SPIRIT OF TOC H

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 30, 29 October 1937, Page 4

SPIRIT OF TOC H

Difiiculties of Passing on Ideais MR. MADDISON'S LEAD "It is often said that we should try to forget the war, and iuaybe a certain ainount. would be better forgotten, but there is a great deal that We should not forget," said Colonel T. Wiider, regional chairman for Hawke's Bay of lcc Ji, speaking at the guest night last eveiiiag yf the Hastings group. ' 'ForgOt the sordid side if you ,ike,he continued, "but the sacrilices and the comradeship which prevailed are flne things which we ought to reyiember. To keep alive. these things is wliy Toe H nieCts. Alwavs remember, too, that there wei'e others who made sacrilices besides those who fought, Those who atayed at home and provided sons did their pare as well. ' ' The meeting was hcld on the first unniveraary ot the granting of the rusiilight to the group, and about 20 visitors Were present from Napier, Hastings aud Waipukurau. Among the gqests were the Mayor of Hastings, Mr G. A. Maddisoh, and Mr H. W. C. Baird, presideiut of tho Hastings Chamber of Commerce. Mr Gordon Turvey, honorary administrator's deputy in New Zealand^ who arrived in the Dominion recently from England to replace Mr A. C. Churcher, who has returned to headquarters, was also present. "The diffieulty is to paea on to the younger generation the spirit of the

trenches, which they have never known," said Mr Turvey, "but if Toc H is to live, the succeeding generations must be able to pass on this spirit without ever having received it firsthand. The men who were at the Front have diffieulty in' describing the spirit of comradeship which prevailed, and those who are able to tell us of it can give only a glimpse of what they themselyes experienced. "There is this same weakness in. all organisatidns which live by passing on ideais. If we fail to get the real f eeling we are just being sentimental and try> ing tp reproduce the outward show without having got the kernel. , We ara like the tree which is rotten inside but , does not. shew it, It is thereforo necessary that we must test the bough all the time. The test Qf unreality is by thought and action.

Mr Maddlson Promises Help. ' ' Confli.cts among ourselves are as important as those between nations, for these more serious quarrels are tfie result of individual differences. But of course we must have conflicts of opinion, 1 hope you will within your group. It is npt good to have things running smoothly all the time. If we are a coinpletely happy family it ineaus we have never really tested our friendship. Discussion is the life of the meetings, for wliat makes the family ia tfie pooling of the lives of its members^" concluded Mr Turvey. Returning thanks as a guest, Mr Maddison said he was pleased to 'h'fivd had the opportunity to associate himself with the organisation, the value of which to the community he could "fully realise. "I have learnt what Toc H is, tonight," he said. "If we can get the nations to accept the ispirit and ideais of Toc H it will certuinly make for peace. The movement is based on Ohristianity and friendship, which is present in every human heart but not practised as it should be. Civic dispute3 are often only a matter of misunderstanding and here again Toc H cau liclp. we have had our disputes here, between tbe hospitals of Hastings aud Napier recently and over our scheme to remove the fences around the parks, but these have been largely matters of misunderstanding. Plenty ot Scope in Hastings. "There is a great deal of valuable work your organisation can do in Hastings in rendering service to your fellow* men. I am quite prepared to associate myself with your activities and I am prepared to co-operate with you in the work which I know is waiting for you. ' * The chairman, Colonel Wiider, thanked Mr Maddison for the lead he had offered the group. . He briefly outlined the history of tho movement in Hawke's Bay and the part it had played during the earthquake period, after which Mr K. Ellicott described how Toc H came iiito being in. the years during the war as a result of the efforts of the Rev. P. B. ("Tubby") Clayton at Poperinghe, its progress later in London, and finally its development in New Zealand. He explained tlie syrabolism of tlie Ceremony of Light, during which those who porished in the war are rememberod. Toc H in Indin, said Mr Ellicott, wa® a signal qxample of whfit could be done; The lead . in. New Zealand had been given by Wellington, but it was a year since the Hastings group had been granted its rush-light. In Hastings the younger members were taking a keen interest. They had the right ic^ea of what had to be done and did it. Tho spirit of Toc H could prevent the animosity of nations if it could be operated more extensively.