Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 30, 1913

The Soldier at Mass

Some weeks ago a Protestant soldier in the Spanish army refused to kneel when the priest was saying mass. As the army regulations required that the soldiers go through the form of worship on all such occasions, this Protestant soldier was placed under arrest for disobedience, and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. A despatch from Madrid, dated January 21, speaks as follows in reference to this case:—

The government has canceled the punishment inflicted on a Protestant soldier for refusing to kneel during a mass at Ferrol, and will shortly publish a regulation drawn up in such a manner that a repetition of the incident will be impossible.

The brave stand of this Protestant has thus released many another from participation in a religious act which, performed under compulsion, is only hollow mockery.