TOC H

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 37, 13 February 1930, Page 22

TOC H

WOELD-WIDE MOVEMENT ITS REAL SIGNIFICANCE (From "The Post*" Raprasentatlve.) • LONDON, sth December. Speaking at a Toe H luncheon at Talbot House, in tho city, yesterday, Lord Forster (Chief Overseas Commissioner and a former Governor-General of Australia) laid special emphasis on the fact that Toe H is not solely an organisation for ex-servlco men. True, it had its origin in tho war, and some traditions of tho war are cherished because during the war tho spirit of Toe H. meant so much and was so well exemplified. Ho believed tho movement to be one of the greatest in the world and one that should be extended among young men. It was a movement really worth knowing, but Toe H to-day was not tho skeleton of the original Toe H, but the spirit of it. He described the original Talbot House at Poperinghe, behind Yprcs, which was a placo to which fighting men of all ranks without distinction could resort for companionship, meditation, and prayer. There was no compulsion for anyone to attend religious service. Toe H retained tho original warning, inscribed over the portals—"All rank abandon yo who outer here.", It existed—among other reasons—to break down social barriers, and every member gave at least one night a week in voluntary social service. The forms which tins service took wore very numerous, ranging from simple tasks at home to ministering to the.needs, of the inmates of leper colonies. They wanted to instil In the minds of young men of 25 and under a feeling of obligation to their fellows. One of tho main objects of Toe H was to spread the Gospel without preaching it. Tho movement was based on an essentially spiritual foundation. It was inter-denominational. It did not proselytise. Its members sought to learn tho other fellow's point of view. In seven years the movement had spread round the world. It had now 400 branches at Home and 200 overseas. It was tho only movement he knew that tfould bring WOO young men to Holy Communion in a single church on a Sunday morning. Every member had to ask himself what he could give in the way of service. LIVING WAR MEMORIAL. If anything, the main connection (apart from its historic origin) which Toe H now has with the war is the fact that it is truly.a living war memorial. Gilbert Talbot, whose namo is especially dear to tho family which is called after him, was but ono of countless thousands like him whose young lives—so full of promise and vigour— were cut short by the hand of death while carrying out their "job." Those curtailed lives leave work undone —an additional "job" for tho survivors. "To conquer hate would be to end the strife of all the ages; but for men to know one another is not difficult, and it is half the battle." Bonded together for &■ common purpose, for the corporate encouragement of the individual in his little efforts of social service, inspired by grateful memory of those whose service was supreme, the family of Toe H is guidod on its way by simple but significant "Points of the Compass"—"to think fairly, to love widely, to witness humbly, and to build bravely." The idea underlying Toe H is as old as history—Fellowship and Service. Toe H stands for the mos*t lasting fellowship and for engaging in tho service most worth while. It draws its

members from all ranks of society, from all Christian denominations, from all schools of thought and political parties. It is a "power-house" for social servico of every kind, directed in each placo by a voluntary official called the Jobmaster. Toe H in no way competes with existing societies; it encourages and trains its members to help them. The Eov. P. E. Clayton explained tho organisation of local branches, the important work done by the overseas Commissioners, and the significance of tho Lamps of Maintenance—sometimes erroneously called lamps of remembrance. Ho ppinted out that Toe H, though founded during tho war, was not an ex-service men's organisation, It contained many ex-service men in its ranks, but its aim was to preserve and extend the rare spirit of comradeship and service in suffering displayed and refined in the war, and apply it to tho needs of men in peace. Sir Roderick Jones (head of Eeuter's) was greatly interested to hear of ,the many forms of usefulness of Toe H to young men away in lonely places of the world. In his own organisation many young men had to be sent far afield, and it was comforting to know that they could have the opportunity of having access to Toe H centres in so many countries. The fourteenth birthday celebrations are about to take place. At tho Albert Hall tho Prince of Wales is to light forty new Lamps of Maintenance for as many new branches of Toe H, including somo in Africa, India, Australia, and South America.