Death of Last Irvingite Apostle Sparks Church Crisis
Ed. J. N. Loughborough sends us the following curious item of English news:— The announced death of the Rev. Nicholas Armstrong at Abney Heath is expected to mark a crisis, if not the last crisis, in the creed of the “Catholic Apostolic Church,” popularly known as “Irvingites.” Mr. Armstrong was the last but one survivor of the apostolic brotherhood, the apostle of England, Mr. John Bates Cardale, having pre-deceased him in July, 1877. A surpassing interest attaches to the sole remaining apostle, for a belief has prevailed that the second coming of Christ would take place before the last of the band of apostles had passed away. As it is nearly fifty years since the “resuscitation” of the apostolate, it will be seen that within a very short period, to be measured by the duration of a single and now protracted life, either a momentous event is to be realized or an article of Irvingite belief has to be exploded or modified.