The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-12
The Misapplied 'Pauline Doctrine of
The sword
BY JOSIAH W. LEEDS, IN UNION SIG
NAL.

In the first month of this year lee
ture upon military topics was deliver.
eG in San Francisco before the Ep-
worth League of Centenary Church by
a Methodist preacher named Edmun-
son. Presumably, the lecturer dealt
with the special subject that he did in
order that the Epworth Guard of the
League might he given clear look at
the duties and responsibilities Of their
military position, and being assured
by the preacher (who is also, believe,
chaplain of a warship) that they were
certainly on the right track, run for
ward in the way with gleeful hearts.
awe are born fighters" said this
guide-who also very much fear is a
blind guide. Look at the little babe.
If it finds that it does not get every
thing it wants it will have 1t. II will
fight and bawl and make the night
hideous. That is how it is born in U.s..
Preachers will stop TO see fight.
Women like fighting. They get men
into more fights than you can imagine.
1t is natural to have guns, and we as
an American nation must have guns,
we'll drilled soldiers and warships.
American Is a great country, but it
wont be great much longer unless we
are more vigilant. She must have a
navy, and have cruisers and soldiers. 1"
This is language not readily misun-
derstoOd, and means, in fine, that the
church is to be made the grand recruit
ting ground for these imperatively
Iri1 cd
are great country, and it would not
answer upon any account that we
should play the part of humble and a
little one.
Women like fighting," says this
preacher to the boys. What have
white-ribbons to respond to so loose
and mischievous a general statement
as that? Said Frances w. Letter,
National superintendent of the depart
ment of physical culture, in her last
annual report: "The increasing popu-
lar demand among bows for the intro
duction of military training in schools
il to be deplored. Its tendency to dis
place physical discipline, more COM
prehensive i'm. character, is a detri-
ment to the progress of this work, as
we'll as all unfortunate influence in fav-
or of war, when the children should be
trained to believe that the interests Of
the nation can be better served by set
tling difficulties as far as possible
through arbitration. This organiza-
ton of women should bring it's infiu-
ence to bear against this innovation in
our schools"
The whole of the extended report Of
Hannah ]. Baily, National superintend
ent Of the department of peace and
arbitration, gives evidence of an activi-
ty along this line that will not allow
white-ribbons, at least, to rest under
the aspersion that "women like fight
ing :" while, again, the declaration Of
the general officers of the National w.
G.. II. U. at the late Cleveland Conven-
ton upon Boys Brigades and military
drills in public schools and colleges,
after reaffirming their belief in the
wisdom fsuch training of the young
las will make them despise physical
comb bat, and will lift them to plane
where the weapons are arguments,
parliamentary usage and law, all OF
these having above them the sword of
the Spirit" concludes by saying, "We
call upon all good people to bear wit
uess to the consistency of this course Of
action on our part, and to the earnest
ness with which we are trying to build
into the character of boys and girls,
youths and maidens, those pure princi-
Piles and habits which mean soldier
ship in His army who is the Prince of
Peace.n
An appropriate companion fighting
sermon" to that of Chaplain Edmun-
son, just considered, was one delivered
i'm Central Congregational Church,
Brooklyn, by A. J. F. Behrends, d.
D. 1t was entitled, 1.-THE Pauline Doc
trine of the Sword" heing called out
by the late trolley line troubles in the
city named. "There are prophets
among US, "who preach the gospel of
non-resistance, who 60 so far 70 tell me
that have no right to defend myself
or my home, that must love the
criminal out of his brutality, and kiss
his hand even when he smites mine
and me. I have 90 patience with the
lugubrious piety of these advocates
whose program would surrender the
world to the devil and his agents. The
doctrine is diabolcal. 1t is not the
doctrine of the Bible. 1t has its Wis
ion of universal peace. when swords
shall be beaten into plowshares and
spears into pruning hooks. But that
vision contemplates period when
swords and spears are no longer need
ed, because all men know and love the
Lord"
Now, will the Reverend Doctor tell
US how long it will probably take, un-
der the prevailing administration of
"bayonets and gatling guns" which
he so stoutly upholds, before those wea-
pons, and the swords and spears shall
be no longer needed, "because all men
know and love the Lord" This teach
er, it seems to me, is looking to far off.
| would invite him to 60 back to the
second century of our era and read the
words of Justin Martyr as to what did
happen with those who practised the
Lords doctrine In this regard for he
says: 1--WE who were filled with war
and mutual slaughter and every
wickedness, have each through the
whole earth, changed our warlike wea-
pons-our swords into plowshares and
and we cultivate piety, righteousness,
philanthropy, faith and hope, which
we have from the Father himself,
through Him who was crucified."
DIR. Behrends scouts such doctrine
as that he has no right to defend him
self or his home, undoubtedly prefer
ring the position of DR.. Buckley, who,
in relating personal experience of
threatened assault, said 1.-THE writer
himself carried revolver, which in