CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOLS, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 13, 26 December 1890, Page 3

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOLS, DUNEDIN.

The annual entertainment and distribution of prizes in connection with these schools took place in St. Joseph's Hall on Friday eveningi His Lordship the Bishop presided, and there was present a very large attendance of visitors.among whom we noticed the Bey. Fath-rsLvncb, Adm., Golden, Hunt and O'Neill, his Worship the Mayor and" Mrs Carroll, Mr. J. B. Oallan, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Petre, Mr. and Mrs F. Meenan, Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Woods, Mr. H. Gourley, Mr. J. P. Armstrong, Mr. 0. E. Haughton, and others too numerous to mention The programme opened with the New Zealand National Anthem, followed by the " Village Chorister," in both of which choruses oar old friends the " Young Ceeilians " did ample justice to the music entrusted to them, and succeeded well in pleaeins their audience. A recitation, " The Young Orator," was then given by Master John Callan, a very little fellow, who acquitted himself of his task in a manner almost beyond praise, speaking out his words clearly, distinctly, and with peifect intelligence and understanding of their meaning. Simultaneous readings, "The Sister of Charity " and " Home for the Holidays," came next, both being extremely creditable. The latter, however, as might perhaps be expected, seemed more in keeping with the taste of the boys, and was especially well given. " The Noble Boy " was then recited with good expression by Master John Creagh , after which the Cecilian quartette was heard to great advantage in the glee " Bells of Freedom," and the solo and chorus " Mabel White " —the little boy, Master Clarke, who took the solo, singing with remarkable sweetness. A gymnastic display— rod exercises, to music performed on the piano by Mr. Oscar David— followed, and was very deservedly admired, as was afterwards a series of •volutions with clubs gone through with in the same manner. An elocutionary conteat was then carried out in three divisions— a musical performance occupying each interval. The boys competing, Masters R. Cotter P O'Neill, J. Fagan, A. Qaelcb, G. Eas*-, E. Wilkins, J. Fraser, D. Buckley, J. Mcc, and A. Cameron, did their several parts remarkably well, the first prize being awarded, on the decision of Messrs. Callan and Haughton, the appointed judges, to Master F-dward Wilkins, who had particularly distinguished himself in O.iver Wendell Holmes' poem, " The Boys "— answerinp, be ides, a smart examination by one of the Brothers as to tbe meaning of certain lines and phrases. There was a tie between Masters John Fraser and AUred Qaelch for second prize, and tbe third prize fell to Master Richard Cotter. The music filling up the intervals was a part song, " The Convent Bells," well given by the Young Ceeilians, and "Ecce Homo," a solo by Piccolomini, sun^ by Master Nicholas Moloney— accompanied on the piano by Misa K. Moloney, his sister. The song, a very difficult one, was beautifully eung, and in response to an enthusiastic encore the singer gave a verse from a solo in the opera of " Maritana." The distribution of prizes, made by his Lordship the Bishop, was immediately preceded by an amusing scene entitled the " Student's Social," in which a number of young gentlemen, under the patronage of one of their Professors— chiefly distinguishable by his grey hair— had met to pass a sociable evening, and did pass it accordingly in a manner common to such occasions. The liveliness of the scene was much enhanced by the arrival of a visitor, accompanied by his cnild— a very prodigy of infantile genius.

On the conclusion of the distribution of prizes the Bishop made the following address :—: —

Mr. Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen,— l came here this evening with the intention of making a speech, but I find that it is too late to trespass on your kind attention. However, as some people would say or, I believe, do say— if I did not make a speech on this occasion I should not sleep to-night, if you will permit me I shall speak for a while, but only for a little while, and although I am not going to stand for Parliament, if you will only be kind enough to ask me ques« tions I will answer them. I have got so much to say that I hardly know where to begin, and it would be a great mercy to me if Bomebody would s'.art a subject on which I could epeak to you. I will try to keep my promise and not trespass on you at any great length. For 20 years on occasions like this 1 have had the same text, and I believe the secularists are determined that I sball never want a text as long as I Jive. You came here this evening to witness the entertainment of the boys and also the distribution of the prizes to them ; and the great crowd I see here before me assures me that you feel an unabated

