They fluffed it in '58!

by DOUGLAS CLARK

Paris.

A BIG, chubby, 41-year-old man, blinking behind horn-rimmed glasses,

ambled through the foyer of the Hotel Bristol, Paris, and out into the Faubourg St Honore.

He looked sleepy, a little depressed, one degree under. And I am not surprised. It was Paymaster-General Mr Reginald Maudling, off to But who give the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation a report on

his long, unhappy mission to tie Britain more closely to the Continent.

they are and how much they give is not revealed.

Once when Dr Buchman was asked how he and his followers, without though not paid a cent, were able to live in the best hotels of the movement founded by creed or programme."

for The official attitude

apparently wanted of the and F. N. D. Buchman."

Catholic

replied: he

"Why Church nothing What are those principles? Romun

that its members Kot? Isn't God a millionaire? Outstanding among them is reappears to tance on what the Buchmanites may not be Buchmanites on the 'Sacrifices'

ground that no Catholic may call "the four absolutes."

take an active part in the fe of another religious body.

But, In fact, some Catholics do support MRA. Among them

in Pot of saurifice," a "changed" is its standard bearer

Mr John McGovern, Hument, 70-year-old Socialt M.P. Shettleston. Glasgow,

If an individual is guided by absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness, absolute love then, they say,

he will become person.

In the early years of the movement Buchman manch trated on "changing" Indivi- Cuals. But sometime about

to have occurred to him. 1928 more ambitious ideas scen

enough Individual "changed," could not the whole world be "changed" in time? Could not all its problems, terments, and troubles be swept "way?

of

So he started to train bands enthusiastle workers all the group's unpaid-to take message overseas. Often with Buchman himself at their head, these "task forces" travellet thousands of miles seelding to rouse "a spiritual awakering”

the world. throughout

words, the Buchman's own Oxford Group "emerged into the world-pirdling Moral Re- Aruament, greeted by states- men and the ordinary man as the only solution for world peace,"

In

From evangelism in Oxford Buchman turned to the organ- ination of "house parties" in country houses and hotels. At these parties sometimes as as 150 young people many would spend anything from a week-end lo 10 days discus sing their religious problems, There

the 50-called

was in the 1930's that

people thought Buch- "quiet times in which each some

was becoming less would seek his own personal manism

with

propagating "ildare." There were sessions concerned

thon with com- would Christianity members which publicly apologise" for mistakes bating Communism.

And they sang, Surry is earlier, a Magic Littic Word.

1.1

Wêre

Willemson reports there were "informal talks on sin" and and separate groups of men women for his discussion of sex problems.

11

Showmanship

And certainly Buchman did nothing to remove that Impres- sion when he made one of his few bad blunders by publicly thanking God for a man like Adolf Hitler."

By now Buchin and his fellay workers had become

After the war the movement town as the "Oxford Group."

And when Buchman regis- acquired the. Palace Hotel and sered his movement as a con- some smaller hotels in the Swiss His name? Frank Nathan any that was the title adopted mountain resort of Caux, 2,000 Dubiel Buchman, the man for it though to placate feet above Lake Genevu, as its known today to his followers all certain critky it was made clear European headquarters. Now it simply as that the group "did not claim has other centres at Mackinac in possess any official connec- Island on the U.S.-Canadien e University of burder, Los Angeles, and in the Lutherpu tion with

- Dominions. Was

Oxford." un-

The pelne object of the The nerve centre in Britain

the house Da Oxford Group's existence was is

in London's given as "the advancement of Berkeley Square where Clive of

Christian

religion....in India once lived.

Over

"Frank."

world

Buchman

was u pastor. His record

distinguished.

But in that college rvorn

a spring evening in 1921 ho made a tremendous impression. The

12

A British Crossword Puzzle

2

4

5 6

B

|20 - [20-

$10 119

10

3922

23

24

26

27

29

ACROSS

1 Say again (0),

A sound of bell on tho

reeft (5).

8 Commerce (5)

9 Desert Jumper (8),

10 Quite Bound (8).

11 Golden sovereign! (5).

12 Seaside chappler (4),

13 They are required (5).

16 Returns an limpulzo (0).

JB It has an eye but seca not

(0)

20 Documentary exploits (5).

22 Like that rânger? (4).

23 First appearanco (6).

25 Could be 00 foot long (0).

20 Prica of redemption (6).

27 In then you may find' an

anaesthetic (0)..

20 Form of a girl, mostly (6).

29 Make numb⋅ (0),

DOWN

IS

A1 Caux and elsewhere it

hots enormous assemblies to which politicni leaders, trade

Hostility

for

He has travelled in many parts of the world with MRA teums. And he has given this work as one reason for his indifferent voting record in the House of Commons.

