Who Are the Christian Israelites?

Joseph H. Moss, one of the Sect thus answers the question in the Boston Transcript:

They are not the unbelieving, or unconverted Israelites, or Jews; neither are they all descendants

of Judah and Benjamin, which two tribes constitute the visible, or known Jews.

But they are descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel which have been lost in the race of the Gentiles for more than 1800 years, and thus have become amalgamated with them.

The Christian Israelites differ from the Jews, by a full and hearty reception of the New Testament, and a firm belief in the divinity of the Mission and Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.-They differ from the Gentiles or Christian, by their observance of the ancient laws, with exception of those parts which stood typical of the offering of the body of Jesus which were bloody sacrifices. These all having been fulfilled in the antitype, they have nothing to do with them. But, the law of circumcision, as given to Abraham 400 years before that given on Sinai [Sinai], they do most sacredly hold and observe, as well as certain other parts of the law, such as wearing the beard, and refrain from meats, &c.-not that they believe the observance of these necessary to the "common salvation," or the salvation of the soul; but as a distinguishing proof between the seed of Israel, and the descendants of the Gentile nations.-And also as a mark or proof of their obedience, that they may be found worthy to come into a full realization of the great promises made to their ancestors, the time for which they believe to be very near.

The church of Christian Israelites has been organized about 25 years. The greatest portion of its members are in different parts of Europe, though there are branches of it in Asia and America. New additions are constantly being made to the church, though as yet it can only be said to be in its infancy.

They have a beautiful sanctuary at Aston, in England, the interior of which is built of polished mahogany. Their singing at the sanctuary is accompanied with a fine band of instrumental music, including a fine organ.-They have a Public Service at the above place every Sunday afternoon, as well as at all other places where there is a branch of the church established.

(->) Who can read the above without bringing to mind that scripture which says-'they that lead my people cause them to err," "Christian Israelites!" we may as well have religious heathens; and what is the use of multiplying divisions, and creating distinctions? There is but one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is but one Savior, leaving for practice one gospel, one faith, one baptism, and one church, and so if ye are not "one" ye are not his.

As to "Israel" we think the prophet Isaiah told the truth, when he said, "for Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect"-I will make thee the head and not the tail. And Ezekiel and John told the truth too, for "Israel" as its true meaning is, will prevail.

For once let us say, that Cain, who went to Nod and taught the doctrine of a "plurality of wives" and the giants who practiced the same iniquity; and Nimrod, who practiced the common stock system, and the Jews, who commenced crossing sea and land to make proselytes without revelation; and the christian sects, who have went all lengths in building up churches and multiplying systems without authority from God,-are all co-workers on the same plan:-when the reward for every man's work is given-this will be the everlasting answer to all sects, sorts, and conditions, from Cain down to Christian Israelites, I NEVER KNEW YOU!

PROPHECY.-The very name of such a thing is a surrender of all pretence [pretense] to evidence; it is the language of insanity! The fetor [fetter] of the charnel-house is not more charged with its admonition to our bodily health, to withdraw from the proximities [proximity] of death, than the cracky sound of the thing is, with warning to our reason, that we are out of the regions of sobriety, wherever it is so much as seriously spoken of: no rational man ever pretended to it.-[Taylor.

(->) The Boston Investigator treated his readers to the above, probably to lessen the idea of revealed religion. But what a lean, lonely touch at the God of revelation! The bare voice of the Jews against themselves,-when Jesus was crucified, was enough; "HIS BLOOD BE ON US!" The destruction of Jerusalem, which followed, their dispersion, and mourning among the nations ever since, carries a proof with it, that he that runs may read.-Next the ruins recently discovered, open the mouths of witnesses that cannot lie. Pompeii, Nineveh and Egypt, hold remains that speak like thunder-the prophets are true.