interest in St. Joseph's Boys' School. lam happy to be able to bear X 2£! J u£ h f ° O1 i 8 ftD eXCell6nt ° ne ' th ' fc " mafnta ns h" ?**£.«? Dg a &°' Bnd B iveß evidence thatitw.ligo on improving year after year, as in the past, until, after a time it sh»X Lave attained the very height of perfection, 'i a m sure Ton y g,ve «P»wion to your sentiments this evening when I say we are all ?ery nmcb obliged to the boys for the d.stinguisbed entJrtainmen they have given us; and for fear I might forget th,-m I may also say I give exprenion to your rentiment and feeling when I say we are under deep obhgrtlcm to the good Brothers for all the laboured .."that welre In A?H c - Bted m the Care ° f ° Ur b °y 8 - Tv thi9 car « and Z e«l Trfd fnr ,hl rt • 'If *"?' meaßUre for the P^iency of the school, fo theaflnurable entertainment we have witnessed this evening It ib unnecessary for me to enlarge upon tins subject, for you all w U « nT W BWa « t , aDd high ar « tne *ervic, 8 ,f the Brothers ; and we we all, I am confident, most grateful to thtm for what they have BTiaily3l!.arßthey.haTe8 T iaily3 l!. arßthey . haTe laboured here for our children. rfl-t,?K \ c "Suing the same question annually at the distribution of pmes in this school. I have also argued the question JiliJ nSTI? 8l a ? d ha Z e written a & ood deal ab °°t it, so that really I think there is nothing that I can say that is new to offer for jour consideration this evening. But if you will be so good as to bear with me for five or sir minutes, I should like very much to put all tnat l have said and written hitherto, as it were, in a nutshell I like to put on record on an occasion like this our position in reference to the education question, and to renew our demand for justice and fair play. The Government of this country, backed by the people of the country as a people, have established a system of education of which we cannot conscientiously avail ourselves. Therefore we have establirhed schools for ourselves, and ir the midst of great difficulties and after great sacrifices we have provided for our children en excellent education wherever any considerable number of Catholic children is to be found. Here in this town nearly 900 children are attending the Oatbolic schools, and as we support these schools ourselves, unaided 7*l™ GoT * rDmea t. we are saving the Government no less a sum than £3600 a year, and we have ooi c this for 13 ytars. The sum is an easy one, if you take the tiouble o tot it up. The result is that we have saved the Government in hie o c town alone a very large sum of muney in the past few yea-s, aud if, then, you consider what we Catholics have done throughout New Za-land, you will find we have saved the Government something between £30,000 and £40,000 a year dnn. g 13 years, so that I believe the public is actually indebted to us in the Bum of very nearly half a million of money. We have been wronged to this extent, and I do not hesitate to use strong language as I generally do use strong language when speaking upon this subject, because my sense of justice and fair play has been always outraged. We have been plundered. That is the term ; that is the word We have been plundered of the sum of nearly half a million of money because we have conscience and faitb. I am surprised that our fellow-citizens are not ashamed to find themselves guilty of such enormous robbery , and of inflicting such a crying injustice on their fellowcitizens. It was said in the beginning that we would not hold out— that the burden would be bo great that we should be obliged afte- a little while to accept the Government tystem of education But we have not done bo, nor are we likely to do bo. On the contrary as time has gone on we have been doing better and better for our own schools, and this is a matter bo evident that many who in the beginning opposed our claims to justice and fair play, frankly acknowledge that there is no hope of inducing Catholic people to throw away their conscience, or to endanger or abandon their faith. In the beginning, also, we were met by some very comical arguments. When we complained of this injustice, we were told by some shallow people— and all our opponents at tbat time were very shallow— that we had no claim. That we might as well refuse or complain or remonstrate against paying taxes for the support of the police force of tbe couutry, and. la terly, that we might as well claim to be exempt from paying for the railways. Well, that areumtnt bas been exploded long .go If we p.id for p l.cc always to look alter ourselves, and some people say that thai would be very just and proper, then, indeed, we woald have a claim. But as the police force that does for other people does very well for us it is only fair, of course, that we should pay our share to its support And it is I the same way with the railways. If we had a railway system ou, selves j —and that might be very convenient for our pcor children coming to Bchool-it would not be fair to tax us for the railways : but as we I use them like other people we cannot complain about paving our share, so that those arguments seriously brought forward in the beginning have on consideration been found to be so extremely absurd that everybody has given up throwing them at us. Then we are told «? fi r hA n S°vf fv, T te ,° P°BBlbieP ° 88lb i e cxce P tth e present godless system established by the Parliament of the country. Well, the people who cay that must have a very low idea inreed of the intellectual powers of their fellow citizens. No other system possible 1 Is there not intellect enough in the country to devise any other system ? Is there not genius enough in the country to do that which is fair and just and honourable? Is (he intelligence of the country of such a character that .our statesmen and fellow citizens can devise nothing but that which is mean ? For is it not mean for people to take your money to give godless free education to their own children while we i arc paying smartly for the education of our own children / Look at ' the kinds of argument brought forward against us. The arguments i of men without intelligence and intellect, and arguments onfy calcu" lated to mint tbe intelligence of the country-arguments whfch Thua w^t J w I ' aUg u, at the BtatCßQ >en of New Zealand. 1& « f \1 18 im P° eßlble t0 d 0 anything else. Surely that £^ j f I 1D - ° " .CoUDlneß. CoUDlneß ls P° 6S 'ble here. In England and Scotland there is more justice than here. In England and Scotland h?rc to'dol 1 , t6t 6 BtU 5 € ' f TT 8l8 l WhiCh cxi8 ' 8 here Yet People came faS? i- ?>, ■ i 1 Gy bOaßt ° f their deffi °cra C y, whereas, the ih™ ' • / TGT G I' 88 dfcmocratlc and just-confesseuly more unjust CathSin - . En f land aad Scotland. In England and Scotland the Catholic schools receive aid. The State recognises the Cathol.cs as tUE-pajars, and they have not yet descended to the low depth of SOeasncu of taking money off Catholics, and employing it wholly

