The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-22

the Grant for Education and Have
| Absolute Control of It-St. Bonaven-
ture's College the Leading Educa-
/ tionaI Institution-Archbishop How
/. ley Interviewed.
I In the course of an interview
granted to representative of the
Catholic Register and Canadian Ex-
tension of Toronto, Ont, the Most
Reverend Archbishop Howley, of st.
Johns, Newfoundland, gave the fol-
lowing account of the conditions un-
der which Catholic schools are operat-
ing in his island home:
. I'VE have the most perfect educa-
tlonal system of any country in the
world. There is practically no such
a thing as a common school, and de-
nominational education is everywhere
the rule. Our people are divided into
three groups, Catholics, Anglicans
and Methodists, with whom are joined
all Noncomformists as minor Protest
ants, and our grants for education are
SAAoCSNo 4A p1opO4 LAOA W IuS
of members in the different bodies.
There is very little friction, and Cath
olics have absolute control of their
part of the public fund, and devote it
to both primary and secondary educa-
tion. We set aside a few thousand
dollars each year to support teachers
in the poorer districts, and we strain
every nerve for efficiency. We are
affiliated with London University, and
many of our boys and girls have car
ried off the honors.
"St. Bonaventure's College, con-
Quoted by the Irish Christian Broth
ers, is the leading educational institu-
ton of the island, and has a large
number Of students. 1t is boarding
as we'll as day school, and gives nor
NAL training to young men who desire
to prepare themselves for the work of
teaching. It is affiliated with the
London University, as are our convent
=. hools, and many of it's graduates
have carried off the honors in the ex-
aminations, which, as you may know,
brings them into competition with
students everywhere throughout the
Empire. Three of it's graduates are
now at Oxford, having carried off
Rhodes scholarships, and the standing
of the college in educational circles is
very high. The Convent of the Sisters
of Mercy at Littledale, just outside
of st. Johns, has a normal school in
hiah
for teachers, and it is also affiliated
with London University, and has made
an exceptionally good showing in the
examinations. The principal teacher
is graduate of the famous Catholic
Training School of Mount Pleasant, in
Liverpool. During the past couple of
years we have erected two new wings,
and it is now an institution of which
Catholics on the island feel justly
proud. The Sisters of the Presenta-
tion have two converts in st. Johns,
and quite number of schools in the
outports. They have over four thou
sand girls under their care. We are
free to give whatever amount of re-
ligious instruction we please. A COM
parison of results shows that our
schools are not behindhand with those
of the neighboring colonies, and per-
feet harmony prevails in the educa-
tional world
"St. Johns is two-thirds Catholic, |
and in the matter of church property
in that city we are exceptionally for
tunate. On fifty acres surrounding the
Cathedral, we have grouped many of
our institutions, and as they crown
the heights overlooking the city the
first view is very impressive. Our
good people have made many sacri- |
fees, but they have something to show
for it, and it will be easier for them
from now on.
Those who have seen our property /!
are unanimous in declaring that the
Cathedral site and surroundings are |
the finest on the continent of America.
In my time alone, we have spent al |
most a quarter of million dollars |
on the Cathedral, and as it is still far |
from receiving the finishing touches, |
your readers may realize what a vast !
building it is.
"Our people are good, loyal, and
faithful. Amongst the best Catholics, |
I believe, to be found in any part of |
the world. And, thank God, New
foundlanders as whole are religi- |
GUS people, and there is very little of
that skepticism or religious indiffer-
ence which are characteristic today of |
many countries |
Archbishop Howley is native of
Newfoundland. After his ordination |
he labored for some years as a priest |
in st. Johns under the late Bishop
Power. When st. Georges was
erected into Prefecture Apostolic, he |
was chosen to preside over it and was
consecrated Titular Bishop of Amas- |
iris on June "a, 1892. He succeeded
Bishop Power in the See of st. Johns |
on Daramhnr 81 1904 and whom III was