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New Zealand Tablet, 21 December 1911, Page 2583

MARIST OLD BOYS AND CATHOLIC CLUB, WELLINGTON.

Members of the Wellington Catholic Club-and the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association foregathered in the old school premises in Boulcott street, on Wednesday evening, December 13, and spent a very pleasant, hour or two in renewing old associations. Mr. J. McGowan (president of the club) occupied the chair, and among those present were the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Provincial), Rev. Father Venning, 5.M.., and Brother Justin, head of the Marist Brothers' teaching staff in Wellington. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from his Grace Archbishop Redwood, Very Rev. Father O'Shea, S.M., V.G., Rev. Father Hickson, S.M., Adm., Mr. Martin Kennedy. K.S.G., and others. The toast of ' Our Alma Mater ' was proposed by Mr. C. Gamble who paid a high tribute to the work done by the Brothers in the years that the Old Boys remember with gratitude and appreciate fully in the present. More particularly he referred to the grand old man of Catholic education,' Brother Mark, mention of whose name evoked an outburst of cheers. In replying Brother Justin, who met with a cordial reception, said it gave the Brothers pleasure to watch the careers of the boys after leaving school, and looking round _ Wellington, he said that the school had done its share in providing good citizens for Wellington. During the past year the Brothers ■ had ceased teaching in Boulcott street, and started work in Tasman street, where the numbers had been quite up to expectations, although over seventy boys had been left behind at Thorndon. At the recent examinations thirty boys had been presented from the Sixth Standard and twentyseven had gained their proficiency certificates. The school had also done well in the field of sport—in cricket, for instance, eight matches had been played and eight had been won. On behalf of the teaching staff, he expressed the highest appreciation of the kindly feelings shown by Old Boys to their Alma Mater. The toast of ' Catholic Education ' was proposed by Mr. S. J. Moran, who remarked that the record of the past in this respect incited them on to further efforts. They knew that the Catholics had to support the State schools, to which they did not go, and" they had also to support a greater burden, the schools to which they did go. ~ Very Rev. Dean Regnault, in replying, said it seemed to him that Catholic people were the only ones who appreciated education sufficiently to put their hands in their pockets and to pay for it. They had often been told that the Catholics were the friends of ignorance and the enemies of enlightenment and education, and yet they day by day paid for their education _ and made sacrifices .for it. The other toasts honored were ' The Pope and the King,' proposed by the chairman ; { Wellington Catholic Club,' proposed by Mr. B. Guise, and responded to by Mr. Thomas; 'Kindred Societies,' proposed by Mr. H. McKeowen; responded to by Rev. Father Venning (St. Vincent da Paul Society Mr. J. W. Callagban (Hibernian Societv), and Mr. E. B. L. Reade. (Newtown Catholic Club). Musical items were contributed by Messrs E. B. L. Reade, W. B. Keany, C. McErlean, M. O'Kane,, W. Hueston, F. Eller, C. Gamble, and -P. J. McGovern. Mr. E. Reade presided at the piano. t