CATHOLIC GIRLS' HOSTEL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16145, 25 February 1918, Page 4

CATHOLIC GIRLS' HOSTEL.

THE OPENING CEREMONY

There was a large gathering at Shcr- I wood. Cashel street, yesteruay alter- j noon, when his Lordship Bishop Brodie j performed the official opening ceremony j in connexion witli the property, w aioli ; has been recently acquired for the purpose of a Roman Catiioiic Girls Hostel j and Club. The house, which contains | 22 rooms, is situated on thiee-quaiters ; of 'in acre of land, and i; is an extremely suitable and com enient building Tor tlie purpose iu view. Anions those who were present weie. Bishop liiudic, i)eau Rvgiu.u:i, *>r. Jveniieiiy, -liev. i-atlicrs Huiiey and C'auill, and Mrs Geo. Harper, l'resiuent of the Hostel Committee. The Bishop said that it was with very great pleasure that he attended there uiac afternoon to declare open Catholic Girls' Club and Hostel, and he was reminded in doing s<j ot a pastoral letter written by the Bishop ot Australasia in the year 183">. iu which the Bishop drew attention to the necessity of societies and associations to Keep their people in close touch wil;i holj faith ana it.s sacred teachings. the Ciiiirch iiad blessed and strongly Recommended many of these associations, and it would not be hard to find one ot these associations t>uitable to almost any age or locality. The diocese of Christchurch could claim credit for the fact that !' lcb ° associations had been widely established and generously encouraged, and \isitois iu their praise of the complete. equipment of the diocese in the matter oi' its religious institutions and associations. Every parish lmd its sodalities anad societies to encourage the religious cpirit in the different members ol the congregation.. I'oi tho Catholic men there- was a wide rango of choice in regard to clubs and societies, but until recently, there had been a tendency to overlook the necessity ot such societies, for Catholic girls and voting women after they }iad passed through their school course. Uecently there had been established a branch ot the Hibernian Society lor ladies, and he was pleased to say it was meeting with wide appreciation and encouragement. They were assisting at the opening of an 'institution to be known as the Catholic. Girls' Hostel and Club. As might be judged from it.s designation. this institution was to haveji twofold purpose: it would be in the first place a home away from home for Catholic girls, who had to leave the sanctuary of their own home to take positions in the city. 1 ncy lui knew the necessity of good home influence in earlv life, and thev could realise how Catholic giris brought up in the happy atmosphere of a good home would long for surroundings which would be e\er reminiscent of the. days spent- undci t ie sacred guidance of good and devoted parents. ' . , ' The Catholic Gins' Hostel, con " tinued the Bishop, "will provide a home where the sacred influences ot home life will be continuously exercised; btit another want will lie supplied, namely, to brin.o- our Catholic girls together so that bv their friendly association they mav he an encouragement to one another at a time of life when greatest dangers often threaten, and the greatest "help is afforded by acquaintance with others actuated with higliest ideals, and animated by a firm resolve to model life, in accordance with the sacred teachings instilled into the young Minds by parents at home, and bv the reiigious teaehcrs in the days spent under their direction in school. The hostel is to be the meeting place of the Catholic Girls' Club, open to all youno- women at a nominal membership fee, and offering many advantages and great encouragement to its meruners .in the way of religious helps and swat improvement. .The club work will be even more far-reaching than, the work of the hostel, but the one institution will fulfil its twofold purpose. I thank ail who by their help and encouragement havo cnabled the diocese of Christchurch to rejoice in the possession of such a commodious building lor the works of the club and hostel, and commend tho work to the support and appreciation of the people of the city and of tho diocese of Christc'iurch. 1 therefore, with tho blessing of God, declare the Catholic Girls' Club and Hostel formally open, and wish its work every success." (Applause.) Dean Rcgnault said lie endorsed every word .his Lordship had said, and he. tendered to all associated with, the great undertaking his vevv heartiest congratulations at- the success of the work. The hostel would bo a homo for ladies and young women. ft was not an institution in the ordinary sense of the word, but its aim would be to supply the comforts and association of a true Catholic home to those girls and women who might be obliged to live in Christchurch, away front their homes, for pleasure or business. They would pay for -whao they got; but on the other hand they would receive a very great deal for what they paid. Dr. Kennedy, Administrator of the Cathedral, said he could not help thinking that the Catholic women and girls wlTo would be resident in Christchurch in the future would be very well provided for, and lie added his fervent congratulations to the Hoste! Committee on the gt'< at work tha.t they had carried to the present successful stage. They opened: that day, not an initial effort, but a second chapter in hostel work, and the experienced committee would, ho felt sure, carry on the present work in ;us successful a manner as they had carried it oil for the past three and a half years. He hoped that the hostel would flourish, and for his part, he could say that the clergy would support it -wholeheartedly.

The Rer. Father Hurley. Administrator of St. Joseph's, Wellington, congratulated Christchurch on its latest unit to its diocesan equipment. Ho felt he could sav that Christchurch was pre-eminent in its diocesan institutes. The Rev. Father Cahill, Auckland, added his congratulations. The women and girls were amongst the most valuable and valued portion of the Catholic body and he felt that no institution could be too good for their welfare.

Mr "VV. Havward, treasurer to the Hostel Committee, spoke interestingly of the past history of hostel work in >"eiv Zealand, beginning with, the emigration committees which met Catholic girls at the ports, and following on witH the history of the club in Armagh street, the hostel in Latimer square, to tho present fino premises, which -were the best in New Zealand to-day. The purchase money of Sherwood was £1700, and £550 had been spent in renovations. so that a sum of £2200 had to fie paid for the hostel as it stood. £1000 had been ]pf-t on mortgage, but the rest had to be found, and he was sure that with the support that would be fortlcoming, there would be no difficulty in •wiping off all liabilities. Mr J- E. Doolan. vice-president of the Catholic Federation, and Mr Frank Doolan, secretary of the Federation, aJso spoke, and a hearty rote of thanks was passed to his Lordship, the clergy, and the fisitors. Those present then inspected the buildinn. and were entertained at tea bv the Ladies' Committee of the hostet.

Tlie Duke of Bucclcuch, in a New Year mes=a.S e as F rcs ,'d pn t t' le *S?, V . V League, points out that between 176185. 3300 British merchant vessels were captured or destroyed, the loss repiesenting roughly 3o tons per annum for everv "thousand persons of the population'of the British Islands at the time. The outstanding lesson of history is, he says, that an insular power inn never be crushed "'so lone as it letains command of the sea."