HOT CONSISTENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 28, 7 June 1913, Page 4

HOT CONSISTENT.

The Chmtchurdi "Press" deals rather; neatly with a position which occasionally arises in the endeavour to evade the military training the Defence Act dema nds. The other day, at Wellington, a successful application was■raadt for exemption under the Act on religious grounds. The father of a youth liable for training filed an aflilavit stating that he was a membei rf bhe Cliristadelphian Church, "according to the teachings of which it n-as absolutely contrary to their beliefs and faith that they should take part in any form of military training or service." The "Press" allows that the affidavit of this gentleman, wlncl: quotes various texts in support of hu position, is probably quite sincere, but says there is obviously no sincerity it. the "religious" objections of the bestknown class of "anti-militarist." These quote just those Scriptural texts wlncl suit them. Dr. Johnson's discussior of the question is still the best. 11 is thus recorded by Bosweil:—John son: "I do not see, Sir, that fightinf is absolutely forbidden in Scripture f see revenge forbidden, but not self defence." Boswell: "That Quakers say it is; 'Unto him that smitheth thee on one cheek, offer also the other.'" Johnson: "But 'stay, Sir. the text is meant only to have the effect of moderating passion ; it is plain from the text that we are hot to take it in a literal sense. We see thh from the context, where there are other recommendations, which I warrant you the Quaker will not take literally, as, for instance, From him that would borrow of thee, turn thou not away. Let a man whose credit is bad come to a Quaker, and say, 'Well, Sir, lend me a hundred pounds' ; j he'll find him as unwilling as any other hman.'':! We-could believe better in the sincerity of the average "anti-mili-j tarist" if he observed all the Gospel j injunctions with impartial litevalness