BRITISH ISRAELISM

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 14 November 1934, Page 9

BRITISH ISRAELISM

ATTITUDE OF CHURCH LONG PRESBYTERIAN DERATE T J PROPAGATION DISCO (JR AGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Nov. 13. British Israelism and the attitude to be adopted to it by the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand provoked a long and involved debate at the meeting of the General Assembly of the church to-day. The assembly decided finally to discourage the propagation of British Israelism through tho regular [ channels of the church. [ The Rev. AY. L. Marsh reported for the" committee on Mr Jamieson’s petition regarding 1 Bi disk Israelism. “The General Assembly of the .Presbyterian Church of New Zealand,” he stated, “does not recognise the leaching of tne British Israel Federation that the British and American peoples arc descendants of the ten tribes of Israel supposed to be lost. The teaching is founded upon nationalism that threatens tu oecome u menace to world peace and a hindrance to the foreign mission work of the church, it is contrary to the universal non-national conception of the Kingdom of God and it is based on a wrong interpretation of the Scripture and on alleged historical statements that are not supported by any recognised authorities in history, philology

LIBERTY' OF OPINION, and anthropology. “While the church allows much liberty of opinion in the' entertaining of views that may have little intellectual support, it regards the appeal of the British Israel theory to so many as a disquieting symptom of misunderstanding of the meaning of the Gospel as given in Christ and interpreted by the Apostolic Church. The General Assembly directs the tract committee to prepare a statement on the subject setting forth tlie attitude of the Catholic Presbyterian Church to this teaching.” Dr. S. F. Hunter pointed out that the British Israel theory was in direct conflict with the motions of the assembly in regard to war. British Israelism was a menace to world pea.ee. The Rev. J. S. Pate opposed the motion, urging that the-promises., of .God should be interpreted magnanimously. His conscience made him . hold the theory. , The Rev. J. Paterson moved an amendment that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand should declare that freedom of opinion on the subject of British Israelism was allowed within the church, but recommended to those who wish information upon the subject the reading of “British Israel Truth” for the exposition of the theory and Dr. 11. L. Goudge’s “British Israel Theory” for the arguments against it. The Rev. James Baird urged 1 the unwisdom of any such serious statement as that offered by Mr Marsh, and said any heresy hunt was to be deprecated. It was not necessary to tise a sledge hammer to kill a butterfly.

The Rev. Thomas Miller moved a further amendment as follows; That this assembly does not consider that the teaching of British Israel affects vitally either the ethical or doctrinal teaching of the Presbyterian Church, and therefore makes no deliverance with regard to it.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION,

After prolonged, discussion tlie Rev. W. L. Marsh withdrew his original motion with the approval of the assembly and substituted the following; That the assembly in reply to the question addressed to it through the Auckland Presbytery on British Israelism states that it is unaware of any adequate grounds for believing that the British and American people are descended from Israelitish stocks, and does not regard the dissemination of such ideas as serving the furtherance of the Gospel of the free grace of God in Christ, in whom there is neither Jew nor Greek.

On a division being taken the motion moved by the Rev. Thomas Miller was lost and Mr Marsh’s motion was carried. _ . ... .

Mr Marsh then moved the following motion: That the General Assembly discountenances the teaching of the British Israel theory from its pulpits and in its Sunday -schools and Bible classes, and enjoins its ministers, Bible class leaders and Sunday school teachers to refrain from such divisive courses. Dr. Dickie asked leave to vacate the chair, and the Rev. D. D. Scott took his place. Dr. Dickie pointed out that there was the freedom of the parent as well as that of teacher and it would be a pity that in the Bible class or the Sunday school class any teacher should be allowed to teach this doctrine which was not in accord with the teaching of the Presbyterian Church.

Finally Mr Marsh withdrew his motion and substituted the following: That the assembly discourages the propagation of British Israelism through the regular channels of the church. So ended a long and involved debate.