We have shortly described the beginning of the work of the Brothers and the opening of their first schools in Glasgow and Dundee. They now possessed two residences in the former city, one at St Mungo's and the other at 71 Charlotte Street, where those attending St Mary's and St Andrew's Schools lived together. But the latter school re-opened under the charge of St Alphonsus' on the 14th September, 1874, anti on the 1st January of the following year St Andrew's School was placed under Government inspection. Brother Vales, succeeding Brother John, took charge in March, 1875, and on the 6th of August, 1876, the school carne under the direction of Brother Guerin, who is still its esteemed and indefatigable headmaster. Among those Brothers who have had charge of St Alphonsus' School during the long period which has elapsed since its foundation we find the names of Brothers Alphonsus, James (now Provincial), Philip, Ezeckiel, Dorotheus, Francis Regis, and the present efficient and successful headmaster, Brother Francis Joseph.

Another branching-off of the parishes took place in the same year, 1874, and the Sacred Heart School, an offspring of St Mary's, was opened in September, the saintly Father Noonan being principal manager ; and Brother Walfrid the first headmaster. Of the immense good done by the highly esteemed Father Noonan, till his death in 1886, we need not speak. It may, however, he stated without exaggeration that, next to him, no one holds a higher place in the affection of the old parishioners of the Sacred Heart than dear old Brother Walfrid, whose work, especially among the young men of the parish, will not readily be forgotten. In succession to Father Joseph Hughes, the Rev. Michael Canon Hughes, the present much respected M. R., took office in. February, 1904, and in his hands the school has increased till it is now one of the largest Catholic school§ in Glasgow. Brother Andrew, Brother Christopher, and Brother Leo each spent some tithe as headmaster at Bridgeton, which onerous position is now held with great credit by Brother Ninian.

In spite of the division of the schools, St Mary's continued to prosper under Canon Carmichael till April, 1896, and since then under the wise administration of Canon Dyer, so that Brother Thomas, its devoted headmaster, has now under his charge a school of colossal proportions. Brothers John, James, Alban, Angelo, and Dorotheus are still lovingly remembered as former headmasters of St Mary's.

From 1866 to 1874, Brother Tatianus was Director of the house in Dundee and headmaster of St Mary's School. In the latter year he took the important charge of St Mungo's Academy, which he held until succeeded by Brother Ignatius in 1880. He was replaced in Dundee by Brother Mungo who in turn was succeeded in 1878 by Brother Andrew, now in charge of St Joseph's School. Brother Benedict, late Provincial, then took the reins from 1887 to 1901, until replaced, first by Brother Edmund, and later by Brother William, who still holds office. It is impossible to do any justice to all these schools in the limited space at our disposal, but it is due to the Very Rev. Canon M' Dermott to mention the great expansion which took place during his time by the erection of the present magnificent new school for the boys of St Mary's in 1883.

In more recent times the Boys' School at St Joseph's has been entirely renewed and greatly extended by the Very Rev. Provost Holder, who has certainly reason to be proud of the result of his exertions. It is now, as we have said, under the direction of Brother Andrew, whose former pupils in Dundee are happy to see him again in their midst. With the school attached to the Pro-Cathedral of St Andrew's are connected the names of Brothers Angelo, Mark, William, Benedict, Mary Sebastian, Francis Regis, Mary Ambrose, and Osmund.

But to resume our narrative of the history of St Mungo's Academy. It was Brother Ignatius who in 1882 was commissioned by the Rev. Brother Superior-General to erect the main building of the present Academy in Parson Street. In the hands of Mr. Devlin, a Catholic builder, the new house rose rapidly, and was ready for occupation by Easter, 1883. Brother Ignatius was changed to St Anne's, London, in that year, and then Brother Ambrose, Director of St Joseph's Dumfries, became the local Superior.

The parochial School at Glebe Street experienced a marvelous development during the Headmastership of Br. Joseph, who guided its destinies for more than 26 years. Of this Brother it may be said that he was universally beloved ; for his amiable character and Religious devotedness earned for him the high esteem of Clergy and people as well as the sincere respect and personal affection of the stall and pupils of his School. Amongst his Brothers he seems to have been regarded with still warmer feelings of confidence and appreciation and his death in Dec. 19t) was a source of deep regret to all.

