BRITISH-ISRAELISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 259, 2 November 1933, Page 15

BRITISH-ISRAELISM.

An audience of over 200 listened to a lecturo last night in the Lewis Eady Hall by Mr. L. Holmes, who disputed as untenable the beliefs known as "British-Israel.'' He asserted that the basic idea of the "lost ten tribes" was in itself mythical. Old Testament history showed the kingdom of Judah gradually receiving allegiance from members of most of the other tribes, especially during the last century of its existence, while post-exilic history described the returned Jews repeatedly as "Israel" and "all Israel," and exilic and post-exilic prophecy mentioned "Israel" as distinct from "Judah," only for the I sake of describing their reunion. The New Testament knew nothing of any distinction between the two, and spoke of "Jews" and "men of Israel," interchangeably. The chief objection of the speaker to British-Israelite applications of "the ! Promises," was that those "Promises" themselves were "too great and good— away up out of reach of Britain or any other nation." None would be fit to fulfil them until the return of Jesus Christ, "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things." (Acts, iii., 21.) "This," he said, "was I the original belief of the Christian Church j and should be the faith of every Christian to-day." ! It was stated that the lecture was given !in default of the acceptance by the BritishIsrael Association of a challenge to debate ! the question, and that the Christadeltphians. whom Mr. Holmee represented, |<still offered this challenge to _ any (accredited representative of BritishLlsrael.