THE LATE BISHOP MORAN AND THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 35, 27 December 1895, Page 13

THE LATE BISHOP MORAN AND THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS.

The Very Bey Father Lynch addressed the boys as follows :— My dear boys, — It is my duty to thank you for the pleasing items you have so well rendered. You give decided evidence of careful tuition. Once again in many times the Christian Brother* merit heartiest congranulation. I have presided at five break-up entertainments during the past three days. This is the sixth. On each occasion I felt, compelled to allude to the log* the children have sustained in the past year through tbe death of their beloved Bishop. In this school, so dear to Dr Bioran's hear , I must open the wound afresh and once more express sorrow that your father ia no more. You remember well that in December last, though very ill, he was present on speech day, and gave you counsel and encouragement. His people treasure his parting words, and bave since shown tbe old determination to be true to bia wise teaching. In recalling the memory of one who truly deserved tbe title of fa her of this scnool, I must allude to the relations of Bishop Moran and the Christian Brothers. He knew well what he was doing when he incited these religious to Dunedirj. He bad experience of their work in other lands. He foresaw that a superior education would be given to tbe boys of his flock. The Brothers came, and during the lengthened period of their labours in Dunedin a quarter of a particle of friction never showed i'self on either side. When Dr Moran died the Christian Brothers in Dunedin felt with ua that they had lost a lov.ng father. Tbe Ooristian Brothers throughout Australasia declared that they bad lost a true and moat steadfast friend. Ha was a firm believer in the excellence of their system which has stood tbe teat of time and experience. He was an admirer of tbe constancy with which as teachers and religious they observed the regulations of their institute. Toe Brothers always repaid the fatherly interest of the Bishop by heroic devotion to the work which waa so dear to his heart. Bjya, I congratulate you on having such teachers. Here the whola boy ia sent to school, and the whole boy is trained. You do not receive a truncated education. Hind, and heart and physique are carefully attended to. You are in most capable bands. Need I tell you that the Christian Brothers at Home and abroad are in the forefront of educational institutes. I need not refer to Ireland where this y«ar conspicuous sacoesi was achieved by the Brothers' pupils at the Intermediate Examinations, or to England where, as at Bath, they have opened splendid colleges, or to Gibraltar and India when severe public terts have showed their system is full abreast of the times. The Brothers are progressive. They advance with the age. Hence they are invited to spread their houses tit and wide. If you go to Melbourne yon will find some of your old teachers in the splendid College of Victoria Parade. The, Christian Brothers' colleges of Ballarat, and Brisbaue, and Adelaide, and Perth, are doing great work for higher edncation. What the Brothers are doing in Australia they are doing on this side of the Tasman Sea. The secret of their success cons s's in their leading, by their excellent system, tbe young child slowly onward from the lowest rung of the school ladder to the high educational success. On the honuur roll of colonial universities are many students of the Brothers' schools. It is your duty to avail yourselves to the fullest extent of tbe advantages you enjoy I balieve you respond well to the care and zaal of your devoted teaohers. A strict

examination is made eyery year according to the rnle of the Institute by the Brother Inspector appointed to visit all the Brothers schools in Australasia. The Brothers are conscientious teacberß, their inspector is a conscientious and most capable inspector. His report of the school for this year is highly satisfactory. We do not, bowever, require even hia assurance as fo the efficiency of St Joseph's. A long experience and the esteem in which old boys are held in the community make parents feel that their children in school life, have exceptional advantages. The memory of our dead Bishop naturally recalls the noble manner in which the Christian Brothers ever seconded his efforts in the sacred cause of religious education. My dear friends — I speak now to the parents— you have to make many sacrifices to give your children a Obrigti .n education Look around, observe the growing indifference to holy religiorj, the open