FESTIVAL OF THE REV. MOTHER OF ST. COLUMBKILLE'S CONVENT, HOKITIKA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 20, 7 September 1883, Page 5

FESTIVAL OF THE REV. MOTHER OF ST. COLUMBKILLE'S CONVENT, HOKITIKA.

Thb Feast of St. Clare, the patron of the Rev Mother, which fell this year on Sunday, was celebrated on the 21st with more than usual spirit by the children attending the convent school, who gave a dramatic and musical entertainment on the occasion. The large hall which was tastefully decorated, was thronged with parents and' others who were invited from Greymouth, Kumara and Ross, who notwithstanding the unpleasantness of the weather, came to do honor to the estimable lady who governs St. Columbkille's so wisely zealously and successfully. In addition to the worthy pastor, the Rev. Father Martin, there were also present the Rev. Father Ahe'arn Ross, Rev. Father Walsh, Kumara, and the Rev. Father O'Connor,' Greymouth. Among the laymen who came from a distance were Judge Broad, from Nelson, P. Dungan, Esq., J.P., M.C.C.W., from Kumara, Mr. J. Crowley, from Ross. The performance commenced with a song of greeting by all the children, after which Miss Walker advanced to the front of the stage, and with a clear distinct intonation, read au address to the Rev. Mother, which was most elaborately and tastefully illuminated, and its contents, expressing with childlike sincerity, the esteem and affection with which the Rev. Mother is regarded by the pupils under her care. Miss M'Gribben then played an excellent piano solo. A drama from " Tyborne," entitled " Isabel de Lisle," was next put on the stage, with the following caste : — Prologue, Miss R. Cleary ; Baroness de Lisle, MissF. Farrell • Isabel de Lisle, Miss A. Cleary ; Walter de Lisle, Miss M. Giibben • Mary Thoresby (niece to the Baroness de Lisle), Mis 3G. Jago ; Earl Beauville (guardian to the de Lisles), Miss M. Atkinson ; Reginald (his son), Miss J. Farrell ; Father Gerrard (a Catholic priest), Miss M. Daly ; Father Campian, S.J., Miss M. Ward ; Rose Forde (tenant to the Baroness), Miss L. Walker ; Lady Constance Beauville (afterwards Duchess Bertram, Miss B. CJapcott ; Mary and Henry (children of the Duchess), Miss M. Lyttle and Master P. Clark ; Roger (an old servant of the de Lisle family), Miss L. Gribben ; Reuben" Joynt (a peasant), Miss M. Phelan ; judge, Miss Ward ; jurors, twelve of the troupe ; bishop, Miss M. Moller ; messenger from Morris's house Miss J. Dyson. During the intervals the following young ladies played piano solos :— " La Crepuscule " (piano solo), Miss A. Lynch • " Ecoutez Moi," Miss L. Walker ; " Gaite de Coeur," Miss L. Walker ; "Lea Cloches dv Monastere " (piano duet), Misses M. Ward and M. Gribben ; " What may To-morrow Bring " (song), troupe'; " There is not Love like a Mother's " (song), troupe ; " Jay Grei n " (piano duet), Misses C. Dyson and A. Lynch ; " Longing " (piano solo), Miss M. Gribben ; overture to " Tancredi " (piano solo), Miss A. Lynch ; epilogue, Miss K. Lynch. The entertainment concluded with a farce in one act, entitled "The Hypochondriac," with the following dramatis persona : — Squire Croupey (a farmer), Miss M. Ward ; John and Josiab( his sons), Misses B. Atkinson and C. Dyson ; Jeke Cornstalk and Pat Mullen (farm hands), Misses A. Lynch and M. Ward. '■ Many Happy Returns of the Day " (iong), troupe. It is a commendable custom when dealing with the and musical performances of children to treat them considerately, but it must be said with truth, for all the youthful performers in the above rather heavy piece, that they displayed dramatic faculties of a very high order. Their enunciation was almost faultless, and the ease, grace, and total absence of artistic " staginess " with which they acted their parts, showed the careful, skilful training they received at the hands of the good Sisters. The representation of Miss Farrell of the Baroness de Lisle was a splendid piece of acting, and Miss A. Cleary showed unmistakeable signs of having a good memory — never having faltered in her very heavy part, nor guilty of a " false quantity "in her pronunciation. Miss M. Daly performed the difficult part of Father Gerard in the most sacerdotal manner. Miss G. Jago, as Mary Thuresby, was graceful and distinct. Miss M. Gribben " brought down the house " repeatedly as she went through her rsle of Walter

