159:, came into contact with Irvine soon afterward, though he did not join the new church immediately. In 1901, Cooney relinquished his stake in his family business. He then donated ÂŁ1,300 to Irvine's ministry, in fulfillment of the group's requirement to "sell all and give to the poor," and became an itinerant "tramp preacher." Cooney was noted as a powerful speaker, and was one of the most vocal of the early leaders. His name became linked to the group in the public mind.
190:
within the group. Tired, ill and wishing to escape the uproar, he made a final trip to
Australia, where he died in 1960. Fred Wood assumed a quasi-leadership role following Cooney's death, traveling among Cooneyite gatherings around the world as a uniting figure and evangelist. After Wood's death in 1986, leadership, evangelistic outreach and ministry work were seen as the responsibility of lay members rather than hierarchical positions.
862:
36:
174:
local overseer, or taking that position for himself, he continued to preach in different countries on a truly itinerant basis. He also increasingly criticized the hierarchical structure that had formed within the Two by Twos, its finances, its denial of its origins, and its having registered under a name ("The
Testimony of Jesus") during WWI.
181:
Among those who were driven out along with Cooney were prominent Two by Two pioneers such as Tom Elliot and John and Sarah West who provided continuity for the new group. However, with Cooney evangelizing in other countries during the later 1930s, the
Cooneyite sect experienced a period of decline in
173:
Later, after the group split between the followers of
William Irvine, and the more numerous followers of various regional overseers, Cooney sided with the larger body, although he continued to maintain some communication with Irvine (as did other senior ministers). Instead of placing himself under a
177:
Cooney was excommunicated from the Two by Twos in
Ireland, at a leaders' meeting, on October 12, 1928. This occurred because he refused to conform his preaching to adhere to the "Living Witness Doctrine" (which posits that faith comes from hearing the word spoken, and seeing the "gospel" physically
193:
Cooney's followers retain fond memories of him. Those who continue to follow his message are a small but still recognized sect under the name “Cooneyite” in the UK, having just over 200 members according to the 2001 UK Census. According to
Roberts (1990), Cooneyite remnants exist in various places
185:
Cooney continued to win converts outside
Ireland. Followers were not organized into anything beyond loose fellowships, in accord with the abhorrence of anything resembling hierarchy or organization. Some contacts were those among the Two by Twos who remembered his earlier work. Irvine Weir, one of
299:
precepts, accepting the Father alone as God. In organization, this group is much more loosely constituted, with all members being considered equals and the leading of “the spirit” being relied upon. They do not accept a separate class or hierarchy of ministers, workers or overseers, believing all
189:
Cooney had wanted to end his days in his native
Ireland. However, he also wished to impart a final doctrinal revelation which caused another divide among his followers there. He had come to the belief that God would grant another opportunity for repentance following death, and this caused a split
290:
Elements of anti-clericalism which were prominent in Edward Cooney's preaching have been retained. The current group does not believe in church buildings and meets in homes. It has not registered under and rejects any name, though they are referred to by outsiders as "Cooneyites" and acknowledge
142:
Edward Cooney was a noted preacher during the 1890s and early 20th century. He joined
William Irvine's new movement as an itinerant evangelist. He became increasingly critical of the church's moves towards institutionalization, and was expelled in 1928, along with those who agreed with him. They
182:
Ireland. Despite this, Cooney was steadfast in rejecting any semblance of the hierarchy and other characteristics he had refused to accept in the main Two by Two church. He emphasized this by proclaiming, "You are not joining anything." to proselytes.
178:
lived, from the lips and life of a witness), and to cease preaching wherever he felt led to preach. Afterward, he continued to preach, and groups of his followers left, or were expelled from, the main group and continued in fellowship with him.
138:
are called "Cooneyites". In some areas, the Two by Two church, which has gone under various labels, has continued to be labeled as "Cooneyite" by outsiders up to the present. Both the
Cooneyites and the Two by Twos reject the term "Cooneyite".
286:
Although members deny any name, the term "Cooneyites" is used to describe them by outsiders in recognition of Edward Cooney's role in the group's development. Among themselves, members sometimes refer to their fellowship as the "Outcasts".
186:
the original Two by Two workers in North America, was excommunicated by George Walker (the head overseer in eastern North America) for breaking the ban on associating with Cooney. Others were expelled for the same reason.
291:
Cooney himself. The church does not hold formal conventions or have convention grounds, although it does hold occasional larger gatherings apart from the weekly home meetings. Because Cooney rejected the so-called "
927:
162:
In the early years of the 20th century, Cooney's sermons were debated in the public and press, with frequent citations of aggressively provocative remarks:
932:
880:
Roberts, Patricia, 1991, "Selected Letters, Hymns and Poems of Edward Cooney, 1867–1960" published by William Trimble, Ltd., Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.
130:, often referred to today as "The Truth" or, confusingly, "Cooneyites". The term "Cooneyites" prior to 1928 refers to the group described under
164:
distinguished for its bitter hostility to all existing Churches, and to a regular paid ministry of any kind, reminding one not a little of the
906:
883:
Roberts, Patricia, 1997, "Selected Letters of Fred Wood 1890–1986" published by William Trimble, Ltd., Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.
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152:
127:
501:
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295:" doctrine, they continue to reject that tenet. As to Christology, it seemingly continues along the original group's
721:
Johnson, Benton, "Christians in Hiding: The 'No Name' Sect," published in M.J. Neitz and M.S. Goldman, Eds. 1995.
893:
236:
263:
A distinctive feature is public baptisms by immersion, which led some observers to link them to the various
300:
members to be equal. Elders oversee individual local meetings, which is the extent of any organization.
