CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8535, 8 April 1891, Page 6

CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

The St. Patrick's Catholic Literary Society celebrated the opening of the session for the coming season by a very enjoyable conversazione in St. Patrick's Hall, last night. The building, which was crowded to the doors, looked very attractive, being handsomely decorated with flags and flowers. The programme of music, recitations, etc., was very carefully compiled, and its execution was such as to cause very marked signs of approbation from the audience. The office-bearers of the session, and several new members, both active and honorary, were elected. Mr. J. G. Connolly, the United States Consul,'on being elected an hon. member of the Society, delivered the following address Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, —Before bringing this pleasant meeting to a close I desire to thank you for having so kindly elected me an honorary member of your Society. Although I cannot actively engage in the discussion of the various subjects which must from time to time absorb your attention, yet I take a deep interest in your progress and welfare. It is highly creditable to your intelligence that you should have formed such a society as this. You cannot be too grateful to those who have been the promoters of this organisation ; nor can you adequately show your appreciation of their labours in mere words, but you can by deeds and actions. I feel certain they ask no greater honour at your hands ; no higher acknowledgment of their efforts to promote your intellectual welfare than to see you enter with zeal and vigour into everything that would in the slightest degree tend to advance the wellbeing and usefulness of the society. No man who is philanthropically disposed, and who labours in any sphere in life for the benefit of his fellowcreature, can ask for a higher reward than to see his efforts keenly appreciated. It must, therefore, be exceedingly gratifying to those who have taken such deep interest in the success of this literary enterprise to see the substantial progress it has made. There is, however, one thing I would earnestly impress upon you, that notwithstanding the earnestness and zealousness of the founders of your society, yet without the hearty co-operation of each individual member, failure instead of success is csrtain to follow. I am aware of the difficulty any one must encounter who will attempt to suggest the kind or character of your literary exercises. Dr. Cli ord Allbutt said that "to give such advice, is like urging all men to have a taste for music." If, however, you have a taste for literature, it is indeed a charming possession, and one you should continue to cultivate. It is impossible to create a natural desire for literary pursuits. Such desires must be spontaneous, a part of your being. If you have r, liking for any special line of literary work you should encourage it by reading all available works or anchors -having any special reference to the particular line you are desirous of following. Your time should not be wasted in reading irrelevant books which may have a tendency to lead your thoughts away from the literary path you desire to pursue. If a boy's whole ambition is to be a blacksmith or a carpenter by all means let him follow the bent of his inclinations. If you will allow him to do this he will take a pride in his vocation, and will endeavour to excel in everything he does. But you force him to other occupations— such, for instance, as grinding out indifferent and ill-digested theology to a suffering people during his natural life, or striving to understand and form an attachment for the many virtues (?) of Blackstone ; or, perhaps, vainly trying to master the innumerable mysteries and perplexing intricacies of the medical profession, in none of which will he ever attain to a position of eminence unless he has a special inclination therefor. I do not wish 'to be understood as making an attack on the honourable professions I have mentioned; but lam persuaded if greater pains were taken to ascertain what particular calling in life a boy is most adapted for, you would on Sunday find our churches full to overflowing, the disciples of Blackstone and Kent could more ably expound the principles of their chosen profession, nor would there be any quack doctors. This alone would be an inestimable boon to millions of the human family. Parents, in too many cases, form an idea that their son John or William must be a doctor, or a lawyer, or minister, without the slightest regard to the boy's own wishes in the premises, or knowledge of his capacity for the work he is intended for. This is a grievous mistake. It is a crime against their child to force him into a vocation, which, perhaps, ho detests, or is unfitted for. Conld they look in upon him in after years, and see him preaching to empty benches, or follow him up that narrow lane which leads to that temple of justice known as the Police Court, there they would find him looking pale and haggard, ill-fed and ill-clad, inhaling the poisonous air which invariably circulates amid those unhallowed precincts. Or, worse still, perhaps he is a quack doctor, despised and unrecognised by his more eminent brothers of the profession, eking out a miserable existence, performing only such service as the more respectable members of his calling would not. deign to look at, bleeding gullible humanity, and perhaps killing more than he can cure. Could parents but foresee the misery their vanity and pride has brought to their child, they would be careful not to inflict the punishment of their folly on his innocent head. It is, therefore, most desirable that a young man should have a voice in the selection of his life's vocation. Then he will pursue it with such determination and passionate impulses to elevate his profession and achieve the highest degree of success. But, you may say, what has this subject got to do with you ? It lias ; it concerns you at once. You are young men, many of you, who may not have chosen your profession for life. The few words I have spoken are intended to admonish you to examine yourselves carefully before making a selection of your life's calling. Consider it well, and once determined upon, in sunshine or in shadow, let it be a labour of love throughout the long day cf existence to maintain and elevate the integrity of your calling, as by so doing you will become an honour to your profession and a respected and useful member of society. You should never forget all through life's struggle Richelieu's celebrated admonition, "Remember that in the sweet lexicon of youth there is no such word as fail."