[f. prec.]
1. The principle or tenet that the Church and educational institutions should be supported by voluntary contributions instead of by the State.
Freq. from c. 1850 (Cf. VOLUNTARISM.)
1834. Newcastle Jrnl., 22 Feb., 3/4. The insufficiency of Voluntaryism to support and spread the means of religious instruction in states.
1834. (title) Picture of Slavery in the United States of America, being a Practical Illustration of Voluntaryism and Republicanism.
1845. J. Martineau, Misc. (1852), 146. The voluntaryism of the Independents,… the National endowment of Coleridge and Chalmers.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, Introd. 8. They had not at least given in to schismatic rites, and were free from the errors of Voluntaryism.
1869. M. Arnold, Cult. & An. (1882), 70. Abolition of church-rates, voluntaryism in religion and education.
2. Any system that rests upon voluntary action or principles.
In recent use with reference to military service.
1883. Chalmers & Hough, Bankruptcy Act, Introd. p. ix. Official assignees … were … totally abolished, and the public entered once more on a system of voluntaryism.
1914. Birmingham Daily Post, 13 March, 8/7. He is wedded to voluntaryism, and his mind ranges beyond voluntaryism only for the purposes of destructive criticism.
