THE BROKEN EQUILIBRIUM.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 29, Issue 1, 1 March 1938, Page 7

THE BROKEN EQUILIBRIUM.

(From "The Catholic World.") "The only remedy is the spiritual Front to which the last encyclical of the Pope called Christendom. . . . I read m various papers, particularly the 'Journal de Geneve,' that the Oxford Group had won the personal interest and co-operation of some of the most outstanding arid influential political and educational leaders m Europe . . . and that the meetings of the Oxford Group were of such a nature that they definitely influenced public life on a national scale. "I began then to sense the significance of the Oxford Group for the restoration of the broken equilibrium of the world if it met with more general co-operation. The fact that the Oxford Group has no particular creed, no ecclesiastical organi-

sation or government, makes this an unprecedented means of co-operation between Catholics and Protestants and all other serious-minded people." From an article by Christian Richard, m "The Catholic World," September, 1937. "I realised that one might fail m that which is a foundamental duty, namely, to be a life-changer. This is the challenge which the Oxford Group is putting to the world's leaders to-day, and I am convinced that they will neglect it at their peril." The Metropolitan of India, Burma and Ceylon, Dr. Foss Westcott. The above extracts are all taken from the "Rising Tide," a new publication of the "Oxford" Group. Then follow some testimonies as to the practical results of that movement. A leading Montreal business man startled the city by paying back 12,200 dollars to the Customs. This represented evasions of payments over a period, plus compound interest. In Norway, where the movement is strong, members made restitution to the Tax Department at Oslo of about £7000. At the same time an Oslo cashier confessed, when charged, to embezzling £5400. His fraud had gone undetected for many years. Many employees m one of the largest motor works m Britain have joined the Group. The chief had to call a special meeting of departmental managers to cope with the flow of restitution, from employees, of stolen parts, which had dislocated the accounting system. Previous the firm had been losing about £400 a day m stolen parts, the equivalent of a large car. On the part of the employers this absolute honesty involves a square deal for the workers. The owner of a large factory m the north, after joining the Group, was given guidance to share some of his capital with the workers, who, he realised, had helped to create it. The money was used to endow a pension fund. He reduced hours of labour and began to pay for sickness and Bank Holidays, which he had not done before. A short time ago he revised the whole of his wages, and struck a minimum level which is ss. a week above

the local rates. There will be annual increases, a 44-hour week and holidays with pay.