OXFORD GROUP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 189, 27 August 1937, Page 14

OXFORD GROUP

-Own Correspondcnt.)

Many New Zealanders at World Meeting "A CHRIST1AN FRONT"

(By Air Mail—

LONDON, Aug. 7. There have been a number of New Zealanders among the thousands from all parts of the world with the Oxford. Group in Oxford this summer. These include Misses Evelyn Moore, Ursula Greenwood, Mary Rice, and Messrs. W. ltainbow and Ian Macphail from Hawke's Bay, Miss Enid Middleton, from Wellington, Miss Janet Willis, from Marton^ Mrs. Coote, from Nelson, and the Rev. Franx Willis, from Auckland. Mr. Ivan Menzies, who was principal comedian in the J. C. Williamson, Gilbert and ^ullivan Company, recently touring Australia and New Zealand, Mr. .leiT VVarren, who was his sbcretary on that tour, and the Hon. Miles Phillimore, another rccent visitor to New Zealand, were also among those at Oxford. Tni3 spiritual revolution has spread from Oxford t'o more than fifty countries. and alir.ost every nationality has been represented here. From all parties, classes and religious points of view, they have been planning the buiidirg of a united ChTistian f ront across tiie world against the forces of matoiiaiism and moral rot. Oue of their main concerns has been tho' reco'gnition of tho home as tho true foundation of national life, aDd to see hovr cbanged honies can bring a ncw Bpirit into businessi education, politics, and how that change can be brought about through facing and applylng Christ 's standards of absoluto lionesty, purity, unselfishness and love, and through listening to God. Leaders in industry, education, the Church and politics have visited Oxford during these days to discuss m this positivo atmosphere of trust and geodwill a solution to the problems in their spheres. A couT owner and a Miners ' Union. Secretary, meeting for the first time, declared that only here Lad. they been able to find a basis for permanent co-operatfon between eapital and labour. Mr. Chris Storey, owner of a flcet of oil tankers on the Atlantie coast of America, reported that during the recent shipping strike his fleet remained unaffecte-d. He attributed this to the complete understanding and mutuai trust which , now exists between him and Eis men as the result of the ■ change in his own life, Others who have been present at Oxford include' ,Dr. F. N. D. Buchman, leader and founder of the movement; Gapt-. Loudon Hamilton, in whose rooms at Oxford the group began; Canon B. H. Streeter, Provost of Q- cen's Coliege, Oxford; Mr Austin B-ced, well-know'n business man; the Bishop of Rangoon; Alderman Locke, ex-coalminer and recently Lord Mayor of Newcastle; Lord Addington; Mr Frederick Ramm, Norwegian editor who flew over the North Pole with Amundsen; Dr. Patijn, Dutch Minister in Brussels; Baron-ess Dinah Hahn of Latvia; Sir Lynden McCassey, head of the Parliamentary Bar; Mr Arthur Baker, Chief of The Times Parliamentary staff; General P. Winser, O.M.G., D.S.O.; Lady Nant'on, widow of ■ the late Sir Augustus -Nanton, Director of the G.P.R.; Jonkheer Albert do Brauw, head of the Netherlands Law A'ssoeiation; Fritz Philips, of Philips Eadio, also from Holland. Hodland Invaded. Representatives of the diSerent nalions have sketched their plans for national advance. Speakers from New Zealand stressed the importance of the part their country had to play together with Australia in . the Paeiflc. The Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Norway, • Sweden and Finland explained how they are building with other countries of the Oslo Pact, sueh as Holland, a Spiritual Oslo Front. When a "team,J of over 1000 from manv different countries, including most of the New Zealanders mentioned above. invaded' Holland recently for the Oxford Group National Assembly, and audiences totalling 100,000 attended the meetings at Utreeht, the Rt. -Hon. J. L. Howinckel, present Teader of the Liberal party in Norway, sent the following -massage: — ",It is with the greatest joy that I greet the idea of laying the foundations of a Spiritual Oslo Pact. In the present condition of the world with its great and dangerous antagonisms between the nations it is of the utmost importance that the spiritual liuks between' countries is developed and strengthened. "The Oslo states from their eharacter, their international position and their political roontality are especially q-ualified with united forces to keep the flame ■ of the spirit • high among men. Increasingly they aro eoming to Tealise that above the daily war of selfish and material interests there is something Tilgher, richer and greater than can be worked out in cooperation for the benefit of tho whole human race. ' 1 Young Loadcrs, During th\sfm9nth there has also been a eamp for young men, lea/lers from many countries in tho Oxford Group New Enlistmentf two miles out of Oxford. , A contingent of 26 came from Canada: largely workers from tho prairie and the factory, they travellcd across their eouutry in a eolonists' car paying a shilling a night, then travclled steerage across the Atlantie. Before they left Canada theso youug men wero commissioned by the Premier of Saskatehewan, . who described them as "a ncw Canadian Expeditionary Forcc," fighting for the spiritual. rebirth of their Einpire. " . Each has given his life to bring his country and the Empirc undcr God's control. Speaking at Wolverhampton recently tlie Et. Hon. Ernest Brown, Minister of Labour, said: "Dr. Frank Buchman and the membcrs of the Oxford Group are rendering to the nations the greatest possible service that any man or movement can give to the nations at this eritical time. They are ihsisting upon

the nccessity i'or listening-in to God, to find his plan for oursclves and the world. "Hunian ingenjiity and human m telligence have not found solutions for the heavy Iproblema resultiug from cou- ' flicting interest-.s and passion which the statesmen of the world are facing to- ' 1 day. . There are to-day more grave and more complex problems than mcn have ever been called upon to facc. We can only find the possible ways out;in atfiuiet time" with* God," ^ . -