OFF TO EUROPE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10896, 10 May 1921, Page 6

OFF TO EUROPE

RECTOR 9F ST. PATRICK’S OLD BOYS’ SEND-OFF TO FATHER GILBERT. THE NEW ST. FATRICK’S COLLEGE. St. Patrick’s College,. Wellington, was last night the veinue of a large assemblage of old boys and friends of the college. The occasion was a unique one. Foi some years past the college authoritie; have centred their attention on the necessity for an extension of the present accommodation, and the initial steps have already been taken towards the erection of the new building at Miramar. Very Rev. Father Gilbert, S.M., M.A., who has been associated with the professorial staff of the 'college for the past fifteen years, the last two in the offic of Rector, intends to leave Wellington to-morrow by . the s.s. Tainui for Home, en route for Luxembourg, the headquarters of the Marist Order. The purpose of hig mission is to secure the sanction of the Superior-General of the Marist Fathers to the erection of the first portion of the new college. He intends also to visit the leading educational institutions of Europe and America. THE NEW ST. PATRICK’S. The site of the new college adjoins Scots’ College, at Miramar. It affords ample room for buildings, sports grounds, and other recreation areas, as well as all the structural necessities of a modern educational institution. Prior to the jj re pa ration of plans, a relief model has been prepared by the architect, Mr J. H. Mannings, of Christchurch, and, being the first of its kind, it has attracted a great deal of attention during its exposition at the Dominion Farmers’ Institute, and later at the college. Th< plans of the college are now complete Experts indicate that the architect has achieved a remarkable success iu coordinating the difficulties of the site%ni the needs of the school. When completed, it is said the building will be one of the largest and best equipped m Wellington. The Old Boys and friends of the college met recently and determined that the occasion of Father Gilbert’s departure should be fittingly celebrated. In the space of a few days they had arranged what transpired to be one of the most enthusiastic and enjoyable gatherings of the kind, held I in the capital city for some time. ' It was felt that the reverend superior of the college should not, he allowed to depart on his interesting mission without some tangible token of the respect, admiration and love which all his friends bore him. The sum of £3OO was quickly collected, and a banquet was held at the college for the purpose of presenting it to Father Gilbert. A MEMORABLE GATHERING. SPEECHES AND PRESENTATION. Mr J. J. L. Burke (presided over a large gathering which was representative of the Old Boyd, professors student® and well-wishers ot the college. telegrams were received from Old Hoys scattered all over the Dominion, all of wuich. wished the departing rector the best wishes for a pleasant voyage and fruitful success of his mission. Confidence in the great ability of the rector in the work ahead of Ihim as one of the delegates to the conference of the Order was the keynote of all the telegrams. They came from Auckland, Oie* borne, Taihape, New Opumake, Hawera. Wanganui, Napier, Greenmeadows, Hastings, Palmerston North., Fcxton, Maeterton, Blenheim, Nelson, Greymouth. Hokitika Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, and Mosgiel. One, which evoked loud applause, was from the West Coast Old Boys, asking Father Gilbert to say a requiem mass for the martyred founder of the OrdeT, Father Waters, and telegraphing for the purchase of a wreath on hi® grave. THE CHAIRMAN'S TRIBUTE. The chairman, in addressing the gathering, traced the history and progress of St. Patrick’s, and warmly commended the action of the authorities in deciding on the projected new college. He knew Father Gilbert through the day® of his boyhood, hia student period, and- right down to his novitiate and his appointment to the office of rector. (Hear, hoar.) He ventured to say he would bo the youngest delegate to the conference. Through his instrumentality an - area of 100 acres (had been eecurect at Miramar. He must have the help of all Old Boy® and friends of the college. New Zealanders would do their utmost to help in the fruition of hie mission. He trusted he would be spared many years, and wished him God-speed and -a safe return. (Applause.) OLD BOYS’ GRATITUDE. Mr C. B. O’Donnell addressed the gathering on behalf of the Old Boys. They were gratified to be associated with the . movement. Boys were apt to discover shortcomings in their 'teachers, but the students in 'his day recognised that Father Gilbert had none, but possessed rare abilities and the capacity of kindly advice and encouragement for success in after life. His success may be attributed to. the fact that he too was an Old Boy. He had unbounded confidence in the College, and was the boys’ fr|bnd. After