of Missions” 1891
by Rev. Edward Munsell Bliss.
<<The Episcopal Church of the United States sent out the Rev. Richard Holden as a missionary in 1860. A Scotchman by birth, he had learned Portuguese while engaged in business in Brazil, but afterward studied theology at Gambier,Ohio ., and was ordained by Bishop McIlvaine. He labored for a year in Para, then removed to Bahia, but owing to a misunderstanding with his committee in New York, he left the Episcopal Church and withdrew from Bahia in 1864. He afterward became associate pastor with Dr. Kalley in Rio de Janeiro, and at the same time directed the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Brazil. Upon the withdrawal of Mr.Holden the mission of the Episcopal Church in the United States was abandoned…. >>
Saturday, Feb 24, 2018 : 08:14
Rodger said ...
Adrian Roach gives his biography, extracted from Noel's History: https://bibletruthpublishers.com/richard-holden-1886/adrian-roach/the-little-flock-hymn-book-its-history-and-hymn-writers/a-roach/la104967

This basically relates the circumstances around his passing.
Saturday, Feb 24, 2018 : 22:06
Samuel said ...

Here are 7 different pamphlets produced by Richard Holden which are in the CBA. (duplicate titles are omitted)

1-HOLDEN (Richard) Corinth and sects. [Photographic reprint.] Morganville, NJ, Present Truth Publishers, [c. 1987]. 22p. 6". 14190

2-HOLDEN (Richard) Eternal life, as manifested in Jesus and imparted to the believer: its nature, accompaniments, and issues. London, W.H. Broom, 1876. 63p. 6.5". (GC41803/KR895) 5616,(1)

3-HOLDEN (Richard) Genuine belief leads to action: extracts from letters written by Richard Holden. London, Central Bible Truth Depot, [n.d.] 12p. 5.5". 12095,(14)

4-HOLDEN (Richard) A letter on order in preaching. [Signed]("R.H.,")[i.e. R.Holden.] (London, W.H.Broom,)[n.d.] 7+[1]p. 7". (GC53735) 10834

5-HOLDEN (Richard) Ministry of the word, eldership, and the Lord's Supper: an earnest, loving word from an ex-clergyman to some of his former colleagues. London, W.H. Broom, [n.d.] 45+[3]p. 7". (GC63454/KR139) 5598,(3)

6-HOLDEN (Richard) The mystery, Ephesians 3 [by R. Holden and] The mystery and the covenants [by](W.Kelly.) Morganville, N.J., Present Truth Publishers, 1987. 15+[1]p. 8.5". (784896) 12745

7-HOLDEN (Richard) Six letters to a mother on church questions. London, W.H. Broom, 1873. 63+[1]p. 7". (G59844) 211

Items 1 and 6 are not  the original editions, but are later reprints. I don’t know if anyone has a copy of original or early editions of these two pamphlets that they could scan and send to Tom.

Saturday, Feb 24, 2018 : 23:13
Tom said ...

Thanks for the comments above; the relevant extract from Noel mentioned is this,

146
The History of the Brethren
RICHARD HOLDEN, formerly Anglican Clergyman. He
went out to Portugal in the Lord's work. His letters to
his mother, giving reasons for leaving the Church of Eng
land, had in its time a wide circulation, and is still obtain
able. (Price 20c. Erie Bible Truth Depot, 910 French St.,
Erie, Pa.). And he wrote the hymn, "Lord of glory, we
adore Thee."
His departure to be "with Christ" is an example of the
faithfulness and sustaining grace of God towards those who
obey His call to serve Him in foreign lands, and of His
presence with and rich blessing upon them. Mrs. Holdeu
realized this, when she wrote:
"Near Lisbon, Aug. 24, 1886.
"Yes, my dear husband is at home now with the One he
loved so well, waiting with Him till He come. It was at
first a trial that my dear husband left me, this is almost the
only time I can remember in all the happy years since the
Lord gave us to each other, without 'Good bye.' There was
nothing of death or sadness in that sick room, he was so
happy, so cheerful. All who came to say 'Good bye,'—the
dear saints and many others,—left, thinking he would yet
be among them; he looked so bright; the Doctor, alone, gave
me no hope, and Oh, he was so kind. My dear husband was
so fond of him. 'Doctor,' he said, 'A death bed is not the
time to seek the Lord, what would I do if I had to come to
Him in all this pain? No, thank God, it is all bright, all
joy. 38 years I have known the Lord, and I never had a
doubt of my soul's salvation. Now it is all joy to go. Not
even my wife, dearly as I love her, or my boy, hold me back.
It is all bright,—all joy.'
"Someone said: 'You are going to get your crown of
glory.' 'Not the crown, not the crown,' he said quickly,—
'the One who gives it.' When I asked him if he had any
wish about Ernest or myself, brightly he replied:—'Not a
wish, not a care, my wifie and my boy are in my Father's
hand; He will guide. I would not have it otherwise;' 'a little
while,' dear wife, and 'God with you all the way.' He had
such perfect rest in God about everything, such trust in the
Father's heart; and you know how dear the saints in Lisbon
were to him; but 'God cares for them,' was enough.
"In death he was allowed once more the privilege of
witnessing for the truth, so dear to him in life. They refused
to have him buried in the English Cemetery, as our views
were different, and he could not be buried there without
a service from an ordained clergyman; Martiers then

