BISHOP STRETCH ON DEFENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8541, 23 March 1908, Page 8

BISHOP STRETCH ON DEFENCE.

"SUBMIT OR RESIST?"

In his inaugural address at the opening of the Anglican Synod at Newcastle, tho Bishop of Newcastle (Dr. Stretch) had, as briefly mentioned in a cable messago last week, something to say on tho subject of compulsory military service. He said: Lord Roberts, in the .Old World, a soldier, wise and gallant, and Mr Doakin at this end of the world, a civilian, patriotic, and eloquent, are both advocating some sort of compulsory military training. "Conscription," say • somo at once, and as there is no community in the world more under tho dominion of catch phrases than an English-speaking community, that will probably settle it as regards many people. And as the Church ought to be opposed to war, men will say that Christians should oppose it as un-Christian. Well, it may be admitted at once that tho dominance of a military caste is above all things odious, and that the arrogant spirit of military aggressiveness is, for man or nation, devilish. But is there any Christian ground for saying it is our duty to put our hands down, and accept the dominance of the first nation which may take advantage of our helplessness. Surely there is another side to our Eord's own teaching than the text which Tolstoi isolates and emphasises—"Resist not Evil!" As Mr Peile, in the last Brampton Lectures, says:—"lf the world wore Christian, thorc would be no war and no need of war; but in a world that is slowly becoming Christian, war is not the worst thing we can see, nor the first to be abolished. So long as men live by the principles of selfishness, a just war will often bo, not only inevitable, but better than an ignoble peace. At any rate in Australia we are not likely to be tempted to attacks upon our neighbours; but, if our neighbours are tempted to attack us, what are we to do? Submit, or resist ? Should we not as a community expect every man would play his part manfully in the defence of his homoland. But, how? War is no longer a tumult, decided by it is a science, depending on coolness, knowledge and training. While, then, to some it looks as though compulsory training were a hardship, to me it presents itself thus:—lf the community expects that in time of danger all ablebodied men will rally to their counttry's call, and I feel sure they would, it becomes the duty of the community to give to all such a training in arms as shall save courago from being mere suicide. Of ancient Greece, it is said : —"Gymnastics-of some sort were rendered almost obligatory by tho liability of every citizen to military and naval service at a moment's notice." August Bebol, the German Socialist, is quoted as saying:—"Home defence is a duty for all who are capable of fulfilling that duty." Mark the word "capable," it means now a good deal. I regard it not as a duty forced upon men, but as a training given them in an4icipation of a duty which I know, and you know, they would gallantly accept, even though it spelt death. But our desire is that it should spell victory and national safety. Every one not under physical disability should know how to ride, swim, shoot, and trench, and also scjne trade. I believe the training could be so planned as to do away with larrikinism, and to add to the physique of our race. It could be combined with valuable technical education and agricultural knowledge. Though we pray earnestly against war, we do not wish, if war comes, to see our manhood die for lack of knowledge, and so it seems to me that universal training in the use of arms may well be regarded by a Christian man as the strongest assurance that we shall not be lightly attacked. ~BEE~ OINTMENT." Ontt of the greatest proofs of Bee Ointment as a healing remedy was lately brought before the Proprietary. It was in the .Wairarapa district that a child of three years was observed to strike its finger badly with a hammer. The blood oozed out from the dimpled digit, dark and black, and the youngster fled to its mother crying. "Bee, Bee, give me Bee !'* The mother instantly carne out and bound up the wound with Bee Ointment on a piece of cotton cloth, the child went on contentedly playing as if nothing was the matter with it. Keep Bee Ointment in your homes for all cuts, hrniops. skin diseases, and- rheumatism. Advt. ,