The morning call., 1893-09-05
ST. FRANCIS FAIR.
A Fortnight of Pleasure
and Profit.
The Old Time Place of Worship Finds
Itself in Financial Straits With
Lessened Membership.

AT St Francis Church. on Vallejo street.
near Montgomery avenue. there were
opened last night a fair and series
Of entertainments in aid of the build
Ing fund. Because of its location in
a cosmopolitan neighborhood, this church
has suffered great financial losses dur
ing the last ten years. though the mem
bership and attendance have not mate
rally decreased. In years gone by the
church of st. Francis of Assist was the
sole place of worship for Catholics in the
section known as the Latin quarter. The
advent of great numbers of Mexcans and
Italians rendered it imperative that sepa-
rate churches for their use should be built
In the parish, and soon three churches
stood where one had existed. The pOpu-
lation of the territory continued to in
crease, and soon many of st. Francis
wealthy parishiOOerS moved TO the West
eIn Addition and elsewhere. just pre-
vlOus to this exodus the church of St.
Francis had been rebuilt Oh large and
substantial scale. and an urgent debt hung
over the edi1lce. The departure of wealthy
worshipers threw the burden of the debt
upon the Door, and In ten years this debt
has very slowly diminished. At present
1t IS Sl1.jO0 bearing high rate of inter
est, and for the purpose of greatly reduc-
ing the principal the present fair was ar
ranged.
The basement of the church has been
transformed into place of beauty. and
DoCths and bazaars abound in its maZes.
At the rear stage is fitted up for short
dramas, recitatOns, special displays and
addresses. and in the center stands a
Hover booth that never fails to fttingly
decorate the male patron.
At the opening last night Rev. Father
C0nlan Introduced Colonel T. j. Barry.
who had been selected 10 announce the
purpose of the fair. In happy vein he
recOunted the history of the parish and its
patron saint, paying especial attention to
the chronology OF the founder of the order
OF st. Francis. He recalled the fact that
tie first Catholic church in San Francisco
mot including the Mission Dolores was
built OF boards and canvas, on the site Of
the present structure. 1t was in 1S4S that
! the name OF the patron saint was recog-
nlzed as the proper designation of the
! beautiful bay and the great city that the
rush for gold fOretOld, but owing TO its
geographical location. the primitive church
! building was precluded from becoming
the cathedral church OF the diocese.
| Three times has it been Guilt and rebuilt,
and now an elegant structure remains on
the hands Of diminished and impoyer-
ished congregation. The remarks or
Colonel Barry were cordially received, and
then the fair was declared formally Opea.
The booths and general management o
the fair are IN charge OF the following
ladies': Booth l, Mrs. Supple, Mrs. Sheble
and Miss DOran; booth 2, Mrs. Taylor,
Mrs. Eager and Miss Doran, booth 8,
Children of Mary; booth 4. League of the
Cross; apron booth, the Misses Douglass
and Reichter; grab-box. the Misses
Lynch; flower-stand. the Misses McCar-
rem and Pedestal soda and CANDY, Miss
Holden; refreshment table. Mrs. Nichols,
Mrs. Syme and Miss German.
The ladies of the Children of Mary
booth followed the opening exercises with
a select literary and musical programme,
in which clever talent was shown in many
instances
This evening the young men of the
League OF the Cross will put on musical
and literary numbers; on Wednesday
evening the girls of the Presentation Con-
vent will present dramatic pastime, and
on Friday the boys of the same convent
will go through drills and sing for the edit
cation of those in the audience. On the
18th and 14th insts. drills and songs and a
farce will be included in the evenings
entertainments. The entire programme
for next week has not been prepared, but
novel and enjoyable features will be pre-
sented each evening. The admission 10
the entire season is 81, while % cents is
| charged for single admission. The object
Is a specially deserving one, and the fair
deserves extensive patronage.