BRITISH ISRAELISM.

Southland Times, Issue 20011, 27 October 1926, Page 9

BRITISH ISRAELISM.

To the Editor. Sir, —I thought “Bible Student” had finished with me. Really Ido not know how to classify him. If I did not believe that British Israelites were so thoroughly sincere in their mistaken belief I would be" tempted to quote a passage of Scripture which speaks of certain domestic animals and their ways. Be that as it may “Bible Student” is determined still to fight over the “British” bone. I thought surely he would see that the Hebrew scholars were but making fun of the British Israel derivation. I can only repeat that any of the large standard dictionaries such as Murray or Century, show the word British to be of Celtic stock. I further repeat that there is not one single Hebrew root in the English language. It is worthy of reminder that at the very time when the British, known as such, were planting their own roots in their own land of Britain, King Saul was making the twelve tribes of Israel plant Hebrew roots for him in the fields and vineyards and olive yards of Palestine. British Israelism is bowled out middle stump by the language test. On this I have surely said enough. Why flog a dead horse out of a British Israel mare’s nest! But is Saul also among the prophets? I can scarcely believe my eyes when 1 find that “Bible Student” informs us of the most interesting discovery he has made that “Israel became a Gentile nation” and “is coming to light with a new Sabbath, the Lord’s Day.” I have known that Britain has always been a Gentile nation, but this entry of Israel into the Gentile ranks is quite new teaching to me. To what lengths will ‘mistaken interpretation lead one! However, lam not dealing with that side of the question. lam dealing with “proofs” that must be sustained. It is not for British Israelism to call out to us, and for us to answer, the question, where ar? they? At home, in my journeying up and down the city, as I was engaged in Christian work, I often used to see roughly chalked on the pavement a message like this: “Lost a little boy age 5. Please return to Number 0 Foundim street.” One day a dear old lady stopped in front of such a notice, and, laboriously spelling out the words, sighed and sobbed, “Oh, the poor little fellow, wherever can we find him?” A ragged little urchin was standing by, and, looking up to her, brightly said: “Garn missis, don’t thee skrike, ee ain’t never bin lost.” When we study the Scripture to gether we shall see this to be of Israel, “scattered but never lost.” So let us take heart. lam sorry for the delay, but “Bible Student” needed attention. I hope in our next we shall climb Tara’s Hill and interview Jeremiah. But there —we will not anticipate.—l am, etc., FRANK SAMPSON.