The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-07-19
St. Peters Parish School.


Third District. IN the evening of each day
there was az exhibition comprising many
interesting exercises, and attended on both
occasions by a dense crowd. The Third
District may truly congratulate itself on the
great success of this effort in behalf of edu-
cation. Father Cornelius Moynihan had
scarcely finished his splendid new church,
when the occurrence of the war put stop
to any further undertakings of an extensive
nature which he may have contemplated in
behalf of his flock. After the termination
ments and distress had disappeared suffl-
emily to encourage much enterprise, Father
Moynihan determined to supply his people
with the next most needful institution after
the church-a school. He considered, as do
all Catholics, that the public schools are no
filter for the education of Catholic children,
than Protestant churches would be for their
religious instruction.
The times were changed, indeed, from
the prosperous days when his new brick
church was built, but if the money was
scarce, the need was pressing; so, he COM
menced without money-and we saw the
result in the examination and exhibition
above referred to. The old frame church
and dependent buildings were fitted up for
classes ; an accomplished and highly COM
petent corps of ten or twelve teachers was
organized, and some five to six hundred
children have been introduced into the
fully along their somewhat tedious ways.
The practitioners of this church certainly
deserve the warmest commentator for the
noble manner in which they have appreci-
ated the motives and seconded the efforts
of their pastor in this matter. Without any
expense to themselves, their children could
have had all the advantages of the public
schools, but notwithstanding the hardness of
the times, the want of employment, the
pinching of actual poverty in many cases,
they have cheerfully and universally made
every sacrifice for the intellectual and
spiritual welfare of their children.
The highest praise must be awarded also to
Mr.. Jovian, principal of the school and his
assistants, Mr.. Graham, Miss Loftys, Mrs.
McNulty, and Miss Marshall of the boys de-
partment, and Misses Mcdonnell, Ander-
son, Wells, Medium, and Coghlin, of that
for girls. We had not an opportunity of
witnessing the examinations in day time,
but the evening exercises afforded, by way
aminations from which we could easily PER-
ceive the great proficiency achieved by the
pupils. While on the subject of the teach-
ers, we can but reflect upon the gallantry
as well as justice of our city authorities,
involving as they do not only gentlemen,
but a group of most deserving and charming
young lady teachers, in the effects of their
parsimony. The laborious and conscientious
efforts of these amiable toilers in the school
room can be but scantily rewarded by the
means now at Father Moynihan's disposal.
The pro rata for each of their pupils, if at
the public schools, or even one half or one |
quarter of it, given to this school, would |
afford a compensation for the teachers some
what commensurate with their merits.
We can give but few details of the exhi-
bition, owing to our ignorance of the
names of many among the most prominent
performers. We would remark, however, that
two pieces produced by bands of beauti-
fully dressed girls seemed to give pre.emi-
nent satisfaction one was a May day scene,
which, with its GROWING and sceptre giving,
its floral wealth and poetic addresses,
acclaimed by various rosebuds,
viOlets, and other flowers, in the shape of
little girls, could hardly be excelled for
grace and interest; another appeared to be
q mingled tribute of verse and flowers to
Florence Nightingale, by a group of still
smaller girls-exceedingly well done, and
equally creditable to Miss Nightingale, in
whose honor it was conceived, and to the