The closing chapter of Mr. Handy's history deals with 'the Centenary year 1923. He takes us up to the time when the date of the Centenary celebrations had been fixed for June 13th & 14th 1924. Before taking up the threads from where he left, it might be desirable to go back in time and review briefly the history of the school from the time Mr. Peto took over as Principal, of St. John's College, Jaffna.

In 1919, Mr. Thompson, the Principal had to go on a long furlough to England to recover his health. Rev. Mcpherson who took over as acting Principal had to leave abruptly and prematurely to fill the post of Chaplain to the Bishop of Madras. At this time, when the College was without a head, and the future seemed uncertain, several teachers opted to sever connections with the College for some reason or other. A number of students also left and it was alleged that the finances of the College were in a parlous state. The condition was critical and the rumour -gained currency that the College may close down.

St. John's must be thankful to Mr. A. M. Nathaniel, who was made Acting Principal, that he stepped into the breach and held the fort. However, much damage had been done. Discipline was lacking and the standards, both in studies and sports had reached a low ebb.

It was at this critical juncture that the C.M.S. made the appointment of Mr. Henry Peto, M.A., (Cantab) as Principal of St. John's and he arrived in Jaffna on Friday the 28th of May, 1920. By his pleasing personality, strict discipline and iron will, he restored tile fortunes of the College, with the help of the staff who were more than ready to cooperate with their new Head,

Mr. Handy has stated that punctuality and attendance were improved by the introduction of the daily morning assembly at which attendance was checked and after an opening hymn, a five minute talk by teachers in turn, and a few simple prayers provided a form of worship suitable to all. This united assembly did much to foster the spirit of corporatness of the school. A higher standard of conduct and payment. of school fees were imposed. Boys in arrears of fees were, after a warning, sent home. Those who were not likely to do any good either to the College or to themselves were asked to leave. The rumours of bankruptcy which was actually due to non-collection of fees, became a thing of the past. Discipline was improved with the introduction of a Prefect Body nominated by the Principal and the Staff. Sports & Drill were compulsory to all and the new system of dividing the school into 4 Houses created a healthy competition which contributed to the advancement in studies and sports.

The 0. B. A., which had for some time had a nomina1 existence was revived by Mr. Peto. He actively engaged the Old Boys in all the activities of the school and sought their opinion on important matters likely to affect the school. In 1921 M. T. H. Crossette went back to St John's as Vice-Principal..He was an able administrator and together with Mr. Peto, formed a perfect Principal - Vice-Principal combination. Together they brought to St. John's a richness and tone unsurpassed in the annals of its history up to that time. The College magazine reappeared in 1920 after a long interval. The Prize Giving, which is the most important social function in a school and which had been given up at St. John's during the first World War, was held in 1921 after a long break. The inter-house Sports meet was held for the first time. The Master's Association which had been dormant for some time, was revived, and later in 1922 re-modelled under the name of the Master's Guild. Several other activities were also introduced like the English Oratorical Contest, the granting of "Colours" for excellence in Sports and "The Crown " for super excellence in any field of sport or for outstanding service to the College.

It was in the field of sports that a major transformation took place. Steeped in the traditions of the English Public Schools, and firmly persuaded that the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton", Mr. Peto actively encouraged sports activities. Mr. A. S. Abraham, a former Senior Prefect and Cricket Captain of St. John's was brought in as Sports Master. It was mainly due to him that the unrelieved gloom on the, Sports Field in 1919 & 1920 was turned into
untarnished glory in the next few years. In 1921 St. John's were unbeaten Champions in Cricket among the schools in the North. Twice that year, they beat Central College in the "Big Match" by an innings. It should be mentioned that C. A. Dissanaike scored the first century for St. John's in the first of these matches mentioned above, while A. P. Selvaratnam scored a century in the second match.

In 1922, St John's became athletic champions in the Inter-Collegiate Sports Meet and also cricket champions for the second year in succession. Central college was beaten again by an innings in the big match and yet another Johnian, R.Werkmeister scored a century in this series. It is a measure of the batting strength of the team that six of their members scored centuries during the season.

Thus when St John's entered its centenary year in 1923,it was seen that within a short period of two years, Mr Peto, with the help of his staff, had transformed the college from "a single stringed lyre into a many stringed harp". 1923 was a very successful year for St John's as 10 boys passed the E.S.L.C examination, 19 candidates were successful at the Junior Cambridge Examination while six passed the Cambridge Senior Examination and 2 passed the London Matriculation.

In Sports, the College again became Cricket and Athletic Champions among Jaffna Schools. Their Cadets were placed 2nd in Shooting at the annual camp at Diyatalawa and reached the semi final in foot-ball.

A gift of Rs. 25,000/- was donated to the College by Rev. W. H. Figg which consequently enabled the College to expand its playing fields and extend its buildings.

Among the Old Boys, it is interesting to note that Mr. S. J.V. Chelvanayagam passed the Advocate's Final Examination and became an Advocate of the Supreme Court. Mr. C. Suntheralingam was appointed Professor of Mathematics at the University College, Colombo. The part that these two stalwarts were to play in the political history of the country was yet unknown when the old Boys' news chronicled the above facts proudly in the College Magazine. The old boys news also announced the fact that two Old boys, J. T. Arulanantham and E .M. Ponnudurai joined the College staff. These two were destined to play leading roles at the College in the years to come.
The history of institutions no less than that of countries and individuals are occasionally strewn with purple patches, which mark a watershed in their progress. Such an year was 1924 for St. John's College. The year started with the announcement of the December 1923 Cambridge Senior and Junior examination results. 12 students passed the Senior Examination, 3 with Honours and one obtaining a distinction in English. In the Junior Examination 26 passed, 6 with Honours and two obtained distinctions in Mathematics, two in Physics. two in History and one each in English, Latin and Tamil. To-day these results may not appear extraordinary, but at that time they were among the best in the island.

The Cricket XI then did the College proud by becoming Inter-Collegiate Champions for the 4th year in succession: Further honour was. achieved when the Athletic team went on to become School Champions of the north for the 3rd time in succession. It is said that nothing succeeds like success, and to prove this, the Foot-ball XI won the Inter-Collegiate Championship for the first time. To cap it all, the College Cadets won the Sports cup and became runners-up for the Herman Loos Cup at Diyatalawa among all the leading schools in Ceylon. This was indeed a Year of Victories and was the Golden Year in Sports for St. John's.

In the literary field, S. J. Gunasegaram won the award for his effort in writing the College song among several entries. The now familiar 'Decked with shady palms and trees" was set to music by Mrs. Mary Peto and sung for the first time during the Centenary Celebrations. in June. The College Hymn "Mid the shadows shines Light" was composed, by Rev. W S. Senior specially for the Centenary. This beautiful hymn, written by the famous Balliol Scholar who is the author of "The Hymn for Ceylon" and "The Bard of Lanka" among others, was also sung for the first time during the Centenary celebrations. A Centenary song in Tamil was composed by Mr. C. H. Kadiravelupillai of the College staff.

Other notable contributions were "A Propitiatory Anthem" by R. R. Crossette Tambiah, "A Centenary song" by F. B. Mailvaganam and "A Hymn for St. John's" by D. R. Gunasegaram. These were worthy efforts on behalf of the Centenary celebrations. Mention should also be made of two books that were published towards the end of the year, namely "Foregleams of God" and "Songs of a Saiva Saint" by the Rev. Dr. Isaac T. Tambiah, D. D., Bar-at-Law. Dr. Isaac Thambiah was a distinguished Old Boy of St. John's who was a member of several learned societies. He was a member of the Royal Asiatic Society (London), of the Royal Society of Literature (London), and of the Society of Biblical Archaeology; Fellow of the Jewish Historical Society and of the International Society of the Apocrypha, and an Associate of Philosophical Society of Great Britain. He was the first Editor of the St. John's College Magazine in 1904.

The outstanding event for the year 1924 was the Centenary celebrations held on 13th & 14th of June. It was worthily and splendidly celebrated. The College premises were, magnificently decorated to suit the importance of the this occasion and Johnians, young and old, present and past, flocked in numbers to do homage to their Alma Mater, while the tide was swelled by the rush of friends and well-wishers who came to pay their tribute to an institution, which had triumphantly weathered the storms and stress of a long century. The visitors who streamed in hour after hour were welcomed by the members of the staff and taken round the school premises. At the main entrance of the hall was located a Registration Office, where every Old Boy was made to register his name and place on record the honours he had gained while the in College with the date of his entering and leaving the College. Immediately after this ceremony, the College colours were presented. The rush of the Old Boys to the office was so great that it necessitated the establishment of several other mini-offl'ces to meet with the pressing demands.

