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In the presence of a
large concourse of people, including Priest from various parts of the
Diocese, the Bishop of Leeds [ The RT. Rev. Dr. J. R. Cowgill ] formally
opened and consecrated a new day School adjoining St. Gerard's Church, at
Thrybergh, on Wednesday afternoon. Subsequently an address was given in the
School hall by the Rev. C. B. Warren, P. P. , O. B. E., of Siladen, who the
case for Roman Catholics in regard to education in plain terms.
The School which had cost £8, 500 to build, is a two storey structure,
capable of accommodating 300 children. There are the usual class rooms and
a large assembly hall which can be used for concerts, a Kitchen , cloakrooms
etc.
Prior to the opening ceremony there was a lunch at the Crown Hotel,
Rotherham, at which about 80 were present.
There was a brief religeous ceremony both before unlocking the door and in
the large hall before members of the public were admitted. These were
conducted by the Bishop. The hall was crowded when the Bishop took the chair
for the subsequent proceedings. He was accompanied by Ald. Mrs. Chambers [
chairman of the Secondary Education Committee Bradford. ] , the Rev. C. B.
Warren, P. P., O. B. E., Canon Beazley, and Father McAdam. In the hall were
also Fathers Sumnell, and Hawkswell [ Leeds ] Goaley [ Bradford ] Gallon [
Attercliffe] Moyniham [ Deepcar ] Grogan [ Sheffield ] White [ Sheffield]
Vos [ Maltby ] Gosse [ Rotherham ] Canon Leteux [ Denaby ] O'Shaughnessy [
Cudworth ] Mulcahy [ Wombwell ] Flynn [ Doncaster ] Bentley [ Doncaster ]
Richardson [ Leeds ] Henigan [ Leeds] Brannigan [ Sheffield ] and Cleary [
Sheffield ]
Others present were Dr. Chidlow, Mr J. P. Crehan, Mr J. Collins, Mr. J. H.
Townend J. P. C. C. , and Mr. A. Adcock.
The Bishop said it was a most glorious [ missing text ---- ] which he
thought they must congratulate Father McAdam [ Applause ] Father McAdam had
had courage which he was afraid few of them would have shown had they had to
tackle such a task, He had had the loyal co-operation of the people of his
Parish, however, and that had encouraged him to no small extent. He [ the
Bishop] must therefore congratulate not only Father McAdam, but also the
people of Thrybergh as a whole for the way in which they had supported the
scheme for the building of the School, which was really a very great work.
They had now a School second to none he was told- and he was prepared to
believe it- in that part of the World. It was undoubtedly as good a School
as anyone could wish to have.
GENEROUSLY FURNISHED SCHOOL
He was pleased to see also that the School had been most generously
furnished by the West Riding County Council. He would say in praise of that
body that when they were beaten they took it with a very good grace: they
had furnished the School which they did not want to begin with excellently.
He wished some of the speakers who had " held Forth" in the Leeds Town Hall
had been present that afternoon to see for themselves how Catholics in that
part of the World were meeting the difficulties of building schools. [
Applause. ] They would then have understood how earnest Catholics were in
their demand for schools for their children.
He understood the school was full already. " We shall have to begin to
extend before long" he remarked amid laughter and applause. " when we get
some more money. The times we are passing through are extremely difficult.
Honestly I do not know how you are able to meet the expense of building a
school of this kind. You people in the mining districts have my greatest
admiration for the way in which you support your School".
In conclusion his lordship said the school had been inaugurated under such
happy omens that it was sure to prosper, and Father McAdam would have cause
to be prouder than ever of his people.
The Rev. C. B. Warren
The Rev. C. B. Warren said Father McAdam and his
Parishioners had given them a wonderful example of zeal and energy. " The
school afforded excellent testimony of indefatigable industry and
indomitable courage. It embodied the noblest of efforts of a self
sacrificing Pastor and his flock, self sacrifice to the very limit of
economic possibility. He was sure he voiced the sentiment of all present
when he congratulated the Parish Priest of Thrybergh, and also the people on
their very magnificent achievement.
