WANGANUI COLLEGE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1410, 10 April 1912, Page 5

WANGANUI COLLEGE.

■DEDICATION OF THE CHAPEL. The now chapel of Wanganui College was dedicated on Sunday- 'last .(Eoster Day) by 'the Anglican Bishop , of Wellington (Dr. Sprott). ' I.he ceremony was very impressive. The chapel was packed with over 200 of tho school and staff and over 200 old boys and visitors, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Emp=on, Mrs. Gordon-Williams (neo Miss Empson), and Mr. Arthur Empson, J>f the 7th Cavalry, from Jansi. The ceremony began with a procession of choir, school chaplain, headmaster, and the Bishop, with the Rev. B. D. Ashcroft (an old boy) as chaplain. At the west door it was met by the president of tho Old Boys' Association (Mr. Cecil J. Wray), who read the petition for dedication. Tho procession then entered, and the Bishop proceeded with the dedication service. Taking for his text Colossians iii, 1: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those , things which are above," the Bishop, in the course of his address said the true meaning of the word "seek" in the text is "aim at.". "Aim at" those things which are above; things whichi are not up above us in the sky, but which belong to our higher nature. We are bidden to develop all the higher nature within us, giving it rule over tho lower animal nature, and so making a character like unto that of 'Christ. And the school exists for the purpose of carrying out this work. In the school wo tire called to. "aim at" ideals. On tho playing fields we "aim at" perfection of bodily strength, and it is essential to a nian to have, a clean, strong body. In the class room we "aim at" perfecting the mind, and a keen, strong, well-fur-nished mind is also necessary to manhood. In tho chapel wo aro bidden to aim at something more than body and mind, "the things wihich are above." Without the chapel the school training would be incomplete; the thing wanting has to-day bean added. It is Hie gift of old boys throughout tho world to the Bohool wh'ch they love. The new. chapel is the gift of old boys of all generations, but the .suggestion of it came from one whoso name will always be looked up to and revered by all who truly love the school. And the new chapel stands at tho gateway; it is the first thing seen in approaching the school; it is the embodiment of tho thought, "seek those things which aro above." Tho chapel stands .it the gateway to tell us that we are not to spend the week-days in aiming at ideals in class-room or on the playing fields, and to "seek those things which are above" on Sundays only; but it stands there to remind us that every day and always, In frork and in play, we must— "Follow the Christ, the King; Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King." Tho chapel is a dignified Gothic building of red brick, with windows of Oamarn fitone. Tho cost has exceeded Ji5500, and tho whole is a present to tho "school which they love, from old boys scattered throughout the world." The architect Is Mr. W. Gray Young, of Wellington, and the contractors Messrs. N. Meuli and Eons and John Jones.