The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-07
CONSECRATED.
Dedication Ceremonies at st.
james Church.
Sermon By Archbishop RiordOn-AFine Church
Edihoe Opened TO the Pensioners.
Sacred Music

The recently constructed So James
Church. on the corner of Twenty-third and
Guerrero streets, was solemnly dedicated
yesterday morning by Archbishop Riordan.
The services commenced at 1915 o'clock,
with the formation Of the procession of the
Archbishop, assisting priests and acolytes
at the altar.
The procession moved slowly from the
altar around the building to the front en-
trance, where the first part of the dedicatory
ceremonies was held. and the doors were
blessed by the Archbishop.
Returning up the aisle to the altar an
other stop was made to bless 1t and the
saerlsty and to plant the cross of Christ
therein. Then the clergy proceeded COM
piete,y around the church in the interior,
while with the aspergus the walls were
blessed The procession was lead by an
acolyte bearing aloft a golden cross and
followed by twenty other boys and the
visiting clergy, and the rear was brought up
by his Grace, vested in his robes. inter and
crozier. Tie clergy chanted part of the
service during the procession, which. as 1t
went around the church, also held quite
number of young men Of the parish ana
Young girls, the latter crowned with
wreaths, but they dropped out and were
seated when At entered the aisle.
SOLEMN HIGH MASS.
Following the services Of dedication a
solemn high mass was celebrated at 1O: 80
o'clock Rev. j. L. Cottle was celehrant,
Rev Father Casey deacon and Rev. Father
Cummings sub-deacOn. The master of cere-
monies was Rev. Z. Connolly of ST. Johns
Church. About twenty visiting ciergymen
were present.
The choir was composed of the following
well-known singers: Mrs. G. Monck,
soprano; Mrs. 7. H. Griffin, eontralto;
Charles Bach. tenor, and August NJ. Thorn
ton. basso. The organist was Senior Mar
tineZ.
The services commenced with a rendi-
ton Of "Kyrie." by Generali which after
brief service at the altar was followed by
the singing Of GLORIA" Gounods service,
"Veni Creator Spiritus." was sung by the
choir
HIS GRACE's SERMON.
Archbishop P W. Riordan preached the
dedicatOry sermon, basing his theme on
Daniels prophecy of the Kingdoms of the
earth in his figure Of the beast in the sew
euth chapter His Grace said;
When this parish was created a couple
of wears since from other parishes, had no
idea that l would have the chance so soon
Of defeating its church. 1 do most sin
Cerely congratulate the people Of the parish
on their good work and its pastor on the
consummatiOn OF his ia6orS in the erection
Of so beautiful and spacious an ediice, and
hope that you as people and pastor Will
labor as a unit in the work of Gods mis-
sion. May the pastor lead and the parish
tuners be guided that the glory OF God may
appear the sooner. Yes, 0 God, we are
gratifed that thou hast permitted US
to see the completion of thy temple.
Bless it and those whose home 1t
IS. We are glad that new sane
tuary has been opened, that a new
fountain is flowing. that those who thirst
after righteousness may be appeaSed. Your
pastor is Gods representative among you.
Look to him for your spiritual guidance.
DO his wish, as his life is devoted TO Gods
service and your welfare, and may God bless
you.
SIGNIFICANT WORDS.
Il quote the words of one whose pro-
pheliC speech you can all give witness to
when | say, The day would come when
the Lord would establish a kingdom that
would stretch from sea to sea, and where
God would reign with his own people con-
tinualy.' Those words have a peculiar
significance on such an occasion as this.
The dedication Of this church is new evil
dence of the vitality of Catholicism. and an
overwhelming proof Of the sanctity Of its
institution.
Daniel speaks of four kingdoms. One of
these is of iron and another of brass and
vet another OF clay Each is superseded
by another OF more enduring qualities. But
he speaks of another-a kingdom that shall
know of no geographical limitations or
physical boundaries. That kingdom is of
God on earth. 1t is a spiritual kingdom
aud il was TO be universal kingdom
Where do We find such kingdom? We
know that that of iron has fallen and those
Of clay and brass and gold have each disap-
Deared. We have but to look for the prom
ised kingdom-the visitation of the spirit
Where do " find it if not in the Catholic
Churchp Should | look to lands where
Christianity does not rule for it? / find
barbarism there. Shall look to countries
filed with Sc0ffrrs? No; for they are the
worst part of humanity. They are the
mind without the spirit, while the bar
spirit.
FOUNDED ON THE ROCK.
"But We must look 10 somebody or iusti-
tuition in this world to give substance to
the prophecy and it is found in Catholic
cism, in the life, travail and death Of
resurrection, in his ascension to the right
hand of God. Yes, | say, we find it in this
church, founded on the rock, Peter, and the
gates of hell shall not, can not prevail
against it.
''The most prominent proof that the Ro-
man Catholic Church is the divine institu-
ton it claims to be is the fact that it is not
the substance of things hoped for in the
past, but the substance of things Swallowed
forth by prophecy. 1t was the will
Of God and he gave utterance 10 it.
To others the most convincing proof-one
which, without support, is enough to chal-
lenEe conviction-is the very presence OF the
Catholic Church at this age, 1900 years after
its birth in far-off Galilea. 1t proves by
its existence that it is no human type. 1t
proves by its uncontaminated career and
rapid growth that its origin is divine, and
that 1t has had God and his mission Of sal
walton ever in view 1t was not born in the
minds of lawgivers, but it was sent from
the throne of God with pealngs of thun-
der, The religion or Christ was not es-
tablisned on some subtle philosophy. 1t did
not start its career with a code of ethics.
But it had the view of Christs passion and
ignominious death for its first lesson, and
the tender heart of Mary for its guide. Its
creed is but the capitalization of the divine
light shown in events. But it was light
which gave promise and creates.
THEORIES ADVANCED.
Two theories of Catholicism are ad-
yanced. The first by non-CathOlics. but
members of some religious body. They
claim that at first the light of the church
was divine, but that through corruption
that divinity was withdrawn and the church
fell. The other view is that the advent of
the Son of God was a communication of
divine light given to the people, but
through an organized body or society. so
that corruption could not assail its truth. Do
you think that any series of events could
cOnspire TO place on the world so inc0m-
prehensible and purposeless a thing as,
say, a book? Dc you think that events
created the Bible and that we are to view ii
as a mere history? Is there no other reason
for the Bible? No. We're 1t the creation
OF events it could be read in the light of
events with perfect understanding by all
men. But it is the voice Of God and other
than the paths Of history must be trodden
to enter into its understanding.
God came, but it was TO remain forever.
He implanted the seed of faith, but it is as
he said il would be, as grain of mustard
seed which grew to be as an oak The
church was Instituted a living society, a
vital organism. You and | may leave it,
yet the church loses not. 1t is our loss, and
that loss is irreparable
EMBRACES ALL.
Everything in existence has the reason
of its being, and that is so with the Catholic
church. In it we have society, the like oil
which is found nowhere else. 1t embraces
all languages, peoples of every taste and
temperaments, and people between whom
traditional feuds have existed. The high
born and l0w-borB. the rich and
the poor, between whom there