Even the trades unions have

expressed hostility. They do not like the way some Buchmoultes have muscled in when there has been an industrial dispute.

The spokesmen of MRA have a stock answer about the source of the money. It comes, they say, "not out of surplus but out

makes

the

*

in effect. what he went to and Found }c зудя deliver was the funeral oralion schoolboy gott International. I on the British plan for * had been sitting next to him European free trade area. in form for years without Nobody could have tolled knowing he could even tell a harder than Mr Maudling to putter from a No. 2 Iron. put this plan across. He has peddied if to Empire leaders in Montreal, to American business men in New York.

He has whisked to and fro between London and the Continent for months, whredi-

But the mystery of who ing, threatening, arguing. bar- precisely

sacrifice suining. renolns.

The only available accounts relate to the English end of what is now worldwide Bl Business.

They are the accounts of the Oxford Group, and they can be seen at Bush House on payment of the customary shilling.

Tlicy show that spending is on a steadily rising scale. From

in £94,000

the 1051

total advanced with only an occa- sional setbuck to £100,000 last year.

How was that money raised? Here are three items from the accounts Gifts and legacies, donations Asian £20,230;

£63,361; other gifts, £58,760.

Some people are puzzled that D movement formed to advance the Christian religion should report that Moslems from many Middle Eastern unid countries recently celebrated the birthday of the Prophet Moham- ed at the MRA conference at

ture

Facts wanted

And a note on the balance

Caux. The nome of Christ, they sheet says that "no account is say, rarely figures in MRA lliera.

But MRA survives the taken of furniture, equipment, and motor-cors given to the attacks without any apparent

company of an estimated present loss of strength,

has value of £23,000,"

There are other MRA com- panies Incorporated in Switzer- the U.S., and the land,

Dominions whose accounts are not available for inspection.

indeed, that criticism specded its progress.

Its work goes un. And, if one is to judge Its Irom 11s

claims, own influence increases.

Their money How Is Buchmanism financed? And by whom? What is the source of its strength?

1 estimate tlint Lo meet the expenses of its teams of campaigners, to keep up its hotels, to run its assemblies and conferences, to Enance ifa film production and stare

All this vast organisation is concentrated in the hands of 80-year-old, Dr Buchman and bis immediate associates

Some people feel that since they believe in complete dis- closure in se many other things they should tell us more about the money side of their drive to "remake the world."

Those Licensed

Killjoys!

unionists, business me, and PETER BURGOYNE'S.

parliamentarians from 100 or more countries have come,

It sends teams of "ideological Aghters" to spread the MRA message through Asla and Africa,

In 1056 is "world mission" from Europe to the caplials of Asla nd the Middle East

News From Britain

HAVE been looking at the latest annual report issued by those licensed killjoys. Her Majesty's

covered 30,000 miles-largely | Customs and Excise. When you see the amount

in Bircraft chartered frota the U.S. Air Forco.

Its "ideology," as it calls, manship, with typical American stopans, with aims and with brilliantly produced theatrical shows.

is put across with superb show-

That "ideology" stems from Dr Buchman's conviction that "the guidance of God can and must become the normal policy

of men and nations."

Sharp fire

of money they spirit out of the pockets of their victims, it's no wonder the British take their plea- Sures sadly. For much of what the Customs and Excise men rake in represents tax on the little in- dulgences of their fellow countrymen.

For instance, Jn 1937-58 arming herself Britain is ac- British smokera puffed 27125 celerating the hell-bent rush to million in tobacco tax into the world suicide. Some of them are

A Bunter

Mr

.

he

And here is something else I recall. 1 once asked, chubby Master Maudling what wanted to do when he grew up. He was about 13 years old.

Sald he placidly: "I going to be a Cabinet Minister."

om

Today Cabinet Minister Mr Maudling has fined himself down to a comfortable 18 stone And all for nothing. The or so. Perhaps trying to push trade rion is dead. Mnudung through his wretched emerges from the dusty argu plan has something to do with ment weary, a year older, dis- it. ilked by the French, and with a wan how label tagged to his reputation: The politician who fluted it in 1956."

I am sorry he ever got mixed up in this miserable business I speak with special feeling. I have known him ever since he I have re- wore short punts.

highly ever since garded him we were nasty little swots to- Folher at school.

Modest

Billy

Together, Master Maudling and 1, we slogged upwards from the lower third to the classical sixth. He was the fullest boy

the around the place; Bunier of Merchant Taylors.

