Religion: Masses to Massey

In a dismal drizzle last week 17,000 people entered Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, newest and largest auditorium in Canada. Outside and in nearby streets, traffic was tied up; anxious to get in, 20,000 to 25,000 more milled about for two hours. With streamer headlines the Toronto Daily Mail & Empire reported the exciting event as "the largest indoor gathering ever held in Canada." Editorially it asked, "Does This Mean Coming Religious Revival?" For in Maple Leaf Gardens was no hockey game, no prize fight or revival meeting but a Bible Class—one which had, six years ago, only 18 members. The masses, struggling in the street, were a great radio audience, invited to attend an open, public service of the York Bible Class and give money to its annual Christmas relief drive. That part of the crowd which got in gave $4,000.

Founder of the York Bible Class in 1925 was a rich, handsome (6 ft. 3) in., 215 Ib.) young man, Denton Massey, 31. grandson of the founder of Massey-Harris Co., Ltd., largest maker of farm implements in the British Empire. Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Founder Massey is a kinetic, athletic Toronto socialite who worked in the shops and harvest fields of the family company before becoming an official in the Toronto factory. He is reputedly worth $1,000,000. A practical Christian, he is now a mild Socialist. Like Erdman ("Erd") Harris (also Toronto-born), Denton Massey appeals to youth, in a direct, personal manner. The enrolled class now numbers some 2.400, has outgrown four meeting places. Broadcast every Sunday, it is undenominational, open to all men. Radio mail streams in, addressed to "The Reverend—The Doctor—Very Reverend — Leader — The Honorable — Teacher— Lecturer." Though some people find leader Massey's faith—real and sincere as it is— occasionally of the luncheon club order, none questions his influence toward a wholesomely liberal religious movement.