The chief development in the action of the Sword of the Spirit movement during the second year that has now closed has been the agreement on collaboration with the other Christian bodies in the country. This is stated in the hon. secretary's report, circulated among members attending last Saturday's annual general meeting in London.
The Archbishop of Birmingham has become the movement's deputy president, and the Bishop of Lancaster is among the Sword representatives on the joint committee with the Religion and Life movement.
The Sword has co-operated with the Catholic Social Guild, with the Catholic Pharmaceutical Guild (which joined the Sword as a body in September, 1941), with the Catholic schools movement, and with the Catholic Societies of Birmingham (who organised at short notice the Town Hall meeting on the Joint Pastoral, on September 6). Constant help in the drafting of literature has been received from the Bellarmine Society at Heythrop College.
Members of all Catholic Societies have helped in the development of the Spirit Study-groups.
The following Catholic Societies are represented on the Council of the Sword of the Spirit: Catcnians, Catholic Social Guild, Catholic Truth Society, Catholic Women's League, Catholic Young Men's Society, Knights of St. Columba, Legion of Mary, University Catholic Federation.
The Council resolved (June 24) on various measures to co-ordinate the work of the several Catholic organisations.
"Alms for Victory and Peace" was the subject of a New York radio address by Misa •Barbara Ward, Joint Hon. Secretary of the Sword of the Spirit, when she addressed a nation-wide American audience over the Red Network of the National Broadcasting Company on October 20. Miss Ward, who is shortly returning home, has given a number of lectures on the Movement while on tour in the United States.
The Combined Appeal for Children's Charities on September 26, Princess Elizabeth's Day, throughout the City of London and Metropolitan Police Area produced £19,141. Adding the spring collection of £23,593, the year's total is the record sum of £42,734,