they left school, many Old Boys spent happy hours with him, reminding him of the past. Father Gilbert 'had an intense interest in the debating society, and Old Boys looked back with pleasure to their pleasant association with it. This was the first opportunity for congratulating Father Gilbert on his appointment as rector. In these days of industrial chaos and financial difficulties it was a tribute to Father Gilbert’s ability that he should be selected. (Applause.) Father Gilbert’s .mission would help him to further ihe interests of the college in the future. No uriest deserved a holiday as he had done. Durihg sixteen vears he had led an extremely arduous life, .and all would join in trusting that he would be lone with them, continuing the good work he had begun. (Applause.) YOUNGER OLD BOYS. Mr T. P. Cleary, LL.B., on behalf of the younger Old Boys, said it would be presumption to add anything. He rould almost speak as a pupil to 'his master. He wasn’t one that Father Gilbert "tanned” the hardest, that was his luck, rather than his virtue. (Laughter.) Father Gilbert never had . a superior as a teacher in the college—or outside. (Applause.) The best 1 tribute to him was that he was a worthy follower of Dr Waters. Father Keogh, and Dr Kenna. (Applause.) He could not describe the relations between Father Gilbert and St. Patrick’s College better than bv saying that he was always so patient, kind, and so tender; he watched over it so carefully let it lean on him ever so heavily, and, when it was in question he had no thought for himself. GENERATIONS WILL BENEFIT. Mr ,T. ,T. McGrath added a warm tribute to Father Gilbert’s personality, and to the honour conferred, on him. tt was meet that he should visit the Old World educational institutions on. behalf of Catholic secondary education. (Applause.) The present and next generation of students at St. Patrick’s would benefit by his mission. (Applause.) His scholastic career was an enviable one. The speaker i*emeanbered t him long before ho went to school, of Irish parents who were reverenced on the West Coast—(applause) —where he received the rudiments of the great learning that won him the distinction of the priesthood and his present high office. Now the rector of his own school., he was in the position of tending and defending the destinies of the future college. , (Applause.) They recalled ivith gratitude his espousal of the cause

of Catholic education, and his stixring, memorable address on Anzac Day, 1918. (Loud applause.; His eloquent pen. m tho columns of the Press, had claimed for him a high place in their respect and affection. It was not only, his great learning made him their idol: it was aometmiig more exquisite still—his uigii character, his scrupulous regard lor tne truth; his detestation of anything mean and paltry; his solicitude f Ol the poor and afflicted j his Jove and tion and devotion for the* formation and the moulding of the character of th*? boys that were gladly committed to his care by their fond parents. (Prolonged applause.; The chairman then presented Father Gilbert, amid great applacse, with a wallet containing nearly and his> health was very enthusiastically honoured. FATHER GILBERT'S RESPONSE. Sustained cheering, greeted Fathor Gilbert when he rose td respond. "You can do me no greater honour,'* said Father Gilbert, "‘tifau 'honour me as the rector of the school. I o-m , not old enough or oa{pable enough to think that this honour is conferred on me, but ou the old school." .Loyalty to the school would not be so sparkling were it not for the work of the men that built, broad and deep, its foundations. To the noble old man. Archbishop Redwood, for establishing the school in darker days was the greatest honour due (Applause.) To Father Kennedy, of revered memory, to Father Keogh, and to Dr Waters, due honour was now being paid. They linked us up with an old-world town in. the land of our fathers, with the old See of St. Patrick. There was a large iron statue in the college tower. It had a link of special interest. The old Archbishop of Armagh thought in presenting it, he would join up the old and the new St. Patrick's. (Applause.) It linked up the days when '"slumps" were more frequent than now with the largest and best school in New Zealand. They dhonld be privileged, in the circumstances, to honour the memory of those men. (Ap«plause.) \ THE SCHOOL'S IDEAL. The school was founded to give Catholic boys the best education available, and God had bountifully blessed it in its thirty-five years of existence. They had an ideal—belief in the faith, in the teeth of all hostility. The school was a protest against disbelief. (Applause.) Because of their abiding faith in man's mature mind, they had striven to teach faith, honour, and truth, to encourage the boys to he honest, self-respecting, men; to teach patriotism—that patriotism which was measured by the duty of every man to his country, be