BRITISH ISRAEL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 284, 28 October 1933, Page 12

BRITISH ISRAEL.

Under the auspices of the local branch of the British Israel World Federation, an interesting lecture on “The Stone of Destiny” was given to an attentive audience by Mr 1. White, of Eketahuna, in the Commerce Hall on Wednesday evening. At the outset of las lecture the speaker showed a picture of the stone in the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey, and pointed out that the verger there tells visitors that, accoiding to tradition, it is the stone upon which Jacob laid his head at Bethel. The speaker then made special reference to the incident as recorded in Genesis 28 and stressed the everlasting covenant made between Gocl and Jacob. Jacob realised the importance of the promise and on awakening he rose, took up the stone, set it up for a pillar and anointed it with oil ilie speaker went on to say that thereafter the stone was regarded as a sacred relic by tlie Israelites and no doubt was carried with them in thenwanderings, for Jacob had said, tins stone . . . shall be God’s house,” therefore it was reasonable to conclude that it would find a prominent place m the Mr White stated that the prophet Jeremiah had foreseen and prophesied the fall of Jerusalem and desecration of the Temple, and during his escape into Egypt with Zedekiah s daughters, lie would no doubt take with him the sacred relics ot Ins people i.e., the Ark of thq, Covenant and the stone, for these are not mentioned as being among the spoil taken by Nebuchadnezzar from “the House ot the Lord.” Fearing that Egypt, too, would be invaded it is recorded m traditions that the expedition led by Jeremiah moved westward, eventually landing on the north coast of Ireland at a settlement established previously by the tribe of Dan. Furtlier ; stated Mr White, ancient Irish chronicles record that about 580 B.C. an eastern princess, a prophet, and a third peison landed on their shores, haying with them a wonderful stone, “Lia Fail, as the Irish called it, or the Stone of Destiny. This princess, Tea Teplii, subsequently married the King of Ulster and was crowned on this stone. She died young and was buried at Tara. Mr White went on to say that there" were historical records to show that from that time Irish kings were crowned on the stone, and in 485 A.D., when King Fergus captured a part of Scotland, he sent to Ireland for the “Lia Fail” for his coronation. Edward I. forced the Scots to yield to England and the stone was taken to London. Since tlmf time all British monarchs, except one, have been crowned upon Jacob’s Stone in Westminster Abbey. In conclusion, the speaker stated that in Buckingham Palace there was a genealogical chart tracing the descent of our present monarch back to the House of David.