AN APPEAL TO ALL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3073, 8 May 1917, Page 6

AN APPEAL TO ALL

' EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE HELP FOR THE MOVEMENT SOUGHT The following"Sta foment on the Empire Service League was furnished yesterday by Mr. Percival Witherby, hon. general secretary for the Dominion:—

The Empire Service League is. so named because the British Empire embraces all nationalities and creeds, and because service to others is the basis and object of life. The movement was started as the result of a paper read by me before a private meeting of Hastings citizens, who had foregathered eariy in the present year for the purpose of considering what stops—if any—could be taken to bring home a greater sense of individual responsibility to us all. And this meeting decided that my paper—which has since been published under the title' of "What Freedom Means" (and which I may say was not original! v inteiKled for publication at all) should bo printed and circulated as widely as possible. It was eventually decided to form a league as a means of giving practical effect to the principles emphasised in the paper, and it was only when those who at this 1 early stacc, and in this small way. got to work, that it was realised what a tremendous amount of sympathy and support the movement was'to receive. All the churches, in Hastings and Nanier, irrespective of denomination, took tho matter up, as well as other pducational bodies, and the result of this was that the small original Haslings ' Committee—from which the idea had originated—decided to constitute itself simply a branch an association which it was felt mighty if carried further afield, be the means of inaugurating a national movement throughout New Zealand.'

With this wider object in view I onmo to "Wellingtr.u a few week? ago, for the purpose of, starting tho league in the capital of the Dominion, and the support and. assistance received here from practically all quarters has' been so surprisingly great that the time has arrived for the objects and purpose of tho league to be laid before the public, and the opportunity given to. every man and woman, irrespective of position, to join and help pn a movement which can only become national if it is really representative of the general community.

The "platform," or stated objects of the league, have already been handed to tho Press, and can be-obtained (together with the pjmphlet) from any bookseller in Wellington. Broadly and briefly stated, they aim at bringing home to all citizens a direct and more lively personal recognition of responsibility in our individual and national ' life, and constitute an sppeal to everybody in this crisis of the war to support and assist all movements which lend to closer unity and a more active sense of duty to our fellows, throughout the Dominion.

From Archbishops Redwood and O'Shca, from Bishop Sprott, Dr. Giibb, and practically all the clergy in Wellington, the league has received the greatest encouragement—indeed, all the churches have gladly agreed to render it, every assistance in their power. The movement, however,' is not a clerical, but a lay. one, and outside and apart froni the churches; it is receiving what already amounts to general" support. Members of public bodies, educational associations, patriotic societies and prominent men of business, all have already agreed to further its object in every possible way. Tho league now requests the Press to lay the matter before the public, and through the Press we appeal to the public to take the matter up. We appeal to every man and woman in this crisis of the war to think seriously and to act serijously. .■ We ask them to pledge themi selves to make the general welfare of the nation a matter of real living personal interest to themselves by enrolling as members of this Sedvice League and wearing its badge, and inducing their friends to do the same. By this means a great body politic will gradually he created, welded together by this common purpose and aim, and different sections of the community will be brought in touch, with each other in a wav which could not otherwise occur. The president of the league is the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, the treasurer Mr. James Macintosh (Wright, Stephenson and Co.), and the lion, secretin' Captain do R. Barclay (3 Wesley Road, Wellington, telephone 4456). The Executive Committee has hot yet'Mieen appointed, as the desire of the promoters is to make this committee truly representative of all classes, which can only be done when a greater number of men and women have enrolled. A' meeting of the league w'ill be called for this purpose at an early date. The .'movement, from beginning to end, is entirely voluntary. There"is no subscription fee, but the league's badge —which consists of a steel bronze button (or brooch), centred by a silver cross, and surmounted by the Union Jack—costs Is., and can be obtained from the lion, secretary, to whom all further-communications should bo addressed.