NEWMAN SOCIETY, AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 3 June 1915, Page 47

NEWMAN SOCIETY, AUCKLAND

The anjiual general meeting of the members of the Newman Society, Auckland, was held at St. Patrick's Schoolroom, v on Pentecost Sunday. -~ Brother George, M.A., occupied the chair, and the secretary read the report and financial statement for the year. v~ In all, nine meetings were. held during the year, and these were memorable both for the excellent literary matter put before them and for the large number of' members present on each occasion. At the June meeting, Brother George delivered the presidential address in which he showed the work and place of the Catholic Church in higher education. In July, Rev. Father Doyle gave an excellent paper on Gray's ' Elegy.' At the August meeting, there was a debate on the indiscriminate reading of Scott's novels by young Catholics. Miss Jacobsen, M.A., gave an interesting and cultured address on ' The Life and Poems .of Francis Thompson ' in September. A scholarly contribution, entitled ' The Religion of Robert Browning,' was placed before the October meeting by Miss Callan. 'The members were entertained at a social evening by Mr. and Mrs. Wright at their home in -Devonport in November, when the prize essay by Miss Callan on Newman's Apologia was read and discussed. ' At this meeting, also, tokens of esteem and appreciation we're presented to both the president and the chaplain. The March meeting took the form of ' Question day,' and interesting discussions took place on the questions proposed. The April meeting was held at the Sacred Heart College, and at it the members were treated to Father Rickaby's views on 'Religion in the modern novel.' The report closed with expressions of sincere thanks to all who had given the society such kindly and generous help during the —particularly to Father Doyle, Mr . and Mrs. Wright, and the various colleges, who provided the halls for the month]}' meetings. The society's thanks are also due to the Tablet for the publication regularly of its work. After the report and balance sheet had -been adopted the election of officers for 1915-1916 took place, and resulted as follows:—Patron, His Lordship Bishop Cleary; president, Rev. Brother George, M.A. : vicepresidents—Rev. Brother Director (Sacred Heart College), Dr. O'Shannessy, Mr. J. J. O'Brien, Miss Jacobsen, M.A. ; chaplain, Rev. O. M. Doyle: secretary and treasurer, Miss Nolan : auditor, Mr. G. Browne, B.Com. : executive — Wright, Kalaugher, C. Sneddon, and Miss E. Mahon. Before the close of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing officials, the president eulogising particularly the secretary's untiring and successful work for the" year. It is interesting to note that the Australian Catholic Truth Society has honored two members of the Newman Society— Goulter and Miss Jacobsen, M.A."by the publication of their contributions.