In 1900, in succession to Mr. Ryde, came a Principal who was destined by the length of his Priincipalship to prove a rival to the twenty years' record of the Rev. Robert Pargiter (1846-1866). The Rev. Jacob Thompson, M A. (Corpus Christi College, Cambridge),. came to a School which was practically devoid of buildings. The state of the School may be described by quoting Mr. Thompson's own words. He says: .,When I took charge, the College buildings were still in a state of picturesque ruin, while the walls of the boarding-house were supported only by the rafters-that had fallen from the roof of the other building. The students were being taught, some on the narrow verandah of the boarding house, some in the vestry of the Church, others in the village girls' school, and even the shade of a large tree had been utilised. When afterwards the Monsoon rain., began, this last expedient was no longer possible ' and so we were forced to borrow a room from the Girls High School."

The chief work of the new Principal, soon after he took charge, was to send out an appeal and collect funds for the rebuilding of the School. In October 1900 an appeal asked for Rs. 8,000, and with this money Mr. Thompson said he could complete the main building, rebuild the dormitory walls, which were threatening to fall, erect four class-rooms and supply good furniture throughout.

Without waiting further for the collection of funds, and quite confident that the Old Boys and friends of the College would readily respond to his appeal, Mr. Thompson started the building work immediately, and in February 1901 Dr. Copleston, then Bishop of Colombo, formally opened the new hall with its four class-rooms. When the Robert Williams Hall was subsequently_ built, this hall was divided into three spacious class rooms, which together with three of the wing class-rooms (the fourth became the College office)accommodated the Secondary School. In May of the same year the Primary School was completed, and in October three of the four wings of the boarding-house were also ready for use. In 1903 a row of large and neat class-rooms replaced the thatched shed known as the Lower School, and in 1904 the final wing of tit, boarding house was built, The Government Inspector of Schools for the Province, after visiting the School on the completion of these buildings, wrote: "1 have just been looking round the new buildings which are now complete. Not only externally but internally in accommodation and
furnishing, they are models of taste, tidiness and comfort. This negative influence of beautiful surroundings, apart from a positive training, will, 1 feel certain, tend to raise the tone of the School."

A considerable portion of the money spent on the work had been collected from old Boys and friends in Ceylon, and for the balance the Head-master the Rev. C. C. Handy, went in March 1904 to the Straits Settlements, where he was able to realise a good sum from the old Boys and friends there. The College was still further indebted to the Principal who on his furlough that year was successful in getting the help of some of his friends in England to clear up the College debts.

Owing to want of accommodation and other inconveniences the College had closed the higher classes for these last four years, but they were re-started in 1904. This latter was a year of great advance and progress. The College was re-organised. Efficiency and thoroughness were to be the order of the day. New school rules were framed as to age limits for admission, prompt payment of fees, attendance reports and examinations, character certificates, etc. The course was extended to the -Cambridge Senior examination, and in December one boy, V. Supramaniam, was successful in that examination. The boarding-house, now completed, was fully established. Strict discipline was exercised with Mr. G. Philippiah as boarding-house master, Mr. S. V. Chinniah as assistant house-master, and D. C. Richard as monitor. The hours of work and play and the general boarding-house rules were revised. The number of boarders rose to sixty.

The athletic side of the College was also greatly improved by the formation of on Athletic Club. The following were the office-bearers when the Club was organised :-

President : The Principal.
Vice-President : The Head-master.
Treasurer : Mr. S. Somasundarm, B.A.
Secretary , Mr. D. de Niese.
Cricket Captain : G. M. Sebastian.
Sub-Captain : W. Jansen.
Football Captain : D. de Niese.
Sub-Captain : R. Nagalingam.

Tennis Committee : The office-bearers, the Captains and Sub-Captains of the various teams, the boarding-housemaster, and Mr. F. B. Mylvaganam

In cricket the College played five inter-Collegiate matches, of which four were won and one was lost. But the
greatest victory won by the College since cricket had been started in the College, was that against the Police
team played this year. To celebrate this victory the Principal planted a mango tree, which is still alive behind the Evarts House. For a long time the fruits of this tree were eaten only by the members of the College Cricket Eleven, to celebrate the victory. In football only one match was played on July 16th against Jaffna College at Vaddukoddai and after a hard struggle resulted in favour of St. John's by one goal to nil.

