OPENING OF A SCHOOL AT BLENHEIM

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6, 11 February 1909, Page 213

OPENING OF A SCHOOL AT BLENHEIM

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The solemn blessing and opening of the. Father Lewis Memorial School took place on Sunday, January 31. The ceremony was performed by his Grace/ the Archbishop of Wellington, assisted by the Rev. Father Holley. There were also present the Mayor of Blenheim (Mr. A. McCallum), the Chairman of the Education Board (Mr. R. McCallum), and Mr. H. V. Browne (secretary of the Memorial -, Committee). The Hibernian Band played several selections during the proceedings. The following account of the ceremony is from the local Herald : — One of the most successful public objects of a voluntary character yet undertaken in this district — the establish- - ment of a memorial school on the Catholic grounds in Maxwell road in honor of the late Very Rev. Father Lewis — . was brought to a happy completion on Sunday afternoon, > when his Grace Archbishop Redwood performed the opening ceremony, in the presence of a large assemblage of people. The Rev. Father Holley, parish priest, and the others who had worked so enthusiastically and indefatigably, to do lasting and practical justice to the memory of the .deceased *

priest, had the great pleasure of seeing the institution duly inaugurated within a few months of Father -Lewis's demise and virtually free. of debt. This achievement in the case of a work costing some £800 speaks volumes for not only the deep and general respect and esteem that Father Lewis has left behind him, but also the energy and devotedness of Father Holley and his parishioners and the kindly regard of the many non-Catholics" who had contributed to the worthy object. The building is a handsome structure, constructed in accordance with the latest hygienic principles and other requirements of the State Education Department; and it replaces the old schoolhouse opposite the convent grounds. It enhances the appearance of the Maxwell road district, and,/- as the Mayor remarked, it is a welcome acquisition to the town. The builder was Mr. James McKinley, to whose workmanship the structure does much credit, and the architect was Mr. J. G. Swaii, o£ Wellington. The fund with which the object was achieved was composed partly of a legacy left to the church by the late Mr. M. .O'Shea, and partly by public subscription. The secretary of the Memorial Committee, Mr. H. V. Browne, was a tireless worker. The Building... The building, which decidedly infproves the grounds, has concrete foundations, and is built of jfcotara and maitai. The design is the old English style. In all there are five class rooms, each being 20ft x 20ft, and they are supplied by roomy cupboards. The walls are supplied with hyloplate boards, which take the place of the old-fashioned blackboard. The windows are supplied with the Austral sash balance patent, and are the first of the kind to be installed in the district. Above the windows there are fanlights erected, worked by the Preston patent, and splendid ventilation is in this way obtained. Each of the rooms are of a lofty nature, being 13ft 6in in height. Round the walls is a pretty tinted dado, and beautifully" grained wood (all of which is Marlborough grown); this forms a handsome design. A memorial tablet is affixed into the wall facing the street, and bears the following inscription: — ' This school is erected by the people of Marlborough to the memory of Rev. W. J. Lewis, S.M., V.G., parish priest of Blenheim, 1885-1891. Beloved by all because of his profound humility, meekness, and charity, associated with zeal for souls, devotion to -work, and a fearless defence in attack. Born at Naas, Ireland; died at Wellington, N.Z., June 27th, 1907 ; aged 54 years.' The Archbishop's Address. A beautiful sunny day favored the occasion, and at 3.30 a large number of spectators were congregated in the vicinity of the new school. At a brief ceremony in the church, Archbishop Redwood ascended the pulpit and addressed a congregation of considerable proportions. His Grace said that he was very happy to be able to take part in this ceremony, and pay a tribute to the memory of his dear old friend, the Very Rev. Father Lewis, who had left behind him the impress of a life that" was holy, that was apostolic, and that was full of good works of every kind. He was also happy to have the opportunity of speaking very seriously on the great subject of education. The education question was of the greatest possible importance for the individual, for society, for this Dominion, for mankind in general — because as the child was educated so would the future man be formed. The sapling would grow in the direction in which it was bent; the tree could not be straightened, and if it were distorted it would remain an unseemly spectacle in the fair scheme of Mature. His Grace went on to explain the vital significance of right education from the Catholic point of view. ' Looking around him, and taking a broad view, one giant fact loomed up before him — the education system founded and maintained by the New Zealand Catholics for the last half-century. It was no exaggeration to say that the Catholic system was the most impressive external fact in the spiritual life of the Dominion. It would be impossible in the short space" of time allotted to him to 'speak fully of the history and meaning of that system, and the magnitude of the sacrifices made by the- Catholics on its behalf. But he invited them to consider a few outstanding features* Look at the extent of the lands purchased for their schools; look at the number of buildings raised all over New Zealand ; look at the hundreds of teachers employed and expense involved by the upkeep of these schools. About £40,000 a year was saved to the State — that was to say, that a* ' million of money was saved to the taxpayers of New Zealand in 25 years. Why had the Catholics made the gigantic sacrifices — they the poor, .unfortunates of the Dominion ? * It . was a standing and invincible proof of their deep conviction that upon education depended the faith of. their children and the benefits of Christian civilisation in the family and posterity for all time. They had made these sacrifices so

