OXFORD SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20648, 10 September 1932, Page 20

OXFORD SOCIETY.

PROPOSED FORMATION. LORD GREY'S APPEAL TO OLD STUDENTS. An appeal to Oxford men and women, wherever they may be, to join in forming an "Oxford Society," has been issued by Lord Grey of Fallodon, Chancellor of the University. The object of the society is to strengthen the ties between Oxford ana its old members and to forge new links between Oxford and the outside world. The Prince of Wales has consented to accept the traditional Oxford title of Visitor to the Society, and, according to the latest reports from England, applications for membership and offers of help and encouragement are pouring in by every mail. The Editor of The Press has received the following letter from Sir Harry Brittain, K.8.E., C.M.G., a member of the Committee for Information:

Sir, — I do not know whether you have noticed in the London papers that Lord Grey of Fallodon, the Chancellor of Oxford University, has appealed through "The Times" to all Oxford men and women to form an Oxford Society. The proposal has now taken form and has the keen support of the Prince of Wales, who has become an office-holder in the new society.

Unfortunately many men have not kept their names on the Books of their Colleges and the University is therefore ignorant of their present address. I feel sure that you will have among your regular readers a number of Oxford men to whom particulars of the Oxford Society would be of great interest. Might I, therefore, ask your very kind help in bringing the scheme to their notice. There is one further favour I would like to ask of you. As I have said we are unfortunately out of touch with thousands of Oxford men and women, and for the next few months we cannot hope to get our branch correspondents selected and appointed. Could we ask you to inform your public that, until there is a local correspondent of the society, you would be willing to allow anyone anxious for more information, or willing to join, to send his name and address to your office, and that you would forward it to the officers of the society in Oxford, who would then reply direct? —Yours, etc.,

HARRY BRITTAIN. OJd Clarendon Building, Oxford, • July 23rd, 1952. [We shall be-glad to do what Sir Harry Brittain asks.—Ed., The Piiess.] Lord Grey's Appeal. Lord Grey's appeal is as follows: To All Oxford Men and Women, — As Chancellor of the University I am making a personal appeal to individual Oxford men and women, many of whom are scattered all over the habitable world, and who carry though life an affection for Oxford which to them must be a precious possession. I ask them to 1 help in forming, and to join, an Oxford Society, open to all members past and I present of Oxford University. This project, which originated at a recent gathering of representative Oxford men, has the support of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, and the approval of the Council of the University. The object of the society is to strengthen the ties between Oxford and its old members. It is clear that, on the one hand, the University cannot fail to benefit from anything which will sustain and stimulate the loyalty of those who understand and appreciate her. There are many ways in which they can help her—with advice, with encouragement, with backing in the outside world, as well as with financial support. The University needs money, but she needs perhaps more the invigorating influence which comes from a keen and active body of old members. Each generation of undergraduates, too, needs the help of its seniors when the time comes for it to be launched into the world, and one of the main purposes of the society will be to develop and organise such help so as to render it more-effec-tual. Old Students Will Benefit. On the other hand, Oxford men and ■vfromen will benefit in their turn from a society, which will enable them to keep in touch with one another and with the life and spirit of Oxford. The society will circulate in a suitable form to its members, of whose addresses a register will be kept, news of all that passes in the life of the University; but none of this is possible without a small effort on their own part, and they are therefore asked to join the society at once. It is proposed that the subscription for life membership, subject, of course, to confirmation by the first general meeting of the society, should be £3, which can be paid, if desired, at the rate of 10s per year for six years. It is hoped in this way to make membership possible for everyone. « I have recently had an opportunity of discussing these proposals with some leading members of the University no longer resident in Oxford, from whom they received decided approval and support. GREY OF FALLODON. Aims Essentially Practical. The aims of the Oxford Society are stated to be essentially practical. The

formation of a. society to include all Oxford men and women, according to a pamphlet issued by the committee, could not be justified in a world already overfull of societies on any other grounds. The design of the immediate agenda is to produce constructive action to-day and not in the dim future. It is the intention of those responsible for the foundation of the society to concentrate all its energies on these problems one by one. For this to be possible it is essential that the interest, the skill, and the experience of all Oxford men and women should be mobilised.

The objects are set out as follows:

(1) To satisfy the growing demand on the part of the undergraduates for advice, expert information, and help in regard to their careers in after life. These questions cover the whole field of professional, industrial, and commercial life, in every section of which Oxford men and women are to-day holding responsible positions. (2) To cater for the . feeling Oxford men have for the university, which is in reality a loyalty and affection for the colleges. The Bociety will make it possible to trace such men and women b> every means in its power, to assure them of the welcome which awaits them at Oxford, to enable their colleges to regain contact with them, and so prevent a loss to Oxford of all that is represented bv their experience and knowledge of the world. (3) To select experienced men and women as correspondents of the society in different parts of the world. These correspondents would be people willing at the request of the secretariat to give a welcome and advice about local conditions to Oxford men and women coming out as strangers to work or travel in their district.

(4) To issue gratis at a very small cost to the society a much extended and improved university report. It is proposed to add to the present report a supplement containing news of the society, its activities, and of its members.

(5) To issue a general appeal to all members to help the university to collect the £350,000 needed for the rebuilding of the Bodleian, although it is not the intention of the society to allow its organisation to be used for sending out frequent appeals. Comment by "The Times." "The Times" lias smiled on the proposal to form the society, and says in an editorial on June 13th, that, tor any Oxford man, the first reflection about the society must be one of surprise that no such organisation has hitherto existed. "There could be uo more natural or convincing proof that the plan was needed and will succeed," "The Times" continues. "As an Oxford Society did not exist, it was certainlv high time to invent it. And so the plan is presented by the Chancellor, with the full approval of the Hebdomadal Council and with the instant backing of such representative Oxford men and women I>i-\iuml the walls as it has so far been possible to consult. The universities, as it happens. are the last among mstifcjlions of their kind to think of giving form and function to the mass of past and present members by enrolling them in this way. There is probably not a school in the country which cannot boast n flourishing association of its sons. Many colleges have similar societies, and have indeed provided fi pattern for the society now to be formed. But the school and the college are visible entities, concretely known to their own and easily capable of concentrating their loyalty and affection. The university is more impersonal. Possiblv the lsyjse of some years is needed before its sons are fully aware how much more there is of it than the dignified apparatus of it® central government, the more sinister machinery of the Examination School? and tho acute distaste for another Universitv annuallv licensed for brief periods at Twickenham or Lord's or by Thames-side."