Persoon

Arnold, Thomas

• Arnold, Thomas, SJ

• Br. Arnold, Thomas, SJ

Society of Jesus

Or 9.10.1860 In 25.4.86 Ob 25.8.1935 Salisbury, Chishawasha

Miss. Mag. Vol I p.117-118 A further Obituary
1860 Born at Somerset West.
1886 Began noviceship, 25th April, at Graaf Reinet and ended it at Dunbrody.
1889-94 Trailor at St Aidan's College.
1903-34 at Dunbrody.
1934 to Driefontein on the closing of Dunbrody.
In community he was a great asset with his unfailing happy mein and wealth of anecdote. He became famous as a 'pill maker' using the juice of American aloe, which was much sought after among the natives and the Sunday River valley farmers. Bro. Arnold spent nearly all his religious life at Dunbrody. He was a convert and his early school life spent at Grahamstown. He was apprenticed to a tailor at GT but did not like the confined life, and joined the Cape Mounted Police. His first work at Dunbrody was rearing ostriches for a while and then took up the work of prefect coloured boys at the school, for which he was eminently suited. He had a knowledge of Xhosa and could speak Taal. But these accomplishments were nothing to the holy example he gave to his charges. Himself a perfect religious, he edified all by his deep devotion and religious spirit.

(1887) Graaff Reinet, Nov, Schol.
(1888-9) Dunbrody (Graaff Reinet.
(1890-2) St Aidan's College, South Africa..
(1893-4) St Aidan's College, South Africa.
(1935) Driefontein Mission (S.P. Calver), Rhodesia.
(1935) Died at Salisbury, 25.8.35 (74).

Fr. Lewis points out that he joined as a Scholastic and latter changed to be a Brother.

LL & NN v.50 pp.50-318 -Obituary.

A letter from Fr Jos O'Neil amplifies considerably our obituary notice of Br Thomas Arnold, which had perforce to be compiled from information already in England. "As a young man, he joined the old Cape Mounted Police and has a deal if riding to do in the Eastern part of the Cape Colony. He might have remained in the police for many years, but for an act of mercy which nearly costed him his life. He had arrested a native accused of murder, and after putting on the handcuffs, was taking him across town to Grahamstown. They had a long way to go and the day was hot. After proceeding some miles, and when still far from town, the native complained that the handcuffs galled his wrists and he begged his captor to remove them. This, young Arnold imprudently did; the criminal at once whipped out a knife, stabbed him viciously, and made his escape. The authorities decaled that Arnold's vocation was not that of a policemen and he was dismissed. Soon after that, Thomas Arnold got to know Fr Weld and he put himself under instruction and joined the Society of Jesus in 1886.