GATHERING OF TOC H.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 176, 25 June 1935, Page 8

GATHERING OF TOC H.

REGIONAL RALLY IN THE CITY. A regional rally of representatives of the several units of Toe H in the Wellington province was held at the All Saints’ Clubrooin on Saturday evening. The visitors were the guests of the Palmerston North group for the evening. — „ After a welcome had been extended to those present from outside branches and groups, Padre H. 'Whitby James (Palmerston North) explained the early story of Toe H. In recalling his first acquaintance with the founder of the movement (Rev. P. B. Clayton), the padre mentioned the wartime origin of Toe H.. Its birthplace was Poperinglie, in the Ypres salient, where the founder-padre, affectionately known as “Tubby,” presided at an impromptu rest-place which bore the name of Everyman’s Club. Such was the spirit of the place that, when the war was over, Mr Clayton and others who had known the “old home,” determined that its atmosphere should be transplanted to civil life. The result was Talbot House, a designation which had been replaced by Toe H, the army signaller’s way of saying T H, itself a contraction of the first title. Mr Whitby James then proceeded to speak of the schools’ activities, a part of the organisation of Toe H (New Zealand).

Mr A. S. Kempthorne (Dominion secretary) detailed the remarkable growth of the brotherhood in England, mentioning that a “mark,” a peacetime reproduction of the old club at Poperinghe, was what was aimed at for each locality in the beginning. Later Mr Clayton was joined in his work by Mr P. Monie, a retired member of the Indian Civil Service, who some years before had pledged to give himself up to some service for which there would be no hope of reward. It was then that the founder became the power behind the scenes and his assistant took up the task of organisation. He laid down the dictum that the building was to be done with human bricks' and not with stones and mortar. This was the commencement of the policy of a largo number of small bodies whose symbol was a rushlight. This device, when tlio full status of a branch was attained, was replaced by a lamp similar to those used in the catacombs of Roman times. These lamps and rushlights were in the first place kindled by the patron, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, from his own lamp of remembrance, which burned perpetuallv in the Church of All Hallows, Barking-by-the-Tower, London. Mr Kempthorne mentioned visits that had been made by Toe H leaders to New Zealand, referring to Hiose of Revs. P. Leonard and P. B. Clayton. He concluded by giving- personal reminiscences of his first meetings with the founder at Adelaide Mr N. Ross dealt with the subject from another point of view. He explained how members performed “jobs” under the direction of a jobmaster,” and thus fulfilled one of the principal objects of the movement. Mr P. H. Hall (Marton) was another SP Those present besides members of the Palmerston North group were from Masterton, Wellington Wanganui and Marton. Members of Toe H were present at a service at St. Peters Church, Terrace End, yesterday morning.