WHAT THE BIBLE SAID.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 17 June 1911, Page 5

WHAT THE BIBLE SAID.

MINISTER SOLVES A DIFFICULTY. By Telcuraph—Press Association—Copyright (Roe. Juno IG, 10.55 p.m.) Melbourne, Juno 16. Tho Rev. Mr. Boss," an Adelaide clergyman, recently applied for an appointment as an officer in tho military forces. Tho local commandant, however, did not approve, and referred tho matter to tho Military Board, which saw no objection to tho appointment. Senator M'Gregor, tho Acting-Minister for Defence, having qualms on the subject, slates that lie solved tho difficulty by opening llio Bible at random, vchon his eyes fell on the verse, "lie that hath no sword let him sell his garment and buy one." That decided him, and ho ordered that Mr. Ross should be admitted as an officer. Tho interest attaching to tho incident related above is considerably increased in view of tho fact that tho Minister is practically blind and quite unable to read. Senator Grogor M'Gregor, VicePresident of the .Executive Council, is tho leader of tho Labour party in (ho Senate. lie is a Scotsman, born at Kilimin in 1818. Like most of his colleagues ho has risen from tho ranks. The evidence of his ■ early toil ho bears with him in defective eyesight, amounting almost to blindness, the result of a blasting accident. Notwithstanding this tremendous disability, ho is as keen and alert to everything going on about him as any man in tho full possession of all the gifts that Naturo bestows. It is remarkable in the courso of a debate to hear him recite statistics and quote facts and figures as though ho had them on paper before him. So much has his misfortune sharpened his memory that ho is ablo to retain in mind a long table of figures by having them read over to him a 'couple of times. His disability, however, has constrained him to declino administrative offices in tho Cabinets with which ho. has been associated. Ho was Vice-President of the Esccutivo Council in tho 1908 Minstry.