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never forsook him, nor his humour and geniality, even in the midst of some memorable controversies in which he took part.
"Since the establishment of Queen's Theological College Mr. Macdonnell has been the Chairman of its Board of Management, and has been deeply concerned in its welfare. It was a real grief to him, as he told that the War had so seriously dislocated all plans for its expansion; but he always looked forward hopefully to a brighter future. We were all proud of him, proud of his gentleness, his courtesy, his tact, his keenness of mind and quiet reserve.
"We sympathise deeply with the bereaved family, the sorely stricken wife and the children, but especially with the youngest boy away off in Fort Vermillion beyond the reach of all communication. They will all miss him greatly, for them a bright light has gone out which cannot be rekindled, a gap has been made which cannot be bridged. But mingling with their grief there must be a joy in the pure, unstained and honoured name he has left behind. He was, I think, very proud of his family, and they have good reason to be proud of him.
"When such a man as Mr. Macdonnell leaves us it is difficult to keep out of our sorrow a subdued note of triumph. We think of him as having carried into his
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daily life something of the courtly knight of old, something of the statesman, much of the fire of the old prophets, a great deal of the prophet's faith in the unseen. We think of him as a dear friend, a husband, a father dearly beloved, These things will be to his family and to all of us for long years a cherished possession.
Queen's Theological College, May 20, 1924.
Extract Minute of Executive Committee, Jan. 28, 1924. "Learning of the sudden death of their Chairman, Mr. G. M. Macdonnell, it was moved and seconded that J. D. Boyd and Principal Dyde express the sympathy of the Board with Mrs. Macdonnell and family in their bereavement."
Letter sent by Faculty of Queen's Theological College to Mrs. Macdonnell and family.
Jan. 28, 1924.
"The Faculty of Queen's Theological College desires to express its deep sympathy with Mrs. G. M. Macdonnell and her family in their sudden and great bereavement.
"While we have long realized how eminent and remarkable a figure Mr. Macdonnell has been in his profession, in social reform, in his church, in Queen's University and in national affairs, we have always felt specially proud of him as the Chairman of our Theological College Board, and were glad to
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esteem him as personal friend of each one of us. The Board will miss his wise counsel and warm interest, and we will miss a close friend.
"It is difficult to be consoled for such a sore loss; but surely some comfort may be found in thinking that Mr. Macdonnell had an unshakeable faith in Divine Providence, and was a doughty soldier in behalf of everything pure and of good report. He has fought a good fight; he has finished his course; he has kept the faith.
Signed on behalf of the Faculty: S. W. Dyde, Principal W. Morgan, Secretary
The past session was rich in Research work and Published papers. The range was wide, and covered, practically, some special feature in every department. The various researches, as the Committee in charge reports for the session, were conducted in part by grants made by the Board, and the value and extent of the results achieved more than warrant the moderate outlay. The lines followed, and mentioned in the published list, not only yield immediate and important gains, but are sure to bring larger and more important if continued, as the Dean says, long enough. Research requires time, equipment and patience for best results. The men doing the
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work at Queen's deserve encouragement and support.
In addition to Research proper, the list of Published papers by the Staff since March, 1923, is unusually large, and as in Research, range over a wide field. The quality is high and the matter most interesting. Spread over a wide series of literary, scientific and philosophic journals, few readers can have any detailed acquaintance with these rich stories of interesting and varied knowledge; but a good deal of it appears in the Quarterly and Journal of the University, and there can be no better investment, year by year, than in these two long established and able periodicals.
This brings the story of Queen's, for the Domesday Book, down to the close of the session 1923-24. It is not exactly a formal history, but a record, session by session, of the outstanding events in the life and work of the University, and drawn from Trustee and Senate Minutes, Principal's and Dean's Reports, and various interesting papers and addresses. Some day, when the man or woman for the work turns up, Domesday Book will furnish abundant materials for the History. From the founding of the University to the close of session 187677 the story was written by the late Dr. Williamson, from that date to the close of session 1899-1900 by Miss Saunders; from 1900-01 to the close of session 1923-24 by Dr. Macgillivray, a graduate of 1872.
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So far, the plan initiated by the venerable, and beloved Dr. Williamson has been followed, with only insignificant changes. From a few dozen students to over three thousand, and from two or three instructors to over one hundred, including teaching staff and those in the administration departments—from that beginning to present length and breadth is a tremendous leap, and may necessitate, for the future, if Domesday Book in continued, a very considerable departure from the original plan. ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
