[英文] 聖若瑟書院　昨日舉行金禧誌慶

ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE.

YESTERDAY'S JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS.

The celebrations in connection with the Jubilee of St. Joseph's College, Hongkong, culminated in a reception and concert yesterday evening, when parents of the pupils, past students of the College and friends and well-wishers gathered in large numbers to congratulate the Brothers of the College and enjoy their hospitality. On this occasion the class-rooms, as well as the laboratories and other adjuncts recently acquired by the College, were thrown open for inspection, the visitors including the Director of Education, Mr. A. E. Wood, (who later gave away the prizes won in last Saturday's annual sports meet) Mr. E. Ralphs and Mr. G. P. de Martin (Inspectors of Schools).

The Band of the East Surreys was in attendance and tea and refreshments were served.

Reference to the history of the institution, which is a record of steady progress both in the class rooms and on the sports fields was made by Mr. J. P. Braga, a past pupil of the College in an able speech which we give below. A highly enjoyable concert and a gymnastic display, under the direction of Staff Sergt. Hunt, gave the visitors an insight into the versatility of the College.

Rev. Brother Aimar thanked the prize donors, especially mentioning the Portuguese staff of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank for the challenge cup for the half mile event, His Excellency the Governor, Sir Paul Chater, the British American Tobacco Company, and others. He also expressed thanks to the Hongkong Football Club for the use of their ground, the V.R.C. and the South China Association for the use of equipment. He also thanked Mr. Wood for presenting the prizes.

In reply Mr. Wood expressed the pleasure it gave him to have been asked to give away the prizes on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the College, which he said had a fine record both in sports and in study. He congratulated Figueiredo on his performances at the sports. In wishing the College long life he said that it had completed its 50 years, and all hoped it would reach a brilliant century. (Cheers).

The proceedings closed with a concert in the new College hall. A varied programme was presented by the pupils and during the course of the entertainment Mr. J. P. Braga addressed the assembly.

The entertainment was contributed by the College choir under the direction of Rev. Fr. A. Riganti, and by Messrs. G. Y. D'Aquino, Vic Blundell and Bert Burrows, Alberto N. da Silva and Eduardo Gosano, E. G. D'Aquino, J. Dillon and J. Roza.

Mr. Braga's Address.

Mr. Braga said in part:

When the late Father Bernard Vaughan, S.J., passed through Hongkong on his return journey from America to England, our late Bishop Pozzoni asked him to deliver an address in the Cathedral, Father Vaughan's reply was: "As a dutiful son of Ignatius, I obey!" Last week Brother Aimar, our Director, asked me to give an address on this occasion. As a grateful pupil of the sons of John Baptist de la Salle, "I obey!"

I was among the first pupils of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Hongkong. As such pupil, I have gratefully to acknowledge that every one of my nine boys went through the Christian Brothers' curriculum in this college that has made a name for itself among educational institutions of Hongkong.

Fifty years ago! Looking back I vividly recall the day when as a little boy, I was first sent to St. Joseph's College.

In the paper from Hongkong presented to the Imperial Education Conference in 1914, reference to St. Joseph's College in the second period (1860-1877) of the history of education in the Colony is thus briefly made: "The Roman Catholic Schools continued to flourish unaided till the year 1877. St. Joseph's College was founded in 1875."

It was the 16th November, 1875, that the Christian Brothers, spoken of as "admirable teachers," arrived in Hongkong and took charge of the European boys at St. Saviour's College. With three Brothers there were seventy pupils.

As a matter of historical interest it may be well to state that in September 1860 the first Catholic School for European boys was opened in a very small house in Staunton Street, with two teachers. Gradually these two schools - that and a girls' school - developed themselves and in time became, the latter, the large and important Italian Convent in Caine Road; the former, first St. Saviour's College and, later, the present St. Joseph's College. The late Mr. Arratoon Seth and Mr. Alfredo Souza - names familiar in the Civil Service List of Hongkong - were among the first teachers of St. Saviour's. It was at this time that the Governor Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, publicly made acknowledgment of the fact that "to the Roman Catholic Missionaries chiefly do we owe any earnest efforts to provide an adequate body of future interpreters of European parentage."

First College Building.

As soon as the Brothers took over charge of the European classes of St. Saviour's, the name of the school underwent a change to that of St. Joseph's College. It moved into new premises.

Bishop Raimondi did not have, in those days the assistance of a Brother Aimar, to whose wizardly financial genius we owe the existence of these palatial buildings of St. Joseph's College at the present day.

The first building in Caine Road has survived for fifty years the demolition mania of the land-jobber. It is, unfortunately, unrecognisable in its original form, excepting for its location. It stands at the corner of Caine Road at its junction with Aberdeen Street just above Queen's College. In those days the headquarters of the London Mission in Hongkong were quite close by, and Dr. Ernest John Eitel, the historian of Hongkong resided in that vicinity.

Purchase of "Glenealy" Property.

Bishop Raimondi, that ardent and zealous educationist with his inherent wisdom, saw that the Caine Road building would soon be found to be much too small for the constantly increasing demands of scholars for admission to this leading Mission School. A kind Providence afforded Bishop Raimondi the first refusal for the acquisition of an invaluable property in the heart of the City.

[...] the spacious grounds of "Glenealy" the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was erected and plans laid of the new building of St. Joseph's College with the main entrance from Robinson Road. Bishop Raimondi, in spite of his advanced years and indifferent health, made a tour of Australia, and other countries, where his appeal for funds enabled him, in part, to pay for the cost of the College site and for the erection of the new College building. The foundation stone of the new St. Joseph's College building on this magnificent site was laid on the 3rd November, 1881, by the Governor, the late Sir John Pope Hennessy, G.C.M.G.

The College building in Robinson Road was inaugurated by Mr. Wm. Marsh, the Officer Administering the Government, in 1883, when the teaching staff consisted of eight Brothers, with 300 pupils.

Scholarships.

At a prize-giving the Governor, Sir George Bowen, addressing the pupils, declared his "intending to propose to the Colonial Legislature that in this, as in other Colonies, a certain number of the most promising students from the principal colleges should be sent to England, at the public expense, there to complete their education, as members of the legal or medical professions, or as engineers, or accountants. A noble career will thus be brought within the reach of every youth in the Colony, whatever his race may be."

Sir George Bowen was the founder of the Queen's Scholarship named after Queen Victoria the Good.

While on the subject of Scholarships, acknowledgment must be of the gift of two scholarships to the College by the Trustees of the Bellelios Scholarship Fund. The first of these scholarships was won by a son of a Consul-General for Portugal in Hongkong. The successful student was Mr. J. W. Loureiro, who also won the Governor's prize for English Composition in 1884.

To perpetuate the name of Sir Frederick Lugard in Hongkong in connection with his efforts towards the promotion of education, Sir Hormusjee Mody allocated two scholarships to St. Joseph's College named after Governor Lugard.

"Ignez Soares" Scholarship.

Far the most valuable and important Scholarship is that gifted by the Portuguese Sociedade de Soccorros Mutuos. Through an endowment by Mr. A. M. L. Soares, a former pupil, the Society is enabled to present a scholarship the successful holder of which enjoys the benefit of education in the University of Hongkong. At the present moment there are two students the holders of the "Ignez Soares" Scholarship, which was thus named after the wife of the donor of the Endowment.

Death of Bishop Raimondi.

On 27th September, 1894, Bishop Raimondi died. It is a sad commentary that no memorial exists to remind posterity of his great achievements. Associated with the name of Bishop Raimondi should be perpetuated that of his successor, Bishop Pozzoni.

Oxford Local Examinations.

The later period of Brother Christian's administration was marked by the erection of a detached block of buildings to the south of the College building proper. This new block was assigned to the Oxford-Local classes, preparatory for the examinations held in Hongkong under the auspices of an Oxford Local Centre. After the founding of the Hongkong University the local Matriculation Exams superseded the Oxford Locals.

Boy Scouts.

In the van of progress St. Joseph's led the way in the Boy Scouts' movement in Hongkong. When Brother Adrian was director with the help of Major (now Colonel) F. J. Bowen a College Troop was formed in October, 1913. St. Joseph's College Troop had the distinction of being the "1st Hongkong Troop of Baden Powell Boy Scouts." The present Scoutmaster, Mr. H. Braga, has been awarded the Bronze Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and, at a public parade last week, received at the hands of Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.M.G., the Governor, the "Silver Cross" of the Boy Scouts' Association for conspicuous gallantry in saving the life of a young Chinese girl.

An Earthquake.

An earthquake in 1918 damaged the College building. The main walls of the annexes were badly cracked and it was considered unsafe to remain in occupation of the building. The opportunity presented itself for the acquisition of the extensive property in Kennedy Road. This happened during the early stage of Brother Aimar's administration. Since 1918, the College authorities have become the Crown lessees of this most desirable property.

Thanks to Brother Aimar's unflinching courage and determination to face all financial difficulties and to the aid granted by the Colonial Government, the erection of the fine, spacious building is now an accomplished fact.

Then and Now: 1875-1925.

Starting with only 70 boys in 1875, St. Joseph's College has an enrolment to-day of over 800 scholars. Thousands have passed through its portals. Some have found occupation in the liberal professions; others in the distinguished service of foreign Governments, while not a few are employed under their own Governments in China in the diplomatic and consular services; and last, but not least, a whole host have filled more modest but, nevertheless, equally useful and essential occupations in Hongkong and the Far East.

Scholar Historian.

In the field of literature, St. Josephians have been no less successful. Mr. C. A. Montalto de Jesus by his book "Historic Macau" has carved his name in the niche of fame. A second edition of this only complete history of the first European Settlement in China is now in the press. This distinguished product of St. Joseph's College accompanied the Portuguese Delegation to the Washington Conference and to The Hague.

In the World War, past pupils were among those who joined up.

Mr. Braga concluded with a tribute to the Brothers, to whom those who have passed through the College owe so much.

資料：

1. 中華民國15年5月18日（星期二）《士蔑西報》第5頁，第8頁

   • 丙寅年四月初七日

   • 公元1926年5月18日（星期二）