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Bertrand Lewis Comparet (c1900-1983) was an influential figure in the development of the Christian Identity movement. [1]
Early life
Bertrand Comparet was born in San Diego.
Early in life, he was involved in debate. While in high school in 1919, he won the silver medal in the championship of the Southern California Debating League. [2] After high school, he attended Stanford, where he was also a member of the debate team. [3] [4]
After being educated at Stanford, he became a lawyer. [5]: 26 He acted as deputy district attorney of San Diego county from 1926 to 1932 and as deputy city attorney of San Diego from 1942 to 1947. [6]: 60 [5]: 406
Christian Identity
Comparet joined with Wesley Swift to form the Anglo Saxons Christian Congregation. Swift served as president, with Comparet as vice president. [6]: 63 The congregation began meeting in 1945, but was not incorporated until 1948. [5]: 405 That same year, Comparet also incorporated "Dr. Wesley Swift's Ministry, Inc." of which he and Swift were directors. [5]: 405
Comparet served as lawyer for several Christian Identity organizations, including the Christian Defense League. [6]: 67 He was also involved with the Christian Nationalist Crusade. [7] In the 1954 election, Comparet provided legal representation to the Christian Nationalist Party to conduct a write-in campaign for Douglas MacArthur for president and Senator Jack B. Tenney for vice-president, with the hope that the Republican and Democrat candidates would be so close, neither would have a majority, leading to a vote in the House of Representatives, which could then elect MacArthur. [8]
When Marcellus Baxter was tried for selling academic degrees, Comparet represented him, with the defense that the degree was not being sold but rather conferred. The course and instruction was sold, and that completion of the course was on the honor system. [9] Ultimately, Baxter pleaded guilty and received two years probation. [10]
Following the 1964 arrest of Christian Defense League member William H. Garland for weapons charges, Comparet handled his legal defense. [5]: 93 [11]
Comparet provided representation for members of the Minutemen militia group. In 1964, he represented Harold Schlapia who was found with 11 rifles and 20,000 rounds of ammunition in his car. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon. [12] In 1965, Comparet handled the defense of Dennis Patrick Mower, another Minuteman member and a minister[ clarification needed] who stood trial on charges related to the illegal transfer of an automatic weapon. [13]
Beliefs and ministry
Comparet was part of Christian Identity's emergence from British Israelism. He taught that the Jews had never been Israelites, but were instead Canaanites who intermarried with Israelites. [6]: 130 He later taught a twist on the Khazar theory by proposing that the Edomite Jews were the ancestors of the Khazars. [6]: 144
Comparet also taught a pre-Adamism that resembled that of Charles Carroll in which the serpent was black pre-Adamite. [6]: 179
References
- ^ Christian Defense League- WP Gale, Wesley Swift - HQ 62-105253. pp. n4.
- ^ "Hollywood High Wins Championship". Anaheim Gazette. Jun 12, 1919.
- ^ "Select Debaters to Represent Standford". The Register. January 18, 1922.
- ^ "Joffre Debate at Stanford Tonight". San Francisco Bulletin. April 14, 1923.
- ^ a b c d e Levitas, Daniel (2004-01-20). The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right. Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-4299-4180-8.
- ^ a b c d e f Barkun, Michael (1997). Religion and the Racist Right: the Origins of the Christian Identity Movement. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-2328-7. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Kaplan, Jeffrey (1997-01-01). Radical Religion in America: Millenarian Movements from the Far Right to the Children of Noah. Syracuse University Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-8156-0396-2.
- ^ "M'Arthur, Tenney Elector Slate Is Filed In State". The Sacramento Bee. August 28, 1952.
- ^ Holbrook, Earl (October 22, 1960). "Rev. Baxter Ordered Tried for Academic-Degree Sale". The Independent.
- ^ "Cleric Given Probation". Press-Telegram. April 7, 1961. p. 13.
- ^ "Rancher's arsenal included machine guns". Redlands Daily Facts. November 2, 1964.
- ^ "Minuteman Suspect Picks Jury Trial". Ventura County Star. July 6, 1964.
- ^ "Minister on Trial in U.S. Court; Bought Gun for $100, Ex-Minuteman Reports". The Springfield News-Leader. May 16, 1967.