YOUTH IN TOC H.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1926, Page 4

YOUTH IN TOC H.

(By Hubert Blatchford.) The Bev P. B. Clayton, affectionately known as “Tubby,” is a happy man. No one who has seen or heard him can doubt that, and if it were not that he is innately modest ho would be a very proud man, for lie is tho father of Toe H. And Toe If is the sweetest, most joyous, and the most hopeful sign of the times. Founded in Poperingho in 191 d. as an oasis of brotherhood in the torrid desert of war, it has flourished exceedingly, and is now reaching out friendly healing hands to the dominions and America. Branches have been formed in the United States, in the Argentine, in India, the Malay States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, so that at the great birthday meeting in the Albert Hall, Mr Clayton was able to say: “It is amusing the way the society, which is now destined to he worldwide, is eagerly waited for everywhere.” What are the aims of the Society? They are twofold—

■l) To challenge the younger men of each generation with the Christian ideal of brotherly love beyond the eonfines of class and denomination. 1 2) To inspire unselfish service in and through its members.' Love and service, without ostentation, without prejudice, without pride. Toe II does not talk; it works. It works with the unpretentious cheerfulness and goodwill which characterised our sailors at sea and our soldiers in the field. It is a glorious brotherhood and its march will he victorious. ! am told that about tile time Mr Clayton set out on his world tour an Australian Socialist paper attacked Tor || | did not see the article, hut I understand that it declared there were

destroyed as enemies to the working classes. These organisations are the Ku Klux Klau. the Faseisti. and Toe 11. An incongruous trio. Ihe hu Klux Klan is a fanatical secret society, designed to punish and condemn, foe II does neither. It cheers and helps. The Faseisti is a political society, founded to meet the class war by "aging class war. Toe II dens not wage class war. It is not a class organisation. One of its chief aims is to blend all classes in common brotherhood tor mutual cheer ami iniitual service.

I think I may claim to have done as much for Socialism as any Socialist in Australia: hut I have no respect for the shibboleths of the class war and tlm dictatorship of the proletariat. A class war waged against our army and naev officers, our doctors and men of science, our magistrates and judges, our managers and inventors and all our best intellectual workers, is a silly Wiir. and call only end in ruin. Toe If works for " brotherly love beyond the confines of class and denomination.’ flow can such a society he accused of class animus ' J No one who has over been Lo a Too II gathering can fail to realise the aOsurditv <»! such a charge. He "ilo joins the Toe If is not expelted lo make speeches about his rights ; he is expected to report to the job master, who will find a job in which he can help where help is needed. Toe II is a society of friends. I am enthusiastic about this society for two reasons. In the first place, the spirit which, can deliver us Iron; our perplexities and afflictions. In the second place, the method of Toe II is a t rue method, for it. is the method of personal servile. That means that instead of exhorting others to do well we are ourselves lo set about doing well.

Pi Psona! service i~ the order, and the service must he rendered modestly and with i ucerfillness. Snell a spirit, such a method, such a maimer, are like clou;i air and sunshine in any movement. It is love that makes the world go round. No cynic ever pretended that r:n y. hatred, and malice made Ihe world go round. Toe II is a society of li lends. It is also a sociolv ot

grin b'liifii. and a gentlmaii has been ic iiK defined a- one who puls more into a company than he. lakes out. Tor II could only have been horn of the army: could only have been born in a time ol strain and peril, could only have been set, jn the absolutely right way by the absolutely right men. Toe II is simple and sensible and jolly because the founder is a happy, merry, good-tempered I toy. and is very wise. He is. in fact, a genius, and all his comrades esteem him : and they call hi in " Tubby.’

“ We ol ten sigh for the return of the fellowship of tint Irene lies. Toe H it. This society is in I lie best sense democratic. It escapes the dangers of hampering machinery, officialism, jealousy ami schism. .Most movements sull'cr from a plethora of rules, anti from too much voting and discussion. These faults breed dissension, suspicion and red tune. Toe II is a community of friends and equals. And it is generously and happily human,, (h the healthiness of its humour nn.ll the depths of its sincerity one may; judge bv contrasting the jovial singing of tin* (piuiut chant. "The King of Caraetus.” with the ceremony of the Lninj. When the Lump of Maintenance is lit the leader of the branch recites the touching lines:— They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun. amir ing the morning. We will remember them.

That Is a most impressive ceremony : a solemn reverence for the dead. Toe II is as full of poetry as a barn is full as music. Such a brotherhood, teaching by example, growing quietly but unrestingly. is destined to exert a great influence upon any community. I hope and I believe that its benign spirit will meet with a grand response from our sisters and brothers oversea. Its ideal is an ideal for young nations; its future is for the young. Its creed and its policy are as direct and simple as “ God bless you.” As the Prince of Wales has said: "Toe 11 stands for helping others and there is no better thing in life.”