MARIST BROTHERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3188, 12 September 1917, Page 10

MARIST BROTHERS

—*»'■ 9 . *> ■ CELEBRATING THEIR CENTENARY

OLD BOYS' REUNION

lu tho Alexandra Hall last evening a social reunion was tendered to tho Marist Brothers of Wellington by the old 'boys of tho Marist Schools, on (he occasion of tho centenary of the founding of tho Order. There was a verv largo" attendance, over which Mr. F* J. Oakes presided, and Sir Joseph Ward was among those' present. Tho toast of the. King and the Pope was proposed by tho chairman, and it was duly honoured. Mr. P. L). Hoskins proposed the (oast of (ho Hierarchy and the (Jlergv of New Zealand. He spoke of the good work they had done, and tho advancement'that hail been, made by tho Catholic Church in this country. Ifis Grace Archbishop O'Shea. was "unable. to bo present, and the response was made by the .Rev. Wither Georgo Alahoney. Father Mahoney said that tho work of the clergy, though arduous, had been a labour of love. However, the success attained never have beep reached without the loyal co-operation ?., j, - r ' -For tho support of tho I"V 7 -r, ■ c '? r S3' would always be grateful. Referring to tho -work of the brothers, ho said they were doing a gioat work in educating boys v. uu would foo a hno asset .to the State. Tho chairman proposed tho toast of tho Marist Brothers. He recalled old luemor-

ies as ono who went to the Marist School whon it was established hero in '1876. He said it would bo difficult for the boys ever to repay tho debt they owed to tiio brothers.

Tho toast was supported by -Mr. I!. Dixon. Speaking of the training tho brothers gavo to' children, ho stressed the importance of briuging up children under good influences and in suitablo surroundings. Tho early training of tho children wjjs a vital matter, and thuso engaged in it were engaged in one of tho most important works it was possible for anyone in the nation to undertake. Mr. Dixon expressed gra.tft.ude for tho t ; mo and the trouble they had spent in doing their best for him, a non-Catholic, buv.

Replying, Brother Egbert spoke o£ the great growth of the order since Father Champagnat founded it -.100 years ago, and ho added that in no part were tho parents more helpful or tho boys more satisfactory than in tho city of Wellington.

The toast of Old Boys on Act.ivo Servics v;as proposed by Air. H. M'Keowen. He said that from Wellington city alono nearly 500 Marist old boys had gono on active service. That boys had been such a credit to the nation was largely due to tho brothers who had trained them.

Tho toast was supported by Sir Jiseph Ward, who spoke at length in general terms of the pride which the community could well feel in tho Marist old boys who had gone to tho war.

Lieutenant Ei lieeves, M.C., and Privato F. Barber, M.C., responded. "Our School Days" waa toasted by tho Rev. Father Georgo Ma.honey, Messrs, H. I/ie, S. Ross, W. Nauj;ht.o'n, and .T. E. Gamble.

Mr. J. A. Scott proposed the toast of the Catholic Federation, and Mr. J. J. L. Burke responded.

During the evening mnsicfll items wero given by Messrs. E. ,T. Healy, If. Sievers, and J. Elliott; Messrs. ,1. J. O'Brien and G. O'Meeghan were tho accompanists.