TOCH.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1925, Page 4

TOCH.

MOYE.MEXT EXTLAIXED. “ What is Toe H. ” is (rankly asked by every second person when any mention is made of the movement. -Most people have a vague idea about it, but when it comes to actual facts they are all at sea. jteceuty, states the -Melbourne “Age,” at Federal Government House there was a large attendance at a meeting when an address on Toe II was given by Hev. 11. E. Hayes. The Governor-General presided, there being also present on the dias Lady Forster and the State Governor. In introducing the speakers—the Bishop of ftoekhnmpton and the Rev 11. E. Hayes—the Governor-General mentioned that it was not proposed to fornv'aliv inaugurate Toe H in -Melbourne until (lie arrival of the Rev. P. 11. Clayton. Ho also referred to the great interest taken in the movement of young men by the Prince of "Wales. The Bishop of Rockhampton, speaking of his personal experiences of Too 11. in Flanders, said that the words Toe If. signified Talbot House, which was originally founded behind the line in Flanders by Bishop Talbot in memory of his brother Gilbert. It was at the end of a long-white road at Poperinglic. In Talbot House the .general was on the same footing as any man in the ranks, and there were provided all facilities for a meal, games, conversation and rest, while to the memory of all men who had fought there was set aside a chapel, and this chapel was the note of all that house, and in Toe H. llicv wanted to carry on that note oT service in memory of those who had given their services to flic fullest extent.

In cxnlaining the movement as it is to-day, Rev. If. E. Haves said that when the armies wore dispersed in 191 S a big crowd of men were taken borne in a school for training parsons for the ( liurchof England. -VII went in together, officers and men, anil one of the tutors was Rev. P. R. Clayton, who was continually talking of Toe 11. lie thou wrote a book on it, which had a tremendous circulation. .V suggestion that he should start Toe 'll. again as a permanent memorial to the men who gave their services in the war. something nioro inspiring than statue, was taken up, and alter -Mr Clayton had gathered a number ol men together the new Toe 11. came into being in a grubby office in London. About- Ib.IKK) men had signed the communion roll in the chapel at the original Toe 11. hut only about 2000 came fiiu'k. and they believed those others, the elder brethren, were loving ghosts, inspiring them to go forward and carry on their work in service for others. Over the door of 'foe 11. was written, “ Abandon rank all ye who enter hero ” and their service was sanctified by the remembrance of the service of Another, who lived 2000 years ago. Many people had given houses for 'foe 11. in London. One of the first was the Duke of Westminster, this being known as -Mark 1. All the houses were known by numbers, and there were, not weight in London, each being an independent unit. At Hark I. men who we re engaged in ordinary business in the city lived in the hostel. Each resident had to be a member and was pledged in service. Each branch had its ordinary officers, Imt the chief

one was the jofi master, and it was from him that members found what jobs they wore to do in their spuro time*. They could uol shirk it. mu! in spite of the emphasis set on iliis the hranehes hail .gone on developing ami increasin'-:. All I lie oflieiaN were honorary. f lhe sc houses wore all memorials, oven separate arlielos ol inrniimo had hot'll given in memory of some loved one, everything speaking ol the* men who had gone. In each house was a chapel, modelled on the chapel at Poporinghr. To- 11. exited to try and r . Mtv ( j M tin -I h" men who had lived and died In make Ihe wot Id a happier place. l<> spread the gospel of love without preaching, and to serve one another, insired by love. To hum a branch, the individual workers g'et together others who would respond to the call of service, and when six members had handed together and attempted to keep a record of their work' they then applied to the general secretary, and if the central executive decided they were worthy they could then form a branch of Toe 11. The Prince of Wales, who used to loaf about TII. like the other men. had given a lamp to the memory of men he haul known, and it stood in All Hallows

('lmpel in London, where the roll of the elder brethren ol Lie 11. was alwavs on view. Every branch had a model of that lamp. mid it was used in the only ritual connected wiln the movement, when in the midst ol a hiisiiiess meeting or a gathering the elmirman .“aid “Lamp! ' and r.ie lamp was lit. with a ta|ier. never a ilia tell, and the members took part in a brief little eeremonv in memory ol the elder lirelbren. Toe II- was .Home to capture the youth ol all generations oud event nail v make* war unnecessary. New York had recently endowed ;l team, and tlipro were groups ol individual members practically wherever the British Hag was flown. It was a man’s movement, lint there was also a “League of Toe. 11. Women Helpers,”

who raided the houses at various times, turned out the clothes of the men, and mended where necessary. The men of Toe. IT. gave service bv attending to the gardens of their neighbours, taking water and firewood to old age pensioners. and oilier work. They were always very dependable, and would take up duties as Scoutmasters or teach m the Sunday schools. In regard to the financial side, each member paid according to his financial position. In the hostel an office hoy might pay 2s (id for his lodging, hut a doctor or barrister would pay four guineas, and no one would know what they paid. There was a domestic stall’, hue the

men were encouraged to help. anil learnt to make beds. 'Hie one thing learnt was to kill class consciousness, which they believed was a very serious form of evil, and sitting round Hie tables as ip a home, the men were encouraged to listen each to the opinions ol the other. There was no nambypamby piety. Imt a strong brotherhood. If had broken through the Anglican Church, whicli could not hold it. It was like pouring new wine into an old bottle. It hurst right through’, am! was spreading to every branch of Christianity. Each branch or group elected its own padre, so that- it was not confined to any denomination. They boiled to start in Melbourne in dune next. A vote of thanks was passed to the speakers, on the motion of the State Governor and Archbishop Lees, the latter stating there would be no bursting of the bottles in {Tie Anglican Church in Melbourne, as they had new skin ready for the new wine. The guests were si:b.se(|iiently < rtorttiined at afternoon tea.