and entirely to their own purposes. But oar great Democrats, who dav3 come to ihis country to establish a model government, have for ineir principle not justice not fair play, not common sense, bat a majority, it i Bi ß a majority must rule— counting heads, not conming ii- te 1' cts ; counting numbers, not counting br«ins. It is the majority that must rule us, f.rsjoth ; n)t justice, nor fair play, nor common sense; arid the example of other countries is lost on our great Libu-,il Democrats— men who tke a delight in tyrannising over their fellow criz -ds, and in rifling their pockets for their own special purges. Surely that which exists in Canada is possible here, and m Lanad-i there is the moat just syaiem of education conceivable «o man s conscience there is interfered with. Stress is put upon no man s views there, but even justice is done to every man without exceptioo. In Canada there are several provinces. There is the province, for txample, of Quebec, where 99 out of every hundred people are Catholics, and the Provincial Government of Quebec does tne most absolute justice to the minority though insignificant, and gives it equal rights. Then if you co to another province, Ontario, where the majority are Protestant, we find a similar state of things, ihere the Catholics are in a minority, but they are on a footing of perfect equality with their fellow citizens in the matter of education Ontario is similar to New Zealand, though it ib larger in population and has a wider territory to leok after, and wherever in Ontario there are 30 children of school age, and the parents of these children wish to have a echool for themselves, the law of the land is that the parents of these children can elect a school committee for themselves, and the moment that is done, all the taxes the parents of thoße children pay for Bchools are handed over to theirowncommif.ee and not only is that the fact, but other people, who think that the Catholics are entitled to extraordinary aid, are entitled to tell the tax collector to give their taxes to the Catholic-committee, and very many Protestants do that. Ihen the central Government of the country makes an annual vote, and the school committee receives a pro rata share of that vote, so that there the schools of the Government have not a peony of advantage over the denominational schools. I hat is justice end fair play. Catholics are not obliged to find Uxea t-i pay tor the free and godless education of mean people, for I call them nothing less than mean peo,,le, while t-iey have to pny for toe entire cost of their own children. There justice and fair play are recogmsed and given to every man. No one ha- any adv^ntag^ over another ih re are no people battening and fattening moa the plunder of the La hohcs of the country as there are here. There is no special interest— no peculiar interest- established by doing injustice, as ia tt c case here, but there all have fair play. Tha Catholics where they are m the ascendant, as in Quebec, give perfect justice to their nonCatholic fellow citizens, and the Protestant majority of Ontario give perfect fair play and justice to their non-Protestant fellow citizens (applause). Now if that be tie state of things in Canada, why could not a similar state of things be here ? There is nothing in the wide world to prevent it, but that while in Canada there is a aense of justice and fail- play and the people there have brains and hearts and are in earnest in support of education, here, I do solemnly declare my conviction that it is not education so much they care for as trampliug upon the Catholics of the couutry (loud applause). And now I will go one step further. Where has this system of godless education originated ? Who have bean the originators of it, and for what purpose have they originated it ? There can be no doubt whatever about what I am going to say now, because I have official documents in my possession to establish the truth of every word I shall state. It is the Freemason lodges in Italy and France — mind you, I do not include the Freemasons of England, because they have separated themselves from those godless men, but it is the Freemason lodges of Italy and France who started this idea of godless education for the express purpose of destroying Christianity, and above all the Catholic re igion. And who are the mm who are foremost in maintaining this system of i justice, and of trampling upmus, and of keeping ' heir heel up m our nt cks ? They are t c emissaries of ih-j godleaa Freemason lodges of Italy f,rjri France (applause). Now, lam saying nothing about the lodg-s in I aly and France, but what they aie saying of them«elves They havetheir newspapers, they have their periodicals ; their leading men from time to time are making speeches before the public, and these are reported in the papers— all these, one and all, have declared at.d have made a boast of it, that it was they who originated this idea of gidle3s education, and that the object of doing so was to destroy Christianity, and above all the Catholic Church and the Papacy. The system is godless ; it is anti-Christian. Its piincipal object is to destruy the knowledge of Christianity, to wring the very idea of Christ out of the minds and hearts of the rising generation ; and any Catholic who gives his aid towards the maintenance of this system of education is an apostate Catholic. He does not deserve the name of Catholic (applauee) ; and I will go further and cay this We had an election here lately. lam convinced that the overwhelming majority of Catholics voted as they ought to vote ; but I nave been assured that a few Catholics did not vote as they ought to have voted, but voted for men who declared they would not give the Catholics justice. I say these Catholics have denied then- religion (loud applause). They are unworthy men. They do not deserve to be in our body. They do not deserve to be permitted to consort with us. They have abandoned Christ. They have joined (he men whose object it is to destroy Christianity and to clebtroy the Catholic religion. They have made themselves the abettors of those men. They have helped them into power in order that injustice might bo persevered in, and that those men might have power to trample up >n us, and to violate our contciences. Now if the people oi this c .untry wish to be just there is nothing e»si?r and not hu g more simple than to do an act ot justice to us They can imitate tne example of England and Scotland ; they can imitate the example of Canada- Quebec, Ontario aod other pn vinces. They can do that if they wish to, but they do not wi-h to do it, and they continue using absuid arguments to throw dust into the eyes of 'he people, wLoentiei do not thi. k or are incapable of thinking. We have fought, and in lighting the battle of Chnstianity we have bee a lighting the battle ot social order and bccml peace, As the Catholics of. tlic country we

