MBHS Darlinghurst

History

St Mary’s Cathedral

Sydney

30th January 1911

My dear Br Paul

My attention has been called to a voluminous correspondence regarding your Brothers’ departure from St Mary’s parochial school, which has been appearing in the Daily Telegraph for the past fortnight some of the letters being sponsored by Marist Brothers. I have learnt today that moreover some parties have been using their endeavours to prevent the boys from attending at St Mary’s School. I will have to take very strong measures to put an end to this scandal unless this annoyance ceases before next Sunday. I fear that the whole exhibition speaks very badly for the education imparted by the Brothers.

Yours faithfully

Patrick Cardinal Moran

Archbishop of Sydney

As the Br Provincial had previously done all he could to secure discontinuances he made no fresh effort, but replied to His Eminence expressing his regrets and disapproval of the public correspondence and asking His Eminence to suggest some means of securing discontinuance. His Eminence did not reply to this letter.

Here is the reply that the Br Provincial sent to His Eminence on the following day.

St Joseph’s College

31st January

To His Eminence P F Moran

My Lord Cardinal

Your Eminence’s letter to just to hand

I deeply regret the uncalled for and most damaging correspondence that has been carried out in the Daily Telegraph and I can assure your Eminence that I have taken every possible means to stop it but without avail.

I personally forbade the Brothers to write or to furnish anyone with information for publication.

We refused from the beginning to make any statement; we have written to the Editors and called on them personally to ask them not to publish those letters

The editors have refused to reveal any names or give any clue as to those who gave the information.

We have forbidden the use of our schools for meetings in reference to the matter.

I early took precaution to forbid the Brothers to interfere with the children of St Mary’s parish in regard to their future movements.

We fail to see what further we could do, unless Your Eminence has some suggestions to make.

I have the honour to be Your Eminence’s humble servant

Br Paul

As a matter of fact the publication of letters discontinued after receipt of His Eminence’s communication, the Broth­ers do not know why. This synchronising may have given colour to the view that the Brothers were responsible for the correspondence.

On Sunday, the limit day appointed by His Eminence, the various Catholic societies of men belonging to the Jesuit parish of North Sydney took part in a communion breakfast at which, among other toasts, that of the Marist Broth­ers was proposed. Several speakers eulogised their work and one speaker made some reference the troubled relations between His Eminence and the Brothers. As none of the Brothers were present what he said is not exactly known to them. On the Tuesday following some unknown gentleman was interviewed by a Daily Telegraph reporter and then the publicity recommenced. A day or two after His Eminence was interviewed on the matter and he in­formed the reporter that the Brothers were dismissed for incompetency and that all that had been written in their favour in the columns of the Daily Telegraph were false. This is the substance of his remarks. These statements led to further publication of letters in two succeeding days, the last one appearing in a Saturday issue of the Daily Telegraph. On the following Sun­day Br Victor, the Br Provincial’s representative, the latter being away, sent a letter to the editor of the Daily Telegraph publicly disclaiming any connection with the letter that had appeared in their favour dur­ing the whole controversy.

An undated but very early photo of the back of the High School and also the Brothers’ residence at Darlinghurst.

The editor promised to insert the letter in the following day’s paper – Monday. The letter did not appear on the Monday, why, the Brothers could not ascertain though having made inquiry, but it did appear in the Tuesday‘s issue in a slightly mutilated form. (Here is a copy of the letter with the words omitted by a red circular line.)6

6 These words have been underlined.

To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph

Dear Sir

On behalf of the Marist Brothers, I, in the absence of the Rev Br. Provincial, desire to make a public disclaimer of their connection with the correspondence that has recently appeared in your paper on the above mentioned matter.

Realising that, as educators of youth, they are bound to inculcate respect for authority and submission to it, they have been exceedingly pained by the tenor of the correspondence; at no time had it their sanction or approval; as a matter of fact, they are entirely ignorant as to the identity of the correspondents.

