THE PETERITE. VOL. XX. APRIL, 1907. No. 178. SCHOOL LETTER. H E time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things : in like manner the importunate ticking of the clock warns us that we must again take up our pen and chronicle the deeds of the past term and give forth faint prophecies of the future. The advent of this term was heralded by very severe snowstorms, we almost failed to recognise our surroundings so heavy was the grasp that winter had laid upon them ; the result was three weeks' skating, to which some of us can look back with very pleasant memories, though we must regret the large gap it made in the time allotted for Football this term, for we were 'unable to begin playing till nearly the middle of February. It resulted in the cancelling of one of our matches, though the Clerk of the Weather in order to atone for his misdemeanours gave us an almost tropical day for our fixture with Durham Colleges. The Review of the Team will be found in another column. We may say, however, that this year's season, if not as good as the preceding one, has at any rate some gratifying results ; we have won six and lost eight matches, we are well on the credit side as regards the number of points scored ; and lastly the team has made a very great improvement in defence. We must offer our hearty congratulations to Peters and Phillips. Turning now to what has yet to take place, let us first of all say how glad we are that the school is once more taking up rowing seriously. We are the fortunate possessors of a well e quipped 70 O.P. DINNER. boathouse, we have an extremely good river, and it is a crying shame that we have for so long neglected such opportunities. We trust that this year's School IV. will worthily carry on the traditions of the past and prove itself the pioneer of a long succession of victorious crews. The contract for the new organ has been let ; it is hoped that the new instrument will be ready by S. Peter's Day. In the mean- time our Chapel Services will be accompanied by a Harmonium. The date of the Gymnasium Competition is Tuesday, April and ; the Sports will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 5th and 6th. Finally, we would offer our hearty congratulations to Mr. Senior on his engagement and to A. B. Sale on obtaining his " Blue." O.P. DINNER. (Reprinted from the Yorkshire Herald of December 2 ISI, 1906). The annual reunion of Old Peterites was held in the Davy Hall Restaurant, York, last night, the chair being taken by the Ven. Archdeacon H. W. Griffith, who has been an Army Chaplain in India for twenty-five years, and holds the India Frontier medal as well as the special medal which was struck on the occasion of the great Durbar. The others present were :—The Rev. E. C. Owen, Dr. J. A. Browne, Messrs. J. R. Wood, T. W. L. Terry, Dr. A. E. Chapman, Messrs. P. L. Newman, N. T. Crombie, A. W. Eastwood, R. Loy Wilcox, H. L. Creer, K. J. Roy, M. H. T. Roy, F. G. Schroeder, W. M. Carter, G. H. Eyre, R. W. Hutchinson, J. B. Clarke, W. H. R. Hopkins, G. Yeld, S. G. Squire, K. E. T. Wilkinson, and Arthur Peters (hon. sec. Old Peterite Club). " The King " was given from the chair, and loyally honoured, after which O.P. DINNER. 7 , Mr. Norman Crombie proposed the toast of " The Archbishop and clergy of all denominations." He remarked that in the ancient city of York they were exceedingly proud of their Arch- bishop, who had rendered very excellent service to the citizens. He had devoted his time and a considerable part of his income for the amelioration of the lot of the clergy, who had not got large incomes, and in doing what he could to help them. He trusted that the clergy of all denominations would unite in one common cause to foster the education of the children in the truest sense. The Rev. E. C. Owen said that although he could endorse the sentiments of Mr. Crombie, he felt a bit like Mr. Pickwick on the present occasion when the innocent little corpse of that little Bill lay murdered and entombed in another place. He stood there to represent at one and the same time the Bishop of Manchester and Dr. Clifford. He felt almost as though his legs were parting asunder. They at any rate could afford to put away the odium theologicum. " The Imperial Forces " was submitted by Dr. Chapman, who said that unfortunately for the Imperial soldier, he was not left to himself. He was in the hands of Ministers who were changed with the political feelings of the country. At one time, the soldier had to wear the Brodrick cap and now he was to be brigaded with the cavalry on Salisbury Plain, because the present Minister had got information that in future we would always conduct our wars on level areas. As a York citizen he felt uncomfortable about the rumours afloat. The War Office had now threatened to move the cavalry from York. It would be a death-blow to the place if the change took place, and he hoped there was no truth whatever in the report. They had never heard till now that the cavalry barracks were obsolete, and he did not see why York should be sacrificed to Scotland or to Salisbury Plain. He had the greatest confidence in the courage and endurance of the Imperial soldier. Lieutenant K. J. Roy, of the Middlesex Regiment, in reply, eulogised the British soldier, and remarked on the efficiency of the Navy. He sincerely hoped that the cavalry would not be removed 7 2 O. P. DINNER. from York, and that the War Office would be induced to reconsider their decision. The Militia, Volunteers and Yeomanry had all improved by their training in South Africa, and the only difficulty now was as to organisation. The recently formed Legion of Frontiersmen, too, would be a very useful body in time of war, and he was glad to notice that there was a York Command. In conclusion, Lieutenant Roy remarked on the good qualities of the native soldiers in West Africa. He had led them into action, and he could truthfully say that they were full of pluck and bravery. The Chairman, who was also associated with the toast, said that some of the finest soldiers in the world were the native troops in India. Mr. G. H. Eyre gave the health of " The Chairman " in a reminiscent speech. He was a gentleman who had done good service both in the Church and in the Army. The toast was drunk with musical honours. The Chairman, in reply, recalled old times at St. Peter's School. Things had no doubt changed and, they might fairly say, for the better. A characteristic of the boys at St. Peter's was their " all- roundness." Archdeacon Griffith afterwards proposed " Success to St. Peter's School," which he remarked was an old institution before Eton and Winchester were ever thought of. The school had moved with the times, and one, coming back after a long absence, would notice the very great improvements that had been effected. When he went to school, somewhere about i 86o, there was no such thing as a modern department, but they had one room which was called the " Civil and Military Department." where they went in for a certain amount of Army and Civil Service work, and, of course, for the law. Recalling old masters, the Chairman spoke of " Old Bull," or Mr. Thomlinson, a first-rate teacher and an admirable coach. But the character of all others in the school was Mr. Richardson, who was then styled " Old Tom." Though his methods were not of the present day, he taught them a good many things which some would never forget. Who, for instance, could repeat the names of the Kings of Judah and the books of the O.P. DINNER. 73 Bible ? Then, Mr. Robertson was one of the most picturesque figures in the school ; he was a man of many parts, and well beloved by the boys. The names of Mr. Harrison and Mr. Lees brought back many memories, and they remembered with grateful feelings Canon Elwyn, who was no ordinary man. The Chairman. in conclusion, spoke of Archdeacon Hey, and Mr. Yeld, who was present that night, and who was a master at St. Peter's when he was a boy there. The Rev. E. C. Owen, acknowledged the toast. He said they wanted all the help and sympathy that Old Peterites could give. The school was going strong, and this year they had the biggest entry that they had had for many years past. At the present time they were passing through something in the nature of a crisis ; they were fighting for freedom and for the old ideals. Mr. Owen also spoke on the " all-roundness " of the boys of St. Peter's, which, as a small school, helped to develop that characteristic. Mr. G. Yeld joined in acknowledging the toast in a brief speech. Mr. James Parker (porter at the school for over thirty years), made an appeal on behalf of the organ fund of the school, and afterwards the company joined in the singing of " Auld Lang Syne." Telegrams wishing the gathering success were read from Mr.