CHRIST’S COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2123, 13 December 1880, Page 3

CHRIST’S COLLEGE.

The following address was delivered at the annual meeting on Friday by the Warden:— Before distributing the prizes, it would, perhaps, interest those present to hear what the Grammar School had been doing during the past year, and what it hoped to do. The number of boys was 180, and during the past fortnight they all had been examined in their work of the year. The examiners in the histories of Greece, Borne, England, and in English literature, including on English essay, were the Very Rev. the Dean and the Rev. H. B. Oocks. The examiners in arithmetic, mathematics, algebra, and geometry were Canon Ootterill and Rev. F. G. Brittan, Examiner in classics—Greek and Latin— Rev. W. O. Harris. In French and German, Mr H, J. Tanored. In Natural and Physical Science, Mr W. H. Herbert. In Divinity, including Greek Testament, Scripture History and Catechism, Archdeacon Harper. During the past year the following boys had gained Christ’s College scholarships Senior Somes’ Scholarships— Ootterill, Mathias, Cooks. Junior Somes’ Scholarships—Searell, Robison, Latter. Sons of Clergy Scholarships—Harris, Penny, Torleese. And in the recent examination, Senior Somes’ Scholarships had been awarded to Williams and Chapman. To Sir Julius Vogel the Grammar School was indebted for a prize which had been awarded to Mathias, who had passed the best examination in Ancient and Modern History and English Literature. During last year, boys who were formerly pupils in the Grammar School had gained in the New Zealand University;— Junior Scholarships—Grossman and Watson. Senior Scholarships—Oonnal, for Latin; Douglas, for Greek ; Herbert, for Chemistry, Heat and Electricity; Innis, for English. And the following had, during the same period, gained honors in the Canterbury College examination: —Connal, Foster,Watson, Douglas, Herbert, and Wilkinson. _ It might not be out of place if he also mentioned that twelve from the sixteen exhibitions offered since 1878 for competition by Canterbury College, had been gained by boys formerly at the Grammar School, viz., in 1878, five ; in 1879, three ; and in 1880, four. There are now in the English Universities, formerly of the school, Brown, Wilkin, Rhodes, Buckland, Nicholls, Tripp, Bridge; and at Medical Schools in England and Scotland, Whitoombe, Moorhouse, and Westenra, of all of whom good reports had been received ; nor must he omit to mention that Westenra had distinguished himself in athletics as well as in the Medical School studies. The following had matriculated at the New Zealand University—Grossman, Watson, Strode. He had already mentioned that the boys had been examined in Divinity, including Scripture history, Old and Now Testament, and the Church Catechism, and he would take the opportunity of announcing that a gold medal would be given annually to the boy who should pass the best examination in Divinity. The medal is the purchase of a sum of money which had been entrusted to Archdeacon Harper by Mr Arthur James Balfour, M.P. for Hartford, to be appropriated by him to some useful purpose in the diocese, and with the consent of the governing body it had been invested in the purchase of a gold medal, to be given annually in the grammar school. The subject for examination for next year would be the latter part of the Acts of the Apostles, beginning at the 16th chapter, and St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians, both in Greek, and in Proctor and Maclean’s Introduction to the Book of Common Prayer. He must remind the boys that these books would not necessarily be included in the usual course of their school work next year, but should be made by them the subject of private study, in which no doubt they would obtain assistance from Mr Hare, The Bishop added he attached great importance to this prize, as well as to that which, from the warden of the college, was given annually to the boy who passed the best examination in the Divinity school work, inasmuch as the governing body in the school system of the college had in view, not only the intellectual culture of the boys entrusted to them, but the moulding of their characters, morally and socially, and they felt that they could adopt no better means for this purpose than the inculcation of the truths and teach-

ing of Christ’s religion. It bad been well said by one, Lord Lyttelton, who had taken a most active part in the founding of the Canterbury settlement, and had ever shown an especial interest ir> all ecclesiastical and educational matters connected with the diocese of Christchurch, that “ Christianity was not a mere code of laws, or a record of facts, or a suggestion of sentiment, or a partial disclosure of mysteries which do not concern ns, but a power, the mightiest power that wo know, offered to those who would grasp it for the conquering of the evil that is in them, and for enabling them to advance towards the realisation of their bstter hopes and aspira-

tions,” and he would add himself for enabling them to fulfil their parts as good citizens of this oniony. Ho would appeal to parents who might be present whether they would be quite satisfied if their boys returned to them grown in mind and body—if only they found they had made good progress in their school studios 5 had become, for instance, better classical scholars, better mathematicians, or had learnt more of physical science? Would they not expect also, that their school life would have exe.-cised some direct and wholesome influence upon them in making them more unselfish, more patient, and more considerate lor others more masters over their tempers, and more obedient to authority—in a word, with some growth in tho manners and habits of Christian gentlemen ? This is what Christ’s College was endeavoring to effect by the discipline and religious teaching of her Grammar School system, in addition to the cultivation of the intellectual powers of the boys. Ho would

0 add % few words] in reference to the upper • department of the College, which the goyeme icg iody tried to bring into more prominent use, providing, not only for the discipline and y religbus teaching of those young men who . whih residing within the College precincts r might be attending the lectures of Canterbury College, but a preparatory course of a instnotion and training for those who were desircus of serving in the sacred ministry of t the Church. .And he would express a hope . that tmong those present there were parents t who vould encourage their children in offera ing tiemselves for the ministry, and young 5 persois who were looking forward to it as to t the p'ofession which they would choose, and • to wh:oh in duo time they would devote themselves for life. He could not promise them ; wealtl or great worldly distinction in such a ( profesiion; but ho could assure them of 1 opportunities in it in which they would find ; happitess for themselves, and be the instrument n Cod’s hands of farthering the highest interest of their fellow citizens.