St Michaels University School - Black Red and Blue Yearbook (Victoria, British Columbia Canada)

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-Q.- T HY ING. SPEAK DE CBRI IUCHARD M N. HO 1908. DAY, ON I UNDAT F0 1

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I y . 4 ' X FouNDATioN DAY October 7th, IQO8, will be regarded for many years to come as the most memorable day in the history of the School, for on that day was laid the corner-stone of the new building at Mount Tolmie. In brilliant sunshine the ceremony was performed by the Hon. Richard McBride, Premier of British Columbia. In spite ofthe fact that no cars were available on that line, a large num- ber of the invited guests assembled on the grounds. The Cadet Corps, forty-live strong, marched out in clouds of dust, and, forming up in line, received the Premier on his arrival, who complimented the boys on their appearance and steadiness. A platform had been erected at the south-east corner of the building, and from this the NVarden, Rev. W. W. Bolton, opened the ceremony with the impressive service appointed by the Church of England, including a pray-er for the future wel- fare of the School. . ' Then as the stone was lowered to its bed, the Bursar placed in the cavity a copper canister containing a set of the current coins and stamps of Canada, and the Premier, tapping the stone with a, mallet, declared it to be well and truly laid. The inscription is as follows: ' This Foundation Stone was laid by The Hon. Richard McBride, I Premier of British Columbia, October 7th, 1908. . W and the names of the three founders beneath. Premier McBride then said that he felt that much honour had been conferred upon him by the request that he perform the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of an institution, which he was sure would be a credit to Victoria, to the Province, and to those by whom the institution had be-en founded. If the glori- ous weather, he continued, which we are now enjoying can be taken as an omen of the prosperity of the.School, then truly we must at once conclude that success has already been achieved. There has been during past years, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Bolton, growing up in Victoria an institution of which the citizens of this city, and, indeed, of the Province at large, may well be proud. There are other institutions which have been doing a great work in the 'education of the young, but Mr. Bolton and his associates have also been doing their share in the upbuilding of the country's youth, and to them every credit must be given. He expressed the hope that the new School would at no distant date vi-e with the leading Schools of the country, and 3

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he trusted that the parents of the boys who are yearly being sent to Schools outside this Province, would appreciate the fact that right here in Victoria will soon be an institution which should meet with their h-eartiest support, and at which an edu- cation such as every young British Columbian should possess could be obtained. If the efficiency of the youthful Cadets whom he had had the pleasure of reviewing was any evidence of the thoroughness of the training given by Mr. Bolton and his associates, he could look ahead to the future progress of the School with the utmost. confidence. The magnificent location, the splendid architectural beauty of the proposed buildings, showed clearly that those b-ehind the enterprise had been up and doing. It was with the utmost pleasure that he referred to the 'efforts of Mr- S. H. Matson, to whom, he understood, was due the successful accomplishment of the enterprise, and to each and everyone of the gentlemen interested in this most Worthy institution, he heartily wished -every success, and to the assistants and pupils a most profitable future. Hon. Dr. Young, Minister of Education, seconded the Premier's congratulations and good wishes. It had been his good fortune to keep close account, during the past two years, of -educational matters in this Province and throughout the Dominion, and stated that British Columbia could be rightly termed the banner Province in matters educational. In the past two years British Columbia students have taken the highest honours in the McGill Matriculation Examinations, capturing the Governor-General's silver medal in both years. Gut of a total of eighty-eight successful students in that examination, no less than sixty-seven were from this Province, and of these forty-two were Victoria students. Last year there were about 250 British Columbian students taking University courses, and itfwas a matter of great congratulation that in a, Province so sparsely settled as this, there should be so many Htting them- selves for an University care-er. He praised Mr. Bolton, Mr. Barnacle, and Mr. Harvey, and expressed his belief that under their capable direction the University School for Boys would reach a high standard and become an institution in which every educationalist. could have the greatest confidence. The func- tions of the modern Private School have shown great change tfrom the earlier y-ears. Much that they now teach is not only academical, but also national, and he hoped that at no distant day the splendid corps of Cadets which he saw before him would have its counterpart in the Public Schools of the Prov- ince, thus aiding in building up the nation on the lines sug- gestedi by Lord Roberts. The Rev. Mr. Bolton, he concluded, has the right to the heartiest co-operation of the public of Victoria and the Province. ' 5