have been the best benefactors of the CDuntry ; we are the only people who are labouring to plant the leaven of Ohrritianity in schools and consequently of social order in the country (applause). Only allow the system of godless education to continue long enough— that is. for a generation or so — and you will have no Christianity in the country, except in the Catholic body ; and consequently no foundation of social order, and caa expect nothing but anarchy, and commotion, and distraction of society ii this country. Now, lam opposed, and have always been opposed, to this system of education— not only as a ratbolic, not only as a bishop here amongst you, but I have been opposed to it as a citizen of New Zealand. I am a citizen of New Zealand, and have been a colonist for four and thirty years ; and for four and thirty years I have bsen fighting this battle, not so much for my religion, though, of course, that is the first consideration, but I have been fighting it as a citizen and a colonist because I love the Colony, and I am solicitous for its welfare and its order (lond applause). As a citizen, therefore, and as a man, M well as a Uatholic and a bishop, I denounce tbe system of public education existing here as tyrannical, as unjust, as unfair, as unmanly, as mean, and as opposed to the social order and social wellbeing of this country (applause). We have been told lately that the undenominational cause wins everywhere, that the prevailing system is secular. No such thing. Out of France and Italy, where the lodges are at present supreme, there is hardly such a thing as pure secular education in any part of tbe world, and the men who speak of this know not what they are talking about. They do not understand the history of the question or its present status. Why, religion is at the foundation of education in almost every country except those two. In England people would not think of havin? education without religion- Tbe school boards, by the force ot public opinion, had been obliged to put religion into the schools. In Austria and Germany, countries quoted against us lately, this i& the f <ct; and there are gentlemen in this town from those countries who will bear out what I •ay, that religion is at the foundation of education there, and the governors of those countries would not tolera'e education that shut out religion. Germany was quoted for ns. Why ? In Germany the children are obliged to go to receive religions instruction. The men who talk here about education have no knowledge of t the subject at all. They are ignorant as to the principle and of the facts relating to it. It is a terrible evil ; a terrible state of things here. We are suffering indignity and injustice and tyranny ; all of which are founded upon the most profound ignorance of the question. Now, I have to apologise for delaying you so long. I thank yuii very much, and I only regret that the hour is so late, because I had come here prepared to speak to you at length on the subject ; but I have trespassed sufficiently long, and will reserve what more I have to say for another fitting occasion (cheers). On the conclusion of the Bishop's speech, the Christmas hymD, " Adeste Fidele9," was sung by the Young Cecilians, and the company dispersed. Mr. Harry Rossiter, we may add, acted throughout the evening as accompanist, playing, also, during the intervals, some brilliant selections, and among the rest, by special request, the pretty set of waltzes recently composed by him. and to whicn we have more than once referred. We append the prize list — SENIOR ROOM.

