PATRICIANS IN INDIA
Christianity in India may date from apostolic times, and the tomb of St. Thomas, Apostle, is honoured at Mylapore. Shipping contacts between Rome and India already existed and considerable Christian communities were found long the southern coast from ancient times. Missionary contracts continued through the middle ages, and especially after the early sixteenth century. In 1835 the Rt. Rev. Daniel O'Connor OSA took charge of the newly-created Apostolic Prefecture of Madras and was succeeded three years later by Dr. Patrick Carew. The Maynooth Mission to Madras was the direct rulust and when the Rev. John Fennelly went out in 1839, he took with him the Rev. Godfrey Mitchell, a founding member of the Aloysian society at Galway. John's bro, Bishop Stephen Fennelly brought the Patrican Brothers to Madras in 1875. Both were uncles of Bro Vincent Laffan of Mountrath (1857-1917)
On 7th September 1875 Bros. Ignatius Price, Paul Hughes and fintan Parkinson left Mountrath to conduct an orphangage at Condichetty Stgreet in Madras. Founded as a military oprhanage for boys the institution had since opened it boors to the children of the civilian population. For two years Cathedral House supplied the Brothers' domestic needs, then from January 1878 paid them one hundred and fifty uprees a month, increased in September to two hundred when paul Hughes replaced Ignatius as superior, The 1881 report of the Director of Public Instruction describes the school as very satisfactory, to which the bishop added the comment:
It must necessarily be so, for the Brothers devote themselves with zeal and ardour to the work, if any fault is to be found, it is that they are too often regardless of their own health and strength in the promotion of the health of those in their care."
In 1883 Bishop Joseph Colgan, sent Paul to collect founds in Europe for orphanage and diocese, giving him also a letter to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda supporting" the great desire of the Brothers of St. Patrick that their Order be confirmed." In his absence the community was reinforced by the arrival of Baptist Ennis and Bernard Delany. State support for the orphanage was a small military grant for the children of soldiers and a civil subsidy which, at all times inadequate, was reduced in 1884 to three rupees and two annas per month, or half the estimated cost of feeding each child. Otherwise the institution depended on alms and the kindness of the bishop.
In mid-1884 Ignatius was released for Austrialia and was rephaced by twenty-one year old Michael English. In October Bro. John Maher, bound for Australia and ill with tuberculosis, was brought from Colombo to live out the remainder of a young life at Madras, dying there on 5th January 1885, the first Patrician to rest in Indian soil. In February Paul was re-elected superior and at his request the bishop again wrote to Rome supporting the Brothers' petition for approbation. In July the orphanage moved to ElphinstonePark. a two-storey residence on 150 acres at the Adyar, purchased by Bishop Colgan for 20,000 rupees. Besides the greatly improved satiation there was now scope for industrial training, and in 1886 woodwork, shoe-making and tailoring were introduced, There were then 170 boys in the institution. It was at his stage that the bishop yielded to Paul's entreaty for permission to enter the Order of Friars Capuchin, a life which had attracted him even before his European fund-raising tour. Madras became a metropolitan see in 1886 and in a letter of 13th December 1887 Archbishop Colgan wrote that the orphanage was sadly in need of help and the Brothers burdened with work far beyond their capacities.
The Institute in Ireland and Madras received pap[al approbation in 1888 and among the first acts of the General Council was the assignment of Aloysius Hogan and Malachy Haverty to Adyar, the first-named as superior. The two introduced new trades to the technical department and formed a boys' band in 1889. The musical training thus received earned admission for many boys to the bands of army regiments. Pupils qualified for posts in the public services notably in the Telegraph Department. The farm was successfully Operated and was a frequent prize-winner at the Exhibitions run by the Horticultural Society. As a highly-qualified teacher conversant with the National School System in Ireland Aloysius arranged for payment of Brothers holding Irish Qualifications; a third class certificate brought recognition as a primary teacher, a first class was the equivalent of an M.A. in 1889 James Donovan and Austin Smith entered the Congregation at Adyar, both had been members of the Brothers of St. Joseph at Bangalore. When the first Superior General visited in 1891 he approved the taking over of St. Joseph's College at Coonoor and appointed Aloysius as Head Superior in India, Placing Baptist Ennis in charge at St. Patrick's . The Adyar Orphanage Cabet Corps established that year proved itself particularly efficient and received high praise from military officers, but oddly the army refused to admit the institution's claim for support on behalf of the children of Catholic and Irish soldiers.
Aloysius represented India at the First General Chapter of the Congregation. Main items on its agenda were application for final approbation and the election of a new Regime. The Chapter opened at Kingston, Galway, on 19th July 1892 and spent about a month on the first task. In October Aloysius returned to India, accompanied by Bros. Malachy Carew, Alysius Ryan and young Mr. Potter, a postulant. An account of their arrival at Coonoor appeared in the Irish Catholic and was copied by The Nationalist & Leinster Times of 31st December. Though he had as yet made only triennial vows Malachy was palced in charge on the new institution. A few months later Bishop Bardeau described him and his companions as conscientious, hard-working and devoted to their duties. In the course of 1893 the Rev. James Doogan on behalf of the Archbishop of Agra Urgently sought Brothers for two establishment at Mussoorie and while Aloysius was en route to Ireland sent letters after him entreating a vavourable reply , even enclosing a code for use by telegraph.
