Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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As was anticipated, our reappearance at the Heights revealed a number of chang-es in the faculty. We found that our final repast of Latin and Greek would be served to us by Fathers Keating, Becker, McGarvey, Morgan and Mr. Dougherty, S. J. Only one of our former professors still came into contact ■ ith all of us — Mr. Creedon, who read so well the third volume of Guggeu- berger. Entrance to the chemistry lectiire-room and laboratory was gained, but ai parently with general reluctance ; however, the toilsome work required by Mr. Parsons was easily offset by the blissful and interesting Evidence classes conducted by Reverend Father McCormick. The mechanical value of work and the working value of Mechanics were inculcated by the diligent and earnest endeavors of Mr. Smith. S. J. As a reward for his many accomplishments. Dick McShane was announced as our class president. Bill Dempsey returned victorious in the contest for the Vice-presidency, Tom Scanlon was elected Secretary, while to Tom McNamara was allotted the position of Protector of the Purse. While the condition of the country evolved into a restless state, due to the declaration of war, college and class activities progressed in an uncertain manner. Enlistments g rew more frequent and each new day brought with it the departure of another and a larger group of students. Partly to this can be attributed the release of many of our former football celebrities and thus it was that the season promised to be none too glorious. However, it was then that the value of a thorough, consistent system of coaching was demonstrated, and the squad, using Brickley machine methods, played through a most suc- cessful schedule. Here again our stars shone, and the work of Ring, White, Lyons and Scanlon was steady and noteworthy. The decided defeat of Holy Cross by the score of thirty-four to six and the undeserved victory gained by West Point concluded a brilliant season. Innumerable and heated were the discussions entered into by the members of the Marquette, but calmly and orderly did it advance under Dick McShane ' s leadership during the first term, and under Tom McNamara during the second term. As time went on the hue of battle grew more distinct and the call became clearer. The first appearance of the Somewhere Bureau in the Stylus made known the surprisingly large number which had already gone and with future issues the list grew rapidly. The number of the Senior class diminished and

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19 20 SUB TURK I 192 erased from the annals of ovir institution; when Smacker Lowney rushed past the Purple and White ' s goal line for the first B. C. touchdown in seventeen years. But the spirit of the Worcester College was firm; her team fought courageously, bringing the score up to 14 all, ' at which it remained until the fourth period was well under way, when Jim Fitzpatrick, thinking it proper to introduce himself, dropped the pigskin from the thirty-six yard line, thereby terminating Holy Cross ' list of victories and placing us on a path of glory from which we have yet to be diverted. With such an example of determination inspiring us, a spirit of confiden ce backed our every act and was plainly evident in our repulsion of the haughty Sophomores, who unsuccessfully tried to capture our banner and to check the progress of our memorable Social. That happy evening was brought to a close when we all hit the trail at the exhortation of Billy Sunday, alias Joe White. We noAv realized that Boston College was coming, but the advance was not confined to sports alone and the dail.y progress in the construction of the second monument on the Heights soon culminated in the completion of St. Mary ' s Hall. With the coming of the New Year the building; was ready for occupancy, and on January fifth the community transferred their books and personal effects from James Street to take up their residence in the new home. On the folloAving morning the Rector, Very Reverend Charles W. Lyons, S. J., celebrated the first Mass, attended by the entire body of priests, scholastics and brothers, thus quietly yet gloriously dedicating another step in Catholic education and training. The approach of Lent bore us the glad tidings that the Passion Play of Santa Barbara was to be presented again, the reception accorded it during the previous season having demanded its repetition. At each of its twelve per- formances the public Avas given opportunity to witness a play, every act and scene of which tended to stimulate the pious spirit of the Holy Season. The annual Retreat was conducted in St. Valentine ' s Chapel by the Rev- erend Father Hart, S. J., and the increased assiduity with which books were perused upon our return after the holidays seemed to indicate that many a prayer for light had been answered. The varsity baseball team, under the guidance of Coach Bill Sweeney, enjoyed a prosperous season. Our class was represented by the peerless Billy Bond at shortstop and the hard-hitting pitcher, Eddie Boyce. As one of the final and most brilliant acts of our year, we recollect the part taken by our members in the annual Prize Debate of the Marcjuette Society, The exhibition of each member of the class was a pleasing and praiseworthy one, but our pride rose to its highest peak when it was announced that the award had been made to Dick McShane. With the end in sight, all attention was riveted on repetition, climaxed by the finals. The exams over, we separated for three months until we should convene again as Sophomores.

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1920 SUB T U R R I 1920 the steady increase of vacancies throughout all classrooms proved the mettle of those who went forth, some never to return, but all destined to bring honor to themselves and to their school. Under the auspices of the newly-formed. Dramatic club, and directed by Reverend Father Murphy, S. J., the famous Shakesperian comedy, Henry IV, was presented on two successive evenings, and on both occasions merited applause. No small measure of credit was due to Ed. Finnegan, whose inter- pretation of King Henry we recall as an able exhibition of dramatic talent. A glance at the final standing of the class hockey teams shows the laurels safely in our possession. Of all interclass events, this series of games proved to be the most successful. The B. A. A. Games found us again opposing our old rival, Holy Cross, in the relay event, and although a defeat was suffered, it surel.y was an honorable one, as the race was the fastest one of the entire evening. Two well-known members of our faculty were now boasting of their acceptance as Army Chaplains, our vice-president. Rev. Fr. Michael Jessuj), S. J., and Fr. O ' Brien, one of our Freshman Professors. Father Jessup saw service in Camp Lee, Virginia, whereas Father O ' Brien was destined for more active service abroad with the now famous 5th Marines. The time for the consideration and examination of our spiritual welfare arrived, and assisted by the wise counsel of Fr. Christopher Sullivan, S. J., we made a most successful retreat, then went forth to enjoy the Easter holidays. Prohibition was announced as the subject for discussion at the prize debate of the Marquette, and for many weeks we watched the application with wnich the question was studied by Tom McNamara, Joe Smith, Tom Scanlon and Ed Finnegan, members of our class, who were to compete in the contest. As usual, the debate was a close one, and again Sophomore gained fame, when Tom McNamara stepped up to accept the medal and all the glory accorded the worthy winner. The Oratorical Contest found our class well represented in the persons of Dick McShane, Frank DeCelles and Tom McShane. The subject, The New Dark Ages, ' ' prepared and ably delivered by DeCelles, proved to be the best of the evening and won for him the coveted prize, a fifty dollar Liberty Bond. A general canvass of the school netted the sijlendid sum of five hundred dollars, which was presented to the Rector in the form of a Liberty Bond on the last day of our final exams, by the president of Senior, Section E. of Sopho- more, not being satisfied with such an offering, set to work and in a generous spirit added a fifty dollar Bond to the contribution of the college. At the graduation of the depleted ' 18 class, the condition of the times was vividly shown. The uniforms of the Army and Navy came forward to receive their degrees, and many were the absentees who had left their studies to take up the work of defending Uncle Sam ' s cause. The future was most uncertain and the partings of this June were characterized by a somewhat more serious spirit than ever before.