"MEMORY"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 6

"MEMORY"

ITS ADVANTAGES

"A GUIDE THROUGH LIFE"

Each month when the returned soldiers of Wellington meet for their social luncheon, memories of other days are recalled. Yesterday at the May luncheon the reason for and value of such memories came up for discussion. Monsignor T. F. Connolly was the speaker, and his subject was "Memory." . . .

There was a large attendance of re-1 turned soldiers and they all showed plainly that they enjoyed the address. Mr. W. Smith, a member of the R.S.A/ executive, presided and introduced the speaker. Others present included the Bishop of Wellington Uhe Rl. Rev.H, Si. B. Holland), Major-General J.E. Duigan. General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., president of the N.Z.R.S.A., the Hon. Vincent Ward, M.L.C., M. Armand Nihotte, Consul for Belgium in New Zealand, Mr J. Payne, president of the A.IF. Association of Wellingtpn, the Rev. Arthur Muriel, M.C.!, and the Rev. N. F. Robertshawe. Two solos were sung by Mr. F. Histed. Memory was the process of mind that stored up conscious processes and reproduced them when required, Mbnsignor Connolly said. Just how such processes were stored would make an interesting sAidy. Scientists would say that an impression was made on the brain, and he believed an impression was also made on the soul. Some persons had better memories than others, but af phenomenal -memory was not all-sufficient LESSONS RECALLED. First he would refer to the ' ordinary memories of life. Such memories recalled lessons learned in the past. A retentive memory was a help to sound judgment, and could play a large part in success in everyday affairs. Youthful training, could not be forgotten. Memory would come to one's assistance when truth, charity, honesty, and other virtues were in danger. Memory would recall the correct way that had been pointed by teacher and parent; the right way to go. As one grew older memories of childhood lessons and experiences could be very pleasant. Monsignor Connolly told stories to illustrate the effect of memory, and called forth frequent bursts of laughter by the use of pleasing humour. Memory certainly played an important part in life, he continued, but there were abuses of it. There were things that memory would recall that annoyed or opened an old wound, and in those cases the material objected to the action of the spiritual. Memory could bring up things of which one was ashamed, but the individual could train himself to master his memoryThose memories that made him ashamed could make him more humble, and he could resolve not to remember things' detrimental to his fellow man. ■Those who went through the war had memories they could not put into words; memories that would be with them until death. Returned soldiers 1 always remembered their mates, the ability of the human frame to undergo much hardship, the examples of heroic deeds that had their root in the soul, the readiness to share with a comrade and to risk a life to .help another. Those were' memories that made "good companions, because they showed that if the world had failed it was not because of any weakness in the human frame or mind. No matter what happened he hoped that memory would always be with them all to guide and comfort them.

A vote of thanks was moved by the Hon. Vincent Ward, M.L.C., who also delighted the gathering by.. relating, several incidents recalled to him by Monsignor Connolly's address.