“TOC H.”

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1925, Page 4

“TOC H.”

I’ADRES ON TOTH. HOPE TO LGEN'D BRANCHES. A CCKLAND. May 20. Two of the principal figures in the “Toe IT." movement, the founder, the Rev. P. IS. Clayton. M.C.. and the Rev. M. P. G. Leonard, D. 5.0.. who am on an Empire wide mission to spread the gospel, arrived by the Niagara from Vancouver. The two padres ai'o travelling the world to sow the seeds of the movement which aims to teach the young Britishers to think fairly, to love widely, ta build bravely, to witness humbly, and to spread tlie gospel without preaching it. “’foe ii..” which is a signallers’ abbreviation for “Talbot House,” was

born during the war. Mr Clayton who was attached to the “Bulls as a chaplain, founded Talbot House al Popcringhe. near Ypres; in December. J |)| A ft was named alter Gilbert Talbot, the youngest and meet hrilliat■ I sin of the Bishop ol M imhesler. who made -the- supreme sacrifice on July doth, lilld. while lighting nobly for his country. “Talbot House was like a l niversiiy." said Air Clayton “All kinds of funny things happened there which helped to take the minds of the men away from the war. Our motto was. ‘All rank abandon ye who enter here, and officers and men mixed together quite informally. and the greatest friendships were built up. Talbot House bad a line library, and in addition to reading there were games, and debating and other diversions. Over 1 .(li!:..t ICO men passed through the t Impel in the loft during the course ef the war. for a year

after the Armistice little was heard oi ••Toe H.." It had done so much good and laid so many admirers, however, that it was not allowed In the. Accordingly the spirit of the movement was applied to peace conditions, and to-day ii is one of the strongest forces in til-cat Britain-. There are some lr.Ct!',) picked members who have ] lodged themselves to serve in the interests of their fellow creatures. ‘We do not aim at large numbers.” Mi- Clayton said. “We want picked \ollng mrn. active workers, who will do some good, whatever it may ha. in the community. Many people seem to think that -'foe H.’ exists for ex-ser-vice men. This is a wrong impression. Wr waul the. coining generation to emulate the spirit that was llianilested during the war. a spirit of tinseliislmoss. ol soil-sMcriliei*. It was ilu* most democratic movement- in the Kmpiro. lie said, and its members were trying to eombai eln» t .».. • i.. 11 •. 1

hatred. Just as there was national hatred during the war. so there v.as class hatred during peace. They wanted i; ( .|i children to understand the poor. 'flic people of England Were siip.trting the movement whole-heart-cdlv. and members of “'foe IT" were doing splendid work. 'Several houses Irnd been purchased in England. and there members lived in an environment of friendship and happiness. The two travellers left England lasi February. They visited New York. Boston, and other cities in Ihe Tinted States, and received worn! I fill and svmpat lift ie hearings cvriuilne , They then went mi In Canada, where “Toe IT" has a very strong hold There t lie two pmlres were kept going (lay and night, delivering addres-es and explaining the movement.. They will spend abniii two weeks in New Zealand, and hone lltai branches will I ■ established In-re. They will explain the movement in the various towns I hey visit. From New Zealand thev will proceed in Australia. the Federated Malay Slates, and India.