ST. BENEDICT'S CATHOLIC CLUB, AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 8 July 1915, Page 31

ST. BENEDICT'S CATHOLIC CLUB, AUCKLAND

The annual re-union .of St. Benedict’s Club was held in the social hall connected with the club building on the last Wednesday of May (writes a correspondent). The president (Mr. Leo O’Malley) occupied the chair. ' Amongst the guests were the Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, V.G., and Rev. Fathers Forde and Kelly. Many of the old members of the club are now away at the front. Feeling reference to these members was made by £he proposer of the toast, ‘ Our defenders.’ Messrs. Norman Mahony and Dallas Campbell, who were members of the first Expeditionary Force to Samoa, and who are now on their way to the Dardanelles, replied on behalf of our boys at the front. A lengthy toast list was honored, and the following supplied the musical items: —Miss Lillis, Messrs. Ross, O’Connor, E. Owens, A. Toye, J. C. Mason, F. Mays, and L. O’Malley. A very pleasant function was brought to a close by the singing of ‘ God save Ireland,’ and 1 God save the King.’

A particularly gratifying feature of the re-union was the large number of junior - members who were present. The executive feel that.if they can secure all the Catholic young men of the parish after they have left school or college, and keep them in a Catholic atmosphere during a critical period of their life, they will be doing the most useful work a Catholic, club can engage in. With this end in view the executive have been doing all that is in their power to make the club attractive. By the courtesy ox the Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan and the .church committee, a large basement has been placed at the disposal of the club. This has now been converted into a gymnasium' and recrealion room, and will‘be ready, for the opening ceremony in about a week’s time. The library is being brought up-to-date, and, in this connection, the librarian would be glad to receive, on behalf of the club, donations of" suitable books. Books of reference on all subjects are, most useful, now that the junior debating branch is in full swing. This branch of the club’s activities is doing a very useful work. Of late the members have beem holding fortnightly debates, and the improvement shown by the young members is, to say the least of it, surprising. On Monday, June 28, the subject for debate was ‘ Is the modern picture theatre beneficial or harmful to the community?’ The teams were as follow:Beneficial—Messrs. P. J. Lillis, and A. W. Temm ; harmful—Messrs. J. Connell, T. Treacy, and J. Slade. The debate proved most interesting, and resulted in the latter side winning by 5 points. . The judge (Me. Fernandez) congratulated the young speakers on their improvement in debating, and at the same time gave them some good advice and, useful hints for their future guidance. The subject for'the next, debate is, 1 Should women vote V As this will be a public debate, some good speeches are expected. The club is giving yet another of its members to the service of the Empire, in the person of the secretary* (Mr. L. Hodgson), who expects to leave, for Trentham immediately. General regret at the loss the club will sustain was expressed at the last executive meeting, and Mr. Hodgson was wished every good luck. • „ ' •” -h . f-;