ST. JOSEPH'S MEN'S CLUB, DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, 18 May 1911, Page 925

ST. JOSEPH'S MEN'S CLUB, DUNEDIN

111 The? annual meeting of the' St. Joseph’s ; Men’s Club was held in St. Joseph’s Hall on Monday evening, May 8. Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., presided, and there was an attendance of about , fifty members. r ; - The following report was read by the secretary (Mr. W. Higgins): ■ ~ ir ..t in presenting its report, it is your committee’s pleasant duty to congratulate members on the success of the year’s work, and to express the hope that the session which is about to commence . will show the marked progress which distinguished the last year from its predecessors. In every department of the club’s activities the members displayed an enthusiastic interest. The large number of young members was most gratifying, and, it is safe to prophesy judging by their initial efforts—that they will, during the coming session, do much to advance the club and? place it in the position which such an institution deserves to occupy in the life of our Catholic young men. The average attendance for the year was thirty-five. Twenty-one meetings were held, seven being devoted to debates and impromptu speeches, four to lectures, three to readings, one to Shakespearian reading, and six to musical : and social evenings. The debates were highly successful, and the advancement made during the year was plainly manifested by the club’s victory on two occasions against the South Dunedin Club, The younger members made especially good progress, and it is sincerely to be hoped that they will continue to take an active interest in i what is * to us as Catholic young men the most valuable of all the club’s departments. We are of necessity brought into touch in offices and factories with those of different faiths, and though happily the days of religious bitterness are dying out, there are still many in whose minds religious prejudice and animosity still linger, and who are ever ready to sneer at the principles and practices of our religion. The Catholic young man who is forced—owing to a .lack of facility in expression and discussionto stand by unable to defend his faith is a disgrace to himself and his religion. ’ In our debating branch these deficiencies are remedied, and the rules of right discussion inculcated. There is no reason why our Catholic .young men should not take their proper place in public affairs; and here, more than in any other department of life, there is an absolute necessity for the ready and fluent expression of ideas. The Glee Club was as usual successful, and is fulfilling in an admirable manner the object for which it was instituted. Its members have solved the problem, - How to succeed?’ by bringing to their work unbounded enthusiasm, loyalty to * their leaders, and a capacity for determined effort'. ■ Mr. Deehan and Mr. Heley have sacrificed much of their time to forward its interests, and the . high state of efficiency to which they have assisted in bringing it does them the highest credit. The readings were most enjoyable, and .' your committee takes the opportunity of recommending to members this profitable and pleasant item on-our syllabus. Clear reading makes for clear speaking, and the proficiency gained by this practice will undoubtedly help debaters to a clear and. pleasant delivery. The Shakespearian reading, in conjunction with, the Ladies’ Club, was highly successful, and fully justifies a similar performance during the coming session. Mr. Callan’s interest is as earnest as'previously, and he is deserving of thanks for the time he devotes to the preparation of readings. The lectures' were more than ordinarily popular, and the policy of the club of drawing on its own members as far as possible for these items was amply justified by the very instructive and entertaining evenings given by Messrs. Hussey and Rossbotham. The report would not be complete without reference to the work of our genial and hardworking rev. president (Father Coffey). His untiring energy, regular attendance, and keen and practical interest in the advancement of every member of the club has done much towards the progress that is recorded. He has been an ideal member and • an ideal president, and his popularity with the members is a testimony of his merits in those capacities. In conclusion your committee begs to thank members for the support accorded it during the year. - Prospects were never brighter; but members must remember'that success is gained by diligent effort, and if they wish to

take advantage of the facilities for self-improvement which the club offers they must; develop by means of hard work. For placing these advantages within easy reach they owa the club a debt which they can best discharge by exerting their -influence to increase the membership. u :rr-\ 'si-ei; |. ..■.■ Mr. E. W. Spain, in speaking to the motion for the adoption of the report and balance sheet, congratulated the members on the success of the work of the past year—the success being due in a great measure to the number of young men from the Football Club who had joined the society.. The success of the club during the current year was assured if members would strive earnestly „ and work diligently. ;* | """ - r Rev. Father Coffey complimented the secretary on his excellent report, and also congratulated the members "on the success of the society during the past year. A noticeable feature of the work of the society was the, progress made by the young members who took part in the debates. Owing to the hall being used towards the end of last year in connection with the bazaar,, there was not so much opportunity for social gatherings, but this would not be the case this season. He trusted that the hopes of the secretary, as expressed in the report, would be 'realised, and that the current session would be a very successful one. |-- ---&• ■-; ■- ->.■.•■■ •/. '--. <? *r-k>s*& ■; f.* The report and balance sheet were then adopted. I - Mr. J. Hally read the report and balance sheet of the hall executive, which, after , a*,brief discussion, were adopted. ■--:■■'^' 1 ' i|- $ Before the election of officers took place Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., who- had ..been president for the - past I six years, intimated that owing to his time being otherwise fully occupied, he would have to decline nomination on this occasion. - ......... ;,,.,. : - -. . 's■ His Lordship Bishop Verdon is patron of the club, and the election of officers resulted as follows:—President Rev. Father P. J. O'Neill; vice-presidents, Rev. Father tte y and Mr. M. Rossbotham; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. Higgms; committee, Messrs. E. W Spain J Hally, T. Laffey, R. Gallagher, A. J. Ryan; auditor, Mr. 1. Deehan; representatives on the hall executive, Messrs. W. Higgms, J. Hally, and E. W. Spain. S.» i | Ten candidates were nominated for membership. I - Rev. Father O'Neill thanked the members for electinc him president, and said that he would do his best to forward the interests of the club. ...... ...., ...... „.._. tsa j . A vote of thanks to Father Coffev for presiding brought the proceedings to a close.