Peace Group to Quit Britain

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 12 March 1941, Page 8

Peace Group to Quit Britain

One of the most interesting of modern community settlements, the Cotswold Peace Bruderhof, will shortly leave England to estahlish a new home in Paraguay. This community has lived iii many countries of Europe—Liechtenstein, Austri» and Switzerland —'and came to Britain from Germany, on being given 48 hours' notice to leave shortly after Adolf Hitler came to power.

The Bruderhof, which aims at the practical application of the Sermon on the Mount in every day life, is hut one of the many similar Utopian communities which have found homes in the Cotswolds during the past century. Ifcs decision to leave appears to have heen greatly influenced hy the prejudice of the local population.

lu their insistence upon the use of medieval Hussite costume —tight black knee breeches and bright, blue shirts for the men, who are also bearded, and ample-skirted Austrian peasant dress for women and children —they presented a problem to Wiltshire villagers, especially as their number has been increased by many conscientious objectors since the put-' break of war.

The community consists of keen and progressive farmers who abjuring the use of money among themselves carry on a brisk trade oil a strict cash basis with the rest of the world and have achieved a large measure of financial success. Of the Bruderhbf's 351) members, nearly half are British", and about 45 of these latter have decided to remain rather than seek new fields overseas.

Diplomacy "My word," said the'stranger at the dance, "who is that long and lanky girl over-there ?" "Sh-h," whispered his host. "She used to he long and lanky—hufc since she's inherited a large fortune she is referred fco as heing tall and stately."