ISRAELITES OF DAVID

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 27, 31 January 1917, Page 2

ISRAELITES OF DAVID

MELBOURNE RESIDENTS VICTIMISED

Warning was recently given, to the public concerning a pseudo-religious organisation calling itseli the " Ingathering of the House of David," which, although its headquarters are at Benton Harbour, Michigan, U.S.A., has' for many years been carrying out propaganda work in Australia. Certain persons in the Commonwealth (says Melbourne Argus) have accepted ' this " faith " one of the tenets of which is that those who live a. sinless-life, will not suffer physical death. Elijah appears to have been the only mortal hitherto who has escaped the common fate of man, but precedents apparently do not worry the founder of thu sect.. This man, who styles himself "Benjamin, a servan* of God," together with Mary, his wife, hold out special inducements for the attainment of holiness by residence at the Benton Harbour Settlement, but before the candidates for immortality caii go there they iiiust endow " Benjamin " with, all their possessions. It is only the well-to-do of this sect who suffer for their somewhat fantastic belief, as the needy receive no invitation to join the communistic settlement, in America. Enquiry yesterday shoSved that during the past "few years several Victorians had yielded up their property and had gone to Benton Harbour, only to return subsequently sadder, wiser, and poorer.

When interviewed, Mr-. Albert Hannaford, of Smith-street, Fitzroy, said that a few years ago his parents and their family had accepted the "faith" taught by " Benjamin." ■ This necessitated the sale of his father's business, which realised a- considerable amount of money. His father objected at first to handing over all his wealth to what was described as " a common purse." He was, nevertheless, permitted to leavo for America with the ,pavty which "Benjamin" and Mary had collected in Australia. On their arrival at Naples, however, a special meeting was held, and at this the converts were required instantly to hand over both their money and their jewellery. Even the children of the party had their, pennies taken from them. " ...';-■ . .

. Continuing, ,Mr. Haniiaford said that his father; had. J told him/that at the Benton Harbouk;; Settlement' husbands were separated 'from their' wives for a period of three years. There Were many objectionable persons at the settlement, and his. father was.soon disillusioned by the disgraceful conduct which occurred there. The sincere members of the place were not' allowed to have either milk, meat, butter, or cheese. Many Australians at .the settlement had.died, despite' the promise of immortality, ■ the excuse being that the departed had not been leading a sinless life. Persons who had survived the existence forced oil them at the settlement, and' had at last returned penniless to ' Australia, shbwpd many signs of emaciation. "My father," concluded Mr/ Haniiaford,' "when he came back to* Victoria, after being at, Benton Harbour for a few months, had lost 2st 71b in weight."

Ai|bther Melbourne ■ resident stated that- a friend of hers, a widow with two children, left for Benton. Harbour with her family about ten years ago. Subsequently this widow, who had been in .very comfortable circumstances/ wrote to friends in Australia seeking assistance. ;She informed them that she lacked clothing and-sufficient food. When tllis Wo•man left Australia she took with her 'several silk dresses, as she had been told that she must dress like a- ■ bride. She had also been informed that her two daughters would not ho given in marriage, but that they might have children by Divine intervention.. The friends of this unhappy family finally subscribed sufficient money to pay their passages to Australia. . -.•■..

The "Israelites of David" are a "breakaway" from the sect known as the "Christian Israelites," a. sect which numbers a' few followers in Melbourne. Both hold somewhat similar beliefs', but the faith of the Christian Israelites proves less costly, as they are only required to give, from,their weekly, income 2s in the £1,: This -money.-.goes- to their headquarters in England. "Benjamin," whose surname, is said to bo Pa-rnell, came to Australia from' America about 12 years ago. . Ho was then unknown. He became :a Christian Israelite, and subsequently 'raised objections to 10 per cent, of the incomes of the Israelites being sent away. A. disagreement followed, and he left the church, followed by many of its members, who then became '.'The Israelites of David." Now tho only visible and outward sign between the members of the two bodies is that the Christian Israelite men -wear their,hair in a "bun," while the Israelites of David permit their locks to flow over their shoulders. Both hold that the elect who shall find the way of ■life without death are a, very small number, ha-mely," 144,000, the supposed authority for which is to be found in Revelations,- chapter vii. and siv. They also believe that Christ's words, "Whosoever iiyeth and believeth in me shall never die," refer to physical as ■well as spiritual immortality. . The warning given concerning. "Benjamin" and his settlement is apparently very ne'eessarv, as the promise of physical immortality'has proved the means of attracting many persons to the settlement at Benton Harbour.