BRITISH ISRAEL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 305, 23 November 1932, Page 5

BRITISH ISRAEL

MR BURRELL’S ADDRESS. A lecture on “Who are tho Japanese” was given in tho Connncrco Hall on November 16, to the Palmerston North Branch of the British Israel World Federatioi;, by Mr Burrell. He began by quoting J. Morgan Bryan who, giving the oarly history of tho Japanese, from tho oarly Chinese, and Korean historians, says: There seems to have been two main streams of immigration with minor streams absorbed by tfio other two. Being intensely warlike they were contantly fighting tribe against tribe. The Chinese called Japan .Jip-pen, moaning tho “Land of the Rising Sun.” Tho European translation is duo to Marco Polo, a celebrated Venetian traveller, who found his way to China in tho 13th century, and returned with enchanting tales of a land further eastward abounding in gold. Christopher Colombus set out to find this land. He missed Japan but found America. The past of Japan was preserved by song and story. Not till 1660 A.D. is tliore any authentio written history. Tho earliest Japaneso book did not appoar until 720 A.D. The emblems of Japan aro tho sword, mirror, and the jewel, which have remained tho Imperial regalia sinco the foundation of tho Empire. Each succeeding ruler became to the Japaneso nation an incarnation of its predecessors, and to him absolute obedience was due. They wore a religious people. During the reign of Empress Sinko, 46 Buddhist tomples were built, attended by 815 priests and 569 monks. The Buddhist religion and architecture exercised a marked influence on tho people. In 732 A.D. a temple boll wa3 oast, 13 feet high, weighing 49 tons. The largest bronze statue in the world to-day was cast ini 747 A.D. Earthquakes and floods have always been a menace to Japan and one Emperor in 810 used the subject races as slaves for the cultivation of Crown lands to assist tho distressed, encouraging the wealthy class to follow his oxample. In 1549 Francis Xaxier, the Jesuit missionary arrived in Japan. Sixty-five years later the first edict for the suppression of Christianity was given. Tho Japanese never tolderated any who defied them. Two hundred thousand are said to have boon martyred. Tho English voluntary left the country in 1623. In 1627 all Spaniards were expelled by edict. In 1638 all Portugese merchants and missionaries received the same treatment. For 200 years Japan was closed to foreigners. In 1853 the U.S.A. sent a fleet under Commander Parry to open up friendly relations with Japan and to secure protection to mariners. This was owing to the ill-treatment of shipwrecked whalers. When eventually agreements were mado by the nation without the formal consent of tho Emperor, the patriots were indignant, but the folly of refusal was realised owing to the presence of U.S.A. armaments. Other countries followed with similar demands and the country became open to trade. Until 1868 much trouble eventuated. Britain demanded redress for the murders of Britishers and Americans and in 1863 bombarded Kagoshima and got an indemnity of £IOO,OOO. Lt. Col. Mac Kendrick, author of “Destiny of British Empire and U.S.A.” who wrote not for profit but to show God’s over-ruling Providence towards His people, Israel of tho ten tribes, says in his appendix, “Who are the Japanese,” that the white Japanese or Samurai are peoplo of Joseph’s seod who dwelt in Samana, the H.T. of the 10 tribed or Northern Kingdom of Israel before their captivity by the Assyrians. They possess all tho characteristics that our forefathers of British stock possessed. He says they resent being called tho yellow race. The Samurai Records show they came from Asia over 2600 years ago at tho time the Euphraim tribe dwelt in Samaria, tlio city of 10 tribes, built by Omri 928 B.C. He continues: If my readors look up tho Encylopedia Britannia, 11th Edition, P 206, they will find that the Japaneso have every outstanding characteristic of the Anglo-Saxons. The fundamental virtues of the Samaria were frugality, fealty and filial piety. P. 209 shows they entertainod a high respect for obligation and truth. P. 222 tells us the Shinto religion signifies the Divine Way. P. 252 shows that they believed in a life beyond the grave. On P. 206 we see that in Japan as in Israel (Britain) every stalworthy man had to bear arms since early in Bth century. See numbers I. 3. The i English were the greatest long bowmen, in Europe. The Japanese were ulso great Oomen and swordsmen, too. They despied poisoned arrows as inhuman. The Japanese were generous to a defeated foe. Queen Victoria presented Japan with onequarter of fier first war fleet. Let us not forget that Germany mado propaganda against Japan since she defeated Russia at Port Arthur. Germany saw a rival in the East and began to cry, “Yellow Peril.” But we remember where Jahan was in the lato war. She did all she was asked, and we know Bhe did not get all the reward she deserved English has now to be taught in every Japanese school. Only 10 per cent aro illiterate. She adopts our Bible and becomes our brother in language and faith. Prof. Odium, author of “God’s Covenant, Man,” writes of dooan. Ho first refers to God’s Words ro sending Israel East and West. Then ho soys: “In their traditions, the Japanese say they came from, the far west of Asia —the very plaeo of Israel’s exile. In the early days of their history they used to send ambassadors across Korea, Mongolia, and over the Altar mountains to convey greetings to tho brethren they left behind, 6000 miles and which journey took 3 years to accomplish. They say they are desoonded from tho goddess of tho Sun—Joseph’s wife.was a daughter of the Priest of.On, a priestess of the Sun. Early in the Asssyrian invasions of Israel, the two tribes of God and Reuben and half the tribe of Manassoh were carried into captivity-. It is one of these men of the tribe of Reuben, whose tombstone records that these two and a half triljes moved eastward as far as China, and Japan is of course still eastward. Profossor Odium says that tho “ruling family of tile Samurai aro from the same stock as wo aro.” Ho says: Tho nations found not a barbarous nation but a high-

