University of Notre Dame - Dome Yearbook (Notre Dame, IN)

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one, who saw Brother Polycarp going to chapel for morning meditation, on the feast of the Sacred Heart, knew that he was really passing into the presence of the unveiled Divinity. Yet it was so; the Brother had been kneeling only a few moments, when he fell from his pew to the floor, stricken with heart-failure. His fellow religious gently carried him from the church to the infirmary, but it was too late, life had ended and Brother Polycarp was gone to judgment. The world knew him as John Hanley; he was born in Stonehall, Ireland. September 9th, 1847. received the religious habit on August 15th, 1897, and became a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross on December 18th. 1902. Brother Basil also died rather suddenly, but not without preparation. All his life, indeed, had been a preparation for that awful moment, and, when in the early morning he was found dead in his bed, it was known that another voice had added its volume to the echoing chorus of glorias in the heavenly choir. A more fitting epitaph for Brother Basil we could not write than the words of President Cavanaugh at the funeral : He was a man of extraordinary modesty. When he joined the Congre- gation of Holy Cross he came with no blare of trumpets. It was not known then or afterwards, until it was accidentally discov- ered, that he was gifted with a genius for music; that this great power had been nourished by study and devotion; that in all America there were few who knew the contents of musical literature as he did, and fewer still, who could interpret them with such exquisite delicacy and feeling. From the day on which his talent was revealed until his worn and wasted body rested in death, he was the University organist and director of the department of music. During those years he developed many students, who shared in some small measure his power. Scattered over the country to-day, they will go to their graves with the memory of a holy man, who loved only what was greatest and best in music, whose life itself was a great hymn of praise to God. And great multitudes of other students, who knew him only as the college organist, will remember him forever as the gentle soul, who charmed forth from the heart of the great organ such exquisite improvisations as the angels may well have leaned down from heaven to hear. Yet in him there was not a trace of vain-glory. In him was modesty and simplicity and Christian humility. Before entering the Congregation, Brother Basil was John Magus, born in Freiberg, Bavaria, February 15th, 1828; he received the religious habit on December 12th, 1852, was professed June 24th, 1853, and died February 12th, 1909. On Saturday, February 27th, word was passed round the University that William Joseph Mahoney, an instructor on leave of absence in the South, had gone to his eternal reward. Tuberculosis ended his struggle for health after a fight of several years duration and, when the news came to us, many a smiling face was saddened and many an earnest prayer from mourning hearts went up to God for the repose of his soul. Mr. Mahoney held a secure place in the affection of all who love and labor for Notre Dame. He took an active part in promoting University activities and probably no one worked harder than did he for the development and elevation of varsity athletics. Now that he is gone, memory of him will linger long in the hearts of many of the faculty and of all the students, especially those in Carroll, for whom he worked hardest and to whom the name of William Joseph Mahoney stands for what is good. May God grant all their noble spirits rest!

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VER ' l year it becomes the sad duty of one of us to chronicle the departure of those who have gone home to their Father ' s house. Days curl up like smoke and are blown away by the winds of Time, but the lives of these men remain for us monuments of holiness in religion or of erudition in art and science, a proper combination of which qualities gives the key-note of progress to a scholastic insti- tution such as ours. Death for the survivors is always sad, no matter how we look upon it. though as Christians we are told. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. They do indeed now rest from their work, and it remains for us, who still bear the burden and heat of the day. to carve with reluctant hand upon Memory ' s consecrated shaft the names of Brother Polycarp, C. S. C. Brother Basil, C. S. C. and Mr. William Joseph Mahoney. who died during the current year. Brother Polycarp had been proctor of Corby Hall for over a decade and will be remembered for his cheery smile and hearty hand-cla sp, so thoroughly instinct with friendship and good-will. He was an adept at instilling the breath of harmony into the Corbyites of his time, with all of whom he had occasion to associate in the intimacy of daily life. He was a true religious, cherishing his vows and living up to them with a spirit of piety, beautiful to witness. No

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The Classes