The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-04 00:00:00

To THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE DIOCESE :

I.—Last year we were greatly encouraged
in the work of providing for the education of
our poor Catholic children in London, by the
fact, that in the first twelve months after the
founding of the Diocesan Education Fund,
more than 1,000 children had been added to
the actual attendants of our schools. It is
with a still greater thankfulness, and a still
stronger confidence of success in this work,
that we are able this year to state a further in-
crease, making in the two years a total of at
least 2,000 children brought under Catholic
education.

The number of children in actual attendance
at our schools at the last Diocesan Inspection
was 13,146. The number of children on the
school books is 19,805. This latter number
represents the total of children, of whom some
account may be given.
It must be remembered, however, that only
those who are in actual attendance in the
schools can be said. to be under education.
Those whose names are on the books may
be said to be so far known to their pastors ;
but they cannot be said to be educated. Too
often they rarely are seen in the schools after
entering their names. Very often their attend-
ance is so irregular that they hardly learn even
to read. Nevertheless, being so far under the
eye of the clergy, they may be watched over,
and by persevering efforts brought at last to
attend the schools with regularity. In this
class of children the zeal and activity of our
laity will find an ample field of labour.
Taking, then, the total number of children
who are so far known to us at 19,805, we may
estimate, at least approximately, the number
of children who are withdrawn from our sight.
Assuming, as we did two years ago, that the
number of Catholic poor children in London
who ought to be at school is 30,000, there will
remain at least 10, of whom we can give no
account.

The number of Poor Schools in the Diocese
may be stated at 168. Of these many are of size
and capacity to hold more than are actually in
attendance ; but in many parts of London new
schools at shorter distances, and more con-
veniently placed, are needed. In the last two
years twenty-two new schools have been
founded.

If in every two years hereafter we can con-
tinue to gather 2,000 children into our schools,
in a period of ten or twelve years there would
remain few Catholic children in London of
whom we should not be able to render a
satisfactory account. We earnestly, then, re-
new to you our pressing invitation and exhorta-
tion to make fresh and persevering efforts for
this most necessary work; and never to slacken
your exertions and your self-denial until every
Catholic child in the diocese shall be not only
provided with education, but shall be actually
attending our schools.
The report of the Diocesan Inspector gives
us a further encouragement. It shows that
our schools are advancing in quality and effi-
ciency. Hitherto it must be acknowledged
that our boys' schools have not attained, with
certain exceptions, to any very high standard.
Our girls' school, being extensively under the
direction of Religious, have been of a far
higher character, and many of them of remark-
able excellence. Every. day is raising the de-
mand for better education among the Catholics
of London. The schools which ten years ago
were sufficient in quality for our Catholic chil-
dren are so no longer. Not only the class imme-
diately aboye the poor, but among the poor
also, the more intelligent parents are no longer
content with the ordinary Mission Schools. In
many cases they prefer to pay for the educa-
tion of their children at higher schools ; and
in not a few instances in schools which are
not our own. It is absolutely necessary,
therefore, that nothing should be left undone
to raise the standard of efficiency in our edu-
cation ; and this does not mean by introducing
subjects or books above the state and calling
Of our children, but by the training and en-
couragement of thoroughly efficient teachers.
To this a part of the Diocesan Education Fund
has been applied, as will be stated hereafter.
11. We will now give a brief statement of
the several classes of our Diocesan Schools ;
under which head are included certified Re-
formatory, Industrial and Poor-Law Schools,
as well as orphanages and other schools for
the education and maintenance of destitute
children.
1. Reformatory School, Brook Green, Hammer-
smith.

The number of boys detained in the school
on December 31st, 1867, was 136.
This institution has maintained its good
order and moral efficiency. During the twelve
years since it was founded, the Brothers of
Mercy have conducted this school in a truly
exemplary manner. Notwithstanding the
narrowness of the house and grounds, the
school is healthy. But it is most desirable
that a house with some acres of land should
be found for it, at a short distance from Lon-
don, and yet near enough for the carrying on
of the baking, which has been an important
source of support to the school. To this our
attention will at once be turned ; and we hope
next year to be able to announce the transfer
of the Reformatory School to a new and fitting
place.

2. Industrial Schools.

(1.) St. Nicholas's Industrial School, Manor
House, Little Ilford.

This school was among the last and most
cherished works of our lamented Cardinal.
The house and grounds in which it begun at
Walthamstow were sufficient only for seventy
boys, which number was fixed by the inspector
as the limit. Nevertheless, the number of
committals was so great that, with the cer-
tainty of speedy removal in view, permission
was obtained to receive as many as possible;
and though they were inconveniently crowded
together, no illness or other ill consequence
resulted. We announced last year that a very
valuable freehold property had been purchased
at Little Ilford in Essex, for St. Nicholas's
School. The manor house is a solid building
in perfect repair, which originally cost in
erection £12,000 ; and it has nearly seven
acres of land and gardens attached to it. A
new building, containing dormitories, work-
shops, refectory, and other rooms, has been
added. The whole establishment, which is
now capable of holding 220 boys, has been
thoroughly and carefully adapted for the use
of the school. Outbuildings and a fives-wall
have been completed. The purchase and pre-
paration of the property has been effected by
the care and personal attention of Monsignor
Searle, who has during the last few weeks
moved the boys from Walthamstow into their
new home, to which he has transferred also
his own residelide ; and until the chaplain
could be appointed, he undertook also the
spiritual charge of the school. The boys now
in the school are 180 in number.

(2.) St. Margaret's Industrial School,
Finchley.
This Industrial School for girls was re-
moved in the year 1866 from Queen Square.
By the erection of a very humble but conve-
nient chapel of wood, room has been obtained
for an additional number. It contains at this
time sixty-two children. The improvement
in the school since its removal to Finchley is
very marked ; and the conduct and progress
of the children is highly satisfactory. We
subjoin an extract from a letter of the super-
intendent of this school, earnestly beseeching
the help of charitable persons in watching over
the poor children who, after their term is com-
pleted, pass from the school once more into the
dangers of London. We must urgently press
this upon the zeal of the faithful :
" God's blessing has most visibly rested on
the work ; for no mere human efforts could
have wrought so manifest a change in the
minds of the children, as well as in their out-
ward conduct and their general improvement.