ly civilised nation nearly 3000 years old. Life and property were as safe as in Canada or U.S.A. They were the descendants of those Israelites, who held tho walled City of Samaria for three years against tho Assyrian invasions before the captivity. There are pictures in Japan 2000 years old showing people going on a journey with oxen and horses, a few ox carts, in which tho old men and women rode, while the strong men and women walked, lie says thnt. when ho lived in Japan ho saw some wonderful things. For instance, at stated times, a family would take a sacred ox and hitch it to one of the old time carts —not nn ordinary Japanese cart, but one never usod for manual work. They sing and cry over their departure as do those they leave behind. Their priests could not tell Professor Odium why they did this. Does it not savour of Israelitish days of the past 'He also saw them take a box nut of a Chinto temple, go down to the water where the priests dip their feet in tho water, then go back and replace the box in the temple. The Buddhists do not do this. “It has been their custom” is their only reply os to why they do it. Wonderfill pictures are to bo seen in the temples. One ancient historic picture depicts a king with a face different from the Japanese, He hn,s a crown and a retinue of followers. Thero is a queen who has come from another country with camels. The camels are fastened to stakes driven into the sand. A retinue of high-class maids follows tho queen, who carry presents which she hands to the king. The Japanese never had camels trekking through sand. They carried this remembrance across tho long

stretches of Southern Siberia to ] future Pacific island homo. 0 e I most common names in Japan is B • must ha,vo come from Nortliem A . t' lo Boole of Amos we read the term, | House of Isaac. In the palace ' I emblem is the fioiy seipcnt. Y t t | no . serpents in Japan. Why has S , , this emblem . For the same r 35 she has the picture in the temples. Another | picture on the palace walls or gate is j shepherd with his crock and sh ep. L recent years Japan had no sheep. Su 1 I Palestine isi the origin o tins picture, says Professor Odium. Shepherding was the I chief occupation of tho two and a | tnbes referred to at the commencement of ] H"s address. In the talaie of Kioto - ‘he bon and unicorn. One picture has 12 lions 12 unicorns, and 12 serpents 1 hey have a Palace of Gihon. surely a reference to David s having Solomon crowned in the Palace, at Gihon. All the time there were two division of Manasseh in Palestine , one on he cast of Jordan and one on the 1 west. May I suppose the US A ale part °f Manasseh on the west and the Japanese the other part-the water dividing them IK>W as “ lf * ln Palestine. The musical instruments of Japan are wonderfuly like the musical instruments of Bible pictures. The professor brought a set of these instruments and presented them to the Queen Park Museum at lounti, Canada. In his early days Prolessor Odium travelling through Japan found the horse was sacred to the sun. In the Bible we find that God, through His Prophets, warned and scolded tlie peopJo against this custom. Whore did the Japan-,

esa get the idea? He also saw a Japanese ship with a “frontlet” on it which he bought and sent to Canada. The Japanese warriors used not to wear these. It must have been brought from West Asia when they wenj into exile. In many temples the professor found rolls in rases whoro Shintoism was the religion. The Japanese had no idol worship. They remembered they wore driven out of their own land because of it. We speak of Japan a & the Sun-rise Kingdom and of their Sunrise flag. They used to fight among themselves, like tho early Britons did. but saw their folly and united as one people under one flag.