In order to raise the standard of class work in the School and also to help poor boys of the district, certain scholarships were founded this year. Some of these were allotted to deserving sons of C. M. S. Agents. Others we hear of were Choir Scholarships and Southport Scholarships; the latter were two Scholarships founded by the Rev. Canon Denton Thompson, M. A. (now Bishop Denton Thompson), a brother of the Principal. Scholarships for one year were also awarded to boys in the Elementary School who passed the annual Government examination in all their subjects.

Perhaps the greatest move that was made during the year for the advancement and welfare of the College was formation of an Old Boys' Association on the 18th of April. The following rules were framed and adopted at the first meeting

1. The members of the Association shall be Old Boys, past and present masters of St, John's College, and Honorary members not exceeding ten duly elected at a General Meeting.

2. The objects of the Association shall be:-

(a) To increase the sense of fellow-ship in Old Boys with the College.
(b) To promote good work among bearers of the Association them.
(c) To afford guidance and encouragement to the younger generation.

3.Members shall pay an annual subscription of Re. 1 or a single payment of Rs. 1 which shall constitute them life-members. The subscription for the year shall be due on the first day of March.

4. The Annual Meeting shall be held in April.

5. The Principal of St. John's College shall be ex-officio President, and the Head-master one of the Vice-Presidents, ex-officio, of the Association.

6. There shall be an executive committee consisting of the President and officers and twenty other members to be elected by the Association at its Annual Meeting, three to form a quorum.

7. The Committee shall be empowered to fill any vacancies that may occur among them or the officers pending the next General Meeting.

8. The Committee shall arrange for the General Meetings, receive donation: and deal with the funds of the Association, and arrange for any religious Service in connection with the Association.

9. A Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected annually at the General Meeting.

10. The rules of the Association shall not be altered except at the General Meeting and after at least one month's
notice of the proposed alteration sent in writing to the Secretary.



The following were the first office bearers of the Association:-

Patron: The Right Rev. The Lord Bishop of Colombo.

President : The Principal of St. John's College.

Vice Presidents : The Head-master of St. John's College
Mr. J. M. Hensman, B. A.
Mr. Isaac Tambyab.

Hon. Secretary and Treasurer :
Mr. Edgar A. Niles.


On the 4th of June the Colombo branch of the Association was formed with the following office-bearers --

President: Rev. R. W. Ryde, M. A.

Vice-Presidents
Mr. Wm. Wadsworth B.A.
Mudlr. C. Kailasapillai.

Secretary : Mr. J. Muthuvaloe.
Treasurer: Mr. C. Arulpragasam.

The year 1904 records the introduction of another important feature of the College of to-day, viz. the College Magazine, which was published by Mr. Isaac Tambyah, the first Editor, in July of that year. The Magazine, as it was started, was the organ of the Old Boys Association. Its objects were to record all events connected with the College and to keep the Old Boys in touch with their Alma Mater. The Association was very fortunate in getting as the Editor of the Magazine Mr. Isaac Tbarnbyah, who was the first Ceylonese to be elected a member of the Incorporated Society of Authors.

In September 1904 the Principal went on furlough, handing over the work to the Rev. W. J. Hanan, who was then the Superintending Missionary at Nallur. Mr. Hanan, writing of the School work for the year 1904 says : "The College is almost as full as it can be, and fuller than ever before. One hundred and twenty boys were admitted since the beginning of this term, but thirty-one left us, as we did not promote them to higher classes. At the end of last term there were 273 names on the roll, now there are 362. At the Government examination held in August all the Standards did well except the Sixth. -the results show real improvement, especially in the specific subjects. The percentage of passes is higher than last year, so also is the grant. The Literary Association, Y. M. C. A., the Sunday School and Bible classes all seem to do good work." Mr. Hanan writes . ,As far as the moral and spiritual condition of the College is concerned, 1 feel 1 can report very hopefully. 1 have three enquirers. 1 wish 1 could devote more attention to them, but a much greater portion of my time is now occupied in superintendence."