As you are aware I declined to be interviewed as to the above mentioned matter, and furthermore, several requests were made to you by the Brothers to discontinue the publication of the correspondence.

By their public disclaimer, they desire to remove any wrong impression that may exit as to their approval in any way, of the correspondence or identification with the writers of the letters

Br Victor

On the same day as this letter was published a letter directed to Br Provincial was sent by His Eminence. The letter was forwarded on to the Provincial who was then South Australia. In this letter His Eminence stated that from information he had received things were not going too satisfactorily at our High School at Darlinghurst, and hence he withdrew all patronage, sanction and approval of it and that consequently the school was not to retain the title St Mary’s High School. The Provincial replied asking His Eminence to be good enough to state definitely what there was unsatisfac­tory, in order that he, the Provincial might remedy it. No answer to this was received.

(Copies of the two letters are produced below: These were not included in Br Edwin’s article)

St Mary’s Cathedral

Sydney14th Feb 1911

My dear Br Provincial,

From the information which I have received, I fear that matters at your High School, Darlinghurst, are not proceeding in a satisfactory manner. I deem it a duty to withdraw from the said High School all patronage, sanction and approval, I may have hitherto extended to it. Of course it can no longer assume the title of St Mary’s High School

Your faithful servant

Patrick Fr. Moran

Archbishop of Sydney

The Br Provincial replied as follows;

My Lord Cardinal

Your Eminence’s letter of the 14th instant just to hand.

I regret to hear from your Eminence that matters are not proceeding to your Eminence’s satisfaction at the High School and that you deem it necessary to withdraw your patronage as graciously given in the past.

Would you Eminence kindly point out what is unsatisfactory in the High School so that a remedy may be applied.

Your Eminence’s obedient servant

Br Paul, Provincial

His Eminence did not reply to this note.

The Marist Brothers began teaching in Australia 1872 (39 years ago). After 39 years labour in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands the Brothers had accumulated no money, they have had to borrow the money to build their High School by mortgaging their Hunters Hill property. They state that during these 39 years, with the exception of two or three insignificant sums of money they have supported themselves by their own labours, without asking sub­scriptions from the Catholic public. The lack of money has not been caused by extravagant living, for the members of the Brotherhood have always been distinguished and unostentatious life. At the present time the cost of living in the Commonwealth is higher than it ever was before but despite this the remarkably moderate fees charged in their colleges and High School have not been raised. They have now a number of men among them that have grown old in the work if the Institute and that must now be supported by it.

They derive scarcely any revenue from their Juniors and Novices, hence the cost of supporting these is to be borne by the Institute. Furthermore they have now to provide for a heavy additional expenditure for they must give all or nearly all their members a University education. This means these members shall have to spend a considerable amount of time qualifying themselves for their work, a time during which, that can bring in no revenues and that have to pay heavy fees to Universities.

The Brothers themselves are much disturbed in mind by the treatment they have received from the Cathedral authorities, they are especially impressed by the fact that Monsignor O’Haran has never shown sympathy with their work, but, on the contrary well –marked hostility. They are of opinion that this treat­ment is a direct discouragement of vocations to the religious Teaching Brotherhoods. A criterion of the confidence that the Catholic public has in the disinterestedness and competence of the Marist Brothers as teachers is that larger numbers than ever are now attending their schools. The High School, though at present working under very adverse condi­tions, the students being accommodated in two rather widely separated localities one of these being very unsuitable for a school of such class, has a record number of students. St Patrick’s and North Sydney School have a remarkable increase in their numbers, and the numbers at St Benedict’s school have also increased. St Mary’s High school within the last ten years has sent ? to St Patrick’s Ecclesiastical College at Manly.

His Eminence did not reply to this note.