de Lisle, especially in the scene where he meets his mother after eight years' absence. Miss M. Atkinson made a splendid Earl Beauville, and the solemn, graceful, zealous priest was well represented by Miss M. Ward, as Father Campion. Miss B. Olapcott, as Lady Beauvilla, and afterwards Duchess of Bertram, played her many parts skilfully, and Miss J. Farrell, as Reginald, gave evidence of having paid strict attention to her rehearsals, as her style was competent, and her enunciation clear and distinct. The acting of Hiss M. Ward, as Pat Mullen, and Miss A. Lynch, as Jeke Cornstalk, kept the audience in roars of laughter. At the conclusion of the performance, the Rev. Father Aheara rose and said that he could scarcely allow such an auspicious occasion to pass without paying a worthy compliment to the youthful performers who had afforded us so genuine an entertainment this evening-. He felt extremely gratified to be able to reflect the feeling of the audience as well as his own at the remarkable display of culture and ability witnessed this evening. He congratulated the Reverend Mother at such a manifestation on the part of her pupils, and while wishing many happy returns of her festival, he might cay that the performance spoke volumes on the manner in which the Sisters discharged their labour of love in training the children, on whose youthful minds the remembrance of this and similar happy reunions could not fail to serve as pleasing reminiscences of their schooldays at ' the convent of St. Columbkille. The reverend gentleman sat down amidst much cheering. Mr. Dungan then came forward and said that it was very kind of Father Martin to do him the honour of saying a few words on so interesting an occasion. He (Mr. Dungan) deeply felt the compliment paid him. Still, he could say with truth that he found himself quite unable to do justice to the many thingsclaiminga well-deserved attention in the programme of the evening. But he hoped he would be pardoned if, for one moment, he spoke of the reverend lady in whose honour the entertainment had taken place. How truly it may be said that the Reverend Mother had endeared herself to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her, and he could justly add, the great zeal shown in her everyday Jlife of labour and of charity, the marked success attending the conventual institution over which she presided with the great care in the interests of the school, the evertender solicitude for the well-being of the children were but a few of the many proofs of Bow worthily she occupied the important position of Mother Superioress of the Convent of St. Columbkille. — Of the merits of the entertainment, he desired to say that everything was listened to with a feeling of great pleasure by those persons present, and highly gratifying it would be to the good nuns to see the children jacquit themselves in so accomplished a manner, their efforts being awarded a hearty meed of praise throughout the varied portions of the programme. He (Mr. Dungan) would further remark that the many parts spoken were given with a clear and distinct pronunciation, great confidence, and wonderful powers of memory, — the concerted music being sweetly sung, and the piano pieces as rendered showing both taste and study. Bat what pleased him most and has still a greater charm, belonging to the children — it was the modest grace pervading their every movement, word, and 100k — true reflex of the beautiful and good, marking with distinctive feature each part of the performance. The good nuns had every reason to be proud of their pupil a, and in a very fitting manner they have shown love and respect for the Rev. Mother. Mr. Dungan's speech was received with muoh applause/and the company then separated, all well pleased with the performance. It is well known that the bitterest enemies of our religion are the most strenuous advocates of secular education, because they regard it as a powerful means of weaning the minds of Catholic childten from the true faith. But the increasing vigilance of oar bishops and clergy have baffled their design. We have now, thank God, many courageous communities of Catholic teachers — Nuns and Christian Brothers — who have solved the problem of education without the assistance and in spite of the injustice of the State, and their success has been worthy of their exalted motives. What greater blessing can be conferred on a district than a pious womanhood ? And what greater curse than , woman when she is ignorant of her duties and regardless of moral restraint ? A good woman in a household is more precious than wealth. — Virtue grows in the sunshine of h»r presence like a beauteous flower — while in the circle of the wicked mother, blight and decay shed their baneful odours around. From that unhappy spot religion takes flight and the twin sisters sia and sorrow fix their abode. I would ask any sensible parent which girl is the moie likely to grow up virtuous — the one educated by holy enlightened ladies, who bear in their retreat the mark of that rank they held in society, and whose all-absorbing desire now is to give glory to God by saving the bduls of these little children whom Ha so detrly loves, and shewing her an example, the purest, the holiest, the most beautiful, the most inspiring that shines on earth ; the example of those who have torn themselves from the world and its thousand affections, that they may do the work of God ; who cultivate in themselves and who are the embodiment of the virtues they would implant on their pupils, who walk in the footsteps of their Redeemer and work, their souls and hearts and intellects to induce others to walk after then in those " paths of peace ? " — the other educated in a school where the name of her Creator is introduced surreptitiously or not at all, where expressions of reverence to Him or His Holy Mother or Hit saints are forbidden or at best placing that religion which His Divine Son taught upon earth on a level with other sciences, as if it were merely a good useful thing to be learned, helping to fit a man for intercourse with the world, and not a principle, ramifying itself with the dearest, the most vital, the eternal interests of the whole human race ? I think any Christian parent, ■ unless blinded by the grossest prejudice would have no difficulty in answering the question. 1 am happy to be able to inform your readers that the convent at Hokitika, as well as its branch at Grey mouth, is in a prosperous condition, and that before long will be established a branch at Ahaara and another at Ross, from the same parent institution. j. j. c. Boss, August 27th, 1883,