By this time St Joseph's College had begun to win for itself à reputation for success in the Science and Art Examinations. Always in advance of the times, the Brothers had the credit of fitting up The First Chemical Laboratory in the South of Scotland. Some time later Professor Scott Elliot, after visiting 'St Joseph's, declared that, outside the largest cities, he knew of no institution in Scotland with such an extensive and complete scientific curriculum ; and it was a common thing to find the pupils gain more than one hundred Science and Art Certificates in one session. Following their example, the :Academy soon had a small hut fully-equipped laboratory, and continued during the directorships of Brother Mungo and Brother Christopher to score high successes in the Elementary ; Advanced, and Honors stages of these examinations, as well as at the public Bursary competitions, which were first- introduced by Brother Mungo. In St Joseph's College the examinations of the – College of Preceptors and University Preliminaries opened the way for many students to the medical and other professions, and the very large proportion of Honors Certificates and distinctions which have since been obtained in the former speaks, volumes for the character of the work done. Anxious to be in the van of educational progress, the Brothers spared no pains to add to the equipment of the two institutions we are describing every possible accessory which could conduce to greater success. Thus, in both ; systematic instruction was from the beginning given in Music and Physical Training, and the former subject has been made such a specialty at St Joseph's as to render the institution quite unique in that respect. Thus a Brass Band and Orchestra are maintained in what, having regard to the age of the pupils, must be considered a very high state of efficiency. Glasgow people had a good opportunity of testing the correctness of this appreciation during the last Exhibition, when the pupils gave a splendid afternoon concert in the great hall. Musical ability is regularly tested by the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

To ensure to the public the best guarantee of effective teaching, the College was for many years examined and favorably reported on by Dr Thomas Morrison, Rector of the Free Church Training College in Glasgow. After Dr Morrison's death, an annual examination was conducted by H. M. Inspectors for Dumfries shire, with equally pleasing results. But the wonderful expansion in numbers, the perfect organization, and high state of efficiency which have now been reached are due in a very great measure to the untiring efforts and extraordinary tact of Brother James, who has been its Principal during the last 20 years. This able educationist, seconded by a loyal and capable staff, labored so successfully during all that time that, in spite of unsuitable premises and limited accommodation, he made the old St Joseph's College well known throughout the length and breadth of the land as an institution which took-a foremost place in the work of secondary education. In recent years a large number of applications had to be refused, and the need for further accommodation became so imperative that at last, through the instrumentality of-Brother John, who was appointed Assistant in 1900 on the death of Bro. Procope, the sanction of the Superiors was obtained for the erection of the present truly magnificent structure, which comfortably and almost luxuriously accommodates 160 resident pupils.

St Mungo's Academy, as we have seen, had all along been in the forefront of education in Glasgow, and when, in 1893, Brother Ezechiel, the present able and energetic Director, made application to the Glasgow Board Committee to have the Academy recognized as a secondary school the application was admitted without a dissentient voice. The number of pupils increased steadily, and it was found necessary to build an addition in 1897, and a further one in 1902. The increase in numbers was no doubt due to the many successes obtained by the pupils at the public examinations for which they were presented, c. g., the various Bursary Trust, Civil Service, University Preliminaries, and Leaving Certificate Examinations.

About 1902, the Pupil Teachers' Saturday Classes were removed from St Alphonsus' School-Centre to St Mungo's, and in 1905 the Marist Brothers were entrusted by the Catholic managers of Glasgow and environs with the entire conduct and instruction of all the male pupil teachers of the Archdiocese. In order to meet these fresh responsibilities, new laboratories and art – rooms were built, as well as additional class-rooms.

On the change in the regulations for teachers in 1906, St Mungo's Academy was recognised as the first. Catholic Centre for Male Junior Students in Scotland.

It has been impossible for us to give more than a cursory glance at the history of the two great secondary schools of the Marist Brothers in Scotland, and we have been obliged, for lack of space, to omit, reference to many points of interest and to many honoured names amongst those who have contributed, directly or indirectly, to their success.

The name of Brother Vincent will ever be remembered with loving respect not only by old pupils of the Academy but by all who in any manner came under his gentle and earnest influence in connection with the many undertakings to which, for the glory of God and with the approval of his Superiors, he devoted his energies during the long space of forty six years. The admiration with which he was regarded by the parishioners of St Mungos' as well as by the pupils of the Academy was abundantly testified to by the enthusiasm displayed at the public celebration of his Jubilee, as a Religious, on the 21st November 1905. His death in the following year was the signal for another outburst of public appreciation, his obsequies being attended by a large and influential gathering of Catholic clergy and laymen from all parts of the city.

