BRITISH ISRAELISM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18574, 29 November 1920, Page 7

BRITISH ISRAELISM.

TO THK EniTOB. Sir,—-I have to thank "Zionist" for his courteous reply to my letter, but I fail to observe any portion, that he advances that is detrimental to the British-Israel, view. The history and destiny of Ephraim-Israel, the Ten Tribes, and Judah-Israel. the two tribes Jndah and Levi, are quite distinct and their period of captivity varied in consequence. Ephraim-Israel was divorced from the Law of Moses, and cast out amongst the Gentiles and became even as they, and was, when tho promise time came, redeemed by Christ and brought under the new Covenant. This, we believe, is the answer to the Bible statement. Backsliding Israel is more justified than treacherous Judah and further explained in the parable of the two sons: I wish to state that my reference to the three great and important conferences held in London (Hebraio) last July was not to gain any special kudos for the British-Israel claim that the British and American peoples represent the lost Ten Tribes, but rather to show the important religious and national world developments that are coming prominently to the fore. For instance the Lambeth Conference was a Parliament of Bishops of the National Church of England and one of their ohief discussions was the unity of the Christian Churches. The liturgy of this Church unmistakably proclaims that flie British nation is the veritable Israel of the Bible, (Space forbids me advancing on this line, in this letter) although some disclaim this high and notable honour. The British-Israel people not only claim to be tho veritable people Israel of tho Northern Kingdom, but they rejoice in spreading the good tidings and the Faithfulness of God is thus vindicated against scoffers. The conference* of the Zionists was a national ope. They know- that they represent the house of Judah and Levi only and their hopes are tending towards the Holy Land. The Jews believe that the tim9 of their captivity is nearly ended (the captivity of the Ephraim-Israel Israel expired many years ago). The Scriptures plainly state that when that time comes " the House of Judah shall walk to the House of Israel," that it is through the good offices of Israel', who will at this time become tho chief of nations, that this return will be accomplishedSome Jews and their periodicals'admit that the British nation are the most probable as representing the Ten Tribes of Israel, others say that they are existing somewhere but that they are not included with the .lews or Judah-lsrael, whose number is estimated variously from ten to fourteen millions.

More than a quarter of a century ago this subject was being discussed. An extract from an article in the " Jewish Chronicle" reads as follows:—"We do not know in whoso hands the Jews would he so desirous of seeing placed the land of their forefathers as that of just, beneficent and liberal England. . •• . Under English protection we should have no fear for the safetv of the Jews. . . W© could then leavo

history to work, out its couT.se in the land whi'jh God promised to the seed of the Patriarchs- In' perpotuity. . . .

.England, we know, would throw no obstacle in the way." The writer then affirms the belief of the Jews generally that their return was near at hand. The writer then proceeds: " Seeing, as T believe T do, the hand of God in the raising up of so comparatively insigj nifieant a people as the British once were, into the great and powerful nation it now is (chief of nations) so favoured by Him, and possessing so many of the attributes of His chosen Jieople, a recognition by Him of those le once cast off, in .this T find reason for believing that the Anglo-Saxons are British-Israelites." Then further in a number of the' " Banner of Israel " 1880, a letter from ti prominent. Jew appears, lis writes: "With regard to the literal fulfilment of prophecy. T am at one with the Anglo-Israelites. As a rule those Jews who have studied the subject see nlsu that the prophecy is now in course of fulfilment in the British nation, in some respects in a very marked degree. . . Wo recognise that ion our ultimate return to the land of our fathers, we must be accompanied by representatives at least of all the twelve tribes of Israel and unless some m,"' rial and unloosed for change takes p 1 oin the Jewish people now scattered amongst the nations, that return must be under the auspices of some powerfu) and kindred State," On November 2, 1917, about five weeks prior to the capture of Jerusalem by the British, was published in the London newspapers a letter from Mr Balfour to Lord Rothschild, inreply to a recent deputation of influential Jews, in which he, Great Britain's representative, pledges his Majesty's Government to the establishment of a national Jiome for the Jewish people in Palestine, under proper constitutional guar:. anteeß, and the result of this letter was to give the greatest joy and satisfaction to Jews and Christians world-wide, as a clear fulfilment of prophecy." Is this a fulfilment of Ezekiel 37, IG to 28? Space forbids my continuing further.—l am etc. JOHN R. BRUNT, Hon Secy. Chrfatchnrch British- _ Israel "Association.