INVERCARGILL CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 2, 4 May 1883, Page 5

INVERCARGILL CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

It may interest your readers that there exists in Invercargill for the past nine months, a Catholic Literary Society, conducted under the same principle as the Timaru and Christchurch Societies. The first meeting of the Society was held on the 19tb July, 1882, which was attended by the following gentlemen : — Messrs. M. Rooney, D. R. Lawlor, E. J. Dennehy, M. J. Gavin, D. Bradley, W. J. McKeown, M. O'Brien, B. Bradley, L. Mclntyre, and E. Laidlor. It was then unanimously agreed to form the above Society, having for its object to create a friendly union amongst the Catholic young men, the introduction of good Catholic literature, a' so for the improvement of the members by debates, recitations, readings, etc. The following members were duly elected to the respective offices : — Rev. Father McEnroe, S.J., spiritual director; M. Rooney, president; D. R. Lawlor, vice-president ; E. J. Dennehy, secretary ; M. J. Gavin, treasurer ; B. Bradley, librarian ; and W. J. McKeown, steward. The first important step taken was to form a library fund, and directly afterwards the Society agreed to order suitable books from Mr. E, O'Connor, Christchurch, and Whitaker Bros., Wellington. The Society lost no time from that date in getting into working order, which followed in the shape of a very interesting debate on the present discontent in Ireland, and the prog and cons were very fairly discussed. The receipts up to date have reached the handsome sum of £45, including a donation of £5 from the Rev. Father McEnroe, S.J. As there is an election of officers every six months, the following members were duly elected :— M. O'Brien, president ; P. Mulligan, vice-president ; J. Weavers, secretary ; J. Mclntyre, treasurer ; W. Powell, librarian ; D. Bradley, steward. At the last meeting the President (Mr. M. O'Brien), produced several catalogues of books which he had received from the local booksellers, and these have been carefully examined. The members gave the necessary authority to the committee to purchase those approved of ; with the additional number of books the Society will possess a large and wellselected library, — the books of which are from the best authors, and are very widely circulated among the Catholic congregation. After the ordinary business had been transacted and one new member elected, and another nominated, the Rev. Father McEnroe, S.J., delivered a Bhort but interesting address on the laws of debate, which was chiefly intended for the edification of the members who are preparing to take part as debaters on the different subjects to be discussed during the winter months. The reverend gentleman was loudly applauded and received a hearty vote of thanks. A reading from the " Life of Nelson," by Mr. George Weavers, and an Irish jiovaic recitation by Mr. P. Reid, brought a most enthusiastic meeting r to a close.