St Mary of the Assumption High School - Assumpta Yearbook (Brookline, MA)

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LeagueTeam representatives glean argu- ments. . .remembrances of an all-Junior team in 1940. . .recruits from the 1941Jun- ior class .... 50 Boys' Debating Public speaking has always had a prom- inent place in the lives of the 1941 gradu- ates. As we go back over the years we re- member how the annual oratorical of 1937 found promising speakers in Vincent Quealy, James Moloney, Gerard Donovan, and Brendan Coffey. All these boys parti- cipated in the symposium on The jemit Martyr! of North America. Vincent Quealy foreshadowed the future forensic ability of the class by receiving the second prize. Vincent Quealy, Gerard Donovan, James Moloney, and Brendan Coffey were our representatives in the Annual Prize Debate. The general subject selected for the ora- torical contest during our Sophomore year was The Christian Home. Tryouts gave places to Patrick Kelley, Brendan Coffey, Vincent Quealy and James Madden. Later at the Freshman-Sophomore Contestjames Moloney was judged best orator. The Class of 1941 was not, then, content to rest on the laurels of the Freshman year. The group was to forge the way ahead, in de- bating activity as well. St. Mary's won the division debate championship with the right to compete in the diocesan finals that same year. Coming next to Malden Catholic High we captured the silver medals in second diocesan rank, at a lively debate held at Boston College. Among these successful debaters had been Brendan Coffey, Vincent Quealy and James Moloney. Gerard Donovan and James Madden were also active debaters by this time. When the Annual Prize Debate was con- ducted two representatives of 1941 were eligible. Brendan Coffey won the Cardinal O'Connell Gold Medal. This practical ex- perience was not to go unrewarded. Rev. William McCarthy assigned The Earb History of the Catholic Church as the oratorical subject for 1939. In this annual symposium were james Madden, Maurice

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accompanied the red warrior to the chase, and learned his arts of Woodcraft, and the Indian upon coming to the settlement found a friendly reception and an honest market. If belated, the Indian would wrap himself up in his mantle of skins and lie down to sleep by the white man's fireside, unsuspecting and unsuspected. In 1649 the Maryland Assembly passed the noble act of religious toleration that placed, Maryland so far above her sister colonies and which placed the mantle of charity over all. Maryland had truly be- come the Land of Sanctuary, extending to all those who believe in Christ, shelter, protection, and repose. Never was any government more indulgent to persons of all religious persuasions than that of Maryland, while the Roman Catholic, Lord Baltimore controlled it. Irving Spencer writes, I doubt whether there be older Presbyterian blood in Amer- ica than flows through my veins at this moment, but let us do justice. The govern- ment of Maryland was one of the first or- ganized in Christendom, that made reli- gious toleration a cornerstone. Maryland was intended from the beginning to be the Land of Sanctuary for the oppressed of every creed. The principles of the Land of Sanctuary were to be extended through the sister colonies. The Continental Congress real- ized the need for Maryland's aid. Her rich- est and chief citizen was a Catholic, Charles Carroll of Carrollton. He was in control of Maryland's public opinion and was probably the most urbane man in North America, his signature being added to the Declaration of Independence. Later, Maryland's custom became our first amend- ment, Congress shall make no laws re- specting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Charles Carroll's cousin John was conse- crated the first Bishop in America in a chapel dedicated to Our Lady and the day 49 was the feast of the Assumption. Upon the seal of his diocese was pictured Our Lady surrounded by stars. Under her were the keys of St. Peter. Bishop Carroll's dying words were, I have always been attached to the practice of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I have established this devo- tion among my people and I have placed my diocese under her care. Because of Maryland, Our Lady was able to give to America her particular treasure, the Catholic Priesthood. Davis, an Episco- palian, writes of the Catholic Priests of Maryland, Their pathway was through the desert and their first chapel the wig- wam of an Indian. Two of them were here at the dawn of American History, assisted by pious rites in laying the cornerstone of a State, they kindled the torch of civilization in the wilderness, they gave consolation to the grief-stricken pilgrims, they taught the religion of Christ to the simple sons of the Maryland forest. It was a spontaneous act in 1846 when the Sixth Provincial Council of the Church met at Baltimore to tighten the bond be- tween the Church in our country and the Mother of God. Rome then allowed Amer- ica to elect Mary as our patroness under the title of the Immaculate Conception. Our Lady has a direct connection with the annals of Maryland. She stands upon the pinnacle of American History, like a cross upon a Church that scintillates and sparkles. As she looks down, Mary beholds no hills and valleys, rich and mysterious with the holy legends of Europe. She looks upon her children, the poor, the oppressed and rich, free from the tyranny that might harm their religion, she affirms the teach- ing of Christ, while we who need some- thing of heaven, rely on her to act as our queen beautiful and beautifying-to make as she once made colonial Maryland, her Dower and Sanctuary. YVONNE C. MCGARRY our country at one stroke heavenly, just Q

