The Catholic Students’ Guild, Wellington

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 16, 26 April 1923, Page 26

The Catholic Students’ Guild, Wellington

The following , is the general report of the Catholic Students’ Guild for the year 1922:, — Ihe Catholic Students’ Guild was established on March 19, 1922, at a meeting convened by Very Rev. 1. A. Gilbert, S.M., M.A., (Rector of St. Patrick’s College), which took place in the college library. This inaugural meeting expressed the unanimous opinion that such an association was an urgent need of the Catholic student body and it was agreed to establish an association to he known as “The Catholic Students’ Guild.’ . “A committee was elected as follows: President, Rev. T. A. Gilbert, S.M., M.A.; vice-president, T. P. Cleary, LL.B.; secretary and treasurer, Rev. B. J. Ryan, S.M. M.A.; committee—Miss M. Pigou, Messrs. Haigh' Giles' and Grogan. After some temporary arrangements had been made, the task of drafting a. constitution was entrusted to the committee. This constitution was discussed and finally adopted on April 9. Later," it was printed, together with the syllabus. “During the three terms, corresponding to the terms at Victoria University College, twelve meetings were held as follows:—First term: (1) ‘ldeals of a Catholic Student Guild’ (Very Rev. Father Gilbert), (2) ‘ The Roman Index and Freedom of Thought ’ (F. Haigh), (3) ‘ Newman’s Idea of a, University’ (T. P. Cleary, LL..B); second term: (1) ' The Company of Jesus in History and Literature ’ (Rev. B. J. Ryan), (2) ‘ Evolution: the Catholic Position ’ (Rev J. Higgins), (3) ‘The Church and Science’ (Rev. J. J. Cullen), (4) ‘ The Influence of the Church in Modern Poetry’ (Miss E. Duggan, M.A.), (5) a ‘lnfallibility’ (F. Grogan), b ‘ Inspiration and Revelation (Rev. B. J. Ryan)” (6) ‘Scholasticism’ (Rev. J. Higgins); third term : (1) a ‘Dante (Mrs. Boake, 8.A.), b ‘ The Dark Ages ’ (Very Rev. Father Gilbert), (2) ‘ Catholicity and the Tudor Period.’ (Rev. B. J. Ryan), (3) ‘ Some Critics of Christianity ’ (Very Rev Father Gilbert). 1 y ‘ “It will he seen from this summary that the work was distributed between the lay members and the Fathers of the college. It is also pleasing to report that two of the lectures were given by ladies. The attendance varied from 29 at the inaugural meeting to 71 during the second term. The average attendance was between 50 and 60—numbers beyond the expectation of the founders and highly satisfactory for a first year of experiment. The meetings consisted of an address, questioning on the address, followed by . answers to questions handed in at a previous meeting. The institution of a question box enabled the Guild to touch on many important points not included in the lectures. After the meetings, an informal social gathering was the rule. Tea, music, and billiards, general conversation these formed an important part of the afternoon’s programme. By these means Catholic students from various schools and provinces of New Zealand became acquainted with one another. From this acquaintance, we hope, has come a certain consciousness of prestige, sympathy and union among the Catholic student body—a consciousness, the awakening, or creation of which is the ultimate, wider aim of the guild. “Financially, the guild is sound after the first year. The subscription was fixed at. 2s 6d and this has met expenses and left a small credit balance. Altogether the guild has made a prosperous beginning. The hope of its founders and well-wishers is that it may become the nucleus of further student activity. It is desirable that, during the long vacation, interest and enthusiasm should be kept alive. Much might be done to ensure an early beginning in 1923, an increase in membership and an even more successful second session. “We conclude this report with a repetition of the object of the guild. We exist as a. body to spread Catholic thought; to make it known and respected; to remove false impressions about it; personally, to reach a deeper and more scientific knowledge of our Faith, the faith of Augustine and of Thomas and the greatest minds of the world, and a firmer attachment to the Church which has always been the inspiration, the patron, the Mother of students.” The first meeting for 1923 was held at the college, on

larch 20. The following office-bearers were elected for the year:—President, Very Rev. T. A. Gilbert, S.M. MA • vice-president, T. P. Cleary, LL.B. (re-elected);' honorary secretary and treasurer, Rev. B. J. Ryan, S.M., M.A. (reelected) ; committee Miss M. Pigou, B.A. (re-elected); Messrs. F. Giles, F. Grogan (re-elected), A. Mcßae. After ie election the Rev. President spoke on the work of the gui d as summarised hi the general report, and he briefly outlined the proposed programme for the present year The members who attended this first meeting numbered 64. the second meeting took place on April 8. The speaker on his occasion was Rev. Father Ryan, who dealt!) with “The Existence of God.” The speaker dealt with the first principles underlying the method of proof; then with the traditional proofs of the existence of God. He concluded his address by answering the current objections of Atheists and Agnostics. There were 70 members present. The next meeting ,s to deal with “The Immortality of the Sod" (Rev y . 8.7. U) G,lbert> ’ »<* “ Tl « Origin of the Bible” [Uev.jJJ. J. Ryan).