147
thought that he had got it all arranged for the Playares,
and we went there on Monday, Aug. 19, 1886. All the dear
saints, and many others, met us at the cemetery; and a quiet,
blessed time we had, beginning with the Portugese hymn:
'Glory unto Jesus be' etc., then Tenas prayed with great
power. Martiers read 1 Cor. xv. A. praised and prayed.
Tenas said a few precious words, and the hymn, 'Asleep in
Jesus' etc. Mr. Hall then gave out the lovely Portugese
hymn, one of his own, 'Thou art my rest, Lord Jesus,'
etc. The coffin was open all the time;—this is the custom
here; and you had only to turn your eyes to his happy face,
and know how true the words he had written.
"I had to leave then, as I was sick; but Mr. Hall said it
was the most touching sight he ever witnessed; and the dear
saints went forward in their deep, deep grief, and kissed
him. Then came the order that he could not be buried there;
so, twice refused a resting place, the coffin was taken back
to the carriage, and buried in the little Cemetery OUTSIDE
THE GATES. (Note Ex. xxxiii. 7; Heb. xiii. 10-14).
"'The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven' etc., 1
Thess. iv.—'and so shall we ever be with the Lord.' With
my loving thanks to each one for their love and sympathy,
and the earnest desire that Christ may be everything with
us until He comes.
"Very affectionately yours in Him.
"(Signed) Kate Holden."

Monday, Feb 26, 2018 : 19:23
Tom said ...
The 'Eternal Life' pamphlet was on Google Books .. would be good to get the 'Genuine belief leads to action .. ' one too.
Monday, Feb 26, 2018 : 19:33
André said ...

His name appears in the "Lists of Meetings" of the Exclusive Section in the 19th century in Portugal.

Saturday, Oct 5, 2019 : 06:58
Martin Arhelger said ...
"Corinth and Sects" is printed in the magazine "Sound Words" 9 (1878), pages 120-130 and 148-153., see here: https://www.cw-archive.org/en/magazines/SW/9#1
This was not the first edition, because there was a German translation ("Corinth und die Secten") from a Swiss publisher (C. Widmaier, Schaffhausen) from 1877.

Martin
Saturday, Oct 5, 2019 : 18:26
Martin said ...
The magazine "Things New and Old" has an interesting article in volume 28 (1885), pages 64-76, which is signed with "R. H.". It starts with the words: "In August 1849 I completed mytwenty-frist year". This shows that the writer was born in August 1828 and was probably Richard Holden. On page 71 he says: "I was two-and-twenty years in Romans vii." Other details of Holden's biography are in this article.

Martin
Saturday, Oct 5, 2019 : 18:34
Martin Arhelger said ...
http://movimentodosirmaos.blogspot.com/p/richard-holden.html has more information on Holden and his Wife (including pictures). This website confirms the date of birth as August 1828.
Martin
Saturday, Oct 5, 2019 : 22:02
John Rayburn said ...
Lord willing, I hope to republish "Six Letters to a Mother" in the near future.
Does anyone know of the exact location of Richard Holden's grave site in Portugal? Is it in the Lisbon area?
Monday, Nov 28, 2022 : 08:30
Nick said ...

He was baptised at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, London on 16 Sep 1828. He was ordained in the Episcopal Church of Scotland in 1851 so he was more accurately an 'Episcopalian' rather than an 'Anglican' Clergyman, although the term is commonly used to cover the whole of the Anglican Communion outside of England.

Tuesday, Nov 29, 2022 : 21:43


Add Comment: