Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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14 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW to his masterly sermons. The demonstration of grief was noticeable and strik- ing. Women and men wept, every head was bowed in prayer, while many hearts recalled the acts of kindness and the words of sympathy and encourage- ment. Тһе vast throng, as one person, seemed to mourn “THE HUMAN-HEARTED MAN WE LOVED,” no less than the great Jesuit, the scholarly educator, the successful missionary. Father O’Bryan was buried in the little cemetery at Sault-au-Recollet. His grave is beside the one wherein so lately was laid Father Doherty, his friend and fellow in the missionary field. The example of the Rector of Loyola, as a saintly religious and indefatigable worker must remain in the college that he governed, and wherein he inculcated the highest ideas of Christian manhood; in the Order of which he was an ornament; in the various congrega- tions, where though dead, he still speaks; in Canada, in which he was an en- lightened and public-spirited citizen; in the Canadian Church, whereof he was, in every truth, a shining? light. ANNA T. SADLIER, (In the Canadian Messenger of the Sacred Heart).

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LOYOLA COLLEGE ВЕУТЕМ 13 To the City of Montreal Father O'Bryan rendered an important service by his successful development of Loyola College. When, in 1896, he was ap- pointed its first Rector, he threw himself into the enterprise with his customary whole-heartedness, and aimed at making the new institute in every respect a model of learning. After an interregnum of four years, during which time he was succeeded respectively by the late Father Doherty, Father Jones and Father Turgeon, he was recalled, in 1905, to his old post of duty, under the conditions imposed by his impaired health that must have been singularly uncongenial to one of his temperament. Physical infirmities had set in which caused grave anxiety to all who knew him. Тһе heart of this good priest, which had spent itself, as it were, in the service of God and of humanity, became seriously affected with the growing symptoms of ANGINA PECTORIS. Public speaking or active exertion of any kind was denied him, a sad trial truly for the unflagging energy and activity that had been unwearied in well-doing. Two years of repose and intermittent attack of the dread disease which carried him off, closed the career of Father O'Bryan. Three days before his death was his last appearance before an audience. It was an occasion which specially appealed to him, the meeting of an association founded by himself, the Alumni of Loyola. It gave the beloved Rector the opportunity to impress once more upon his hearers the lessons they had learned at the college, lessons of honour and manliness, of self-restriant and devotion to duty, of a loyal and fearless expression of their faith. His ringing words, uttered with old-time eloquence, though, alas, with visible effort, will never be forgotten, for they were, indeed, emphasized three days later by the tragic death of the speaker himself. The last day of Father O’Bryan’s life was a characteristic one, being spent almost entirely for others. He attended the funeral of an old professor, wel- comed Father Campbell, the Gelic missionary, who had just arrived from Scotland, and later in the day, went to see a friend who had been seriously ill. Inthe evening, he was visited, in an informal way, by the college physician, Dr. McCarthy, who warned him that he had been doing too much. At half past ten, Father O'Bryan was found in his office, seated in an armchair, and complaining of suffocation. The physician was summoned only to find the usual remedies unavailing and the end at hand. The intrepid priest had long faced death; he met it now with his wonted courage and complete resignation. He asked for the last Sacraments, which were administered, and while his assembled community were reciting the prayers for the dying, he passed into unconsciousness, only five minutes before his splendid career of usefulness had come to an end. By a beautiful coincidence, the faithful servant who had loved so much, and spent himself so untiringly in the service of his Master, was called to his reward on the octave of Corpus Christi, vigil of the feast of the Sacred Heart. It was symbolical of the rejoicing that should attend this ideal death, that the Church of the Gesu, on the morning of the funeral, was resplendant in its decorations for the great festival. The larger edifice was filled to repletion. Many remembered with poignant regret how often it had been filled to listen

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LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW 15 | = == == ЭН asg ڪڪ ڪڪ ع ج‎ = | ЕО ES | | OLD BOYS А55ОСТАТТОМ Әле جڪ‎ == ЭЕ 3S sg == sg = лей On June 17th, 1906, some of the former students met in Loyola College to discuss the formation of an Alumni Society. From the very early days of Loyola such a society was suggested and desired, but it was not until the first group of graduates had left the College that the foundation was considered practicable. Even then the number of Old Boys was hardly sufficient to ensure a solid beginning and a prosperous development, and a few more years elapsed before the first definite steps were taken towards the realization of the idea. At this first meeting in June, 1906, a fair number of the former students were present. Mr. F. McKenna acted as chairman. All were agreed that an Association for the Old Boys was desirable and even necessary. The opportuneness of bringing it into existence at that time was the only point that caused a difference of opinion. However, after a very short deliberation, it was unanimously and enthusiastically decided to form an Association to be known under the name of “The Loyola Old Boys’ Association. The details of the new Society required a more lengthy consideration. А committee consisting of Dr. Leo Mason, Messrs. Г. Ryan, Е. McKenna, В. МсШопе, W. Cummings, C. Bermingham and T. Tansey was elected to prepare rules and by-laws to be submitted for discussion to the members, at a second meeting to be called in September. Before the meeting was adjourned the gentlemen present moved and carried that a scholarship to be awarded by the Rector be presented to the College on behalf of the Association. When the members met again on September 9th, 1906, the draft of by-laws prepared by the Committee was considered. The name chosen in June was approved of and adopted. It will be sufficient for our purposes in this short sketch to quote only the following from among the by-laws of the Association. II. MEMBERS. 1. The Association shall be composed of those who, as students, have ever attended Loyola College and also of those, who, at any time, were members of the English Classical Course of St. Mary’s College. 2. The Association shall also be composed of Honorary Members who will consist of such English-speaking students of St. Mary’s College prior to the formation of the English Course there as may be elected by the Association.