Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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—————— LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW 7 the Sanctuary; the church could not hold the crowds that came to show their love for one who had laboured so kindly among them; while the school children lined both sides of the approach to the church and the bystanders stood with uncovered heads, watching in silence the funeral cortege as it left the church on its way to the new Jesuit cemetery at St. Stanislaus' Novitiate, where the interment took place. Speaking of Father Coffee’s death, the Guelph Herald said: ''His broad- mindedness and universal charity gave a special charm to his exemplary and priestly life, and his loss will be felt for many a long day by his host of friends, his sorrowing relatives and his brothers in religion. R. I. P. THE REVEREND JOHN C. COFFEE, S.J. (In Memoriam) Father and friend! Two words and all is told Of how on earth were lived thy useful days. Now art thou gone! The Angels sing thy praise, But oh! we sorely miss thy heart of gold! Beloved by men, but yet a hundredfold Dearer to God! Thine were the Master's ways, The weak to strengthen, fallen hopes to raise; Thy glory—countless aching griefs consol'd. No loud encomium wouldst thou approve, In such thy humble soul could ne'er delight; The high approval of thy Sovereign Lord Of all thy deeds was made the sole reward. But in thy goodness thou wilt judge aright The lowly tribute of a brother's love. J ESBS S:

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6 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW years, filled with much success that perennial want of Choir Master in the College where he spent so many years, and whose interest he had so much at heart. As was said above, Father Coffee travelled а great deal; and we find him first in New Orleans and then in California shortly after his Noviceship. His poor health had necessitated this change, and in compliance with the same desire of his Superiors, he went to make his Third Year in Spain. Possibly one of the places where his sterling worth made the deepest impress was at the Soo, where, however, he lived but one year, as Curate in the Sacred Heart Parish. It was there that he revealed himself as a preacher of no slight merit, when, at the funeral of a great steel magnate, he held spell-bound for nearly an hour, a congregation more than one half non-Catholic. After this long lapse of years the parishioners of Sault Ste. Marie still recall with love and veneration the sturdy form and generous heart of this Lawyer-Priest. Loyola College, Montreal, was next to profit by his good business judgment and his experience in all matters financial and administrative. Here he spent three or four years in the office, and acted as adviser to the late regretted Father Gregory O'Bryan, S.J. He was likewise Bursar for а time at St. Boniface College, St. Boniface, Manitoba. Later he was stationed at the Church of Our Lady, in his native city, Guelph. Here, among other good works, he founded the St. John's Club, which, due to his fine spirit of enthusiasm and energy, was, and is still, a flourishing organisation. For several years after leaving Guelph he was Parish Priest of St. Ignatius, Winnipeg, where he laid the foundations of the new Church of St. Ignatius, established an efficient parish school, and soon won for himself the esteem and love both of his parishoners and of all those with whom his work brought him into contact. When, in 1913, it was decided to build the new Loyola College in Notre Dame de Gráce, Montreal, Father Coffee was asked by the Rector, Rev. Father MacMahon, S.J., to look after the business details connected with the enter- prise. This his great financial ability and practical business sense enabled him to do most efficiently, while still occupied with the administration of the Winnipeg parish, until his failing health obliged him to relinquish the latter responsibilities. In the fall of 1915, Father Coffee's health was such that the doctors ordered him to go to California for the winter. This he did, but the improvement was slight, if any. He returned to Montreal in the spring of 1916, and though his condition was becoming more and more precarious, he still took an active interest in the financial affairs of Loyola College, until he was taken to the Hotel-Dieu hospital on August 18th. Неге he underwent an operation which afforded him but little relief. Until his death, on the morning of September 26th, his sufferings were very intense, but. these he bore with the greatest patience and resignation, ever cheerful and confident in the goodness of the Master he had served so well. The next day, Father Coffee's body was brought to Loyola College where. it remained till evening, when it was taken to Guelph, accompanied by Rev. Father MacMahon, S.J. The Requiem Mass and funeral service took place there, in the Church of Our Lady, at nine o'clock, on the morning of Friday, September 29th. Many priests from the surrounding parishes were present in

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8 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW ARTHUR SMITH Arthur Smith began his studies at Loyola, when but a child of ten years. He entered the class. of Second Preparatory in 1909, and had completed his High School Course when death called him away. During the many years Arthur spent at Loyola, he endeared himself to all by his fervent piety and his gentlemanly conduct. His deep faith made him realise the advantages— nay, the almost absolute necessity of frequent Communion. Hence it was but seldom that Arthur did not prepare himself for the day's trials by receiving his Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Ever an ardent student, his more than ordinary talent was blessed with marked success, yet he always found time to take part in, and to become proficient in every branch of athletics. Always popular with his fellow-students, he was generally chosen Captain of the various teams. On the morning of July 27th, 1916, he met with a sad accident which caused his death. He had gone out for a day's fishing on the St. Lawrence, a few. miles east of Cornwall, and while his companions were bathing, Arthur went out a short distance in a canoe, to set a minnow-trap. A lady, from the river-bank, saw him standing in his canoe. She turned away for a moment, and when she looked back, he was not to be seen. The alarm was given, and the boys began to search for him. This was about 11 a.m. Every effort was made to recover the body, but it was not found until nearly 4 p.m. The canoe was not upset, and when Arthur was found, there was no water in his lungs, so it is thought that he was not drowned, but, rather, that he succumbed to an attack of acute indigestion, or something of that nature. Though the end came suddenly, it could not find him unprepared, for his whole life had been a preparation for the final summons. Arthur never neglected to receive Holy Communion on the First Friday, even during his holidays. He had a tender devotion to Our Blessed Mother, and was faithful in this to the end, for in his pocket was found a rosary, a pledge of his love for her who had watched over him during life. і Тће greatest sympathy for Arthur's parents, in their sore bereavement, filled the hearts of all at Loyola, masters and boys, who had learned to love and appreciate his manly and noble character. Reverend Father Rector preached at his funeral in Cornwall, and on September 28th, a Requiem Mass was celebrated in the College Chapel for the repose of his soul. R. I. P.