PRINCE AND BROTHERHOOD

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 75, 21 December 1929, Page 33

PRINCE AND BROTHERHOOD

The Prince of Wales, Mr. J. H. Thomas (who had come specially from Sandringham for the purpose), and Mr. Neville Chamberlain were the principal speakers at the annua] demonstration of. the Post-War Brotherhood at Portsmouth. “When I .heard of this,” said the Prince, in his opening remarks, “I practically cadged an invitation from your chairman. I particularly liked your official title, which is the Postwar Brotherhood Federation. That brings me to my main point this evening. During the Great War we learned a lot of lessons, aud I think you will agree that the most important one was that we should take very great care indeed that there should be no question or chance of another. (Applause,.) Another big lesson we learned during the Great War was the necessity and the amazing/advantages to be gained out of comradeship and goodwill in a time of national crisis. (Hear, hear.). “If there was one thing which stood out during those long and terrible years of war, and a thing which those of us who lived during that time can never forget, it was the amazing capacity of the people of Great Britain and of all the other countries that go to make the British Empire, for sinking differences and pulling together cheerfully and willingly. “When you founded this Brotherhood you asked yourselves these questions: Why sli'uld this great spirit of comradeship end with the war? Why should 't fade Uway into oblivion during the time of peace? Could not that great spirit be applied to post-war problems, social z and industrial? (Cheers). And there are plenty them. (Hear, hear.) Well, you found that the answer to your question was most emphatically ‘Yes,’ aud, of course, you were right, and the best proof that you were right is the way that your idea htw cauSfht on. But I cannot believe

that it would have caught on in the way it has if it had not been able, so to speak, to deliver the goods. (Hear, hear.)

“Now, gentlemen, fellowship and goodwill are easy enough things-to talk about, but you will not create and develop an organisation such as yours with merely vague and negative benevolence. Benovelenee is a fine thing, but if kept in too watertight a compartment is only a palliative, and if fellowship and goodwill are to mean anything you must think, and think hard, how you can translate those words into something positive and practical. Till now you most certainly seemed to have done this. “Through its non-party, undenominational, and democratic character your Brotherhood is composed of men of every class, thought, and creed. (Hear, hear.) You are all progressive and all agreed that the world should be a much better place than it is. You have faith in human nature, and a practical spiritual outlook on life. “You have discovered another thing which was also one of the things we discovered in the war, and that is that the other fellow brought up in different circumstances is not at all a bad fellow; in fact, he may be a very good one.” (Cheers.)

“I like your motto, ‘Deeds, not words,’ very much indeed, and I am going to ask you if you will do a deed to-night; in fact, one that will give me a great deal of pleasure? I am going to ask you if you will make me a member of your Brotherhood? “I hope that means,” he added, “that I am accepted. I can only say about the Brotherhood, may it go on prospering and flourishing as it . bus, in order that it may continue to contribute what it does to the life of the nation by giving fin example to other people of what cun be done by service and fellowship,”