Grade VII : Mathematics and English— Arthur J Hall. Science and phonography — Eugeue J O'Neil. Vocal music and honourable mention in algebra — Nicholas B Moloney. Christian doctrine and junior mathematics — Charles«Wilkins. Penmanship, geography, and history— Thomas Hussey. Special prizes (Ist and second) kindly presented by Rev. Father Lynch, Administraior, for Latin, (grammar, translation and composition) — Arthur J Hall, 1 ; Eugene J O'Neil, 2. Freehand drawing — M Cou^blan.

Grade VI : The following were highest in examination for pass in tbe subjec's appended to their names : Alfred Quelch, Christian doctrine ; Patrick O'Neill, Lat;n, geometry, and geography ; Robert Todd, arithmetic and history; Richard Cotter, writing. For high Bcoring in examination— John Drumm, Edward Wilkins, and John Fraser. Special excellence in penmanship— John Fagan and Francis Woods. Most progress during year— James Mee. Regular attendance — Patrick O'Neill. Good coDduct — William Brown. Gymnastics — John Fagan and Andrew Costelloe. Grade V. Best all round in examination— J M'Quillan. English Grammai — S Bernech. Greatest improvement — A Cameron. Elocution— D Buckley. Regular attendance— G Heaford. Mapping and penmanship — W Cahil.

MIDDLE ROOM.

Upper division. — Grade IV: Grammar and drawing — George Nelson. Drawing — E Clark. Arithmetic and writing— M Meenan. Arithmetic— M Purton. Grammar — 8 Miscall. Writing— E. Keating. Geography — C Stewart. Regular attendance — R Wilsoo. Most popular boy — J M'Kewen. Lower division. — Arithmetic— James Liaton, James Hussey, and Thomas M'Hugh. Grammar— William Rodgers. Reading — James Leonard and Edgar Bush. Home lessons— John Willcins and S Columb. Exercise— E Blanchfield. Improvement— C Morkane. Geography — D Columb. Singing— W Clarke. Gymnastics— J Gawne.

Grade 111 : Christian Doctrine— Vincent Griffen 1, William Kennedy 2. Rending— Charles Hall I, Thomas Mcc 2, Edward Petre 3. WritiDg— Thomas M'Cawe. Arithmetic— Percy Mills. Grammar —Oswald Bush 1, Henry Roesbo'ham 2. Geography— John Creagh 1 , Christopher Fagan 2. Drawing— John O'Connell. Dictation— Leo Biordan. Singing— Frank Hannagan. Good conduct— John Hungerford.

JWiIOE ROOM.

Grade ll— Division 1 : Christian doctrine— R M'Qaillan 1, E Casey. Reading— J Tarleton 1, F. M'Cormack. SpelliDg— A CoDnor 1, E. Power. Writing — Joe Bidmead 1, W Day. Arithmetic J Montague 1, V. Johneon. Drawing— X Kennedy 1, W Dwyer, J Bernech. Good eono.net— J M'Lean 1, J. Trower. Division 2 : Christian doctrine— W Banks 1, P M'Cawe, J. Fggan. Reading— J

Callan 1, N Ryan, W Black. Spelling— A. O'Connor 1, E Turner, T Keating. Writing— A Carr I, W Murphy, E Hestford. Arithmetic — E Quelch 1, A Creagh, C. Morkane. Grammar— D O'Neill 1, J Whitty, J Brennan. Geography — J Cleary 1, Joseph Beard. Drawing—J Mason 1, D. Board, P Trdston, Good conduct— X Pdrrin 1, D Rogers, M Kennelly.

The following generously contributed to the priztt fund : — Moßt Rev. Dr. Moran, Rev Father Lynch, Aden., Rev. B Donnelly, Dunedin Catholic Literary Society, Mesdames Cotter, Liston, Haydoo, Bath, Fagan, Mills, Miss Scollard, Messrs J. B. Callan, Gourley, M'Kay, Petre, Tynan, N. Smith, W. D. Woods, John Day, and Captain Bernech, W Gas>qaoine,and three other kind friends.