ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL, KERRYTOWN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1702, 23 February 1888, Page 2

ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL, KERRYTOWN.

An entertainment was given in the above school last Tuesday at 10.30 a.m. in honor of the Bight Her. Dr Grimes, Bishop of the diocese. ’ The

Bishop, accompanied by the Rev. : Father Fauval, reached the school at the appointed time, and was welcomed with the ringing of the liell. There was a very large attendance of the children, and many of their parents were also present. The following programme was gone through Chorus, “God Bless the Pope:” piano duet,

“ Last Bose of Summer ;” song, “ What are the Wild Wares Saying?” dialogue* “ The Children’s Choice

song, “ The Irish Girlrecitation, Dr Quack;” song, “Beautiful Isle of the Sea;” chorus, “Don’t Let it

Happen Again;” recitation, “The Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night;” piano solo, “Ireland;” boys’ drama, f “ Procrastination, the Thief of Time song and chorus, “ Children’s Voices

song, “ Erin, my Countryrecitation, “ The Flower Girl ;” song, “ The Bing my Mother Wore;” chorus, “ Farewell, but Whenever you Welcome the Hour.” The entertainment was really excellent, the orderly behavior of the

children being very conspicuous.. At its close the following, address to the Bishop was read by Miss Hoare:— To the Right Bov. Dr Grimes, D.D.,. Bishop of Christchurch. May ii Please Your Lobdshif,— We, your loving and faithful children, the

pupils ef St. Joseph’s School, Kerry* town, desire to express our joy at four Lordship’s safe arrival in New 1 Zealand, and our gratitude for your moat amiable condescension in deigning to visit ear humble school in this remote part of your diocese. My Lord, we deeply feel the honor

conferred upon us, and premia# to show our gratitude to Year Lordship by endeavoring to become worthy and faithful

children of the Holy Church and useful members of society, We pray that yon may have ft long and happy life in this the land of your adop* tion; beloved and revered by every member of your dioceae. Most humbly begging Your Lordship's blessing, for ourselves, our parents, and our teachers, We remain, Your Lordship’s affectionate children, The Pupils of St. Joseph’s School. His Lordship, in reply, thanked them for the kind and affectionate welcome they had given him. They would be surprised to hear he had been in Kerrytown before, many miles away, ia that beautiful isle

which had not only given birth to many beautiful beings, but was distinguished lor beautiful things. The Bishop of the place showed him over the schools. There were fine schools—fine lofty, noble schools—and he could not help looking wistfully at them. He wished then to have them in his own diocese, but he now saw before him a finer light—the sight of so many children assembled together in that very nice building. He was glad, too, to notice that they were making good use of their time, and thatthey were combining the pleasing with the useful, as they had shown in the beautiful entertainment they had given. He was also glad of the good and pious disposition they showed. In spite of all “Dr Quack ” had said, it was plain to be seen there was no quackery there. He would write to the Bishop of Kerry im Ireland, and tell him that though he had fine schools he had not so fine a lot of children as he (Dr Grimes) had in Kerry town in Hew Zealand. (Applause.) As regarded the mention they made of his condescension in coming to see them, it was no such thing as condescension, but a pleasing duty, and he would regard it as a very pleasing duty to come to see them as often as he could in future. (Applause.) He thanked them lor the promises they made to continue faithful children of the Church, and if they did so he had no fear but that tbey would bo good and useful members of society. He was glad to find that tbey continued to walk ih 'the footsteps of their forefathers, Who had cherished their holy religion through great persecution. Their forefathers had to hide away in the rocks to he educated, and they had to go but of their country lo foreign lands to be'educated for the priesthood, and God permitted this so that' they might spread the faith to all parts of the world. They had spread it notably in Hew Zealand, and they had preserved for them a sacred gift, without which all knowledge was useless. They had prayed that he might have a long and happy life,'blit he would ask them to pray that'Ma life, might be fruitful in the service 1 of God. It did not much matter ar regarded whether one died a few years sooner or later, but it mattered a great deal as to whether one spent the time in usefulness. He thanked them for the entertainment they had given, and congratulated thtin on having such a fine school. Aa- Bishop of the diocese, he now wished to thank those who had given the ground on which the school was built, and everyone who had so nobly assisted in building, and he thanked the good Sisters for the excellent work thby were doing. His Lordship then gave all the children the Pope’s blessing, and told them they could have the rest of the day asaholiday. Three cheers were then given for the Bishop, for Pather Pauvel, and for the Sisters, and the proceedings terminated.