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This misinterpretation of Scripture was also to have an The extent to which the clergy became aware of
adverse influence upon the thinking of the Puritans Britain's true identity may be gauged from the com-
who, being fundamentals, would -- under other circum- ment made by Cardinal John Henry Newman
stances -- have been able to identify themselves with (1801-1890) when asked why, in 1845, he had left the
YEHOVAH's servant nation. However, the policy of a Church of England to join the Roman Catholic Church.
political movement known as The Levellers -- which The one-time Vicar of St. Mary's, Oxford, revealed that
came into existence at the time of Oliver Cromwell he had been disturbed by the extent to which the Iden-
and which sought to modify the Power of the Lord tity movement was growing. He believed that there was
Protector -- was believed to have been influenced by a very real danger that the movement "would take over
the conviction of its leaders., Everard and Winstanley, the Church of England." Certainly, few converts to
that the Celto-Saxon peoples were the continuation of Rome played a greater part in the restoration of Roman
ancient Israel. It should also be remembered that the Catholicism in England or in the acceptance of the
Pilgrim Fathers, who sailed for the New World in the false dogma of Rome by the Church of England. In-
Mayflower in 1620, were clearly what we should de- deed, it can, with hindsight, be said that the work he did
scribe today as Christian Israelites. In the log or the re- during the last twenty years of his life laid the founda-
cords they kept they refer to themselves as "The seed tions on which the Church of England would ultimately
of Abraham," "the children of Jacob" and as "His Cho- erect the Alternative Services Book and turn its atten-
sen" -- clearly the language of people conscious of tion from the New Jerusalem to Apostate Rome.
who they were.
The nineteenth century also saw an entirely new phe-
Public interest in this subject appeared to wane in Brit- nomenon: the formation of local study, discussion and
ain with the end of the Commonwealth. We have to prayer groups by Identity Christians of all denomina-
wait until the eighteenth century for the next phase of tions. These groups varied widely in their organization
public interest; but there was a simmering of interest and in their corporate activities; but they had one com-
on the Continent -- and especially in the Low Coun- mon interest -- to proclaim the discovery that their
tries -- which first found expression in 1671 with the country, with the Dominions and the great United
appearance of an anonymous pamphlet in Dutch which States, were the bulk of the modern continuation of the
argued that the English-speaking people must be the ancient servant nation whom YEHOVAH had promised
continuation of ten-tribed Israel. Then in 1723, in his to protect in order to enable them to live as a pattern
Le Triomphe de la Providence et de la Religion, people in willing obedience to His Laws. These Iden-
which was published in Amsterdam, Dr. Abbadie con- tity groups also varied widely in their size and influ-
tended that the Northern European tribes from whom ence. Some, indeed, became so large and influential
the English people derive are the lost ten tribes of an- that they were able to publish a magazine and organize
cient Israel. public meetings.

The nineteenth century was to see an era of identity As their activities began to awaken public interest they
awareness of such magnitude as to provoke the satanic became aware of how their witness could be improved.
forces of evil into organizing a relentless campaign of The individual groups lacked cohesion and an agreed
opposition in both Church and State, a movement so credo based upon Scriptural research. They saw that
relentless in fact that we may still feel its malevolent there would be undoubted advantages in joining to-
influence as we move into the 21st century. However, gether and in pooling their intellectual, material and
we digress. By the middle of the nineteenth century human resources.
Britain's true identity was known -- or suspected --
from Buckingham Palace to the humblest cottage in In 1919 the various local Israel Identity groups joined
the land, widespread interest being stimulated by the forces, or federated, to form a national interdenomina-
amazing growth of the British Empire which was bring- tional movement.
ing peace, prosperity and orderly humane government
to nearly one-quarter of the world's population. Sup- The Federation attracted great spiritual leaders, elo-
ported by the United States Fleet in the Western quent speakers and erudite scholars who gave of their
Hemisphere, the Royal Navy preserved the freedom of best; it became a powerful voice in the religious life of
the seas, putting down piracy and the slave trade. the nation. Branches which were formed in every popu-
lation centre of the United Kingdom were supported
by thousands of dedicated Christians from every

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