The Church of England Men's Society.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume II, Issue 6, 1 December 1911, Page 93

The Church of England Men's Society.

Watchword: " Prayer and Service" DiOCESAN GOTJNOiIi i Yen. Archdeacon Ruddock, Canon Ttlke; Rev. J. B. BrockleHurst, Dr. Tosswill, Captain Lake, Messrs. S; E. McCarthy, J. P Williamson, J. Dawson Smith, W. t Brabant, W» J. Pallot. Secre* - taiy, JT. Thomas. Branches. Cathedral Parish ; S. Augustine's, Napier; S. Andrew's, Napier; Taradale; Wairoa ; Hastings; Haveloekj Waipawa; Daunevirke; Gisborne; Rotorua. Letter from Rev. H. S. Wool 1 combe My Dear Buothers, I am very glad to be given; this opportunity of writing the "Secretaries' Letter " ; it gives me the chance of thanking through you the members of Branches who have sent me kind 1 messages during my illness. • I am most grateful for this proof of the reality of our great Church Brotherhood and (may I also add?) for this sign of your affectionate regard for my unworthy self. I am, I hope, on the way to real recovery, though I still have to go a bit slow - a thing I am not much used! to.- ■ '" ..-■■■ ■■ . The other day I read through my diary— it l'eminded me much of you all— of those delightful meetings and happy friendships — and recalled to me, too, some things of which I want to remind you. ; I anxiously look out for reports from Branches abroad; I feel m so many places we are going through the testing time — a time which is going to prove whether this movement among men is to be a permanent power m the Church or not. If it is, I feel very certain we must try and realise two things : they have often been said— l have said them to many of you, and you must say them again, and again and again, if . our movement is to make way. (1) There is no special power or virtue m our Society as a. Society. The Society can do nothing — the men tvho constitute it can do much. The Men's Society is simply a brotherhood of men who care enough about the Church to want to help heir m her wort, and. have combined together to inspire one another to greater efforts, to advise one another how such efforts may be rightly directed, and. to endeavour io win others to do the same,

■V I feel sure' many Branches fail because they do not realise this simple idea. Men say,- ?' Will the Society succeed m our parish?" This is the wrong way of putting it. The right way is, '*.Are there any men m the parish who wish Jo help the Church m its work ? " If there are then they can be combined as a O.E.M.S. Branch, sharing m all the benefits of such a great combine, contributing their quota to the common good ; but, if there are no men m that parish who really wish to work for God, the formation of a Society will not bring them into being. We must find the men before the Society, and not look to the Society to make the men ; but granted we have the men, the success of the Society under a hundred varying circumstances is assured. (2) We call our Society a Men's Society — not a Laymen's, but a Men's Society. In some quarters we need to be reminded that the clergy we men, though clergy-men. The Archbishop of York has spoken strongly on the point, and it needs emphasising.. The object of our movement is to ensure a real co-operation between the clergy and laity, each to inspire the other. From the nature of the Church, aMens Society cannot flourish m any place without the whole-hearted support and co-operation of the clergy ; it is the duty of the laity who believe m our movement to bring the clergy m, not to try and keep them out ! And now to leave the general and get to the particular. We are holding our Annual Conference m London on October 25th and 26th. Several delegates from abroad will, I am glad to say, be present Please remember this m your prayers. . I am to present a report on my tour and move a resolution with the aim of strengthening the connection between the Society at home and abroad, and doing something to help the Society to get a good footing m new countries. The details of this resolution I cannot yet disclose m what is, m a sense, a " public " communication. May I, however, ask you to consider two points m conclusion ? (1) We must improve the reports of the work abroad m tlie Magazine. This, I think, can only be done if the Branches will send their reports to either the Diocesan or Provincial Secretary, and if he will then "boil down' 1 the news, and give the Magazine readers a general survey, while

keeping the details for use m the local Supplement or Magazine. ■-• (2) There is the big question of Organising -Secretaries. I feel sure that our Society will never really thrive m any country till we have at least one organising Secretary m each country, who gives his whole time and thought to the work. There is no room to say more, but I appeal to business mem What business ever thrives m your country without its paid representative? Why should we think that our " business " does not want such help ? It does, and it wants it at once : and my fear is we may delay till it is too late. Space is gone ; my letter is already too long— don't forget it too soon. Good-bye, meaning " God be with you." The fields are white to the harvest, but where are the labourers ? Your affectionate friend, H. S. WOOLLCOMBE.