that they at least might have a complete and perfect system of education. Outside of the Catholic faith, in this Dominion there- was no complete system of. education, because "true education must concern itself with • the soul as well as the mind of man. Man was a compound being, intended not only to hold an honorable place' in the society of this world, and do good to his fellow-men, but also to save his immortal soul and become a citizen of Heaven. It was not enough to train, his intellect and give him a knowledge of reading, writing, cyphering, physics, chemistry, and the ' ologies ' ; he had to be prepared for his duties t o God — grave obligations that were obvious and self-evident to the reflecting mind. A man might be a remarkable scientist, a great mathematician, historian, poet, merchant, warrior; but if he did not know how to serve God and save his eternal soul he was a- dismal failure and an eternal failure. Catholics knew this. It was a part of their, faith. How ©ould this twofold education be best imparted? It was a mockery to say that religious education could" be sufficiently taught in the- family. .Many families had not enough religion" as it wasj and eyen if they had many had not' the requisite knowledge,- the capacity, the time, and the patience. .....They might say that the work could be done by the*->;press. The press I " Whatever good qualities the press it had not the qualifications for this' great workV The pres^s would take up everything except religion. It. could nofteach 'religion, even if it had the wish to do so. 'There was no unity or authority in it. They might say that the work could be done in the churches. - But the churches were becoming more and more empty; in Newman's phrase, God was more than ever- an 'extra.' His Grace proceeded to -emphasise the importance and wisdom of entrusting the training of- children—as in the Catholic system — to men' and -women intellectually cultured, and technically trained," in addition to being qualified to" impart religious instruction. A" system of education purely secular, that heeded not the immutable relations, of man .to God — the basis of all morality — was a lopsided one ; and without such! a recognition he would defy them to retain ' Christian civilisation.' Godless education- meant a return to paganism — and worse paganism than that which preceded the Christian era, for Plato's philosophy did recognise that something was wanting, and the present Pagan thought himself perfect, and went blundering and floundering on, losing the truth and rejecting God's scheme of creation. Catholic parents delegated the duty of Christian education to teachers trained under the Church, and therefore they could' rest secure in the knowledge that their children are being educated on proper lines. His Grace went on to insist on the responsibility devolving on Catholics of seeing that their children obtained a Catholic education. It was their duty ' to, send them to their own schools wherever possible; and if they lived in the country, away from such an establishment, their responsibilities in re-gard-to the education of the children, the sending them to boarding-schools if able to do so, were so much the greater. He warned lax parents that they were jeopardising their children's salvation and laying up for themselves a terrible account. The Divine Word told them that it. would be better for those who scandalised the little ones if a millstone were tied round their necks and they were dropped into the sea. -His Grace' emphasised the necessity of regularity of school attendance; and urged parents to take an interest in their' children's^ school work, and reward their diligence and success. In conclusion, Archbishop Redwood again expressed his happiness in being associated with .the inauguration of the school designed to perpetuate the memory of the late Father Lewis. Such a memorial, he was sure, was- just what Father Lewis himself would have preferred, for education was the subject nearest to his heart and mind.. Such were the institutions that would enable Catholics to become a beneficial influence in the leavening of socio.ty — to become the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The formal opening ceremony then took place.

His. Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. McCallum) said it was with great pteasure that in his official capacity he participated in this, interesting event. On behalf of the citizens of Blenheim he complimented Father Holley and his congregation bn t this_valuable acquisition to their Church property, and was certain that the new institution would be a credit to not only the parish, but the town. The earnest work of education of which, it was a part commanded nothing .but admiration; and. the school was an excellent means of doing justice to the memory of a worthy priest, whom they all respected. He himself had known Father Lewis's rare. qualities-^especially^ that, quality of sympathy, which he had seen .exercised in. the sick room, and which had so .endeared him to his flock. The Mayor referred to the school as not only a worthy institution in itself, but a worthy form of memorial. ~

The Rev. Father Holley, in the final words, said he was more than gratified in knowing that the new school was

now opened, and practically without a penny of debt. He heartily thanked all those who "had worked for and contributed to' the object. "Father Holley acknowledged the goodness of his Grace -Archbishop Redwood in coming across from Wellington at a busy time of the year to participate in the ceremony. He also thanked the Mayor,, the chairman of the Marlborough Education Board, and the secretary of the Board (Mr. Hylton) for showing their interest :n the event by ~ attending the ceremony; the architect and contractor for their consideration and attentiveness ; and the Hibernian Band for the selections they"~had discoursed during the afternoon. ■ '- .