1867-1900
The history of St . Joseph ' s Institution from 1867 onwards was one of continued progress until 1800 when some difficulties arose as regards financial matters in connection with a boarding establishment undertaken by Brother Gregory in a rented house on Mount Sophia . As a result of the misunderstanding between the Brothers and the Mission , the Brothers were obliged to withdraw from Singapore in 1881 . Before their
departure , the Brothers handed over to the Roman Catholic Vicar of Singapore the deeds of the school property as well as their recreation ground and house in St . Michael ' s Road . In return , the Brothers received a few hundred dollars and their fares for the passage to France , Between 1881 to 1885 , St . Joseph ' s was managed by lay teachers under the direction of the Mission . The Principal during this interim period was Mr . Collinge .
The self-sacrificing devotedness of the Brothers to their work during those 29 years in St . Joseph ' s was not . however , forgotten and their
departure was soon felt and deplored . Their return was soon felt to be necessary .
In 1884 , Cardinal Simeoni , Prefect of Propoganda , signified to the Most Honourable Brother Irlide his desire to see the Brothers returning to the to the field of their labours in Singapore . This intervention of the Cardinal smoothened up all difficulties and thus in December 1885 , classes were resumed in St . Josephs under the direction of Brother Lothaire to the great satisfaction of Bishop Gasnier . There were about 200 pupils when classes were resumed and in the following year enrolment increased to 252 . Despite the campaign by the non-Christians against the school and the Brothers , the enrolment of St . Joseph ' s increased yearly . The lay teachers who managed the school left on the return of the Brothers . However , the
••.••. ork of the lay teachers did not go unrecognised by the Brothers . In his annual report for 1886 , Brother Lothaire , then the Director , praised the previous staff of lay teachers for the satisfactory state of the school during the Brothers ' absence , particularly Mr . Collinge , Mr . Mohaney and Mr .
Doyle . One of significant events during the directorship of Brother
Lothaire was the visrt of the Very Reverend Brother Aimarus , Assistant Superior General and Reverend Brother ldinaelis , the Brother Visitor to St . Joseph ' s Institution on 20th January 1888 . Brother Lothaire ' s second term of Office in St . Joseph ' s ended in July 1888 . He died at the Sanatorium of the Institute at Fleury Mendon near Paris in 1889 .
Brother Ershrem Leander was the Director of St . Joseph ' s from July 1888 to July 1889 when he was succeeded by Brother Augustine as Director from July 1889 to November 1893 . A music enthusiast , Bro . Augustine organised a band which was to be the cause of trouble that eventually relative of a non-Christian and embarassment led to his removal from office . The
Chinese , who had been a benefactor of the school , passed away and his wife asked , as a favour , to have the school band to play at the funeral . After giving his consent , Brother Augustine spent the day at the house in St . Michael ' s Road . When the boys who formed the band lined up to attend the funeral , the Bishop appeared on the scene and forbade the boys to go . The boys , as well as the Brother in charge of the band obeyed the Bishop . much to the disappointment and displeasure of the relative of the
deceased . The actions of both Brother Augustine and the Bishop caused ill-feelings and embarassment the Community . The parishioners were divided on the issue - some putting in
the blame on the Bishop while others laid blame on Brother Augustine . Many inflammatory articles appeared in the local press justifying either the actions of the Bishop or
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