Why, my dear sir, the beasts and birds can foretell, and they know future events. The hog before a storm will squeal and prepare himself a nest. The wild geese the birds of passage always leave the north and go to the south before winter: the squirrels provide food for the days to come, when their labor must cease; and the "little people," the bees, prophetically lay up treasure for a future day:-And the worm, knoweth more of God than the infidel; he, like a man, takes all he can get, comes out with his caterpillar coat, and then assumes his chrysalis,-which finally bursts into that beautiful state of his ressurrection [resurrection],

called a butterfly. O foolish man, that is afraid to venture as much faith and foretelling as a worm!

Without prophecy the world is a wilderness and mankind like wild beasts. Without revelation the world is a "charnel house," and men and women only subject to the "cracky sound" of death. O vain man! the snake, that crawls into his den in September, possesses more wisdom for the future than thou! Learn from animals what thou lackest from God. Thou canst not be too wise, nor too good. A wise man keeps his heart, but the fool hath said in his heart there is no God. The infidels might be the "salt of the earth," while the sects of the day, are preparing to devour one another, if they would: suppose they read the 1 Kings xix:11, 12 and 13 and then reflect that eating is better than talking, to strengthen the body, temporally and spiritually.

"THE PLAGUE IN INDIA.-A letter to a gentleman in Baltimore, dated Hoogly, Dec. 22, 1844, states that the plague was making fearful ravages at Caubool, where it had never appeared before, and fears were entertained of its spreading through Bengal."

(->) It will be recollected that the great plague of fifteen or twenty years ago, which destroyed so many millions of human beings, commenced at Jessore, in the same quarter of the globe.

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.-The Anniversary was held yesterday morning at the Tabernacle. The audience was not so numerous as at the other meetings during the week. Rev. Dr. Beecher opened the meeting with a prayer. The annual report states the operations of the board during the past year to have been generally successful, particularly at the stations in Western Africa. The mission to the Nestorians has been discontinued on account of the unsettled condition of that people. The situation at Jerusalem has also been discontinued and the mission is now concentrated at Beireut [Beirut], in the region of Lebanon. The work of spiritual reform has been steadily advancing among the Armenians in Turkey and encouraging accounts have lately come from the missionaries at Gabroon, in Africa. It was stated that accounts received during the year from the mission among the Mahratta people of Southern India are of the most favorable character, and Hindooism [Hinduism] is fast losing its ascendancy over them. The Board are desirous to extend their influence in that section and propose sending twenty additional laborers into Ceylon and Southern India generally. The success in China has exceeded the most sanguine expectations, and ready access has been had to the inhabitants of the vast empire and with the best results.-N. Y. Sun.

(->) Several important questions present themselves upon reading the foregoing summary of missionary labors. 1. Have the common propensities of the heathen to do evil been lessened by the labors of the clergy, in as great a proportion as drunkenness and debauchery have increased by civilized intercourse under the board of foreign mission? 2. Do the heathen, as they are called exhibit any more prominent signs of barbarity among themselves than the Americans do in a land of liberty and gospel light? 3. As the evangelizing the nations cost money now-a-days what is the use of that prophesy and scripture, that forbids it?

But we may as well stop asking questions, for should we go on, we might inquire where they get the authority to go as God has said he that scattered Israel, will gather him. The idea we have in making these remarks upon the missionary labors, is this: and our humble opinions, as Christ said by the hypocrite, the beam is in their own eye. Look at the mobs and riots throughout the length and breadth of our land. Pennsylvania riots, Missouri mobbers, Illinois assassins, and ten thousand other crimes, call louder for the voice of humanity to say, peace be still, in the United States, than the ignorance of simple nature, abroad can ever plead for spiritual guides.

Should God speak from the heaven of heavens, now, to ameliorate the condition of men, throughout the world, the first sentence to the sectarian portion would be; -pluck out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou canst see clearly to pull the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Religion, rightly understood, is the charter of the soul;-and if that contains the only rules by which we can be saved, we shall have to follow the rules, or else lose the reward. Then if God commands his servants, clothed without "purse or scrip," and the sectarian missionaries, go well supplied with cash and coats, where will their reward come from, and of what use is the revelations? The old prophet said:-"Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams! The present missionary array of men and means to better the heathen would be better applied to better matters [matters] at home. There is a lion in the path.