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Meade, .james Moloney and Brendan Coffey. The respective subjects of the 1941 candidates were: St. Helena and the True Cram, The Harb' Pemecutiorzr, The Catacombs, and Canftantine the Great. The boys deliver- ing these last two subjects took the prizes. James Moloney was awarded the Cardinal O'Connell Medal whereas Brendan Coffey was in second place. We might say that the 1940 League De- bate teams were 'junior teams for every place was assigned to akjunior. This group reported for organized practiceztjohn Don- ovan, James Madden, Maurice Meade, james Moloney, Vincent Quealy and Bren- dan Coffey with .james Madden and Bren- dan Coffey as the co-captains, a position they were to hold for two years. The de- baters were concerned with the pro's and con's of government operation of railroads. Spring of 1940 saw preparations for the annual Prize Debate in which Gerard Don- ovan, John Curry, ,james Moloney, and Brendan Coffey spoke. In winning this de- bate Brendan Coffey became the third stu- dent to win the Cardinal O'Connell Medal for the second time. The able veterans from Senior occupied six of the nine positions in the 1940 ora- torical contest, which had for its general topic: The Church and Peace. The senior con- testants and their subjects were Patrick Kelly, The Church and Peacejjohn Donovan, The Ten Commandmentr, Gateway to Peace,' Vincent Quealy, The Heh Bihle and Peace,' Brendan Coffey, The Hob' Xacrejice of the MaJr,' James Madden, The Cram and Peace: and james Moloney, The I-lab' Ghart and Peace. It was the decision of the judges that john Donovan should receive the first prize, or the Cardinal 0'Connell Gold Medal for Excellence in Oratory and James Madden the Honorable Mention or second prize. John Donovan later represented the school at the Diocesan semifinals and finals held at Boston College The League Debate teams continued with an entire quota from Senior. Return ing to the rostrum for the fourth successive year the team gave promise of an excellent season's work in the discussion of the national topic as to the advisability of in- creasing the Federal powers. The annual debates were held with Mission, Our Lady's, Newton, St. Mary, Waltham, and Cathedral. Climaxing this series of debates was the fact that the Assumpta Society Boys' Teams had won the Diocesan Divi- sion Championship with one debate to take-the Diocesan Final, which was planned for Sunday, May 11, 1941 at the Boston College Tower Building. St. Clem- ent's, Somerville, drew the affirmative side, thus placing the St. Mary's boys on the negative team and permitting our own un- defeated team to continue in the finals. At five-thirty Sunday, May 11, a group of tuxedo-clad debaters returned to Mon- signor and the Sisters bearing the Cardi- nalO'ConnellTrophy andeightgoldC.Y.O. medals. The negative team had persev- ered undefeated through the finals! B. COFFEY REX EREND WILLIAM Ij MCCARTHY Pre rzderzt D1 cexarz League o D hate alll Oratary Dzrector efC Y O 171 Norfolk County law .'7ljf