He took little part in `or- ganised games. We

supposed he preferred to spend his half holidays perversely brooding over Homer and Lucretius.

I do hope kind Mr Macmillan will now take him off the ruck and switch him to some other employment, straight swop of jobs with Sir David Eccles?

How

about

D

I gala the Impresion that Mr

would Maudling

relish Board of Trude. running the

when Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister, once very

nearly put him there,

4

What in important is that a Mayding's Minister with Mr

its should not be wasted on

ก blind-alley occupation any could bo a first- longer, Ho rate asset to the Government f they would only. alop misusing him.

He is imperturbable and ex- ecedingly astute, He has a quick, remarkable Hair for grasping the essentials of an ad- ministrative problem.

His Name

And, by the way, on reflection, I don't think he has lost muchi public credit by his fallvro in 1958. The British people tend lo esteem defeats more highly

than victories. Look at Dun-

kirk.

A year ago hardly anybody had ever heard of Mr Maudling. Paradoxically the free trade

lasco has made his name.

י

Who else?

WHO ELSE "Auffed it

See

As for Sir David, he is the in '58"? For the next of these very personal reports very man to be turned 1oose on Europ.an free trode. Hs by very personal Express bland, unshakable self-assurance writers would soon outrage every of our 10 partnez-countries in QEEC just as it infuriated the the butter New Zealanders in talks.

one

Then the whole free trade area might thankfully founder

But one day I opened up the sports pages of my newspaper for ever..

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national coffers, And that's so certain of the wrongnasa Inearly halt what the country such armaments that they

spent on defence over the same prepared to do something about period,

ít.

Football pools "Investors"

In this idealogy confession of past error plays an important At the name time, whisky

The result has been non- Fort Converts to MRA are con- drinkers paid £133 million in violent Invasions of a rocket. stently apologising.

tax, der drinkers £261 million te being bullt at lille Swall- In recent

£21.0 MRA literature and wine tipplers

ham in Norfolk. Once inside the episodes are mentioned of French million

Elle the demonstratora hinder adherents going to Germany to express "their forgiveness and provided the taxmen with an- work all they can by such tac- apologising for their hatred." A other £24.7 million, movie and is a squatting in the path of

theatre-goers

millon, trucks. £305 Persian M.P.

Plainly, this cannot be sought out the

and and televiewers £0.3 million.

EO the poilee nre Like an unlucky cuitor (8). leaders of Afghanistan

The Briton, one of the moat allowed, 2 Anti-mine device (8),

the enlled in to shift them. In the personal and hin "offered his 3 Bit of a cat! (4),

tradition the demon- country's apologies for the frie-heavily-taxed citizena in

his Gandal had world, paya heavily

offer absolutely tension that Prepared for the contest (7). ¡tion

pleasures, But there's a brighter stratory

They just For, with the physical resistance. We are told, too, that a fist side to all this.

paid go Ump. The only thing the the money exception 6 Possibly estate crockery (8).1ght in the Japanese Parila- by film and theatre, funs (and police can do is to lift them

meni was prevented by an their tax was slashed), all of bodily and remove apology from Opposition mern- these figures represent increases, the slla hers who had been "changed" And there's not much wrong by MRA.

with the individual

5 Go-ahead financiers might divided their lands."

inake one (7).

Scoltish landowner (5).

14 Married (8).

15 Deputy churchwarden (8).

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FRIDAY'S CROSSWORD_Acroes: 3 Spot, 7 Trier, B Oboe,

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for

no

them from

44 Recently, dcanonstrators ninancial were taken before the magis- An aspect of this ideology state of a people who can pay traten at Swaffham and charged the police, which some people have found this sort of duty on their with obstructing

They were bound over to keep the peace for a year.

difculty in accepting is the pleasures.

apparent readiness of Buch-

manlies in their Asian ant

African wanderings to apologise

Where Else?

for the British Empire.

But, of course, it is inevitableHE British Government sald that his clients wanted to

that a movement like this hon come under a sharp fire of criticism.

But the significant thing is this. After their cases had been heard, their defending counsel

EXPNOS their appreciation for and, therefore, pre- the plenoo and kindness of sumably the bulk of the Bri. the pollen. Some of the dignitaries of the fish people believes that, Church of Enginnd have found with the world the way it Russial it "paychologically dangerou and Gravely defective in its la, Britain needs the latest who polico are congratulated weapons, including rockets. by offenders. on their patience

thinking."

There

aro, however, other, an

Imagine that happening in

It seems to ma tut a. country

kindnes 14 worth de- For the Methodist Church Dr Soper has attacked it a Britons who hold that by 'no' fending even with rockets,

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