TOC H AT HAWERA

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 30 May 1932, Page 8

TOC H AT HAWERA

GROUP FORMATION CEREMONY

BESTOWAL OF RUSHLIGHT

A ceremony reminiscent of the stirring days of the Great War was performed in Hawera on Saturday evening when a Group of Tec H was formed, a delegation from Wellington being present for the occasion. The function took place in St. Mary’s Hall and was attended by brethren from Wellington, New Plymouth and Hawera. Jn November, 1915, was formed at Poperinghe, near Ypres, an “Everyman’s Club,” free on equal terms to officers and men alike “with the motto ‘abandon rank all ye who enter here.’ ” This typified the spirit of the place as set out by its founders, Padres Neville Talbot (now Bishop of Pretoria). H. B. Bates and Philip Clayton (Tubby), now vicar of a Guild Church of Toe H, All Hallows by the Tower, London. It was named in memory of Gilbert Talbot, killed at Hooge in 1915, and adopted from the initials of Talbot House in , the signalling alphabet. It stood for three years in service to the men of the immortal Salient and its service was tliree-fold —physical needs on the ground floor, a literary club on the first floor and at the top of the house a room for spiritual needs of the men, to be ajflace for peaceful thought and pilgrimage for all time and to try to capture the spirit of comradeship in common service and sacrifice, which men had learned .so well and to pass it on to a new generation. The movement spread, from a tiny experiment in London, all over England and in five years had encircled the British Empire, receiving in 1922 a Royal Charter. | The objects are briefly to preserve i the traditions of fellowship and service, shown in the war, to encourage the performance of social services fori all classes, to promote a human in-) terest in one’s fellow beings, to try to create a public opinion free of social antagonisms. Fairmindedness, fellowship, service and the kingdom of God constituted the “four points of the TotEl compass’’ with a pledge to voluntary service of one’is fellows, the disabled and all needing friendship. The first step in the formation of the branch is the banding together of a few interested persons who “grope” For the organisation of a “group” of enthusiasts whose symbol is a rushlight which leads naturally to a branch. The latter is supervised by a “Guard of the Lamp,” a small committee to safeguard the use of the lamp. The Wellington delegation brought with them a rushlight and this was, : with due form and ceremony, presented to the Hawera area, which had been a “grope” and had asked to be constituted a “group.” The lights in the hall being lowered the messenger knocking at the door answered a challenge as to identity with the words, “the bearer of light” and advancing ( with the light said: “The Brotherhood I of Toe H sends greetings and this light. Keep it burning within your group by maintaining fellowship and service for every man and in remembrance of our Elder Brethren.’’ The chairman of the Group promised to maintain the light by service and love, With proud thanksgiving for Elder Brethren, adding the four lines

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old ; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.”

