VERY REV. FATHER KEOGH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 13

VERY REV. FATHER KEOGH.

(An ArrarciATiOiV, "Old 80y.'. , )

' Tho Keogh, whoso'resignation of .tho reotbrship- of St. I'atrick's. OolJegd .has just been announced,, will leave ■■..behind •■him in ' .'Wellington,'-!- ae , marking.;tho results;.of, his ; seven years' resi-: (lence in : our midst,;a sincere impression ofgeniality ■dndbrOad-mindednesSj and of ; rare: quabJications- in, tho; training of youth and the'-administration >.'of:- educational'institutions. Under his ablo guidance St. Patrick's College;, achieved scholastic successes far. ejceedng., the, espeotations of: its most .ardent w-ellrwisheis.-, -An outstanding ' feature :: in Father Keogh's .system ;of training' was the ; strong ,-oonvictidns- which .he held regarding the .desirability, of: imparting highest ideals;, of citizenship to the youth' under hiscarp.;. He.: r taught the.boy to be manly and chivabrous, realising that in theso qualities lay the foundation,; in-a collective degreoi of vl a; strong -nation. ■;..•,■..';--; ;, ■■.;,!' <: ■ -■■■ . ■ Fathe/ lioogh was ;a man who fulfilled the onerou3 .duties .appertaining :to his charge with. much,.industry '.an'd.aclmirabla tact; Ho did-; not by. any ; restrict his activities ; to tho;claßsrooni, but had -a firm, belief in' the all-round equipment of the youth committed to his care. ■■; To.-that end ho took the greatest ..interest, in- athletic pastimes,-; and the boys' recreation.; generally, -. During his regime . a cadoi corps was- formed among the pupils of St. Patrick's, in which tho rector took muoh pride.v.. It was his edstom, during the annual- tituning camp, to go under canvas with the boys; and ho watched with keen pleasure the-'manly bearing of tie yoUng soldiers, and . followed very critically the' 1 details of their course: of training.,' His enthusiasm in thisr-direction -led him to accept the post of Chaplain to the Wellington Ritle isattalion, -which appointment he still holds. ; i'l'd. know , father Kedgh Sooially'- was to formi only one.opinion of him. He atways most attabfo and approachable by/ persons: of; all; donditibns and creeds. 'He was a gentleman so solicitous for tho success of overy. imdortnking , having as its ; objeot the betterment of his fellow-men that it was not surprising to note, the remarkable outburst of, popular feeling, which attended the celebration, in August .last, .of .his -. silver ■■ jubilee,, and the public; presentation in' connection therewith of a- purse ,of over 300 sovereigns, ;;This : suni thevrector handed -over immediately to tho college -trustees to , form the nu6lotts of a fund for. the establishment ot i a ■ bciencie Laboratory .at the colleg&— a magrtammous; act, which,. Wa- quite in keep.ing with Father Keogh'soharacteristin solicitude forthe welfare;aiid progress of every institution ; for the time beiag : under h« charge. .■-'■■■•".;••'.!.■;■■■,-,.■■•..■■■■■ ■■■.-■ ... . ■•.- ■ As, president of the Old Boys' Association, l'ather.Keogh, by reason of his great interest in .tho wrsonnl,welfare of-.mil old bovs with whom ho.came in eontaot; won golden opinions .from membera who appreciated bis valuable work: as redtor, of , their -Alma jVlßtol , .-■: .1. .-,-'■'-. V i, .■•.'■'■■..- : i.-.- - :-- -', ■.',.; ■■■■■■■-. ■