THE OXFORD GROUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24737, 14 October 1941, Page 11

THE OXFORD GROUP

TO THE EDITOR

. Sir, —I am pleased to see that the papers in New Zealand have given prominence to the views of Mr Bevin and Mr Herbert on the Oxford Group and its activities. This group in the past year or two has got a hold in New Zealand, and it is time we took a serious view of its activities here. Having gone into the subject thoroughly I have no hesitation in saying that its teachings are definitely pacifist, and therefore anti-British. The view of a number of groupers is that it would be a matter of little importance if the Hun conquered the British Empire, as if we followed out the teachings of friend Buchman we would change the Hun and show him the error of his ways. The question whether the British Empire would then be restored or not seems to have escaped them. Groupers may seem a nice friendly lot. but they are all so busy with their own selfish affairs that they have forgotten or do not realise the sufferings of the Polish peoples and the terrible crimes that have been perpetrated against this race and the Serbs and Czechs, not by Hitler but by the German race. Friendship with the German people is impossible until we have entirely crushed them and broken their military spirit. Then God, not the Oxford Group, will show them the error of their ways. Members of the Oxford Group have done* little to help us win the war, and have so far found excuses to prevent their sons going to the war. Some have been succcessful by appealing, but have been too clever to be caught appealing on religious grounds.'Others have got " cushy " jobs on home service, and hide behind the uniform. One of the absolutes of the group is honesty, but are they honest in these matters? Let me warn people who are in search of spiritual help—and who is not in these days?—to steer clear of the Oxford Group and not be misled by its honeyed words and insidious propaganda. It is just as dangerous, or more so, than Nazi propaganda because it strikes at those spiritually inclined.—l am, etc.. October 10. Freedom.