Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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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.

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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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SfAitl JtJI liOf JU IIOR 3T«ov.e ' . When the day set for the opening of school arrived, University Heights presented a changed appearance. Thus it was that at the Heights there vpas found, not the former order and curriculum, but in their place, we saw the establishments of a branch of the S. A. T. C, the erection of several barracks and a mess hall, the rapid change into a state of military regime, all charac- teristic of the country ' s new business. An attempt to even ascertain the whereabouts of all of our former associates would have involved a complete circle of the globe. The summer months had brought with them increased patriotic zeal, incapable of restraint, which had sent our mates to the various l3ranches of service. A few men there were who formed the Junior class, men who were declared unable to engage in military service and whose collegiate course was being continued under the direction of Reverend Michael Hill, S. J. In the solitude of St. Mary ' s library, the principles of philosophy were industriously pursued by these dozen or more men while the bustle around the Administra- tion building and the frequent blare of the trumpet marked the rapidity with which some 800 men were transformed into well-ordered and trim companies under the leadership of Col. John S. Parke, U. S. A. (R.). Further progress in the training of our soldiery was checked by the joyful celebration of Armistice Day and the rush of the discharged men to resume their class work swelled the membership of the college to a fairly high degree. Father Hill still retained guidance over his chosen few Avho had recently moved to the Junior A class room and had heralded their transfer by a most commend- able Circle, in which they displayed their knowledge of philosophy in the presence of the Reverend Rector and Dean. All returning students were assigned to Junior B. whose professor was Father McCluskey, aud the capacity of the room, with its galleiw seats, soon was overtaxed, so that it became necessary to offer a generous contribution of students to Junior A.