The Marist Brothers began teaching in Australia 1872 (39 years ago). After 39 years labour in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands the Brothers had accumulated no money, they have had to borrow the money to build their High School by mortgaging their Hunters Hill property. They state that during these 39 years, with the exception of two or three insignificant sums of money they have supported themselves by their own labours, without asking sub­scriptions from the Catholic public. The lack of money has not been caused by extravagant living, for the members of the Brotherhood have always been distinguished and unostentatious life. At the present time the cost of living in the Commonwealth is higher than it ever was before but despite this the remarkably moderate fees charged in their colleges and High School have not been raised. They have now a number of men among them that have grown old in the work if the Institute and that must now be supported by it.

They derive scarcely any revenue from their Juniors and Novices, hence the cost of supporting these is to be borne by the Institute. Furthermore they have now to provide for a heavy additional expenditure for they must give all or nearly all their members a University education. This means these members shall have to spend a considerable amount of time qualifying themselves for their work, a time during which, that can bring in no revenues and that have to pay heavy fees to Universities.

The Brothers themselves are much disturbed in mind by the treatment they have received from the Cathedral authorities, they are especially impressed by the fact that Monsignor O’Haran has never shown sympathy with their work, but, on the contrary well –marked hostility. They are of opinion that this treat­ment is a direct discouragement of vocations to the religious Teaching Brotherhoods. A criterion of the confidence that the Catholic public has in the disinterestedness and competence of the Marist Brothers as teachers is that larger numbers than ever are now attending their schools. The High School, though at present working under very adverse condi­tions, the students being accommodated in two rather widely separated localities one of these being very unsuitable for a school of such class, has a record number of students. St Patrick’s and North Sydney School have a remarkable increase in their numbers, and the numbers at St Benedict’s school have also increased. St Mary’s High school within the last ten years has sent ? to St Patrick’s Ecclesiastical College at Manly.

Br Sebastian’s case

About the middle of last November His Eminence wrote a letter to the Br Provincial stating that some of the Brothers in Sydney were guilty of Modernism; he especially named Br Sebastian and requested the Pro­vincial to remove him to some other sphere of labour, threatening that if his request should not be complied with he would put all St Joseph’s College under an interdict. His Eminence gave no specific instance of what he considered to be Modernism.

At the time Br Sebastian resided at the Brother’s residence within the Cathedral grounds and had done very efficient teaching at the Brother’s High School. Though no attempt was made to prove the charge of Modern­ism Br Provincial was desirous of conforming to His Eminence’s wishes. But not clearly understanding what His Eminence meant by another sphere of labour he deputed Br Victor and Br Denis to interview His Eminence for the purpose of getting an explanation. His Eminence on hearing the nature of their visit to him simply repeated the threat of interdictum and abruptly left the room. At very great inconvenience the Br Provincial then removed Br Sebastian to Mittagong a place 78 miles distant from Sydney and where Br Sebastian could render the Institute no service as a teacher.7

It is worthy of remark that St Mary’s school is the only one in the Archdiocese from which Brothers have been removed by request of the Ecclesiastical authorities…

Br Edwird Farrell. Br Edwin was the first Australian Marist Brother to complete his novitiate and die as a Brother. He had a keen sense of history. He wrote a history of the Australian Province. He also kept extensive diaries which we still hold. He is almost certainly the author of this article.

This is the completion of Br Edwin’s article. We publish below two of the famous letters to the editor in the Telegraph to give our readers a flavour of them. The first is very much against the protesters the second signed “Cerise and Blue” is appropriately pro Marist.

