Saint Ursula Academy - Scroll Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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-should we go to a catholic college? l i 1 and I decided to go on to col .-cj .-,, lege. We had been debating the question since September. Mother and Dad assured us that there was suffi- cient money to carry us through the four years. The question of the day was Is it necessary that a Catholic boy or girl go to a Catholic College P We had finished twelve years of Catholic education and felt staunch in our religion. Twelve years of training, we thought, seemed suf- ficient to safeguard us against any dangers to faith we might encounter if we at- tended a secular college. We knew what Mother and Dad would say, however, if we asked them our ques- tion, and we knew what our teachers would say. We decided to say nothing to anybody, but to answer that question by interviewing prominent Catholic grad- uates and forming our own opinions. We planned to call on a prominent and de- vout Catholic doctor, a Catholic lawyer, a Catholic engineer and a great football player of St. joe's. Here Bob was to do the interviewing. I was to interview a social service worker in charge of the city's charities, a teacher in a public school, a young lady working in the chem- ical laboratory of a local factory and a prominent society lady who was the mother of eight children. Our Hrst visit was with the brilliant young doctor, to whom Bob immediately put the question: Doctor, jane and l have decided to go to college, but we can't make up our minds whether or not it should be a Cath- olic college. ls it necessary that a Catho- lic boy or girl, after twelve years of Cath- olic training, continue his education at a Catholic college? Well, once upon a time, I had to make that same decision and, like your- N April of our senior year Bob Senior Scroll, I936 -Marianne McGinn, '36 selves, after finishing twelve years in Catholic primary and secondary schools I felt qualified to defend any matter con- cerning my faith. So I enrolled at a secu- lar college. I liked the university from the start, and made a. great many inter- esting friends. I received a first class ed- ucation in secular branches, but I know that the more important side, the relig- ious side, was omitted from my daily con- tacts. Many of the university professors had no faith and they laughed at mine. Often times I tried to hide the fact that I was a Catholic. You see my field was medicine and many of the teachers in a state medical school never mention a word about God or the soul and one is apt to forget that there is one. I believe it was only the prayers of my good mother that kept me from losing my faith. Bob and I were convinced that in a Catholic medical college alone a young man studying medicine is trained to rec- ognize in his patient, first of all, an im- mortal soul. We moved on to the offices of Mr. F-, attorney at law. Mr. F- was a life long friend of the family. He was six feet two, with iron gray hair that made him look forbidding, but his twinkling blue eyes showed him to be what he was, the kindest person I know. If you intend being a lawyer, Bob, by all means go to a Catholic University. Law is closely connected with the ten commandments and the Catholic doctrines of right and wrong, divorce, etc. How can we learn what God intended from some- one who doesn't even believe in Him? Difficulties will arise which can be straightened out only in a Catholic law school. We had respected and admired Mr. F- since we were able to toddle and his words made a deep impression on us. IIO

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-class will the famous Class of 1936, of St. Ursula's Academy, being somewhat fatigued by incessant --llolle toil, and being about to depart from this sphere of education, do hereby bequeath: To the Academy: Our everlasting loyalty by attending the Alumnae meetings and taking active part in whatever they may sponsor. To the Faculty: Our promise to try to live up to the ideals of the Catholic Training, they have given us. To the Juniors: The honor of editing a bigger and better Scroll. To the Sophomores: Our technique in developing the best behaved class. To the Freshmen: The same ardent desire for study and learning that we had. To the Incoming Class: The honor of wearing the Ursuline uniform. Lastly, we do appoint our said Junior class to the office of executors of this our Last Will and Testament. Signed and sealed by THE CLASS or 1936 l09 I936, Senior Scroll

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Our next visit was to Bill Flannigan, who was a subject of hero worship on Bob's part. He had carried St. joe's to vic- tory in the football season and had won high scholastic honors during his college days. We found Bill and his father playing tennis on their backyard court. Mr. Flan- nigan was a very devout Catholic and a successful engineer and it occurred to me how fortunate we were on finding two such prominent Catholic college gradu- ates together. We told Mr. Flannigan that we intended going to college. After twelve years of Catholic education don't you think one has enough ,religion to fit him for his life's work?'l asked Bob. You can never get enough religion, Bob, replied Mr. Flannigan. No mat- ter how long you've studied it there is al- ways more to learn. Your twelve years of Catholic training came during your childhood when you didn't realize the dangers against faith that would someday face you. In a secular college they don't under stand Catholics, cut in Bill. There'd always be a sort of vague something be- tween you and the friends you'd made at the U. You don't have that feeling of intimate friendship that you experience at a Catholic college. I can honestly say that my days at St. joe's were the happiest of my life. I wish I could relive them. Football at a Catholic college made my faith real. I would probably have re- ceived the same amount of credit and praise at a university, but that's all. I have met a great many trials during my life as an engineer, continued his father, and my religion has never failed to help me out. My career as an engin- eer has strengthened my faith. It is only in a Catholic college that you will receive a good foundation for this faith that will comfort you and guide you throughout your life as an engineer. We had finished interviewing all of Bob's friends and now it was my turn. We headed toward State High where we hoped to interview Miss Hart, the sopho- more home room teacher. In answer to our question, Miss Hart replied- I just wouldn't hesitate in deciding if I were you, Jane. When there are so many wonderful Catholic colleges in the country you would be very foolish to en- roll in a secular university. The fact that you are staunch in your faith now isn't any guarantee that you'll remain that way if you attend a secular college. If you were a nurse, jane, the fact that you wear a white uniform and have a thermometer in your pocket wouldn't protect you from the germs of a smallpox ward. We left State High and went down the street to the American Rubber Company, where we met Mrs. Louis Hardy, the fac- tory's leading chemist, coming from a morning's work in her laboratory. She accepted our invitation to lunch with us and, over our roast beef and mashed pota- toes, she gave us her reasons for the necessity of a Catholic college education for the chemist. I don't think there is a field of activ- ity in which you appreciate more the wonder of God than the field of science. It is in a Catholic college alone, Bob and Jane, you'll be taught to realize that science is not blind powers, but God working in nature. The home of a socially prominent so- ciety woman who lived across town in the wealthy residential district was our next destination. Mrs. Henry Maclntyre be- longed to at least ten different organiza- tions and held offices in a half dozen more. Besides taking part in these nu- merous social activities Mrs. Maclntyre found time to be an ideal mother to her eight children and to manage a beautiful home. I could think of no one better qualified than this lovely lady, who was herself a graduate of one of the finest Catholic colleges in the country, to tell us how a Catholic college education benefits the wife and mother. We were very cordially received and ushered into a drawing room, stately and beautiful, after the fashion of our hostess. I936, Senior Scroll