The Commercial Society
President: J. M. Packham
Vice-President: T. F. Mitchell
Secretary: H. Galley
Treasurer: E. Witmer
It is recognized throughout the student body of Old McGill that the spirit of the Commercial Society is one of the finest possessed by any of the undergraduate organizations at this university.
This had not been a sudden characteristic ascribed to any particular year, but one of gradual evolution. When we realize that the Society has, comparatively speaking, but a few years to look back to its embryonic stage, we are tempted a word of praise to those who had the vision and perseverance to see the important position and influence that this Commercial Society would bear upon its undergraduate students.
With the extension of the curriculum to four years, it means a strengthening of our ranks in our influence throughout the whole College.
In order to establish a closer relationship with the modern business world, a large banquet was held last march in the Mount Royal hotel. Some forty of the most prominent business men in Canada were present as our guests.
One of the policies of the executive is to have, in the course of our regular meetings, speakers who represent the most important and basic industries in Canada.
Among those whom the Society have been fortunate enough to hear are: M. F. P. Jones, Pres. And General Mgr. of the Canada Cement Co.: Mr. Warrington, Pres. Canadian Shoe Manufacturers’ Association; Mr. Grier, of the Grier Lumber Co.: Mr. Grant Hall, Vice-Pres. C.P.R.; Mr. Toledano, an Italian broker from the Far East and Mr. Williams of O’Brien and Williams, who showed us the functions, purpose and operation of the Stock Exchange. Each meeting closed with pleasant discussion and refreshments.
This Spring the Society published an diplomatically distributed to vital sources for drawing upon prospective undergraduates, a complete descriptive booklet to advertise and promote the interests of the School of Commerce as a whole.
History of Commerce ‘25
It was on the second day of the month of October, in the year 1922, that the future captains of industry gathered together at Montreal to form the renowned, celebrated, and illustrious Class of Commerce ’25. Embryonic oil magnates, coal barons, lumber kings, and other wizards of finance were present in the famous company of eighty-eight souls that first made its appearance at McGill, on that ever memorable day. Drawn from the four corners of the earth, it represented the cream of the five continents. The Class of ’24 welcomed the members of this glorious assembly warmly and affectionately, and they were soon made to feel far, far, from home. As a slight souvenir of its arrival at the University, the Class was presented with new straw hats, in the latest brimless style, procured especially for the occasion. A visit by the Class as a whole settled down to make a name for itself. Footballers, basketballers, baseballers, hockeyists, swimmers, wrestlers, dancers and fussers issued from its ranks, and ventured forth into their various fields of activity.
The next event of interest was the Freshman-Sophomore banquet which was held at the Venetian Gardens. The cuisine and entertainment were all that could be desired, and a most enjoyable, not to say hilarious, evening was spent by Frosh. and Soph. alike. A little excitement was furnished about the fifteenth of January by the mid-term exams. Some profs. fooled the Class, some of the Class fooled the profs., and all agreed that it had been a very interesting week. Fortunately, the budding financiers suffered few casualties in this first trial of brains and bluff. Time and money were spent all too soon, and May arrived, and with it more exams, and more word or the Class. The slogan of the profs.: “Here we go gathering nuts in May!” had a particular significance for each one of those hard-headed future business men. However, all determined to escape the harvest, if possible, and, with this object in view, burning the midnight oil became a very popular pastime. After a week of misery, such as they had never endured before, the gang wantde3red off to their various home towns to enjoy a little rest.
This Fall some sixty of the old crew renewed their acquaintance with McGill. Freshmen were given caps, a lesson or two in painting with the primary colours, and an impressive parade through the principal streets of the City. A Freshman band (the only one of its kind on the continent) headed this imposing procession which terminated in a gigantic shoe hunt on Philip’s Square. Hostilities were brought to an end by a magnificent banquet at the Mount Royal. After the successful accomplishment of initiation, the Class turned to other fields of interest. The athletes turned to the various fields of sport, the pluggers to their studies, and the fussers to their fussing. At the Junior Prom. The Class was well represented, and all present declared it to be an unqualified success. Then the Annual Board came along, and requested a map of the physiognomies of each of the old gang, and also three dollars and six bits, per head, to help a good cause along. The next task was the compilation of biographies which proved rather difficult. However, with the assistance of several detective agencies, repeated inquiries at Verdun and Bordeaux, and a thorough perusal of Who’s Who, it was at length accomplished.
In closing, it might be mentioned, that the graduation of this Class from McGill is going to be honoured by a very touching tribute of respect. The Faculty have definitively agreed that no class in Commerce will graduate in ’26, as a slight evidence of the esteem in which they held the famous Class of Commerce ’25. Thus a glorious career will end, a celebrated history close, and another Class go to join those which have gone before.
McGill Yearbook: 1925
See original pages: Cover | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18
