THE OXFORD MOVEMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 December 1933, Page 10

THE OXFORD MOVEMENT

LONDON CAMPAIGN LONDON, 19th October. Dr. Frank Bueliman, the leader of (he Oxford Croup Movement, once said that his mission lay not among the poor hut among the rich. This lias certainly given the campaign which lias opened in London a great advantage. When a large number of titled people and leaders of the Established Church openly express their interest in the movement and attend the first meeting the newspapers have got to take notice.

.Apart from this, however, the “Daily Mail” and the "Evening News” have both published special articles about this new form of Christian endeavour, and special correspondents of oilier newspapers arc set. apart to write up the activities of the, missimicrs. Thus this campaign for the capture of London is well heralded.-

Tinisc win) went to tin. first meet i to liinl a new sensution were ureatiy disappointed. Tile methods nl'' appeal we ell l iieh liee troin einot ionnlism or flasliini; oratory. The appeal is in wlnil:

the speakers say and not in how they sav it.

The lirst public meeting was held in the Central Hall, AVestniinster. On the platform were a number of Anglican Bishops and .representatives of the Free Churches, and rows of students from Oxford and Cambridge, most of whom had come to London by special train to attend the meeting. The Metropolitan of India, who presided, said that a fundamental principle of the Group Movement was to put Cod lirst:. They desired to see that in all man’s varied activities— God at the heart of Hie individual, at the head of family life, and God directing all man's operations, and His glory being the object which they 'ever kept before their eyes. Apart trout the guidance ot Cod their work was futile. Team work was of the very essence of their movement. They had come to London confident that their message would find a ready welcome.

The Rev. Ctithbert Bardsley. Curate of All Hallows’, Barking, who presided when Dr. Foss, Westcolt, left for

one of the overflow meetings, said that they had not come to London to give people ail emotional thrill for the winter. Their vision was of another lire ot London, the lire of the Holy Spirit burning and quickening and purifying London—not only the individuals ill it. hut through them the great life of the City. London needed a tremendous renewing of life under the guidance of Cod. They lived in a world that had been knocked oil' its equilibrium by the war. People were grasping and longing for something by which they could find their feet, and yet had not been able to find it. There were new elements which were spoiling life—speed, mass production, and materialism. They ol' the Croup Movement believed that Cod had a plan and a purpose for London through the individuals. When those individuals gave up their lives to Him they would go out with new vision, new power, and a new purpose, and alter the life of London and other cities. Brief testimonies were afterwards given by young members of the movement and afterwards bv their elders.