"TOC H."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19175, 5 December 1927, Page 9

"TOC H."

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. (bi cable—pheßß association—copyright.) (Sydnet "SuiT Seevice.) (Eeceived December sth, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. The Prince of Wales attended ','Toc H's" twelfth birthday celebrations, which began with a service in Westminster Abbey, which was crowded with thousands of men and -women members of the organisation, after which 250 banner-bearers from all parts of the Empire, includi. g Australia and New Zealand, marched in procession to the Unknown Warrior's tomb, where the Dean said a special prayer of thanksgiving. Members reassembled in the Albert Hall and opened with community singing, which was broadcast. The Prince of Wales declared that the spirit of Toe H was deeds, not words. He supported the appeal for an endowment fund of a quarter of a million, to provide an income of £IO,OOO to maintain the leaders in whole-time "Toe H" jobs, and also to provide additional centres. Ho urged that the fund be completed to commemorato the tenth anniversary of the Armistice. "Toe H" was a power for good, and must bo made a permanent organisation. The Duchess of York participated in the "Toe H" anniversary celebrations and attended a service at All Hallows' Church, where in the Chapel of the Lamp she raised a banner entrusted to her by the women of Western Australia. She entered amid rows of kneeling women and afterwards visited the nearby women's . "Toe H" hostel, where she was presented with an Empire bouquet, composed of flowers gathered from every country where ''Toe H' : exists. The real reason tor the visit, however, was to stir a Christmas pudding, which she declared appeared to be a bit stiff, but she was assured rhat it was all right, whereupon she stirred it vigorously.