WORK OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21247, 20 August 1934, Page 10

WORK OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL

i MOULDING GENTLEMANLY : CHARACTER GOVERNOR-GENERAL AT ! CHRIST'S COLLEGE | The importance of the mouldinj of gentlemanly character in sucl ' schools as Christ's College, and thi duties of every boy to uphold tin , right principJes which he is laugh j there, wore referred to by his Ex celleney tTic Governor-Genera (Lord Bledisloe) at the Christ': College chapel last evening. Hi: Excellency attended the service ii the chapel and before it closed hi addressed the boys of the congregation. "Boys, I am glad to have this opportunity towards the close of mj ' tenure of office as his Majesty's re ; prcsentativc, of addressing a few woi'ds to you," Lord Bledisloe said ; "When the pioneers of the Canter- * bury settlement first planned thi; community some 84 years ago, youi i school was an essential part of then ; plan. Founded upon the pattern ol , the public schools of England, anc particularly upon Eton, it has growr ; to achieve its destiny. It has concerned itself with the building up ol ■ right principles in the youth of this country. ''The work of such .schools is the making of the character of a gentleman. If you want the definition ol the character of a gentleman you can find no bcttc-r than that given by David in the fifteenth Psalm—- . one who works righteousness, speaks the truth, and keeps his standards high, choosing lo suffer himself rather than to do wrong to another or to see wrong done. " 'Gentleman' is the most misconj strued of all words. A true gentle- ! man is diligent never to let another, whose training or advantages have j not been so fortunate, fee) any sense I of inferiority by comparison. Rather ! he is anxious to share the privi- | leges he himself has received, j "This country is fortunate in that [ no system of caste has yet grown j up. It is your part to give no scope i for the growth of caste. It is your ; part to build bridges in the com- ; niunity. Are you going to let other I schools excel you in showing the j way to the people of this country ] towards all that makes for the true - upbuilding of its best interests? God | forbid. 1 I wish you all success in vour own lives, and in this House of "God I it is my privilege lo sav 'God bless j y ° U '' "