Cambridge

New Zealand Tablet, 8 July 1909, Page 13

Cambridge

Sunday last, June 27 (says the Waikato Independent), was an eventful day in the history of St. Peter's Church, Cambridge, as a large number of candidates were to be confirmed, and the new school blessed and opened by his Lordship Dr. s Lenihan. Unfortunately, the Bishop was taken suddenly ill, and could ,not attend, and the ceremony of blessing and opening the new school was performed by the Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., who was accompanied by the Rev. Father Holbrook (lately in charge of the Cambridge parish). Mass was celebrated at 11 o'clock by Father Holbrook, at which there was a very large congregation, including, many visitors from Hamilton, Matamata, and surrounding districts. Monsignor Gillan preached a short sermon, and at the conclusion of the Mass a procession was formed from the church to the school, and after Monsignor Gillan had blessed the building several speeches were delivered. The Right Rev. Monsignor Gillan, V.G., said it gare him great pleasure to be at Cambridge that day, and to meet so many who had worked so well to bring about the erection of a new building in which to educate the children of the parish. They deserved the success which that day's ceremony attested, and he felt greatly honored in being called upon to crown their work by declaring the school* open. .At the outset he must express the regret that they all felt at the absence of the Bishop. His Lordship had followed with much interest the progress of their earnest work, and had made all arrangements to be with them on this day, but unfortunately a passing indisposition had compelled him to obey the doctor's peremptory order 3to rest. They had assembled that day, the VicaiGeneral proceeded, to dedicate the new school in the first place to the honor and glory of God. As Catholics they knew that education to be sound must go hand in hand with religion. For, after all, education was but the'handmaid of religion. Its very name indicated its special function. For ' education '. was derived from Latin words (c; ducere) which meant to draw out or develop. Its function was to develop in the child what was highest, noblest, grandest in its nature, and hence its most important work was the development of what was most noble in the child — namely, the soul. This is the foundation upon which sound education rests, and in which final success lies, for the soul is made for God. That only 's worthy to bear the name of education which pays proper attention to this final destiny of . the child. In rvery truth, then, a Catholic school can be called a nursery for Heaven. That is why we dedicate it to the honor and glory of God. But while we take this lofty ideal as our guide, we are fully alive to the importance of^ training our children in the various branches of secular knowledgo. In the second place, then, we dedicate this building to the sacred cause of education. It is the instinct of the Catholic people to attach great importance to the proper training of the young; it is an instinct born of faith. And so the Catholic Church has ever manifested a x keen solicitude for the education of the children. At all^times and in all lands she has ever side by side with the churches planted her schools for children, her colleges' for youth, her

universities for the mature ; nay, in this present age, she even prefers the erection of a Bchool to that of a church, knowing well that a school will fill a church, but a church will rarely fill a school. With what- anxious care, too, she trains up her teachers in colleges, in convents, in seminaries, surrounding" them witlTall the safeguards of religion, leading them -along the paths of the higher virtues, that they may be more perfectly equipped for the weighty task she demands of them. And how generously those teachers devote themselves to their task 1 often sacrificing home, friends, and the comforts even of religion to spread the incalculable benefits of education. Do we not see this charitable zeal exemplified in New Zealand? Scarcely was the Dominion a colony, when devoted teachers in number came from afar to lay the foundations of Catholic education side by side with the foundations of their religion. The spiritual and temporal interests of their children were their one thought; their successful furtherance their one desire. This is what drew them on, even- as a magnet draws a needle. Long before public education was thought of, these zealous pioneers were at work delving and toiling to build up a system able to keep pace with the want of the times and with the needs of the Catholic body. And patiently, loyally, generously, the laity hay.* co-operated in this great work. They in Cambridge to day are showing the vitality of this Catholic instinct, and are to be congratulated on the sacrifices they have made to further this noble cause". The Vicar-General then complimented Rev. Fathar Darby, who, by bringing the {Sisters of the Mission io Cambridge, had revived the means of education, and had also laid the foundation work of the new school. He complimented also Father Holbrook, who carried on that work; and Father Murphy, under whose supervision during the past few months the work had been brought to a successful conclusion. Congratulatory and complimentary addresses were also delivered by Mr. F. 08. Loughnan, S.M., Mr. J. Lundon (chairman of the District High School Committee), ami Mr. H. J. Greenslade, M.P. ' ' Rev. Father J C. Darby, formerly in charge of tho parish, and during whose residence the scheme for the new school had first been set on foot, also made a few remarks, congratulating the congregation on the consummation ot their efforts. A collection was then taken up, and the donations totalled over £50. The Rev. Father Murphy then took the opportunity thanking Monsignor Gillan (as representing the Bishop), the visiting clergy, and the visitors for their attendance at the ceremony. The school contains two large well-lighted and ventilated class rooms 20ft x 30ft and 20ft x 27ft; also a cloakroom and porchway 15ft x lift. The lighting of the class-rooms has received special attention, having been carried out in accordance with the latest recommendations of the Government authorities. The new school has long been a necessity, the accommodation at the convent, where the instruction of the children has been carried on, having for some time past proved inadequate. At present there are between 60 and 70 children attending the convent, and it is anticipated that when the new school is opened there will be an increased number of pupils. The cost of the school building itself was about £400. To celebrate the opening of the school a concert was given in the Alexandra Hall on Monday evening. The musical programme consisted of songs by Mesdames Isherwood and Winter, Mesdames Shepherd and Edmonds, Messrs. G. Warren, J. W. Wilson, T. F. Richards, and N. R. Farnall; recitations by Mr. G. Warren, and selections by the orchestra, of which Madame Isherwood was conductor. Mr. M. P. McDermott arranged the programme, and contributed the majority, of the accompaniments. Rev. Father Murphy returned thanks to the per- 1 formers and public.