The building stood and would stand for generations to come, as a monument to
the one fundamental and eternal principle imposed upon parents, from on high
- that they bring up their children in the fear and love of God." [ Applause
] It was a matter of deep concern and very great
regret to them went on the speaker, that they could not use eye to eye with
the legislation of the country on the important question of education. The
Church held [ missing text ]---- --- and demanded submission to all lawful
constituted authority, submission to the higher powers had ever been a
leading principle in her teaching. [ missing text ]--- ---mission to teach
all nations the saving truth. He himself came from heaven to proclaim
therein was the charter of the Church educational; rights.
CHURCH CHARTER
What did they understand by education. It was the development and training
of the whole man, of all the powers and capabilities physical, moral,
natural, and supernatural with which God had endowed him for the purpose not
only of fitting him for a career of usefulness in this life, but also for
the purpose of training him to attain that high and happy destiny designed
for him in the life to come. The scope of education therefore, embraced
everything that might contribute to the spiritual eternal, and temporal well
being of humanity. The Church's age long experience testified that the child
was the father of the man. Her duty had been to train children so that in
old age they should not depart from their training, and that duty,
faithfully accomplished in every age, brightened the annals of the Church's
long and eventful history.
In the beginning Mark established a school at Alexandria, and in the second
and third centuries the Christian schools of that city had renowned men
associated with them, men representative of the highest culture of the day.
Ever since those times the Church's paramount business had been education.
She had always given of the best of her efforts, the most brilliant of her
intellects, and the richest of her resources to the cause of education. And
they were today as deeply conscious of their duty and as sensibly alive to
the needs for its execution, as were their forefathers, who began the long
and glorious tradition, a tradition that was no mere history though but
rather an actuality. A
FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
The school was adjunct to the home, it existed for the home, and so long as
Catholic homes existed so long would there be Catholic schools. The rulers
of the home had their duties and responsibilities, the most fundamental
being that of the education of their children. There was in this country
upwards of 9,000 Council schools magnificent [ missing text]---
national importance, as education undoubtedly was. If those schools gave the
instruction to the children which catholic parents desired it would be an
impertinence on their part to object, and under ordinary circumstances they
would be able conscientiously to avail themselves of them. They did not
however, though Catholics, had to pay for their erection. There at Thrybergh
was a school, a public building designed for a work of national importance,
which gave the instruction Catholic parents desired their children to have,
and Catholics alone had to find the money for its erection. They paid their
share to the Council schools and then they were told in effect to build
their own schools.
Where was the equality of communal justice in that? Was it right and just
that they were engaged in a work of national importance should be denied
equality and right with their fellow citizens. Was it just that they
followed the dictates of their consciences, in the way God-fearing citizens
did, they should be singled out and made to feel the indignity of inferior
subjects, bond slaves roped to the chariot wheel of unjust oppression? They
had heard of British justice but had experienced a sham, a spurious abstract
pretence. What they demanded was the sterling concrete reality, and they
demanded it from democracy today.
There were some who had made themselves notorious in their opposition to
their schools. What they asked of all was that they would do towards
Catholics as they wished Catholics to do towards them. They asked them to
remember therights of minorities in matters of conscience were as sacred as
the rights of majorities, and that any violation or infringement of those
rights was unjust and oppressive.
THINGS OF ETERNAL VALUE
There was a General Election on the horizon said the speaker. That was a
constitutional method by which they might obtain justice and equality in the
mater of their schools. Justice and equality were things of eternal value
and he urged them therefore to stand solidly and soundly for them, rather
than for material and temporal extravagance that parties promised. Above and
beyond all party politics stood parental and communal justice.
Just now the country was like a huge convalescent ward. The patients would
soon be roused from their slumbers to partake of their medicine from various
coloured bottles labelled "Unemployment Prophylactic." His advice was to
keep them awake at by educating them on the question of right and equality.
The matter was too vital to be relegated to the lumber room of political "
touch me nots" Let them put party politics a side on that question because
they were at issue with a law that denied them equality of right of
citizenship in the conscientious education of their children. Their cause
was just, and though they may fail it would still live on [ applause] and in
Gods good time others would arise and bring the country's educational laws
into harmony with the divine parental rights of communal justice. [ applause
]
On the proposition of Ald. Mrs Chambers, seconded by Mr. James Conroy, a
vote of thanks was passed to the Bishop for presiding, and a similar
compliment was extended to the Rev. C. B. Warren on the proposition of Canon
Beasley, seconded by Mr. P. Corrigan.
Father McAdam also spoke acknowledging the many kindnesses and the support
he had received at the hands of the Bishop. |
