The morning call., 1893-10-23

Scene at the Dedication.
brown-robed friars who brought Chris
tianity to this western coast and with it
civilization. Then they withdrew from
the scene of their labOrs to return in an
upportune time.
A few months ago they came from Mex
leo and established d community in San
Luis Rey Mission, the most extensive and
elegant pile of mission ruins. Another
Old mission has also been occupied this
year and IS now undergoing complete
renovation like San Luis Rey. And mean
while the Franciscans Of another province
are spreading out in new fields in and
around this city, founding charitable insti-
tutinDS, organizing congregations and
building churches. Their center is ST. Boni-
face Church. on Golden Gate avenue, from
which has grown a congregation in the
an asylum for children at Watsonyille. and
last of all the church and schools OF st.
Elizabeth at Fruitvale.
So the dedication yesterday was an epoch
in church history in California. Last June
Father Sera phin, franciscan from Chi
cagO, organized German congregation in
Oakland, with a temporary place of wor-
ship in ST. Mary's Hall of Rev. NJ. Kings
church. July block of land was bought
In Frultvale, and three months later the
cOmmOdiOus church, school and convent
were finished. The architect was lay
brother in the order. His buildings have
been described fully in THE CALL. The
church itself held more than thousand
persons during the dedicatory services and
las seating capacity of 500.
Four societies of ST. b0niface German
Catholic congregation attended In a body
with distinctive regaia, badges, banners,
| German and an American flag. They
were st. Paulus' Verein, St. Peters Yer
ein, ST. AnthOny's Young Mems Sodality
and St. Ludwig's Boys Sodality. several
hundred in ALL A brass band accompanied
them from this city TO the church, where,
upon arrival, they took seats near the
sanctuary and planted their banners
among flowers and evergreen festo0ns on
the side altars. Sisters of the Holy
Names, ST. Joseph and the German Domin-
lean order occupied opposite pewS i'll
'front.' The altars were profusely decor
ated with roses, chrysanthemums, palms,
ferns and trailing evergreens. in all of
which white and green predominated.
| A procession of priests and acolytes,
with Archbishop Riordan in the rear, filed
into the sanctuary at 10:30 A. NJ. Pro-
outside and around the church, blessing
walls and building and recltng prayers OF
| dedication. They returned to the altar
! and after chanting ltany and other
prayers passed around the interior w hile
| the walls were sprinkled with blessed
water by the Arch hbishop. Immediately
afterward solemn high mass was ceie-
| hrated by Father Clementne, o. S. F., of
| Watsonville, assisted By Father Leo. o. S.
! f., and Father Miller, 5. j., of San JOSE
! Fah Athanaslus. 0. S. f., was master
of ceremonies and Rev. NJ. King assistant
priest. Father, Raffo and Demasini, S.
j.; Netterville. o. P; SeraphD, o. S. F.,
nd nv Nall "A
Joseph Byrnes were present.
| MoZarts seventh mass was sung by a
| large chnir, among whom were the follow
ing vocasts: Mrs. Elbe, Mrs. Nj. A. Koe-
mig. Miss Annie Antone. Miss Tessie
Georgiani. Miss Maggie Mcdonald, So
pranos; Miss Adelaide Schlotzhauer, Miss
Mary Lamb the Misses Ange and Aggie
Georgiani, altos; R. Luigl, j. H. Odelehr,
ten0rs; Joseph Stauffer, K. Schmiedell, j.
Bucher, bassos. At the close of the mass
the congregation and choir sang the Te
Deum.
A sermon in German was preached by
Father Miller. S. j., on the dedication.
He said the church henceforth is the house
of God, aud CathO Olic people should rejoice
over the ownership of a new house of
worship, dedicated to Gods honor.
medately before the last gospel Arch
bishop Riordan delivered an eloquent ad-
dress in which he gave expression to his
feelings and his opinions on national
churches.
Il offer my congratulations to the Ger
man peo pie" said be, that they have a
church of their own in this city. Wei have
longed for many years to see this day, and
| though many were doubtful about its real
| iZation it has come earlier than we have
expected. You will remember that | al
ways held that tho German people of Oak
| land were numerous enough and generous
enough to build church and have a con-
gregation. | congratulate you on tho ex-
peditous manner in which this church and
| school have been built. You have the
school with the church. The congregation
! grows out Of the school, and In the ad-
/ vaDcing course of time the school comes
| first to make Catholic men and women.
l don't know any place in the United
States where the church and school go to-
gether more generally than in Oakland,
and now we are beginning to see the fruits
of this companionship.
Il am glad the German people of Oak
| land have church of their own. not be-
cause they can't speak English. but be-
cause it Is best to have place where they
| can worship according TO their own first
| teachings. Religious truth becomes asso-
ciated with the first strivlngs af our ma
/ ti0nal nature, and therefore religion is
| stronger when associated with our mother
tongue. And as we have to teach religious
| truth it IS wise that we give it in the
mother tongue. Because Gnd has so made
US we love our Own best, and we listen
/ most attentively to teaching and take ad-
| vice most resigDedly from our own flesh
and blood. In this transition period it Is