Oxréno axp, THE Grovrs—Edited by.
Re LIS, Crossman, Pretaced by Dr, W.. Be Seble, Blackwell, Oxford. 8/-
At longer or throughout the Oxford performs what at first sight teems to. older Oxford an unatfractive antic. Usually the thing is quickly forgotten: sometimes it be-grows and mellows Two of these strange movements are now in being, seemingly unconnected though not mutually antagonistic, It 1s to be hoped that one them, the notorious pose of indigeronce to King and Country, may have the first or at worst the second fate: it may be hoped that "Groupism" will under new and wiser leadership attain the third. Te is odd to learn from the first, of the eleven essays, which with a preface and an introduction compose this volume, that "Groupism" found its way from America to Camivridge and thence to Oxford by way of Ching, where was held in 1918 the first of the "House Parties" which have since become a regular feature: of the work of the Group. There evidence that the influence of the Group was still at work in China in 1921, hut no permanent. foot seems to have been secured here. Indeed impermanence has been in many places a characteristic "Groupiun" and its missionaries admit (vide the sixth essay) that} their work is harder and not easier om a second visit than on a first. Tt may be that "Groupism's" lack of appeal to China was due to its want of interest in social or} economic distresses, It is not unfair surmise that a Shanghai "Group," run on the strictly Oxford model,' would leave untouched such,' matters as the life rickshaw coolies. Nine of these eleven essays are soberly critical the movement. One, the first, is warmly laudatory and ive, One, the last, quietly hopeful and yet awake to the faults of the movement, gives round for confidence that antong the pots" will be found that wi tion which will avoid dan, strengthen weaknesses. All illustrate the anxious sympathy and interest with which senior Oxford watches the doings of its charges, So far as this book goes the candid reader must admit that the "Noes" have it. They have shown the dangers of "Sharing," that public fession of sins to the brethren which haps the best known method Group." They have compar-the from the ye the "Group" must be a one-organization, concerned only the personal conversion was easy for dangers of unrest among groups differing in age and, well said, "ig not alwa gosling." There are olwious practical difficulties, parti those under authority with regular duties to perform, in relying anti ly on "Guidance" from above in respect to the daily and weekly time-table of events, Too often in uch cases the wish is father to the fallacious thought. The money back-"Group" also. Tends criticism and the wisdom of encouraging a youthful' convert to set forth without trai ing upon the conversion of others is gently questioned. Perhaps the most striking sentences in the whole book are "those which compare "Groupism'" with Osteopathy, though Osteopaths do not demand as "Groupers" do, that tioners follow ¢hel But_ when all is won the fact remains that a limited but import ant class in' England, the lo lass of educated person from which the future leaders of the country should spring, is being influenced by the "Group" movement and believes itself to be drawing new life from it, just as in Germany, Russia and Healy larger classes believe them-elves to be drawing new life from other and larger movements, With one single exception the essayist admit the importance and interest Of this fact, With only one exception see its danger. Its relation to future polities ig. still obscure, though one writer seems to foresee the possibility of a turn by the "Groups" towards Fascism. Perhaps doubts and fear may soon be Femoved by a proper adjustment of the "Groups!" "relationship the Churches, Such sri adjustment will obviously be. hard to. compass
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.