OPENING OF THE CATHOLIC CLUB, AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 33, 18 August 1904, Page 19

OPENING OF THE CATHOLIC CLUB, AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.)

August 11

The Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association and Catholic Young Men's Club was s-iiccessiully started on its useful career on Wednesday evening, August 10, in the new club rooms, Pitt street. The occasion took'the form of a social gathering, over which his Lordship the Bis/hop presided. There were also present the Very Rev. Dr. Egan, Rev. Father Patterson, Adm , and Rev. Fathers Furlong, Holbrook, McMillan, Meagher, Duffy, and McGuinuetss. Apologres for non-attendance were received from a number of the diocesan clergy. A large number of leading citizens also attended The room was most tastefully decorated, thanks to the efforts of a body of zealous ladies, under the direction of Mr Whelan. The billiard room was brilliantly lighted, and presented a gay appearance. The walls had been newly plastered, the floor covered with linoleum, and a firstclass billiard table placed in position. The whole of the apartments are well appointed.

The following are the officers of the association •— Patron, the Right Rev. I)i. Lenihan , president, the Rev. Brother George ; \ ice-presidents, Dean Hackett, the Very Rev Dr ftgan, Rev. Fathers Patterson, Ilolbrook. (chaplain), (Milan, Furlong, McMillan, Kehoe, Darby, Brodie, lion J. A Tole, Hon. W. Beehan, M.L C , Messrs. J J. O'Brien, \V. J. Napier, P Darby, E Mahoney. W Taylor, T. M. Taylor, R. J. Mackey, P. Brophy, P J Nerheny, Doctors" Darby, Murphy, Collins, and the Rev Brother Mark , working \ ice-presidents, Messrs. D Flynn and VV. Tole ; hon. sec , Mr. R A. Keenan ; hon. treasurer, Mr. F. Gormley ; executive, Messrs P. J. Grace, J. J. Furlong, H. Herbert, T. Gusscott, C Stichbury, \V. Moylan, W. Seanlon, W. Darby, W. P. Bryant, J. O'Sulhvan, M. J Sheahan, a nd P. F. Egan ; auditors, Messrs. Hugh Maguire and C. Thorne

The Bishop's Address

The Right Rev. Dr Lenihan, in his opening address, said: At the invitation ot the members of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association and Catholic Men's Club, we ha%e gathered together at this social to icjoice with these young men and to congiatulate them on the successful inauguiation of their Club The Marist Brothers' old boys, mindful of their happy school days and filled with pleasant memories of then former teachers, wish to do honor. t<o thai select body ot Mien, the Marist Brothers, who aie so devoted to their work, so disinterested in the joys and pleasures that the world offers, and so anxious to see that the efforts of their teaching in religious arid secular matters may have lasting effects. Although school days are over, friendship is e\ er present, and in this formal opening of these rooms, freely gi\en by the Brothers, with my full sanction and the approval of the clergy, I note a bond of union established between teacher and student which I trust will end here below in death alone These old boys or ex-s-tudents have for their object the encouragement of virtue and Christian piety and the promotion ot the interests of youth generally, and for this reason they arc inviting young men of their own faith to join the Society, offering them many facilities for lawful enjoyments. Young men are instinctively drawn into relations of brotherhood, for man is a gregarious animal, we are told, and they willingly afliliate themselves to societies which appear to offer social and material advantages of any kind. Now what are the inducements of this Society '' I find by the rules that debating, gymnastics, and games of various descriptions will be at their command, and the nucleus of a good library has already been formed. To draw all our Catholic young mean to the Society, they have added to their title the words,

' Catholic Men's Club.' Our young men will, I feel, gladly join, awaiting only the initiative from those who are interested enough to stujdy their desires, and zealous enough to put this plan ftnto execution. This Society or Club is the idea of the voting men themselves. They alone are to_ be credited witih its inauguration. They (ire responsible for the purchase of the property belonging to the Club

