CATHOLIC EVIDENCE GUILD. - A lay apostolate movement for the conversion of England, supported by men and women who, after proper preparation for this mission and having received the necessary faculties, bring the Catholic truth to those who do not think of hearing it in church or where a Catholic priest preaches. Preaching therefore takes place in squares, parks, street corners—in any place where there are people ready to listen, at least out of curiosity, to the word of the layperson delivered from a makeshift platform or pulpit.
The method, though not new, was embraced by Catholics following some public demonstrations of atheism by members of the Metropolitan Secular Society and was initiated in 1918 by James Redwood in London’s Hyde Park. A league of laymen and laywomen quickly formed, supervised by priests for doctrinal instruction; a program was established; and from London, where its effectiveness was soon evident, the movement spread to several other cities across various dioceses, reaching a significant number of members (now about 580) and preaching platforms (about 80). Approximately 450 conferences are organized monthly in Westminster.