[f. as prec. + -IST.] One who advocates or upholds the voluntary system of support and control in religious or (now more usually) educational institutions.
Also, in recent use, an advocate of voluntary military service. (Cf. VOLUNTARIST.)
1838. W. S. Crawford, in Belfast News Letter, 18 May, 4/3. How are you treating the Voluntaryists of England?
1842. E. Miall, in Nonconf., II. 305. The proceedings of voluntaryists hitherto … have not been on a commanding scale.
1869. Spectator, 24 July, 861. We are not Voluntaryists,… but his Grace of Canterbury’s remarks seem to us theroughly intolerant … in the head of a national Church.
1888. T. W. Reid, Life W. E. Forster, I. 311. A vigorous attack upon the voluntaryists,… showing how complete had been the failure of the voluntary system to meet the educational wants of the people.
1915. Birmingham Gaz., 5 Jan., 4/3. He [Lloyd George] went no further than to say what all sincere voluntaryists have said. Which is that under proved necessity conscription must be accepted, but hat the necessity has not been proved.
attrib. 1893. Daily News, 7 April, 3/5. At present parents of all children in School Board districts are contributors to the local rates, and voluntaryist parents receive nothing for what they contribute.