Then the light was extinguished. | Two new members, diaries dirrei and John iinmutt were duly liiiniiuil, answering the questions regarding tile light of Toe H, lit and maintained by unselfish sacrifice and service. Thus done, the candidates were admitted on j the voice of the members. The leader of the Gr-oup, Mr. A. it. Morris, then welcomed the Wellington delegates, stating that four i'ounda-1 tion members who had begun the work ‘ by forming the “Grope” were prepared to faithfully keep the vision, the ideals and the spirit of Toe H. Tie recalled that the family of Toe H extended a chain round the world, one in service and in fellowship. Greetings were extended the delegates from the parent group to the new Group. The Rev. E. S. Emmitt, who has been associated with the institution since its inception, said lie had talked with men in Hawera interested in the institution and the outcome had been the request for a group. . They had now come, he said, to a good hour which presaged greater things in the future by slow but sure advance, by “loving widely and by serving bravely.” Mr. Keith Reid, leader of the Well- 1 ' ington Group, said Hawera was to be j congratulated on its decision to start, out for the goal of the group. In. the past, he said, they had been groping, ■ but now by the aid of the rushlight j they would push on and in time secure , the full responsibilities of a branch. | The Pilot said Hawera, having now j taken the first great step, the symbol of a group, would find the rushlight a centre of inspiration. Light, he said, was the first creation, God’s eldest ■ daughter and a symbol of eternity, signifying that the sun would shine regularly for all the world. The light was an inspiration of fellowship and was a bond holding all members to- ( gether, an inspiration to unselfish sac- • rifice and a memory of the men who , gave their lives for their fellows. He I urged the members to start at once . and let Toe H come before their sel-j fish activities and make them realise the full joy of working for others, and i that “nothing is really worth doing without the spirit of sacrifice.” The symbol acknowledged the sacrifice of “our elder brothers” and those who fell in the war. <r Pay the sacrifice,” , lie said in conclusion, “bv helping each : other and by getting closer together, and by carrying out the instructions of the jobmaster. The forward move j augurs well for Hawera and you have | started well in the cruise and voyage towards the ideals of Toe H and we all hope the movement will continue.” j The Rev. H. Whitby-James said the ! light would remain for the present in the most sacred spot in the church, in the chancel. He recalled the beginnings of Toe H and said that Hawera was becoming part of the great circle, one which no man could number. He paid a tribute to the men who fell and to the nursing sisters who took part . in the great struggle “to teach sense.” j He pictured the queer narrow room ! where was held the first initiation service and briefly traced its progress. through the development from Pop a- j ringhe to Knutsford Hall mid now ' 1 extended to Hawera, which group had i decided to send an ambassador to < headquarters. This was a very solemn i occasion inded and lie hoped the ambassador would join with the others in furthering the fire of love “which 1 is going to .save the world.” ! The Jobmaster of Wellington gave, useful and timely advice on the work to he done and urged all to help the . master bv exercising initiative and j energy in the work before them, of j caring for those who needed help and ; bv doing a job if they saw it before j them. He said that until they got the ni it of Toe H all over the world, they j would not got Toe IT rightly working. It could help to relieve the present ' depression : f all members would really j i

live up to its ideals and do the jobs they saw before them, for ii' they did not do iso then they were letting Too H down.

A very interesting picture was given by Mr. Whitby-James of the institution of the first club which became Toe H, and the gathering together of men who had the vocation to serve in tile ministry and who survived the ravages of war and the selection and lit—tu<g up of Knutsford prison as a training college, whence were sent out many men to carry forward the torch of goodness in the world. lie related the wonderful assortment of men of all degrees and stations in life, who had carried forward the ideals of the great institution, high and low, rich and poor, all who served tlieir day and generation. ‘‘Toe H,” he said m conclusion, “is going to live because it .s built on the spirit of sacrifice and not oil materialism and because it realty does try to express sympathy with others and to carry this spirit to all parts of the world.” During the evening community singing was enjoyed and a light supper served by the ladies concluded Ihe evening’s gathering. Later a short service and prayer -as held in St. Mary’s Church by the Rev. H. Whitby-James and the Rev. EL 6. Enimitt. One light was placed in the chancel and the other taken bv M■. Enimitt to the Methodist Church. On Sunday a corporate communion service was held at St. Mary’s and fbe Methodist churches and breakfast was laid in the hall.

In the afternoon the visiting delegates were taken for a motyr drive to Opiniake and Kaponga and a concluding service was held later, _ 'which i> cluded the Ceremony of Light, loc H, nriyers and a hymn and then ihe visitors left on their return to Wellington.

In the evening at St. Mary’s Church there was an impressive finale to the celebration of the founding of the Toe H group in Hawera. After telling the congregation something of the movement, the vicar, the "Rev. James, lit the rushlight which stood on the altar. With due formality it was given into the charge of Mr. C. Carrel who was accompanied by a guard of two. Messrs J. West and B. Dellinger. They accepted the light and marched through the church and out into the darkness. This symbolised the light going out into the world!