Following the Decree of Final Approbation, issued on 8th September 1893, Chapter met again and in the course of a week completed its business. Under Bro. Anthony O' Neill as Superior General the Regime made mine appointments for India, so that Aloysius sailed on 9th November as first Provincial of a newlycontitutedProvince with eight new subjects. Because Archbishop Colgan wished to have Brothers to staff his Diocesan Seminary, two of the newcomers, Fintan O'Neill and Peter Gaynor, were intended for that institution. Four, Augustine Stapletion and Laurence Forde, experienced men, with younger confreres, Jerome Byrne and Thomas Burke, went to Mussoorie. Two postulants, MATHEW Byrne and Patrick Curley completed the party. Bro. Malachy Haverty was then in charge at Adyar.
On arrival at Madras Finatan and Peter were appalled at the provision made for them at the Seminary:" One solitary room. School halls and all else about the College re-opened on 15th Nauary 1894 with Fintan in charge, assisted by Peter Gaynor and Aloysius Ryan. Relations with the archbishop proved difficult and Aloysius ayan. Relations with the archbishop proved difficult and Fintan left St. Mary's soon after the Michaelmas vacation. In 1895 Bro. Anthony O'Neill made visitation and on his return to Ireland sent out Dominic Slattery and Eugene Phelan, at the same time moving Aloysius Ryan from Madras to Australia. In December 1896 the Brothers sought a written agreement but when the Diocesan Council insisted that a priest take charge the Brothers withdrew from St. Mary's, each side feeling aggrieved.
On arrival at Mussoorie in December 1893 Aloysius and his party were surprised to find that the Capuchin community in charge at St. Fidelio' Orphanage wished to retain management. The bishop appealed to Rome and the change was effected in March 1894. A request that the Brothers drop the use of religious names is said to have led to the custom by which Irish-born Brothers of the Province came to be referred to by surname–a usage traditionally deplored in Ireland. Bros. Augustine Stapleton, Laurence Forde, Bernard Delany (Coonoor) and Fintan O'Neill (Adyar) constituted the first community at St. George's while Bro. Jerome Byrne became Superio at St. Fidelis on the change over .
The Provincial's health deteriorated from the time of his return to India, his asthma growing so severe that he was forced to take his highly rest in an armchair. In February 1896, just when his condition was at its worst, a telegram summoned him to meet the Apostolic Delegate at Mussoorie in connection with Capuchin property there. His friend Archbishop Colgan advised against travel and offered to explain matters to Monsignor Zaleski, but Aloysius departed at once and without the warmer clothing needed for the higher altitudes. He reached Mussoorie on 21st February, concluded his business with the Delegate, became ill that night and died on the college veranda, apparently while attempting to reach the superior's room. He was fifty-two years old. The Capuchin Friars kindly insisted on interring his remains in their chapel. Bro. Malachy Barr, third Assistant General, was sent out from Ireland as Acting Provincial. With him came Bro. Francis Byrne from Mallow, holder of two university degrees, and originally intended for St. Mary's. Madras.
New Provincial appointments followed in September 1897. Ignatius Price, newly returned from Australia, became Provincial, with assistants Malachy Haverty, Jerome Byrne, Malachy Carew and Bernard Delany. Laurence Forde went from St. George's to Adyar as superior, After five years of work at Coonoor Malachy Carew was brought to death's door by enteric fever after which on medical. advice he returned to Ireland in April 1898 in company with Malachy Barr. The next year, the Archbishop of Agra protested to the Superior General at the lack of higher academic qualifications amongh the Brothers at St. George's, Bro. Anthony's reply reflected conditions in the Irish Church–"for reasons originating in the importance of religious discipline, we are not disposed to allow our Brothers to take degrees." TrinityCollege was a Protestant institution, the Queen's Colleges were forbidden to Catholics, lack of a charter condemned the CatholicUniversity to failure, and third level education contined to be a bone of contention between Irish bishops and the government.
Malachy Carew was the Indian delegate at the Second General Chapter,after which he was appointed Superior at Mallow, Dominic Slattery Taking the vacant place on the Provincial Council, and Benedict Halligan and Columba Spain going out for the first time. In April 1902 Bernard Delany returned from a boliday in Ireland, bringing with him three temporary professed, two of whom were to spend each a half –century on the subcontinent. The three were Louis Dineen, Ignatius Smyth and Serious Bergin. The following year Lewis Carberry entered, a wee educated, cultured gentleman, aged 44. After some years under temporary vows he began to show signs of mental instability, but was able to work in a variety of capacities, making himself very useful for long periods together. The early years of the 20th century were times of stringency at Adyar. State grants were reduced to a fraction of what they had been and admissions rose so that Bros. Prince and Curly struggled to keep the institution afloat. During this time the boys' band was revived, becoming a military band so that the Madras Governor's Band later came to be recruited largely from St. Patrick's. Diocesan funds were low and at least once the archbishop had to ask that the Brothers pay the annual rent on the property. In 1904 poor health forced Dominic Slattery, community superior and the school's most prominent teacher, to return to Ireland.