574:
Calme-Griaule, Geneviève, ed. (2000). "Les Nouveaux mouvements religieux à l'heure de l'Internet".
242:
19:
This article is about the sect founded by Edward Cooney. In some places, "Cooneyites" refers to
230:
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around the world and continue to meet in homes for church meetings. Notable areas include:
8:
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earlier, unstructured methods and teachings. This was one of the reasons for the schism.
203:
911:
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Reinventing the Truth: Historical Claims of One of the World's Largest Nameless Sects
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165:
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198:
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257:
126:; the church was originally called "the Tramps" or "the Go-Preachers" founded by
218:
134:. After that time, followers who were expelled from the Two by Twos along with
757:. Enniskillen, Northern Ireland: Davog Press, Fermanagh Authors' Association.
921:
583:
271:. This may, instead, derive from their interpretation of the methods used by
256:
The driving force behind Edward Cooney's later preaching was a return to the
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135:
77:
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Sex, Lies and Sanctity: Religion and Deviance in Contemporary North America,
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268:
131:
123:
20:
119:
49:
898:
375:
212:
773:. Seventh Edition. Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc.
264:
785:
Nichols, Larry A.; George A. Mather; Alvin J. Schmidt; eds. 2006.
753:
Mac Annaidh, SĂ©amus. 2008. "Edward Cooney's Family Background" in
861:
276:
88:
789:
Revised and updated edition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
524:
In the early 1980s the number in Belfast was stated to be 30. —
578:(47). Paris, France: Centre de Recherche sur l’Oralité: 131.
787:
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults, Sects, and World Religions
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sect which split from the nameless church commonly known as
35:
707:
Only the Rivers Run Free: Northern Ireland: The Women's War
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formed a loose fellowship which continues to the present.
928:
Protestant denominations established in the 20th century
832:
689:. Bend, Oregon: Research and Information Services, Inc.
381:
844:
The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality
821:. Enniskillen, Northern Ireland: William Trimble Ltd.
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279:. Cooney himself was baptised and brought up in the
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Cooney was revered by some and ridiculed by others.
155:, in Ireland in 1897. An independent evangelist,
919:
23:, the church from which this sect split in 1928.
805:. Sydney, Australia: Macarthur Press Pty. Ltd.
769:Melton, J. Gordon. 2003. "The Two-By-Two's" in
573:
846:. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers.
933:Christian organizations established in 1928
725:vol. 5. Greenwich, Connecticut: JAI Press.
146:
621:Fairweather; McDonough; McFadyean (1993)
609:Fairweather; McDonough; McFadyean (1993)
526:Fairweather; McDonough; McFadyean (1993)
251:
709:. London, United Kingdom: Pluto Press.
700:
620:
608:
525:
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833:Scrutator (March 1905). "A New Sect".
819:The Life and Ministry of Edward Cooney
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701:Fairweather, Eileen; RosĂn McDonough;
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741:. Dallas, Texas: Clarion Call.
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1:
938:Restorationism (Christianity)
907:Article at the Reachout Trust
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576:Cahiers de Littérature Orale
468:, pp. 192, 197–198, 219–231.
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40:Edward Cooney (date unknown)
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737:Kropp-Ehrig, Cherie. 2022.
10:
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755:The Fermanagh Miscellany 2
168:on these and other points.
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245:district, New South Wales
233:district, New South Wales
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28:
442:Parker and Parker (1982)
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370:Parker and Parker (1982)
209:Wigton, Cumbria, England
912:Sermon about Cooneyites
842:Walker, James K. 2007.
685:Daniel, Kevin N. 1993.
147:History and development
275:, as recorded in the
252:Doctrine and practice
739:Preserving the Truth
868:Christianity portal
837:. Belfast, Ireland.
204:Mallow, County Cork
835:Irish Presbyterian
669:Kropp-Ehrig (2022)
633:Kropp-Ehrig (2022)
597:Kropp-Ehrig (2022)
490:Kropp-Ehrig (2022)
322:Kropp-Ehrig (2022)
914:(hostile to them)
852:978-0-7369-2011-7
795:978-0-310-23954-3
763:978-1-907530-05-0
747:979-8-985-62501-1
731:978-1-55938-904-4
703:Melanie McFadyean
695:978-0-9639419-0-9
324:, pp. 42-43, 255.
281:Church of Ireland
258:original church's
221:, South Australia
166:Plymouth Brethren
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346:Mac Annaidh 2008
343:
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331:
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273:John the Baptist
199:Northern Ireland
103:Official website
38:
26:
25:
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269:Anabaptists
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132:Two by Twos
124:Two by Twos
21:Two by Twos
922:Categories
679:References
647:, pg. 258.
227:, Victoria
120:Protestant
116:Cooneyites
50:Protestant
899:Fermanagh
671:, p. 565.
635:, p. 566.
623:, p. 327.
599:, p. 247.
584:0396-891X
564:, p. 117.
528:, p. 332.
515:, p. 255.
432:, p. 153.
360:, p. 611.
336:, p. 169.
309:Footnotes
297:unitarian
213:Australia
206:, Ireland
59:Worldwide
705:. 1984.
540:, p. 88.
396:, p. 45.
372:, p. 78.
348:, p. 49.
265:Baptists
896:to the
552:, p. 1.
408:, p. 51
277:Gospels
243:Ballina
225:Mildura
95:Members
89:Ireland
74:Founder
894:Letter
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231:Young
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759:ISBN
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267:and
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107:None
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