CHRISTIAN ISRAELITES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 37

CHRISTIAN ISRAELITES.

"MESSENGERS" FROM AMERICA. Recently the body known as Christian Israelites in Victoria has been stirred up Jsays the Age) by the advent of two " Messengers " . from America, styled "Mary" and "Benjamin," who have introduced innovations' and instituted a great revival. With, a view of putting the ideas of tne messengers before the public the Fitzroy Town Hall, was occupied on the 18th. Addresses were given by Mary 'ana .Benjamin on their interpretations of Scripture, particularly as applied to the second coming of Christ, l'here is to be a great ingathering, long promised, of " Israel," and the Australian branch, or such of it as will be faithful to the messengers' instructions, will sell out and pack up for America at an early date. They will be made immortal, in "body, soul, and spirit, in the eleventh hour of the sixth day of the world ; a day being 1000 years. The six. days spoken of in Genesis were only • a figure of the 6000 years when man was •±o be made or finished in His image. By dividing a 1000-year day by 12 they got 83 years and 4 months for an hour of the Xiord's time, and thus the eleventh hour of the sixth day opened in '1833. The nations of the earth are now beginning to- engage in war which shall not cease till all nations fall, for "he that taketh the sword shall perish by the, sword." Blood shall run to th« horse's bridle bits, the fowls of and -beasts of the field shall eat the flesh of the mighty men and chief captainsf of "the bat,tle-fie]d, and after this great time of trouble . they -who «re . found .alive at Jerusalem shall be called the holy people redeemed of the... .Lord. The .messenger "Benjamin" talked very- rapidly, -with a strong nasal twang, so '"that the greater part ofrhis'message' was lost to the people. But enough. was gathered! to indicate that' the- body known as "Israel" shall not taste death. TThey will establish a sort of community, presumably in ,iinerica^ "the ark of protection," alt .sharing alike, living as one chosen family, no one calling aught his own* ; *•- >~ In the second seat from" the stage an _elderly man was seated -who gave his name as Allan Stewart, and stated that he had -been an "'lsraelite " "f or over 20 years and a preacher or prophet for seven years. He frequently interrupted the auuress of Benjamin by questions as to the fate and whereabouts, of other, recently-deceased prophets who had expressed identical views as to their meeting Christ in the flesh and cheating death, and even went so far as to -allege that an " immoral rite " .was practised by the Israelites.