Next year the Brothers petitioned the Archdiocese of Ara for permanency in the management of the two institutions at Mussoorie, asking also for assurance of compensation in respect of funds spent on the properties and for more free access to the College estate, The archiocesan council acceded to all requests under conditions, but also stressed the prohibition on secular teachers in these institutions and asked that the lay staff "Now teaching in the said schools be replaced by the same number of Patrician Brothers." In 1906 Benedict Halligan left Coonoor in broken health and Columba Spain also departed for a milder clime. The same year brought out Bros. Liguouri Harmon, Adrian Keogh and Mathew Gaynor.
The Third General Chapter opened on 8th January 1906 and chose Bro. Jerome Byrne, one of the Indian delegates, as Superior General. Lawrence Forde was re-appointed Provincial with Bernard Delany, Ignatius Price, Eugene Phelan and Mathew Gaynor constituting his Council. In April Bro. Forde returned accompanied by Bro. Michael Ryan and postulant Joe O,Brien, later Bro. Patrick. Bodycot's Guide to Mussoorie, published in 1907, described the Patrician schools in detail. "Situated on the broad flat top of Manor House hill" St. Geroge's was conducted "after the best models of the English Public School System." Its Primary Department for boys from 5 to 12 years of age had its own dormitory, Playground and dining-room and operated under the care of a Matron. The School Department for boys from Fifth to Eighth Standard inclusive had its own dormitory and dining room and was under the constant care of the professions, for the public service and the Universities, had separate quarters and one of the Brothers resided with them. Bro. Forde was Principal. Bro. Dineen as Head of thw School Department had the assistance of three Brothers and five lay teachers. St. Fidelis' High School and Military Orphanage had been enlarged by the addition of dormitory and classroom accommodation and a modern study hall at a cost of Rs. 22, 000. There were then 150, boys, forty of whom were orphans, sixty semi-orphans, and the remainder boarders. Pupils were prepared for the Upper Subordinate Departments, Roorkee Scholarships, the Provincial Surey, the Forest Accounts, the Medical Departments and for the High, Middle and Primary Examinations of the European Code in the United Provinces. There were splendid grounds for cricket, hockey and football, tennis courts, a large gymnasium and a play-shed for the rins. An The Congregation’s Centenary Year, 1908, brought Conleth Downs, Macartan Keegan and Mark Lee to India and Mussoorie, their coming grant –aided by the Paris Office of the Work for the Propagation of the Faith. India contributed 100 to a special collection for the Irish novitiate. The administration appointed in 1909 showed just one change, Adrain Mulcahy replacing Ignatius Price on the Council. Adrain had been in India from 1895, having travelled out at his own expense at the age of thirty-six in order to join the Congregation in that Province. Just fifteen months later Provincial and Council sent a strongly-worded letter to the Superior General citing the Rule’s directives on the staffing of the schools and current State requirements and declaring the present position untenable. Adyar had 130 boys, but of the five resident Brothers three were incapacitated by age and illness, leaving only Serenus Bergin and Sebastian Potter, to run school and orphanage.Coonoor had 120 pupils, James Donovan was superannuated, Patrick O’Brien in poor health and the Provincial in class all day while also acting as superior. Without an increase in the number of qualified Brothers closures must follow. In reply Ireland supplied two Brothers; closures must follow. In reply Ireland supplied two Brothers; Aidan Doyle aged 32, and Enda Concannon, a scholastic.
Bro. Austin Smith died at Adyar on 17th November 1910, having served there since 1881. To mark the 25th anniversary of the Orphanage’s move from Madras Bro.Serenus Bergin decided to relieve existing cramped conditions. Archbishop John Aelen guaranteed one third of the estimated cost and there was hope of a large Government grant. Negotiations stalled, and it was 1913 before building began. The estimated cost was more than once revised upward and when on St. Patrick’s Day 1915 the Sillver Jubilee Extension was opened outlay stood at Rs. 81,800 with a further Rs. 11,000 needed for a water supply and fitting. Thebuilding, a fine three-storey structure, gave much-needed accommodation, with classrooms on the ground floor and spacious, airy dormitories above. Government aid came to Rs. 47,500 and the archdiocese provided Rs. 8,000.
The terms of the protest sent to the Superior General in 1910 makes it surprising that less than a year later the Provincial Council should propose a new foundation, even with the coming of four new men from Ireland. In August 1911 Bros. Gabriel O’ Farrell, Stanislaus Martin Bergin, Regis O’Connell and Leonard Grincell arrived. Of these the last named was appointed to St. Fidelis’, and the others with Mathew Gaynor took over St. Anthony’s High School at Lahore in the Punjab. Monastery and school for ninety pupils was a bungalow to which extensions were added as need arose. In 1911 the Province came to the aid of the Regime, sending in all 350, including 50 for the improvement of sanitary facilities at the Novititate. Its delegates to the 4th General Chapter in December were Lawrence Forde and Bernard Delany.