The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-26

Among the many appeals against
the introduction of military drill into
churches and schools, we quote with
pleasure the following extracts from
the Appeal Of the Religious Society of
Friends of Germantown: - Pedre-
maker.
"The introduction of military drill
called The Boys Brigade into schools
and other communities of children,
has awakened in this Meeting an earn
est desire that our fellow Christians OF
every class may join us in endeavorlng
to arrest a practice of such dangerous
tendency.
"Whatever may be our honest diff
ferences upon some points of doctrine
or practice, we are led to express the
earnest desire that you with ourselves
may in no wise encourage or connlVe
at the introduction of this drill into
Sabbath or weekday schools or give
countenance to the attempt to intro
duce into the public schools of the State,
Il still more complete system or mill
tary training, under the plea OF whole
some physical exercise or other specious
reasons that are offered by Its adVo-
Gates. believing as we do, that the in
novation is fraught with serious preju-
dice to the peaceable reign of the Mes
siah on earth.
"Precepts and example SO clearly
forbid all war, that to stimulate in the
minds of the yonng an admiration and
love for the soldiers trappings and
tactics, seems to US to challenge His
riuht to that control in the affairs of
men, which it is the duty and privi-
lege of the true diciple 10 maintain
continually.
"The plea of necessity for trained
soldiers, which to some minds is so i'm
perative, does not apply to the practice
under consideration. 1t is deliberate
foreclosure of the evident intent of our
Holy Law-Giver that wars should
cease and it directly antagonizes the
efforts put forth by some of His fol-
lowers TO cooperate with Him, in elm
mating from the governmental policy
the unchristian dependence upon
armies and navies as chief source of
national strength"
(As an indication that these efforts
are neither impracticable nor in vain,
they quote the recent eftolts for arbi.
tratiOn.
"In view of this and other evidences
throughout the civilized world, of a
growing distrust in military prepara.
tons for the maintenance of peace be-
tween nations, is it wise, is it Christian,
now, to promote in the minds of the
rising generation love for profession
antagonistic to the advar cling senti-
ment of Christian statesmen, the grow
ing hope for Peace on Earth?
at is truly a sad and dishearteniDg
spectacle, at this hopeful period of the
Church's progress, TO witness methods
brought forward which, however at
variance with Gospel precepts and
aims, are ostensibly designed as attrac-
tions to places for Christian worship
and Christian teaching;-to witness
seed-s0wing that makes for war to
witness Interpreters for God deliber-
ately instilling into the minds Of our
lads love for military glory, setting
before them the Gospel of Peace as
quite compatible with soldiers train
ing. Can man take fire in his bosom
and lot he burned?'
"The Boys Brigade may make our
boys straight manly 'obedient,'
'self-respecting,' but ARE there no Chris
tian methods for obtaining these ends :?
1t may 'attact to the Church and Sum-
day School, but will results thus
gained, promote the highest interests
Of the boys, or truly advance the
cause of Christ?
"Christ is seeking 10 redeem the
world unto Himself; 10 bring In Peace
on Earth and good will to men, The
advocates of the Boys Brigade seem
to say, Not yet, not yet we will have
wars, and should train our boys to eff
cheney on the field of slaughter; we
attain a double object, we straighten
the stopped shoulders, we give firmness
of step, a manly bearing and teach
obedience to orders; we secure attend
ance at our churches, schools and
guilds This line of reasoning carries
with it all air of plausibility, but in all
candor we would ask our Christian
brethren who may be ready to accept
it, whether, if all the ends proposed
were thereby gained, this could com.
pensate for the infusion of martial
spirit throughout the land, which
could scarcely fail to follow; or the
imposi,ion of an extended military
system Of whose burdens we happily
know 30 little, but which would be
only another outgrowth from the same
root; and last but not least, the virtual
abandonment of al humble trust in
God, for the reliance upon a vast, thor
oughly organized army and navy, and
the systematic training of our growing
bows in arts and methods whose
unmnd rnrnnsa is the deadly work of