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The Seventh Messenger and Australia 1904–1980: Benjamin Purnell and the House of David
Author(s) -
FEATHERSTONE GUY
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of religious history
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.117
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 1467-9809
pISSN - 0022-4227
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9809.2005.00356.x
Subject(s) - israelites , ethos , history , demise , infantry , religious studies , sociology , ancient history , archaeology , law , philosophy , political science
The Southcottian tradition of the Seven Angelic Messengers of Rev. 10:7 has a long association with millennial belief in Australia. Brought hither by Christian Israelite missionaries in the 1840s, the final three Messengers (Wroe, Jezreel, and Purnell) all journeyed to Australia to win converts. After describing the origins and beliefs of the sects established by these Messengers, this article outlines the impact of Benjamin Purnell's House of David on local Christian Israelites and others. His visit to Melbourne in December 1904 to “ingather” over seventy converts from the Fitzroy congregation is outlined; a comparison is made with J. A. Dowie's missionary tour of the same year. A description of the life the Australians led in Michigan and their attempts to leave the colony and expose Purnell's sexual misconduct are outlined. Despite unfavourable press reports, continuing missionary activity in Melbourne and then in Sydney resulted in further converts leaving for America, and the establishment of a branch community at North Ryde. A comparison of its ethos and that prevailing at Benton Harbor is included. Details of the eventual demise of the North Ryde community are followed by a brief analysis of its place in Australia's religious life. This essay is published to mark the centenary of the departure of the Christian Israelites in February 1905.