The Marist Brothers’ trouble

Sir

We must thank “Tipperary Man from the Devil’s Bit” for his fearless and able letter in English, Latin and French, all of which is material in the Tipperary stone- thrower’s hands against the old man in the tower. The letter proves that its author is learned, able to quote, and Heaven know, perhaps to speak three different languages. I beg the public to take note of that; some may be able to find out where the Devil’s Bit is, and what notorious person has left it during the last generation. I am nearly tempted to place myself at his disposition to converse with him in French, in Latin, and in a couple more of languages; but I rather abstain. You never know what may turn up. His knowledge of history is very great, too, for he can tell us that Colonel M’Mahon once said, in the Crimean war: “J’y suis. J’y reste.” This must take an impression on the Cardinal and he may repent and call his late school staff back. We owe special thanks also to the same “Devil’s Bit of a Catholic” for having reminded us that a bishop, when making personal changes on his premises, does not act under the impulse of papal infallibility. Thanks ever so much for the enlightenment. It is exactly what Lily O’Brien learns in her Catechism. The truth must be told, and he has told us an old truth. Best of all, I like the title of his letter: “Quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat” in English, “When a fish rots, it begins on the head.” This quotation shows erudition. It shows brain power, In fact, it shows and proves to a conclusion that “Australian Eviction,” “Fairplay,” “Ex-Student,” “Maristonian,””Another Observer,” but, above all, Tippererary man, are in a typhoon, passing over the sea without changing the policy of the old man in the tower. Whirlwinds are grand things. I once saw one; it went up, and it went down again.

In finishing my letter, I wish all my friends a happy New Year, good health at every change of moon, an increasing knowledge of what is their own business, and a profound understanding of the Gospel’s saying “Be subject to your bishops;” “Be not wise in your own council.”

Yours etc Observer

7 Br Sebastian Hayden spent most of the rest of his life teaching at Kilmore and Bendigo. He is a very interesting man. .He was the original Brother requested by Br Andrew to write a history of the Marist Brothers in Australia. I suspect a lot of the documents we now hold in our archives were collected by him, and later used by Br Alban in his book. He carried on a huge correspondence with many Brothers all over Australia. Fortunately most of his letters have been preserved. They give us an interesting insight into Marist life in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.

January 27

Sir,

Allow me space to reply to the seven articles of “Observer”.

1. Observer remarks: The thing is done and will not be undone. Certainly the thing is done, but surely it can be undone, and if there is such a thing as justice on one side of a feeling of good brotherhood on the other, it shall be undone.

2. “Observor” goes on to say “It was extremely bad taste to write while the Bishops were in conference”. I think it showed extremely good judgement , for the Bishops were here to discuss matters appertaining to our schools , and within a stone’s throw from their place of meeting there was the vacated house and school of the Marist Brothers, a silent but yet a powerful voice calling on the assembly for justice. “Observer “remarks that the ex-students of the Marists came out against their Bishop. I might remind Observer that their Bishop’s name was not mentioned in the discussion, and I might add that, did it depend on their Bishop alone the Marist Brothers would still be at St Mary’s. We, the ex-students, know too well the esteem the Cardinal has for the Marists. Time after time, both in public and private he has shown this.

3 The letter continues “we do not know the other side of the question.” No, but if we did could we get the cor­respondence between the authorities and Dr. Murphy of Newton, and between the same and the Christian Brothers, we would have the other side then.

5. Again he says; “we do not know the motives of our Bishop.” Did “Observer” read the interview between your reporter and Right Rev. Monsignor O’Haran? If he did surely he must know the reason why the Marists were put out of St Mary’s. The reason given was because they were not religious but commercial agents.

6. Is it not right the Christian Brothers should have a city school? Certainly. But is it right, Observer to take that school from the Marists? Is it right for the Christian Brothers to close Newtown school simply for the reason of ousting the Marists from St Mary’s? Will the Marists take Newtown? Let “Observer” answer these questions.

7 Regarding the correspondence, let “Observer” prove his charge,

In conclusion just a word to my old masters. Never fear: this storm will pass away. Remember you have the sympathy of thousands of Australian Catholics. Remember your High School opened on Monday with 150 present. This is the reply of the Catholics, and when you leave the friendly shelter of the hall on Palmer Street to take possession of the magnificent school you are building on Darlinghurst Heights do not forget those who stood by you in the hour of need.

Yours etc

Cerise and Blue

January 27

(N.B Cerise and Blue’s fourth point seems to have been lost in the dust of history Ed8.)

8 Ed here is the then editor of the Daily Telegraph., not to be confused with the editor of this worthy journal.

MBHS Darlinghurst Old Boys’ Union acknowledges this extract to be courtesy of “Marist Seasons Summer”.