Religion: Oxford v. Group

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One of the tenets of Buchmanism is "Absolute Honesty." Nevertheless, followers of Rev. Dr. Frank Nathan Daniel Buchman have always turned up their noses at the name "Buchmanite," much prefer to be called the Oxford Group—a designation which suggests that Buchmanism is somehow connected with Oxford University, or at least related to the Oxford Movement of a century ago. Until lately, however, none of the Group's critics was able to do anything about this flourishing misrepresentation. Then Dr. Buchman himself stuck his neck out of his well-tailored shell. In London he applied to the Board of Trade for incorporation of the Oxford Group.

Last week the critics jumped for his neck as one man. The Oxford Union passed a resolution condemning Dr. Buchman's proposal. In the House of Commons the Member for Oxford University, Humorist A. P. Herbert, urged the Government to deny incorporation under that name, since the "natural inference" that the Group is related to the University "is not justified by the facts." Finally, without making it public, the University's governing body lodged a protest with the Board of Trade—which announced that all the protests were being considered. Dr. Buchman drew his neck in again, said nothing.

Immediate reason for the proposed incorporation was that the Oxford Group had been named as such in the will of a female doctor who wished to bequeath it £500. The matter went into court in London, where Mr. Justice Sir Charles Bennett was informed in an affidavit that the Group "consists of a wholly indefinite and unascertainable number of persons who possess no organization and no secretary or treasurer or officer of any kind . . '. and who are endeavoring to lead a spiritual quality of life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit."

"A rather strange arrangement," commented Mr. Justice Bennett. Asked if he would like to read a book called What Is the Oxford Group?, he snapped, "I won't, unless it is necessary," and adjourned the case, pending further evidence.