and its safeguarding, alnd this gives us the best cuarantee, I think, of their determination to carry it on ' successfully. Heart-aches accompany the formation and maintenance of any society, and we must be, prepared to meet, some of the lack of appreciation, opposition, and bickerings which are the usual attendants of efforts such as this. oung men are full of exuberance ; they look out for means of enjoying life ; they expect to have a good time,' as it is called. In this, aie they any worse than their cldcis? The nunei is Hut undei actual circumstances, so many of them lead compaiatiu'ly blameless lives. I[ they fight shy of reading erirelcs, of literary debates, of lectures' on rcii#i6\is topics, and show a preference for games— billiards, cards or football— and at times a dance, this does not prove that they are devoid of higher aspirations. They want some lelaxation in their hours of leisure, and this Club oilers' them every legitimate inducement for honest sport and agreeable occupation. The ideal man, young or old, is a lara avis. I saw The Absolute Need of the establishment of a college for our boys, in addition to our parochial schools, and I urged and entreated for it; and the day of its opening marks the' happiest day of my episcopate. I realise that this Club will be an extension of these needs for our boys and to iostcr and encourage it vwll be my earnest and pleading duty I look forward with much pleasure to spend many an evening amongst our young men, to know them intimately, and to hear of their well-being. The prosperity ot this Club and its propaganda should be fostered in every parish until the young men throughout the diocese are organised into a compact body and brought to realise their duties as defenders of their faith antl as representatives of the best New Zealand citi/enship And now I have the honor of proposing the health of our Pope and -our Kijig.., In C^tfcfllic circles these are always combined : our mutual respect for each claims this. As Catholics we recognise in the Pope our Father and our spiritual guide ; as loyal citi/ens we love to do honor to the King. The friendship of Pope and King is recognised everywhere, and our hearts go out to Kmg Edward in lo\ ing respect for his gracious visit to his Holiness last year. His Lordship then proposed the toast, which was enthusiastically responded to.

The Hon. J. A. Tole, in proposing the toast of the Association, sard he \hailed with pleasure the inauguration of the AssociaTion. Many societies had preceded tins with more or less success, but this was U\c lirst nt its Kind in connection with Ihe Catholic body. Its objects were most comprehensive, being to promote the intellectual and physical impro\ ement and social intercourse and amusement and also the inteiest of members, both spiritually and temporally. He was glaid to see fiom the Club's title the determination to keep reen the old boys' attachment to the Manst Brothers, who so steadfastly worked in the cause of education, and who weie so de\oted to the noblest of professions, teaching the young. In other respects the Association was broadly designed to attract the interest of all, food lor every taste, culture for every phase in the life of our young men, having also the effect of keeping them together unJ away from unprofitable influences. Not the lea^t important feature was the debating element, winch prowdod training in the arts of thought and correct and effective speech. The destinies and future of the countr) dependdd on the sound intellects and sterling characters of our young men. The field of exertion was boundless, and the a\enucs of distinction were lice. There was no royal road to success, it could only be achieved by thorough hard work. Mr. Tole concluded by congratulating them all on this promising beginning, and hoping that amongst other things the members would treasure the memories and traditions of the Old Land from which most of them sprung; and also, as citi/ens, endeavor to preserve peace and harmony in t/he community by a true spirit of tolerance and consideration for the sentiments of others. If, as he hoped, by the loyal co-operation of its members, the , Association faithfully fulfilled its objects, then it would grow richer in usefulness with succeeding years, and make those present recall with pleasure the memory of that evening.

Rev. Brother George replied on behalf of the Marist Boys' Association, and after thanking Mr. Tole for the many kind tilings 1 he said and for the valuable advice he had given, went on to say that the objects of the Association were much the same as those of simitar organisations, binding together young men for their own benefit and that of This could only- -be= accoio^ plisjied by bringing young men together, and* keepv^k them in touch with each other. For this rooms' " in which to meet were necessary, and tire ' frsSociStfon was

.singularly fortunate in possessing rooms centrally situated, and sufficiently commodious to meet all present requirements. One of these rooms would be fitted as a gymnasium, where those of an athletic turn of 'uind could recreate themselves ; another would be devoted to cards, chess, and kindred games ; a third loom had beon suitably furnished as a reading room, and already contained the nucleus ot a very valuable library. The building had undergone complete renovation, being plastered and paintod, and in it had been pJaced a firstclass billiard table, which had cost £100. Altogether he felt safe in asserting it was as fine a billiard room as they could find in Auckland. Debating and dramatic classes would be formed, and in short everything would be done that could give members an opportunity of improving themselves mentally, physically, and socially. The club rooms would be open every evening lrom 7.v() to 10 o'clock. In conclusion he wished to place on record the very deep debt of gratitude they owed to his Lordship for many acts of kindness. He had given them many valuable pictures that adorned the walls, and last but not least he had given use of these rooms absolutely free of rent Such a gift as this could only be characterised as princely. In view of the fact that his Lordship had taken a most active interest in the workings of the club from its humble beginning to its opening, he had vary good reasons in believing rihat his Lordsnip's generosity, which was proverbial, had not come to an end, but that what he had already done for the association was only an earnest of what he intended doing for it in the future An interesting programme consisting of songs and recitations was contributed to by the following during the evening :— Messrs. R. Mantell, F. Graham, Hamilton Hodges, F. Whitaker, W. Whyte, II Stebbijig, R. A. Keenan, Casier, Aspinall, J. Whelan, and O. Ralph, (violin solo). The committee of management is to he congratulated for its indefatigable efforts. The tables were bountifully laden iwith the choicest of delicacies. This most successful function, which will live long in the memories of all present, and which augurs well for the future prospects of the new club, was brought to a close at 11 p.m., all agreeing that nothing of its kind had ever been so successfully initiated and carried through in Auckland.