p. 16 | The War Spirit by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 9, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 31.

The War Spirit.

By Editor

What will grow out of this new "boy scout" idea it is pretty hard to say. One thing certainly will; the idea of war will permeate the minds of the youth, and especially those who engage in it. A uniform is always attractive to a boy; and connect with that uniform the paraphernalia of war, and the war spirit will soon permeate the mass. From the boys who engage in it, it will reach up and take hold of the hearts of fond parents; and, on the other side, of the boys who are too young to enlist; and if the movement spreads, as it seems likely to, how long will it be before the whole world nearly is war mad?

This is just what we are told in Scripture will occur, that the whole world will drink of the war spirit. See Jeremiah 25. This is one of the boy oaths taken: "I do on my honor promise to do my best; (1) To do my duty to God and my country; (2) To help other people at all times; (3) To obey the scout law." But in the nature of things the scout law may be found many times in direct opposition to duty to God. There are some things connected with it which are excellent. In this respect we suppose it will help a great many of the boys who are gathered from the street; yet there ought to be elements in the church of Christ which would do all this for the boys, unconnected with the spirit of war.