FEILDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9406, 29 March 1909, Page 5

FEILDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL.

THANKS TO MRS W. W. JOHNSTON, THE DONOR.

Yesterday afternoon the adherents of the Roman • Catholic Church at Feilding, with other townspeople, gathered in the new school on the occasion of the presentation of anaddress to Mrs Walter W. Johnston, in recognition of her generosity in erecting a school. His Grace, Archbishop Redwood, was present and also Father O’Shea from Wellington. Father O’Meara, who opened the proceedings, said it had been a great consolation and encouragement to him to converse with the late Hou. W. W. Johnstqn on education. He had never met with a man who had clearer views as to the results that might follow from the system of secular education in this Dominion and the necessity for sound Christian teaching. He concluded by congratulating Mrs Johnston and family on their choice of a fitting memorial to the departed one. 'Mr Ongley then read the address, which was’beautifully written and framed, as follows : To MRS W. W. JOHNSTON, Highden, Awahuri, Dear Madam, — We, the Catholics of Feilding, desire to express to you and your family! our cordial thanks for the beautiful school which you have donated to our parish in memory of your beloved husband, the Hon. Walter Woods Johnston. No more fitting tribute cnuld be erected to commemorate the deceased gentleman, who, on the public platform and in the House of Representatives, persistently advocated the religious education of the children of this Dominion. His bright intellect clearly foresaw that any system of education, however skilfully devised, founded otherwise than on the solid foundation of Christian principles must inevitably undermine religion, morality, Government and civilisation. The Catholic Church, true to the mission imposed upon her by the Divine founder, has ever kept before her congregation the duty of imparting to their children a Christian education; and with a generosity unparalleled in the history of the world, she has been enabled to establish her own schools, so that to-day in Australaisa alone, out of her own resources, she has built and equipped over 1500 schools, where she imparts a through Christian education to nearly 130,000 children. We, Catholics of Feilding, presume to say we are making an honest endeavour to fall in line with the teaching and tradition of the Holy Church. Less than ten years ago Feilding was without a presbytery, a convent, a school; to-day we have a commodious presbytery with a resident priest, a beautiful convent with£the zealous and devoted sisters of Sfe. Joseph, and owing to the goodness and generosity of yon and your family," a school with all modern requirements, built regardless of expense, an ornament to our progressive town. Again, Dear Madam, we thank you and pray that you and your family may, long be spared to enjoy the fruit" of your beneficence. Signed on behalf of the Catholics of Feilding: James Meehan, Owen MoElroy, George Hitohman, Patrick Heneghan, Thomas Shortall, John Morphy, Thomas Oliver, John Wilson, Patrick Desmond, M. O’Oallaghan, David H. Erlihy,

Mr G. Johnston, replying on behalf of his mother and family, said that had his father have lived a little longer he would have undertaken the erection of the school himself, and it was on that account the school had been given. They hoped that from the school would go forth men and women whose names would be enrolled on the scroll of fame.

Archbishop Redwood said ife was a great pleasure to him to be present at the ceremony and share the joy they felt in possessing snob an excellent school. It had been erected regardless of expense and would be most useful as one of the means of imparting education to their children. It was so well constructed that it would serve for future generations as well as the present. He well remembered the late Mr Johnstone as a candidate for election tothe House of Representatives, how he risked his election by holding aloft the Catholic flag for fair play and justice to the Catholic body and still was successful. Education without religions instruction was not education in the true sense of the word for it did not prepare the young to resist the evil influences to which they would be subject in the course of their life. Religious instruction was peculiarly necessary in a democracy, for there was no form of Government under which the people more needed to be virtous. Again referring to the generosity of the donor, he said he hoped and believed that the late Mr Johnston was able to look down from Heaven with additional joy at the happy fulfil ment of his wishes for the erection of the school.