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: ''This article refers to the Christian sect founded by Edward Cooney. In some places, the term ''Cooneyites'' refers to Two by Twos, the church from which this sect split in the early 1900s.'' The Cooneyites are a Protestant sect which split from the nameless church commonly known as Two by Twos; the church was originally called "the Tramps" or "the Go-Preachers" founded by William Irvine, often referred to today as "The Truth" or, confusingly, "Cooneyites". References to the term "Cooneyites" prior to 1928 refer to the group described under Two by Twos. After that time, followers who were expelled from the Two by Twos along with Edward Cooney 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". 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 formed a loose fellowship which continues to the present. == History and development == The original group was founded by William Irvine, in Ireland in 1897. An independent evangelist, Edward Cooney, came into contact with Irvine soon afterward, though he did not join the new church immediately.〔Daniel (1993), p. 169.〕 In 1901,〔Mac Annaidh 2008, p. 49.〕 Cooney relinquished his stake in his family business. He then donated £1,300 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.〔Melton (2003), p. 611.〕〔Parker and Parker (1982), p. 78.〕 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: ''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 Plymouth Brethren on these and other points.''〔Kropp, Cherie: (''The Life and Ministry of William Irvine'' ), Telling the Truth. Retrieved on 23 March 2009.〕 Cooney was revered by some and ridiculed by others.〔Mac Annaidh 2008, p. 45.〕 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 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.〔Johnson (1995), p. 51〕〔Parker and Parker (1982), pp. 72–73.〕 Cooney was excommunicated from the Two by Twos in Ireland, at a leaders' meeting, on October 12, 1928.〔Roberts (1990), p. 153.〕 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 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.〔Parker and Parker (1982), pp. 76–78.〕 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 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.〔Roberts (1990), pp. 180–183.〕 Cooney continued to win converts outside of 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 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.〔Roberts 1990, pp. 192, 197–198, 219–231.〕 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 within the group. Tired, ill and wishing to escape the uproar, he made a final trip to Australia, where he died in 1960.〔Roberts 1990, pp. 240, 249.〕 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.〔(House of Commons debate on religions )〕 According to Roberts (1990), Cooneyite remnants exist in various places around the world and continue to meet in homes for church meetings.〔Roberts (1990), p. 255.〕 Notable areas include: *Northern Ireland〔In the early 1980s the number in Belfast was stated to be 30. —Fairweather; McDonough; McFadyean (1993), p. 332.〕 *Mallow, County Cork, Ireland * Wigton, Cumbria, England *Australia, notably: * *Mildura, Victoria * *Young district, New South Wales * *Muswellbrook, Hunter Valley, New South Wales * *Ballina district, New South Wales 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cooneyites」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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