Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Frost, Edmund

Teacher, administrator; born Co Clare, Ireland, 17 July 1884; died Melbourne as rector of Xavier College, 17 June 1931, aged 46.

Edmund Frost entered the Jesuit noviciate at Tullamore College under Michael Browne, 12 November 1901. After juniorate studies he began philosophy at Stonyhurst in 1905, and did regency at Clongowes College, 1908-13, teaching Latin, Greek and mathematics. Theology studies followed, 1913-17, at Milltown Park, and he spent a short time teaching at Mungret before tertianship at Tullamore, 1919-20. He remained there for the following two years as minister before going to Australia in 1922. From 1923 he was rector of Xavier College and remained in office until his sudden death due to lymphatic sarcoma in 1931.

When he died, Xavier College received glowing tributes acknowledging his outstanding qualities as priest, scholar and gentleman. Yet, when he was first appointed to the college, some of his Jesuit colleagues did not appreciate his style of leadership. Compared to previous regimes, his discipline appeared lax, and it was believed that the college would suffer under these new ideas. However, this criticism did not last. A few years later Jesuits writing to Rome observed that, despite the freedom granted to parents and boys, Frost governed well. They praised the religious spirit of the college among Jesuits, boys and ex-students alike. Religious vocations increased. Also praised were his great kindness and holiness, and ability to relate very well to all types of people.

As a person he seemed to be gifted with outstanding qualities of character. He won the hearts of all by his natural, simple, unassuming manner. He was eminently approachable, genuinely sincere in his relationships with all, possessed sound judgment, and instinctively avoided all appearance of haste. He was singularly dispassionate in decision-making and possessed a strong sense of justice. His wisdom was appreciated. Beyond these human qualities, his deep spirituality was most appreciated.

During his years as rector, Frost transformed the environment of the school. He was responsible for developing the spiritual life of the college to the extent that it effectively permeated the whole environment. The impersonal context of previous years was changed; he deliberately raised the standard of comfort, reduced student monotony by introducing new activities for boarders, improved the playing fields, and in general, gave more freedom to approximate college life to home conditions. He was determined that school ought to be a second home and hoped Old Boys would have happy memories of their days at Xavier.

As an educationalist he was conservative but wise, with quiet enthusiasm and genuine interest in every aspect of college life. Each year he indicated his appreciation of the year's achievements. His comments were always encouraging, even when suggesting the need for greater efforts. He urged students to continue studies to the university, supporting the newly established Newman College. He encouraged the Dramatic Society, the Wireless Club, the St Vincent de Paul Society, and all aspects of the college sporting life. No one was more excited when the school won the cricket championship for the first time in 1923 and again in 1924, and the football championship for the second time in 1924.

The spiritualisation of the college was above all reflected in his efforts to build the chapel, which he believed would help counteract the growing materialism in society reflected in secular education. He wanted the chapel to be 'a message of faith to the citizens of Melbourne' and so it was built in the grand style of the day high on a hill.

The Old Boys of the college also received great support from Frost, who each year commended the Old Xaverian Association to all. He believed its members 'breathe the atmosphere of loyalty to religion, to Australia and to Xavier College.' He articulated the Jesuit ideal that ex-students continued the good work done at school by keeping contact through the Association. The Jesuits desired to continue their priestly ministry to past pupils. He initiated the annual retreat for Old Boys, which attracted about 40 men each year. The Old Xaverian Association flourished during these years.

Frost believed that Xavier College was for boys of average ability. He stressed the importance of a general education rather than vocational, and encouraged the study of the classics - in which he had a BA from Dublin University.

The environment of the school often reflects the quality of education. At the Jesuit boarding schools, the religious spirit was always in tension with the Public School spirit. However, in 1928, Frost, after telling his audience how Xaverians were already filling important and leading positions in the Church, in the professional, the commercial and industrial life of Australia, considered it important that Xavier College was a member of the Public Schools of Victoria.

Over the years Xavier College had commanded respect in sport, but he was not satisfied until the college was in the front rank of the Public Schools in every aspect of school life, until the pre-eminence of the college was habitual, not exceptional. To achieve this, he improved the sporting facilities of the college and initiated promotion for more students. He raised the college fees to approximate those paid by other Public Schools, but also offered four full time scholarships each year.

Archbishop Mannix praised the work of the Jesuits, claiming that Xavier College could well be called the right arm of the Catholic Church in Melbourne and in Victoria. He also hoped that the ex-students would be good Catholic leaders in the community. The archbishop valued the college so highly that at the funeral of Frost he stated that the rector of Xavier College was 'one of the most important positions, if not the most important, that any priest in Melbourne could occupy'.

Yet, Frost and the archbishop did not always agree on every matter. In 1927 the archbishop was concerned at the non-appearance of the college at the St Patrick's Day celebrations. Frost replied explaining that 'not a few of the parents of the boys would strongly object to their children being compelled to march.' The archbishop did not pursue the question. The school cadets were the second matter on which they disagreed. Frost had opposed all forms of military training by boys at school because he disliked the idea of educating boys to destroy fellow men. When they left school they could choose voluntary military training. The archbishop was not so sure that these pacifist ideas were realistic, but nevertheless hoped that peace would prevail in the world.

How successful was the education that the Jesuits were offering? In 1925 Frost emphasised the 'deeper things in school life' such as the 'spirit of piety and docility, of hard work, charity and self-respect'. Further important signs of the success of Xavier College were the successes of the Old Boys, either when they attended Newman College, or when they returned to the school to renew contacts with former masters. Yet even if Old Boys never returned, reflected Frost, the work of Xavier College would continue. This was one of the few expressions of great faith in the work of education made by Jesuits. Frost indicated the Jesuit hope that their system would produce solid Catholic citizens, but provided some achieved this aim, they were satisfied.

The wider community of Melbourne mourned Frost’s early death. The Catholic people lost a spiritual leader of great wisdom, while many non-Catholics mourned the loss of a friendly and approachable colleague. He had been a quietly influential member of the Schools Board, the Council of Public Education and the Headmasters' Association. Colleagues of these associations respected him for his clear-headed thinking, and the zeal with which he fostered the spirit of Public School sport.

Frost was no innovator, nor did he give particular educational leadership among the Public Schools of Victoria, but within Xavier College he built a new atmosphere, a strongly religious tone totally in keeping with Ignatian spirituality and Jesuit education. More than most Jesuit rectors, Frost was truly Catholic and thoroughly Ignatian in theory and practice. His greatness was his ability to communicate his spirit to others in an acceptable manner. The style of Xavier College during his term as rector was a model for Jesuit schools of the time.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)