he priest or ploughman. (Applause.) They existed by right; they stood for what they believed; they were built on a rook: they put before the boys the standard of truth, the same for the priest and peasant, for the prophet and the King. In the practice of their ideal they .believed that the email nations had as much right to justice as their bigger brethren. (Loud applause.) STUDENTS AND PLAYERS. They were human enough to be proud of the school record, continued lather Gilbert. Last year they had thirteen boys who passed the matriculation; twenty-three passed through the intermediate and Public Service. There were, too, many virtues in efficiency on the football field, but there were also virtues in the hoy that could, when not able to play, stand' in the rain and barrack for his side. (Laughter.) There .was no side that could take a win as well as St. Pat's., was no school that could take a licking as well, and they had many years of experience. (Laughter and* applause.) / DEBT TO THE OLD BOYS. The school had great love for its Old Boys. "' Many of them had fallen by ihe wayside, and their memory was revered. They owed much to the the ecclesisastical world there were high dignitaries in the Catholic Church in New Zealand that came from the ranks of ’St. Patrick's College. Among them was that illustrious prelate Archbishop O'Shea, Coadjutor Archbishop (applause) ; th© rectors of St. Bede's College, Christchurch (applause);* and Holy Cross College, Mosgiel. (Applause.) .DUTY TO "ALMA MATER." "The old school," concluded Father Gilbert, in a moving voice, "gives the Old Boys' the glamour of its name. So, too., it expects from them the best that they can give their Alma Mater—a full measure of that loyalty that knows no ill; that loyalty of heart that harbours no malice; and that loyalty of action that rises to the occasion in the hour of need. From what I have heard tonight, I think we may take an earnest that, when the time comes for us to put out the pegs of our tents further, we will find our best friends in the Old Boys of the school and the friends that are here to-night. (Applause.) I want to thank you deeply for the personal references to myself. I have been personally associated with the school since my boyhood, and memory to-night takes me back over a long vista of years. We have bad innumerable annoyances, -and have had to make sacrifices year after year, that most of the Old Boys, in. the comfort of their married home-life, aio not called on to make. THE SCHOOL-MAN'S DESTINY. "We school-men have to look vorward. year after year, to the loss of deep and abiding friendships. One of the saddest features of a schoolmaster's life is to part with the objects of his friendship. The memories of school are/in the m pleasing. I have tried to give my best to the school. I would deem it an honourable task, to be instrumental, even in a remote way, in furthering the new school at Miramar.- It has been planned on the most noble lines by a man capable of giving a noble expression to our ideas. I have been critical and exacting, but we pleased and satisfied, and, if we can one day get erected the school described in the plans I take away with me, I am. sure there is not a Catholic in New Zealand that will not burst with pride to know that such a noble edifire wag built for the cause for which he stands, and there is no citizen of New Zealand that will not take a just pride in St. Patrick's College. Miramar." (Loud and prolonged applause.) GREETINGS FROM BIRTHPLACE. When Father Gilbert had resumed his seat a telegram was received from the Mayor otf JCumaia, the birthplace of Father Gilbert. Its reading by Father Godringer, M.A., evoked a storm of applause. The-text of the telegram wa.* as follows: —"On the eve of your departure from the Dominion, allow me, on behalf ot the residents of Kumara, to congratulate you on the great honour conferred on you by being selected as one of the delegates to go to Europe to reneent the Marist Order. X trust you will be snared to return to the Dominion wit v fresh laurels added to your already distinguished career.—Benyon, Mayor of Kumara." Father Godringer, M.A., proposed the health of the chairman, and paid a stirring tribute to the work done bv Mr McGrath in organising the testimonial to Father Gilbert. Mr MoGrath, in felicitous terms, responded, and recounted manv pleas interludes that had happened ‘during hi* task of soliciting subscriptions during the past few days. One Old Boy, in forwarding a substantial donation, telegraphed that he hoped the wallet would be too heavy for Father Gilbert to carry to Europe. (Applause.) During the banquet proceedings were enlivened by an orchestra. Afterwards a musical programme was contributed, among the vocalists being Father Outtrim, Father Ryan, M.A., and Mr James Boyce. The gathering was brought to a close by cheers for Father Gilbert and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."