Proper usage of the word 'race'
legal definition: a Clan family of the same lineage and inheritance.
Dear friends in Christ,
I want to share with you the proper usage of the word "race", which was more common in days gone by.
Examples abound, and I being a member of the Clan MacGregor, of course will recall, the Motto of our Clan plainly states: "My race is Royal" (‘S RIOGHAL MO DHREAM)
Any of the older dictionaries use the term more correctly. For example Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:
Race
RACE, noun [Latin radix and radius having the same original. This word coincides in origin with rod, ray, radiate, etc.]
1. The lineage of a family, or continued series of descendants from a parent who is called the stock. A race is the series of descendants indefinitely. Thus all mankind are called the race of Adam; the Israelites are of the race of Abraham and Jacob. Thus we speak of a race of kings, the race of Clovis or Charlemagne; a race of nobles, etc.
Hence the long race of Alban fathers come.
2. A generation; a family of descendants. A race of youthful and unhandled colts.
3. A particular breed; as a race of mules; a race of horses; a race of sheep.
Of such a race no matter who is king.
4. A root; as race-ginger, ginger in the root or not pulverized.
5. A particular strength or taste of wine; a kind of tartness.
A very clear, directly relevant instance is the celebration around the birth of Arthur, Prince of Wales, where court poetry hailed him as:
“O race of Arthur, issue of blessed ancestors …”
https://researchportal.northumbria.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/169506325/curry.adam_phd_16024424_.pdf
Various usages, such as “Race of Cymry”, “Race of Romans”, and “Race of Arthur” were common usages. Examples are found the book “the Cymry… or Ancient British Church…”, properly using the term in 1844, Authored by the Rev John Williams, M.A. https://celticorthodoxy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Eccles-Antiqu-of-The-Cymry.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
You can take another example from the below history: "Sir George Neville anticipated with proud joy a restoration of the fallen race of Warwick, and regarded himself already as another king-maker of that house."
From "The fortunes of Perkin Warbeck"
In the older laws, the definition of "race" was more clear (as also taught in any University), race meant a Clan family of the same lineage and inheritance. However, you could be totally not part of the same Clan or tribe, but look identical to those thousands of miles away, or half a continent. In laws for land claim to inheritance, the records always go back to prove 10 generations married from said lineage. This was very Biblical and not a foreign concept to any church anywhere in the world. Few governments obeyed it, and those ones were the most blessed who did (known as Christendom).
When you talk about the new definition today that's something else, which is more about types or species of mankind, which has nothing to do with the original word for race. Now the word has been mis-used to refer to different physical characteristics.
Lets get back to proper usage of these important legal terms of churches and nations.
Kind regards and Greetings in the Precious Name of Jesus Christ,
Rev Dr Stephen MK Brunswick
St Andrew’s OCC
https://st-andrewsocc.org
