Henry Dyer took an active part in the social and religious life of Glasgow on his return from Japan. He was appointed a JP (Justice of the Peace) by the City of Glasgow and was a very active member of the newly formed Co-operative Movement,   for some time editing one of its publications. He was a frequent contributor (often his contributions were unsigned) to several Co-operative publications, and many of the views he expressed were controversial, reflecting his deeply held principles and belief in the movement.

Throughout his life Dyer had a wide interest in religious matters extending to Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism as well as Christianity, and was frequently asked to give talks for Church societies. The breadth of his religious and other interests is shown clearly in his family's bequest to the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, after his death, of some 6,000 items including his book collection, Japanese scrolls, kakemono (hanging scroll pictures) and ukiyo-e.

Mitchell Library in Glasgow

Henry Dyer was widely respected by both sides of industry as an industrial mediator and he was Vice-President of the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration of the Manufactured Steel Trade of the West of Scotland for 25 years.