In this connection also we feel bound to put on record the hearty support and kind encouragement given to the Academy by the late Archbishop Eyre and his present worthy successor, and to the college by Dr Turner, Bishop of Galloway, who takes a pride in having such an educational establishment as St Joseph's in his diocese.

We must not omit to mention the Pupil Teachers' Homes, or Juniorates, which were established at 71 Charlotte Street, Glasgow, in 1874, and in Dundee in 1882, and which have supplied many Marist Brothers who are now in important positions at home or in the Colonies. It was principally to provide better accommodation for these young teachers that in 1894, on the recommendation of the Brothers' medical adviser, Dr Scanlan, efforts were made to obtain a site for new and more spacious premises in Glasgow. Through the influence of Canon Carmichael, then in charge of St Mary's parish, the present splendid building was erected in close proximity to St Mary's Church and School, and thither the Brothers removed on the 12th June, 1896.

The revision of the Regulations regarding Pupil Teachers has, however, done away with the necessity of such a system, and the Brothers now train their subjects at Dumfries in the Juniorate which was established at Mount St Michael in 1887.

Since that time this training institution has blossomed into a fully recognised Intermediate and Secondary School, and has obtained such highly flattering reports from His Majesty's Inspectors that, when the change in the Regulations took place, it was immediately recognised as a second Junior Students' Centre for Catholic Male Teachers in Scotland. The practicing school for the junior students is a superb little building recently erected by Mgr. O'Brien for the accommodation of the higher classes of the Boys' School at St Andrew's, which is under the direction of Brother Lery, who acts as Master of Method.

Here again we have regretfully to omit much that would be highly interesting in the history of St Andrew's Boys' School in Brooke Street, with which the names of Brother Sebastian, Brother Benedict, Brother Chumald, Brother Andrew, and Brother Mark are honorably associated. The last-mentioned, now Director of St Anne's, London is particularly popular among the Catholic young men of Dumfries, whom he formed into a very successful Dramatic Club and Society.

One provision of the new Regulations for the Preliminary Education and instruction of Teachers, to which we have referred, is the establishment of Hostels for students attending the Training College or University. The Brothers have, by arrangement with the Rev. Managers of the schools of Glasgow and district, opened a Hostel in Partickhill Road for their own students in the first place, and then-for teachers of the Archdiocese.

The Hostel, which was opened in 1907 by Brother Winoc, is at present under the charge of Brother Lewis, and gives accommodation to 22 students, who, besides being thus accustomed to a regular and 'studious life, have the advantage of receiving at the hands of the Brothers a solid training in religious principles and a thorough preparation for the Diocesan Examination in Christian Doctrine. That the Archdiocese has had the honour of being the first to meet the Regulations of the Department in this matter is due principally to the foresight and energy of Brother John, whose powerful administrative abilities are now at the service of the Provincials of the Isles, South Africa, and Australia. It seems a direct interposition of Providence that when the work had been well begun in this country Brother John should have been compelled by bad health to go out to Australia, where his marvelous energy has called into ,existence a new province of Religious Teachers, completely eclipsing in numbers and prosperity the parent stein from which it sprang. Let us hope that his labors nearer home may now he crowned with still greater success, and that he may be spared for many years to continue his glorious work in the cause of Catholic Education.

We have related in a very imperfect and hurried manner the story of the Marist Brothers in Scotland during the last fifty -years. When we think of the splendid work done by them in 'the cause of Primary and Secondary Education, and reflect that, besides the invaluable help they are now giving in the training of Catholic teachers, they have at the present moment nearly 5000 children under their special care in Scotland, alone, we can better realise the far-reaching influence which they exercise, and its immense power for good. No doubt the success which they have attained is due, in the first place, to their devotion to Our Blessed Lady, which is the special characteristic of their Order, and which they seize every opportunity of instilling into their children.

No pupil of the Marist Brothers will ever forget the lively impression made upon him by the month of May devotions, which are invariably carried out in all the Brothers' schools with unbounded enthusiasm. The habit of frequently saying the Rosary, a prayer which he was accustomed to recite daily for so many years at school, will not he easily laid aside, while, no gratitude can ever repay his good masters for the trouble which they took in preparing him for his First Communion.

It is not surprising that, in common with their 6000 brethren throughout the world, the Brothers in Scotland share the special benediction of our Holy Father Pope Pius X., who has recently been pleased to eulogies their labours and to encourage by valuable indulgences all who help them in any way in the work of recruiting subjects for so noble a vocation.

From the Catholic Herald (supplement) August 7, 1909.