OXFORD GROUP CRITICISM

Evening Star, Issue 24004, 1 October 1941, Page 11

OXFORD GROUP CRITICISM

WAR-TIME ACTIVITIES QUOTED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 30. With reference to Mr A. P. Herbert’s letter to Mr Bevin concerning the Oxford Group, the Wellington headquarters of the Oxford Group Movement' to-night issued a statement on the_ wartime activities of the group in Britain. The statement says: “ Since the outbreak of war the activities of the Oxford Group have been directed towards building up national morale. For many, years the group has co-operated with national local leaders, to train a force’ of panic-proof, fear-free citizens. War, conditions have increased this co-opera-tion and the demand for it. For example, a recent report from London said that in the last nine months 250 civic and other authorities had been assisted by the group’s whole-time, workers in their campaigns for strengthening morale. Evidence showed that this work increased keenness and efficiency in industry, thereby leading to greater output, developed unity, helped: to eliminate uneconomic competition,, and countered subversive influences.” The statement adds that, in addition, to many thousands of Oxford Group supporters who are in the armed forces, 1 over 2-50 of the most experienced whole and part-time group workers are now serving in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Thirty-two whole-time workers were left to carry on the group organ- 1 isation throughout Britain, their ages ranging from 25 to 60. All these had •been whole-time evangelistic workers since before the war started, and many of them had received full theological training for ordination.