NEW BOOKS

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 4

NEW BOOKS

TOC H-EVERYMAN'S CLUB PRACTICAL RELIGION AND GOOD CHEER. “ Out of the strong came forth sweetness.” Out of the agony of the last war, in which strong men of great nations clashed in mortal combat, Toe H was born. Tho story of the actual birth of Toe H (an affectionate abbreviation for Talbot House) is perhaps better known to the world than is its post-war life, with tho steady development of all the movement stands for, its inspiring ideals, its worthy fellowship, and its practical ministrations. Towards the end of throe manly and energetic padres—-Neville Talbot, Harold Bates, and' Philip Clayton—formed a soldiers’ club in Poperinghe, a little village whose misfortune it was to be situated in the shell-torn Yprcs salient. The tall white house, named after Neville Talbot’s brother Gilbert, who had been killed in the first liquid firo attack near Hooge, was as far from being a military institution as was possible in tho circumstances of its environment, and within its friendly walls congregated largo numbers of men who were only too pleased to obey the legend over the doorways, “ Abandon rank all yo who enter here,” and enjoy to the full the goddfellowship and refreshment that were offered. “ Come into the garden and forget about the war ” was an invitation hard to resist, and visitors were not long within that sanctuary before the sign “ Pessimists, Way Out ” had no meaning for them. One of the secrets of Toe H’s popularity, a popularity that is firmly spreading down the years, is that it has entered naturally and without am atom of self-consciousness on the part of its members into a state of complete happiness in religion. A characteristic rightfully claimed for it is that it does not talk much outside its own assemblies. It is a ministering, not a preaching society, albeit it holds fast to its mission to “ spread the Kingdom of God.” Hero in New Zealand, as elsewhere, the cheery Toe H family is growing, and tho story of this growth is contained in a concise and well-written handbook entitled ‘ Toe H Explained,' a copy of which has been forwarded to ns. in some interesting early chapters tho publication tells the story of the beginning, tho rebirth in England after the -war, and the subsequent expansion throughout the world. _ Toe H, qs tho author of the hook points out, had to grow. It has grown to such effect that in 1939 it had 1,520 units in all, including 4C in New Zealand, and 55,000 members. His Majesty the King is patron, and the GovernorGeneral is patron of Toe H in this Dominion. In later chapters the manifold ways by which Toe H carries on its tradition of service without setting itself up in rivalry to any other body are set out in detail.

When the present war began in 1939 “ Tubby ” Clayton quickly found an outlet for his abundant energy. Contact with the Royal Navy was well maintained, and there was strong representation in Franco until the collapse cainq. There is no doubt that ,at this moment the lives of our fighting men in various theatres of war are being made happier through the unselfish services of “ Tubby ” and his over-growing hand of helpers. The handbook under review deals not only with the history of the organisation, but also with executive procedure and details as to how meetings are conducted. In point of fact, nothing essential for giving readers a full picture of the movement appears to have been omitted. ‘ Toe H Explained,’ which amply justifies its Jitle, has been printed for the Dominion Council by Messrs Laing and Matthews, of Dunedin.