Christian Brothers’ Old Boys’ Association, Dunedin

New Zealand Tablet, 23 February 1911, Page 330

Christian Brothers’ Old Boys’ Association, Dunedin

The following is the report to be presented at the annual meeting of the Christian Brothers' Old Boys’ Association, to be held in St. Joseph’s Hall, Dunedin, on Tuesday evening: — In presenting its first annual Report your committee desires to congratulate members upon the formation of this association, and to thank them for the support and encouragement they have extended towards it. That it supplies a long-felt want is beyond question. For thirtyseven years the Christian Brothers have labored in Dunedin on behalf of religious education, and during that lengthy period a large number of pupils has had the benefit of the excellent system of education that is characteristic of the Order’s efforts in all parts of the world. The friendship between the Brothers and their pupils has been singularly strong. All their pupils retain pleasant recollections and appreciative memory of their zeal and self-sacrifice. That this bond of sympathy is not merely one in name your committee has ample evidence in the large number of letters arriving from ‘ Old Boys 5 in all parts of the Dominion, and even from Australia. It may be remarked parenthetically that many of them are from ex-pupils whose whereabouts were unknown to their old school-fellows previous to the formation of this association. They speak in terms of reverence and unbounded admiration of their teachers, and express their willingness to do all in their power to assist in anything that will further the interests of the old school. One of the objects of our association is *To stimulate an intelligent and sympathetic interest in the work of the Christian Brothers' ; and we believe that the individual expressions of goodwill referred to above are a guarantee of a united effort that will, when properly organised, powerfully assist the good Brothers in their life’s work. The Christian Brothers in Dunedin have labored too long under the depressing handicaps of inadequate accommodation and financial disabilities, and our association would be an apology for such were it not prepared to bear a substantial part in assisting to remove these burdens, when the time for action comes. In the matter of scholarships it is possible that much good may be accomplished. There are many deserving cases where boys of recognised ability are unfortunately unable, through the absence of means, to continue their higher education, and it would be a meritorious service to assist these by the institution of scholarships Ut course, before your association enters upon any work of an active as distinguished from a social nature, it is essential that it should have better organisation. Your committee is in communication with 700 ex-pupils, but the active membership does not equal this. The response to the initial efforts in forming this association was most gratifying; but, as your committee has urged again and again success will be attained only by the co-operation of individual members, enthusiastic for the ideal of a powerful and influential society. Every member should urge all tue ex-pupils of his acquaintance to become members, and t'il Ut w to bring the objects of the association proW mi be v e the “: Every ‘ Old Boy ’ will be benefited by membership. It will maintain and intensify the principles of llf ?n an ? conduct inculcated during school life. nf +OO if are ,i he days , of pleasant and cherished memories, of teachers, old comrades, and boyish exploits, and the associations rekindled by our social gatherings cannot fail to have beneficial effect on all of us. We trust, therefore, each member will become an active agent on behalf of the fulness? 10 "' and d ° hIS beSt t 0 read its s P here of useDuring the year two social evenings were held, with an attendance of about 300 at each. The enthusiasm displayed by all present, and the opportunities afforded a terstSm fi r f the ‘ ld Boys s of meetingonef another for "f members bri^'X^U°B^ 6 - ,n^her orded * “ its efforts to

According to our Constitution, four meetings should have been held during the year, and the annual meeting in the month of October, but the Dominican Nuns’ bazaar, and the numerous entertainments in connection with it, made it inadvisable, in the opinion of your committee, to arrange further social re-unions. Your committee suggests that two indoor entertainments during the year are sufficient, as the expense of these functions makes too severe a drain on the finances, while to raise the subscription might interfere with the length of the membership roll. Your com mittee, however, suggests to the incoming management

that an out-door reunion of some sort be held at the earliest opportunity this year. This is a welcome change, and would be in keeping with the usage of such associations as ours in other parts of the world. Our thanks are due to his Lordship the Bishop, who kindly allowed us the privilege of electing him patron of the association, and who also forwarded a donation to the funds; to Messrs. Sullivan, Costello, and McCormack for donations, and in an especial manner to Rev. Brothers Brady and Moore. Both rev. gentlemen have taken an active and enthusiastic part in the work of the association, their efforts on its behalf having helped in no small degree towards its success. We also desire to mark our grateful appreciation of the assistance received from the press, the generous reports accorded our gatherings having been of material help in bringing our association under the notice of many ex-pupils.