infidelity of the age and you will thank God who has inspired you and given yon courage to do your duty. We are eogaged in a hard straggle. Oar conscience compels us to give our children a Christian education. We have, moreover, to contribnte to the free and godless education of other people's children. We have to bear a donble burden. How long will this injustice last 7 Until our fellow-citizens realise the mistake they are making. They will yet come to repent of their nnwise policy and crnel conduct; Ddnjr it who can, the public school system of this colony is, as far as we are concerned, a system of "tyranny, oppression, and plunder." The schools of the nation are godless schools —schools without God and His Christ. In the secular schools the name of God is banned or barely tolerated. Jesuß Christ is God, and some Christians who profess belief in the divinity of Christ hesitate to call schools godlesß where the name of Christ, as the Son of God, must not be mentioned. There are signs of public awakening. The subject of religion in schools receives great attention. The number of colonists favourable to our just claims shows yearly increase. We have had to wait and suffer a long time. We are not disheartened. The good fight will still be fonght. Those who think that the death of our Bishop will make the slightest difference in out attitude on the education question are hugely mistaken. The spirit of Bishop Moran will abide with the Catholic people till victory is obtained and justice done. The Rev Bro Superior had previously read the following annual report for 1895 :—: — Very Rev Father Lynch— Before reading the annual report of our school I think it would not be becoming if I did not, on behalf of the Brothers and boys, express to you the deep regret we feel at the loss of our late and venerable bishop, Dr Moran. He was to us a kind friend and loving father. Hence we have every reason to deplore his lose. We can now only fondly hope that hiß sncceEsor may fill tba void and thus somewhat compensate for bis absence. lam glad to be able to inform you that the conduct of the boys during the year has been moßt satisfactory. I believe this is in a great measure due to the care and attention bestowed on them by our worthy and zealous priests at the monthly reception of the sacraments. The number on the roll ia the same as usual — *bout 300. Besides the ordinary subjects, 35 are studying Latin, 40 French, iO geometry, 40 algebra, and 36 book-keepiag. This year there was an exceptionally close contest for the much.coveted position of dux of the school. The results of monthly examinations were duly recorded for the purpose. Three boys— Edgar Buab, Sheridan Oolomb, and William Miller— kept close together till the last test examination. When this had been examined it was foond that the gold medallist and dux of the school for 1895 was Master William Miller, of Sawyers Bay (lond applause). A similar course was adopted to encourage the practice of English composition, a eilver medal being the prize. The neighbouring towns seem to have it all their own way this time, for we find the successful competitor to be Master John Knot', of Mosgiel. The candidates sent up last year for the university examinations were Charles Morkane and Jamea Huasey. Both were successful, Charleß Morkane qualifying for medical preliminary. Andrew Cos'.elloe and Hugh Mills passed the civil service examinations. lam glad also to note that the four young men attending the Otago University from this school have been saccaasful each year at the annual examination held there. Mr E. O'Neill will probably finish his course next year, and will thus have the honour of being the first to secure his degrte from that university as a pnpil of this school. Others, I may add, have taken out their degrees already at Edinburgh. I have now to thank all very sincerely for their presence here to*day. It is a pleasure to us and our young friends to see that the work we are engaged in is appreciated by all classes. The following contributed to the prize fund :— Very Roy Father Lynch, Rev Father Murphy, Rev Father Howard, Dr Btenhoaße, Speight and Co, Hibernian Sooiety, Mr Gjurley, Mr Lawrence, Mrs Cotter, Mr and' Mrs O'Neill, Miss Murphy, Mr Lorie, Briacoe and Co, Mr Tynan, Mr Meenan, Mr Kempthorne, Mr Kelligher, Mr Woods, Mrs Roche, Mrs Bannatyne, Thompson and Co, Campbell and Crust, Mr Baxter, Mrs Haydon, Mr Chisholm, Brown, Swing and Co, Mr Scott, Mr Thompson, Mr M'Farlane, A. and T. Inglis, Nimmo and Blair, Mr Knott, Mr Oallan, Mr E. Pbilp, Mr Moikane, Mr J. Connor, and Mrs Jackson (who sent a large quantity of sweets, etc).

