Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE LOYOLA ANNUAL 7 nobler things. After leaving the walls of Loyola as a student, one of the most delightful memories of my college days was the recollection of Father Brady. Every one — the members of the class of 1908, 1909, 1910 and present students and those who have since left Loyola without completing their course — recall how fond Father Brady was of the students ; he had naturally that liking for boys which is proper to some minds. Gently and adroitly, and without seeming to lecture, he often conveyed to the minds of his charges, especially in private conversations, the insinuating peril of conviviality and the wisdom of avoiding indulgence altogether. He also conveyed to the minds of the young men the necessity of living up to the ideals instilled into them by their Alma Mater. Kis personal manner was most charming, and among those who came to him for counsel in their troubles and perplexities were not only the young men and boys of Loyola College, but those who were engaged in work in offices, factories and in other pursuits. Some of the young men of our Alma Mater who went to him for counsel, talked to him long, consuming his time, but he had an unfailing patience and tact, and few went away unconsoled or hopeless. He was in every sense of the word a com.rade for the young m.en, and talks with him in his room over his cigar were always a cosy and delightful privilege. Of all the anecdotes and traits of character observed in Father Brady during the time that I knew him as a college president the leading element was self-sacrifice. This v as illustrated so often and in such a multitude of ways that spe- cific instances need not be brought to mind. His entire ad- ministration as head of Loyola was one period of self-sacrifice and during his entire incumbency he worked with a vim and spirits to give the college new life which has not characterized

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6 THE LOYOLA ANNUAL Irabg mh f nmtg Mm. On June 12, 1908, the Rev. Francis Xavier Brady, S. J., was installed as president of Loyola College. To the Baltimore community, in which he was so well known, not only as a priest and a profound scholar, but as an administrator of marked executive ability and a man of the most attractive personality, the appointment was a source of gratification. From the date of his appointment to succeed the late Rev. W. G. Read Mullan, S. J., as president of Loyola, Father Brady did not begin to build up Loyola College. From that date only he began with renewed vigor and vim to put into more successful execution his continued efforts of years — as pastor of St. Ignatius’ Church — to put new life into our Alma Mater, and his efforts have raised a substantial monument to him, though he will need no material monument to preserve the memory of his personality and good deeds. His death Sunday night, March 12, came as a shock to the city and state at large, but especially brought sorrow to hundreds of students who have been trained under his direc- tion. Father Brady’s influence as a priest and devoted church- man is already told, and in a few words I will try to write of that beloved man, who has gone to his eternal reward, as the President of Loyola College. When he was installed as president of Loyola the class of 1908, of which I a member, was on the last lap of its college course. In the few days, we were under his guiding hand, we learned that his labors in behalf of the student body as a whole we re unsparing and those labors ought and surely will remain with us forever as an incentive to higher and

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8 THE LOYOLA ANNUAL the head of, I might say, any institution in the State of Mary- land. He entered on his duties in 1908 with the same zeal and foresight as he had the work of St. Ignatius’ Church. In 1909, the year following his installation as president, the number of students had greatly increased and it was doubled in 1910. During the last year there were over 300 students enrolled, the largest number in the history of Loyola. When Father Brady took up the direction of the College the Alumni Association had practically been disorganized and disrupted. In 1909 he sent out notices that there would be a general reunion, with the result that several hundred men who had not been inside of the College walls for years re- sponded. They were welcomed by Father Brady in his true, fatherly way and if there was a man present that evening who did not feel perfectly at home it was not the fault of good Father Brady, who endeavored to bring every one — from the oldest to the youngest man present — under the influence of his kindty words, and within the radiance of his smile. In 1910 another banquet was held, on which occasion Father Brady told of the great things planned for Loyola and with the co-operation of all the “old boys” he said those plans would be brought to a successful completion. He also spoke on true college spirit, the necessity of a college education in these days and urged the men of Loyola to take an active interest in everything that pertained to the welfare of the Church, State, City and Nation. On February 21, of this year, another banquet was held and Father Brady informed the diners that he wanted them to be “boys” for the evening and forget the cares of business in honoring their Alma Mater. Father Brady was revered by the students and former stu- dents of Loyola, and many, no doubt, can never be brought to