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PERTH, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1943.
THE Y.C.W. IN LONDON *Revolutionary Movement that is YOU ARE THE Growing Fast .
BRANCHES
'Version of
*Something Badly Needed Here The following article on the Young Christian Workers has in mind the Westminster (London) branch of the Mcvement. It gives at least some idea of the spirit of this now world-wide organisation, which is everywhere The proving the ideal Youth movement for boys up to 25 years of age. N.C.W. is the English version of the Continental J.O.C., and has already made great progress out here in the Eastern States and New Zealand. 'I hough bet a few of its interests and activities are mentioned in this article, the Y.C.W. covers in reality every aspect of a boy's life:Alfy walked into the sacristry without enthusiasm. He respected, but could not like the old priest with the ,tubbly chin and snuff -stained cassock, and his grumpy way with boys. But .Alfy had recently learnt to serve Mass and to -day was his first attempt. The priest called him over to him. "You know the old man who sits by the pulpit? Go over and ask him to come in." Alfy knew the old man well. He was part of the furniture of
the church, never absent, always sitting in the same place, looking even more debraggled and ragged than the The old man was priest himself. fetched and his boots examined and condemned. Alfy was sent over to the 'presbytery to ask for a pair of boots. The man -servant was annoyed. "Tell Father that he hasn't any boots. He gave away my boots yesterday.' The old priest wasn't disturbed by the mesHe took off the pair he was sage. wearing, gave them to the ancient parishioner and sent Alfy back with the message that Mass couldn't commence The his shoes were produced. :manservant was defeated, and Mass proceeded. Alfy thought the old priest crazy, but he could never forget the incident. 'le is now a man of forty with a wife and family, but for him, his religior., Christ, his Church, is typified by that old priest in the far off seaside town. What is the point of the story? SimFew ply this. The priest is dead. ,people know the circumstances. The in -
For Value and Service
CANON
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amous
CARDIJN-
Founder of the Y.C.W.
cident can be related without harm to The Y.C.W. is in its in. anybody. fancy. Its members are still young men. It is almost impossible to relate what they have done in Westminster without breaking ..onfidences, without giving a false idea of them, a false conception of the movement. One could describe how the first boy returned not only to Sunday Mass, but
went to daily Mass a, well, how he brought a sister and three brothers hack to the church and put a marriage right. How the same change of outlook took place with all the other members, how one stamped out dirty talk among his comrades at work simply by talking boxing instead of filth, how
another stopped ''ragging" of new apprentices-but this might make them appear prigs, holding up their hands 'in pious horror at every naughty word. at every doubtful gesture. They are anything but prigs. They never attempt to escape iron, r "preFerve" others from their own environment. They remain typical lads of the district-but with that "little something others haven't got.'' There is the story of the Y.C.W. Airman singing with a crowd of pals in a cafe at Cardington. Some civvies came in and joined with them trying to introof the more objectionable duce some army choruses. The Y.C.W. scratched
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his head. "Say, fellows. we are having a decent time aren't we?" "Rather'. -"Now those civvies want to spoil the show. Let's throw the beggars out." The motion was carried out with the usual efficiency of the R.A.F. Their action is not simply religious. Within a fortnight of wining the movement each lad had joined his trade union, a list of good and bad firms was drawn up for Westminster and lads leaving school were helped to those firms where pay and prospects were good. The inspector of factories was approached with regard to at least one firm in Westminster where conditions
-ventilation, heating, overcrowding-
were bad: representations were made concerning lads of under sixteen who were working for excessive hours: a separate dining room was obtained for girls working in an atmosphere of lead
paint.
The movement' is not, however. a kind of Trade Union for lads too young to participate in the advantages of the It goes farther. If official unions. the lads demand just wager decent conditions at work, houses th,: are
I.AAAcheVft'INE They have found a new life-the Life of the Mystical Body of Christ. homes, continued education for youth, it is because they realise that they are Sons of God, that they are destined to enjoy their ultimate happiness in Heaven, but that under present conditions, with the pre -occupation of obtaining their daily bread, impossibility for the majority of earning sufficient to marry and bring up a family as they would wish, it is impossible for them either to obtain happiness in this world, or to have leisure to think about the next. These conditions must be changed, and only they can change them. They go farther than the labour party which is only concerned with material benefits. They give the Communists the true reason for the brotherhood of man-because we are all Sons of God, brothers in Christ. They have a great respect for girls as being their sisters in Christ, children of their mother Mary. They do not seek their company, however: do not frequent the local dance halls with their proximate dangers of sin. They have more important work to do. But they do not hesitate to enter if they wish to remain in contact with a friend. They do not consider that the best way to cure a drunkard is to avoid his (Continued on Back Cover.)
Guiltoyle's Hotel Australia Registered at the G.P.O., Perth, for transmission by post as a newspaper.
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