The chairman then distributed the prices, which were awarded on the aggregate marks scored at the examinations held daring the year as follows: — Matriculation Class— Dux of school and gold medalist: W Miller ; B Bush 2, J 8 Colamb 3, J Wilkinß 4 Examination honours (first in sabj >ct) : Christian doctrine— W Miller. Arithmetic JSColumb. Algebra— DColumb. Euclid— W Millei. English— E Bash and W Miller (equal). English composition— J Wilkins. .Orthography— W Miller. French— W Miller. Latin— W Miller. Book-keeping-D Col umb. Writing— C Hall. Civil Service Class— J Hussey 2, J Mahoney 2, Leo Reardon3. Sob- Matriculation Clasß— Cecil Morkane 1, J Knott 2, J Oallan 3, W M'Evoy 4. Examination hononrs (C.B. and tub-matriculation classes)— First in subject : Christian Doctrine— J Knott. Arithmetic—J Knott. Algebra— J Callan. Euclid—O Bush. English— J Oallan. Eng'ish composition— J Knott. Orthography— J Mahoney; French -J Oallan. L<»tin— C Morkane. Geography— J Huasey ; bookkeeping— J Callan. Writing— Leo Reardon. Sixth Class— J Fox 1, J Dickie 2, N Ryan 3, J Hungerford 4, B M'Quillan 5, J Chapman 6, J Whltty 7, J Oleary 8, J Murray 9, G Ooughlin 10, D O'Neill 11, Austin Connor 12. Examination honours (first in subject) : Christian doctrine— D Beard. Arithmetic— J Fox.GCoughlin (equal). Euclid— J Hungerford. English— J Dickie . English composition— D O'Neill. Orthography— N Ryan, J Fox (equal). Frecch-J Whitty, J Hungerford (equal). Latin— J Murray. Geography— J Oleary. History— J Oleary. Bookkeeping— J Fox. Writing— J Whitty. Special distinction in senior classes— Gold medallist (dnx), William Miller ; silver medallists, John Knott (English essay), Daniel Baird (Christian doctrine), most popular boy (secret voting), William Miller ; present every school diy in 1895— John Wilkinß, James Mahoney, John Fox, John Hunjrerford, Austin Connor, Dan Beard. Fifth Class— Christian doctrine— Edward Freed (silver medal) 1, Oliver Swanson 2, James Griffith 3. Arithmetic— John Ryan 1, Edward Byall 2, Ronald Griffith 3. Reading— Francis Gaffney 1, George Cotter 2, Edward Clancy 3. Writing— James Griffith 1, William Whelan 2, Oliver Swanson 3 Grammar— James Griffith I, Edward Freed 2, Thomas M'Quillan 3. Geography— Edward Freed 1, Bertie Poppelwell 2, Angustine Miller 3. Drawing— William Donnelly 1, Ronald Griffith 2, James Griffith 3. History— Edward Freed 1, George Cotter 2, Oliver Bwanson 3. Composition— James Griffith 1, Eooald Griffith 2, Arthur Connor 3. Home exercise — John Quelch 1, William Whelan 2, Edward Freed 3. Fourth Class— Best all round— Leslie Woods (nverage 86 3 in 10 subjects) 1, Sylvester Whitty (85 2 in 10 subjects) 2, Albert Knox (84-1 in 10 subjects) 3, James Garvey (80 6in 10 subjects) 4. Special prizes -Christian doctrine, Sylvester Whitty, silver medal (gift of the Very Rev P. Lynch), James Black 2 ; uniform good conduct, Patrick Webb ; steady and efficient work, Leonard Stokes ; regular attend* ance, Basil Crawford (present every d*y) ; ciphering and neat home work, Fred Woods ; spelling, Lewis M'Cormack ; home work, William Francis ; recitati d, Joseph Charles and Robert Stroaach. Third Class— Best all round— Biward Banwell 1, Sarsfield Clancey 2. Best at reading- John Buik*. Writing— David Heffernan 1, Montague Litolff 2. Christiau doctrine -Peter Bogan 1, Gerald M'Cormack 2. Regular altendance— Edward Ban well. Henry Poppelwel!, James Beard, Joseph Flanagan, lleory Hargerford (present every day 1893). Good conduct— John Todd. Becond Class— Firßt Division — Jobn Francis, first in clkss examination, Frank Poppelwell 2, Joseph Swanaon 3, Thomas Walsh 4, Charles M'Grath 5. Arithmetic and reading, James Skinner ; Christian doctrine and reading, Maurice Garvey, George Motcalfe, John Tobin ; reading and writing, Richard Coughlan. Sooond Division — Christian doctrine and writing, E. O'Rourke ; reading and writing, Raymond Ward ; arithmetic and drawing, Fred Tanner, Oliver Lewis ; arithmetic, Charles Woods. Special Prizes— First Division — Christian doctrine ("silver medal), Charles M'Grath ; regular attendance, Charles M'Grath ; best exercise, Maurice Garvey ; best copybook, Arthur Davis ; highest in weekly arithmetic examinations, Charles M'Olusky. Second Division — Bast copybook, Charles Woods and O. Lewis (equal). At the instigation of on« of tho Brothers three cheers for the visitors were giveo, and the singing of " The village choristers " (Moschelles), by the Young Cecilians brought the proceedings to a close.