NEW SCHOOL

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 9

NEW SCHOOL

OPENING AT CAMBRIDGE, LARGE ASSEMBLY OF GUESTS. DEDICATION OF CHAPEL. (Times Special Reporter.) CAMBRIDGE, Saturday. An event of outstanding important in the educational progress of th Dominion was the official opening c St. Peter’s School, Cambridge, whic

Among the principal guests were the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Education, the Most Rev. A. W. Averill, Archbishop of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. J. <i. Coates, Sir Henry Horton, representing the Auckland UniversityCollege Council, Sir George Wilson, Mr C. A. Barrell, M.P. for Hamilton, Mr J. R. Fow, Mayor of Hamilton, and Mr C. 11. Priestley, Mayor of Cambridge. An impressive ceremony was the dedication of the beautiful school chapel and the blessing of the buildings by Archbishop Averill. A special form of service was held for the dedication of the school chapel. After several- prayers had been said, and Psalm 122 was sung, the Archbishop pronounced the words of dedication as follows; “In the faith of Jesus Christ, we dedicate this chapel under the name of St- Peter, apostle and martyr, to the Glory of the Ever Blessed Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Amen.” The congregation then joined in the Lord’s Prayer, and his grace pronounced the Benediction. At the main entrance the Archbishop then dedicated and blessed the school buildings. Enterprise of Headmasters. The clergy who assisted the Archbishop at the dedication ceremony were the Very Rev. Dean T. P. Weatherhog. Archdeacon H. R. B. Gilliespie, Canon C. W. Turner, Canon E. H. Strong and the Revs. F. R. Wareing, C. W. Chandler, P. Cleary, R. J. Boyt, A. 11. Bolt and J. M. Beaufort, the joint headmaster When the guests assembled on the lawn the Archbishop, in the absence of the Bishop of Waikato, formally dedicated the school buildings. 1-Ie warmly congratulated the Joint headmasters on their wonderful enterprise and Mr Broadhurst in adding to the list of educative institutions in this country. It was a wonderful investment of money as the school, environment and buildings left nothing to be desired. ”My chief concern in the dedication of these buildings and erection of the school is that Mr Broadhurst has added to the list of schools which are carried on on a religious basis,” added His Grace. “ I feel certain that thousands of people are willing to contribute to such schools. There is ample room for schools of this sort without standardising schools in the country.” The Archbishop said some people had an idea that the religious side was over emphasised at the expense of the secular side and he strongly disagreed with the word secular as there was to his mind no such w r ord. As the same time the church schools believed that body, mind and spirit should all be developed at the same time. A school such as St. Peter’s did not in any way mean a sacrifice of the secular side. Religion was not regarded as an extra, but a.n essential for the full development of the personality of the hoy. He thought that the Minister of Education would agree that the school was a tremendous asset to the educational institutions of the country. He was certain that our church schools were making a great contribution lo the real meaning and purpose of education. Their main objective should be the drawing out of character. He believed the time was not far distant when there would be a great cleavage between those who looked upon life as an opportunity for self interest and those who looked upon it as an opportunity for service. The basis of the trainins of hoys in such a school as St.

eter’s should be service before self. Boys should be taught to imbibe and assimilate principles not of self interest but service for the whole community. It would be hard if we looked on’life as an opportunity of self-in-terest. We were simply blazing the trail for the subversive forces abroad in the world. His Grace pointed out that some people thought such schools created class consciousness; if the boys were properly trained there would be no fear of that. He felt confident that the school would make a very valuable and worthy contribution to the educational system of the country. With the efficient staff and wonderful buildings and environment there seemed no doubt that the welfare of the. school was assured. Tt. would fulfill the deepest and truest sSpect&tions of the joint founders. He hoped the school would be run in close harmony with the church schools in Auckland. Once again he thanked Mr Broadhurst for his liberality in founding the school.