To the Editor

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 6

To the Editor

THE SAMARITANS

Sir, —1 notice in to-day's issue of your paper a straight out denial that the Samaritans are the djeseendants of the Israelites. As I wished to be concise, and to write to the point, 1 did not think it necessary to quote authority. The assertion was based up- ' on the reading of an article on the Samaritans by Dr. Paul Carus, rn j The Open Court Journal, Vai. 22 (No. 8), Dr. Carus says: The Samaritans are said to be the ten tribes of Israel, mixed with Gentile immigrants. He refers to his authorities— Dr. William E. Barton, -who is the author of important articles upon the Samaritans, giving information derived first-hand from, the High Priest of that poop c. Another autliori\ on the Samaritans’ history mentioned, is Dr. Janies Allan Montgomery, Professor of Old Testament History, Literature and Language. Philadelphia Divinity School. According to Dr. Montgomery, the ancestors of the Samaritans were very numerous. Judging from the Assyrian inscription of Sargon, 27,000 natives of Samaria were deported, while the rest of the inhabitants (said to have been 60,000 landed proprietors) remained at home. The character of the country remained Israelitish and the re igion appears to have always been Mosaic, i Their confession of faith contains no- i thing pagan. The above facts point conclusively to their descent in the main from the Israelites. Another important fact is that their cranial type can be compared with Assyrian drawings on stone of Israelites’ heads. Th© Semitic type of skull is the same. It is known that the Israelites and Assyrians were of the same stock, the Israelites’ speech being closely allied to that of the Assyrians. -t may be of interest to some people to know that the learned High Priest of the Samaritans has written a work of ten chapters on the history of his people their origin from the Israelites their religion, etc. Edward Clodd, rn his “Sketch of Jewish History” agrees with the High Priest, that the Samaritans have blood connection with the ancient Israelites, and he comments as follows: “Eccentric persons, ignorant of the common facts of history, appearing at intervals to this day, contend that now one race, now another, be it Englnish, or Rod Indian, or Irish, are the descendants of the Israelites! The vacant p’accs were filled with colonists from Assyria, who mixing with the rcmant of the Israelites left behind, formed the ‘ Samaritans,’ sti’l a distinct people in Palestine.” There are good and sound reasons in support of the Samaritans’ claims to descent from the Israelites, but that the Maori people are the lost tribes is about as imaginary as that the Irish, Englis! or Red Indians arc of Semitic origin. Thanking you Sir, for the use of your valuab’c space. I am. etc. OLD PAKEHA Sept. 12. 1928,