Pioneers of a New Age
The Force Behind the Brynmawr Experiment
WORDS have become deeds," wrote Madame de Stall in the year before the taking of the Bastille. She meant that talk had ceased to be idle
chatter. " Conversation is no longer unprofitable." Out of the exchange of private opinions a public opinion was forming. Action was crystallizing from what men and women said to one another.
This happens in all ages of movement, of active advance in any direction. It ought to be happening in the world to-day—perhaps more needfully in Britain than anywhere else. But the world suffers, and we in Britain suffer especially, from a " weak, washy, everlasting flood ". of mere verbiage of talks that lead nowhither, of words that are not deeds.
I read the other day a long, wordy, pretentious report by a committee on the "educational facilities in the
South Wales coalfield, having reference to the present and future occupations and the cultural and physical welfare both of l':.'itioleseents and adults." In a cumbrous, round- about way, with pompous diction, it pointed out the need for " secondary industries " and for getting as many people as possible out of South Wales. As a prepara- tion, more technical teaching was suggested, which might help in some years' time, but would do nothing to help at present.
• I thought of this report, as I stood and watched the weavers of tweed, the bootmakers at their machines, the men and boys in the furniture workshop at Bryn- mawr. The committee offered words. Here were words become deeds. Sixty persons busy in these workshops instead of idle on the "dole "—which relieves the taxpayer of £6,000 a year. Not much, but it is something, and if that could be repeated all over the country, the saving would amount to a great deal. Brynmawr was down and out—not through any fault of its own, but because the coal on which it depended is no longer worth working. Brynmawr is getting on to its feet again—slowly, pain- fully, but it is getting there. Why cannot other towns do the same ? •
They could, if they had placed at their service the energy and enthusiasm, the practical good sense and prudent enterprise of the young men and women who are taking the lead in the recreation of Brynmawr. Nor is there any reason why such service should not be forthcoming. What is needed is a conversion campaign that would warm the hearts and strike the imaginations of young people—there are so many of them—thoroughly dissatis- fied with the muddling and messing of politicians, eager for some faith that can be turned into action, for work that will make them feel life to be worth while.
" Conversion ? " you murmur-. gious conversion ? " Yes, I do, though not in the old sense. To be converted used to mean to accept certain beliefs in order to save one's own soul. It was an individual, selfish affair. When Peter Scott, director of the Brynmawr experiment, joined the Society of Friends, he was not thinking of himself : nor are those whom he has gathered round him, whether they be Friends by birth or Friends by conversion, as lie is. They are intent, all of them, on helping others, on leaving the world better than they found it, on establishing a Kingdom of God upon earth.
More than half a century ago Arnold Toynbee said that " any attempt to preach a purer religion must go along with attempts at social reform." When the Churches understand that, they will begin to recover some of the ground they have lost. In the meantime, there is a vast and every year increasing number of people who, having discovered their own religion, are ready to put it into practice, if opportunity offers. In Brynmawr oppor- tunity did offer ; it has been grasped. Among these young men and women who are turning words into deeds, one feels that a new age has begun. They arc pioneers. They are the advance guard of creators of a better world.
But they need your help. They are gladly giving their youth for a bare subsistence : it is all they have to give. For money to carry their experiment through they must rely on sympathetic backing from outside. They need little enough. Out of the £2,000 required a month ago to carry the workshops over the next twelve months and make them at the end of that time self-supporting. Readers of the Spectator have generously given £881 8s. 8d. That leaves £1,118 lls. 4d. to be made up. If you have not yet sent your contribution, please send it now. Help
words to become deeds. - H. F,
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