DRAMATIC ATTACK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 194, 2 September 1937, Page 10

DRAMATIC ATTACK

Oxford Group Movemenl REPLY TO NOTED ACTRESS The "drar&atic attack" on th© Oxford Group made by the well-known actress Miss Margaret KawlingS at a lutl* cheon of 2500 litterateura in Londofi last niOnth is coinmented oii in two letters to the Times after the event. "I think I am here under false pretences," Miss Kawlings saidi "I have been asked to speak about my philosophy of life. I eonsider that public confession, sueh as we have seen at this luncheon, is physic exhibitionism combined with sensual satisfaetion. It is to me as if somebody took off all his ClotheS in Piccadilly Circusv ' ' Miss Christina Foyle, organiser of the Foyle Literary Luncheons, at which the statement was made, wfote as foL lows in the Times:—"My luncheon of July 8 has been repoited in some papers as arranged by the Oxford Grotip. It Was not arranged by them, but Was the usnal Foyle 's Literary Luncheon. 1 person* ally asked the Oxford Group to provide tho speakers, becaliso 1 knew Of tho • great interest taken in the mdvemeiit. J.t turnd out to be the largest luncheon we iiave ever had. I Was solely responsible for this luncheon. Wilhout constliting ihe Oxford Group I iiivited Miss Hawlings to be the guest of honour. "The Oxford Group had uiiderslootl that there would be no otlier speakera .than those ftrrauged by themselves, but they nono the less courteotisly agreed to earry oufc their parb iu the luneheo.t. Miss Kawlings' remarks about immodesty bore no pos.sible relatioil to What was said at the luncheon which, to everyone actually present at the lunch, was a reasonable and objective presentatiOn of the case for moral and spiritual renewal at a timo of world crisis. ' ' Oomment was also made in the Times by Lord Salisbury and ten members of the House of Oommons that in the B-B.C. news broadcast that night reference was made only to the statementa oi' Miss Eawlings to the neglect of the relevant and first-hand aceount of the Oxford Group given by such men as the Bishop, of Rangoon. Lorrl Addington, Mr Austin Reed, .A I dennan Locke, former Lord Mayor of Nevveastle, and Erigadier-Genoral Winser. They supported Miss Foyle's statement that the remarks of Miss Rawl'ngs bore no relation to what wfts said at Ihe luncheon.