THE BROTHERHOOD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143768, 17 April 1912, Page 3

THE BROTHERHOOD.

600,000 MEMBERS IN ENGLAND. One of tho most remarkable organisations for men is that known as ihe Brotherhood movement. It developed out of the pleasant Sunday afternoon gatherings, which were meant to meet the need of a less formal typo of worship. Gradually men lined themselves together, ijuh the movement spread, until to-day there are probably not less than three-quarters of a million men in England, Germany and tin; colonies banned together by these ties of Christian Brotherhood. This is already exerting a' beneficial international influence, and the end is not yet. This movement has proved that tho estrangement from tho church is not necessarily estrangement from Christianity, and when a virile gospel is preacned by a- man to men, it finds response. And it is not socialism, politics, nor even science that men most like to hear; nothing arrests, the attention of theso audiences of men like the story of the Peerless Brother and his attitude towards life.

This organisation has had some 25 years’ trial and is growing into amazing popularity. In many instances Brotherhoods have been formed by solitary churches or deuominatious. It is a matter for congratulation that the Now Plymouth Brotherhood, recently formed, is perfectly unsoctarian and open to members of any Christian church, or to pilose who have no formal creed whatever. Thu meetings will be held in the Good Templar Hall, commencing on Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m. Cheorffll singing will bo a feature, the best soloists will bo secured; and the addresses will be brief and crisp. The keynotes of all tho meetings will be, “Brief, Bright, Brotherly.” Tho Chief Jqstico (Sir Robert Stout) when speaking at the Wanganui speaking at tho -Wanganui Brotherhood meeting lately, dwelt upon tho objects of the movement. With the Brotherhood ho professed his entire sympathy. It took an interest in tho welfare of the raco. Mon had to remember that their places in the Dominion and in tho Empire had to be taken by others, and tho welfare of these successors was largely determined by the conduct and habits of tho people of the present generation. The indulgence of to-day was making degenerates. Men who should be studying were wasting their time in hotel bars, or causing injury to themselves by continued cigarette smoking. He recommended good reading to all ambitious mon and the world’s best books, in cheap editions, were within tho roach of all. What did the average man know about the questions of the day or the effect of certain habits on tho races who have held power in the world? A certain party encouraged tho degradation of the people. As men tho Brotherhood mast oppose any trade or class that profits by the weakness or thoughtlessness of their fellow-men. The production and perfection of good men should be the . mission of tho Brotherhood. It should encourage tho taste for learning and discountenance the drug habit, which was so manifest in tho drinking and cigarette customs of young men.