A Cricket Match was organised on the 13th morning between the Old Boys and the Present Boys and was interrupted at 10 a. m. while the gathering retired to the Chapel for the Thanksgiving service. The Thanksgiving service, which was undoubtedly the most important item of the whole proceedings, proved very impressive and was conducted by the Rev. W.S. Senior of Trinity College, Kandy and the Rev. A. E. Dibben, Secretary of the C.M. S. The Church was crowded to over-flowing during the service. In a soul-stirring and inspiring sermon, the Rev. W. S. Senior lifted the hearts of the audience. He exhorted those present to lay their earthly fancies down and turn their minds to the Maker himself, Maker of all things, Judge of all men, the unseen President of the Centenary celebrations. It was an exalting message with which to begin a great event.

This was followed by a fellowship lunch after which the Cricket Match was continued. The match ended in a victory for the old boys by 11 runs. In the evening at 6.30 p.m, a unique and interesting event was the procession of the present boys along the streets of Jaffna town. It gave an oriental colour and charm to the whole proceedings. The streets resounded with the cheers and the singing of the boys as they marched with varied coloured lanterns in their hands. The marshal and stirring notes of the Western band combined with that of the soft complaining strains of the eastern "Nagasinnam" to rouse and to sustain the enthusiasm of the boys.

After the procession returned to the College, the Cadets commenced their Drill and Tattoo followed by a concert, the programme containing a mixture of English and Tamil items.

The proceedings on the 14th started with Tennis Matches between the Old Boys and the Staff, followed by a Foot-ball match between the Old Boys and the Present Boys. The A. G. M of the 0. B. A. was held next, after which there was a grand fellowship lunch. The evening commenced with the Inter-House Sports meet and Display by the Scouts & Cubs. They were held under the patronage of the Hon. Sir Anton Bertram, Chief Justice of Ceylon. A new departure in the Sports meet was the abolition of rewards for the winners. Instead, the custom of the Athenians of old was followed by the giving of laurels, which took the form of wreaths made with young coconut leaves. The wreaths were gracefully placed on the heads of the winners at the College Prize Giving which took place later in the evening.

Another important event which took place that evening was the opening of the Twynam Museum by Sir Anton Bertram.

Then followed the Public Meeting and Prize Giving under the Chairmanship of Sir Anton Bertram. The other speakers were Rev. W. Meston, M.A.,B.D., Principal of Madras Christian College and Member of the Madras Legislative Assembly, and Mr. J. N. Vethavanam, M. A., B L. Advocate who represented the Old Boys. Sir Anton Bertram paid an eloquent tribute to the College for its ending a hundred years of inspiration of character, inspiration of lofty ideals and high aims, He said that the Centenary was a unique event in the history of a college and that day's mammoth gathering indicated that the service rendered to generations of Jaffna Youth was greatly appreciated.

The Prize Giving ended with the singing of the College song for the first time since being composed by S.J.Gunasegaram, an Old Boy and member of the Staff, followed by the English National Anthem.

The Centenary celebrations concluded with the Centenary Dinner held at St. Mary's Grand Hotel. Covers were laid for 150 at which several distinguished persons were present. It is reported that speeches were of a very high order and the wit and humour that flowed with ease kept the audience in roars of laughter for full two hours !

There were several favourable press comments about the Centenary from the daily news papers and the "Daily News", "Observer" and the "Morning Leader" of 13-6-24 contained tributes to the
College, its founders and its successes.

It should also be mentioned that the College Centenary was celebrated in a grand manner by the O.B.A. in Singapore.

It will perhaps be interesting at this juncture to reckon the age of St. John's in comparison with other schools in the island. St. John's had its birth in March 1823, in the same year as Jaffna College (then known as the Batticotta Seminary). It came into being eleven years before Central College (1834), thirteen years before Royal College (1836), twenty six years before St. Thomas College, Mt. Laviniya (1849). twenty seven years before St. Patrick's College (1850) and nearly half a century before Trinity College, Kandy.

Mr. Peto left for England on furlough soon after the celebrations, leaving Mr. Crossette as Acting Principal. Mr. Peto was the Chief organiser behind the Centenary celebrations and when he went
on his holiday, well must he have been satisfied with his 4 years work at St John's. It had been a period of rapid progress and the Johnian flag was soaring high as with the wings of an eagle.