The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-17
Thousands Assembled to Greet
His Grace the Most Rev.
P. w. Riordan.
HUNDREDS ARE TURNED AWAY
Hon. j. r. Sullivan Delivers the ADJ
dress Of Welcome-Church
and State Defined,


double purpose as 1t was the twelfth an
niversary of the Archbishop's connection
with this diocese, and also his first public
appearance since returning from Europe.
A larger assemblage was never seen in
Metropolitan Temple than was gathered
last night. By 1880 O'Clock every available
seat in the vast auditorium was occupied,
and before the exercises commenced
hundreds were grouped in the aisles and
along the walls. 1t was an occasion to be
remembered and Archbishop Riordan
felt deeply the honor that was being done
him and the evident love and esteem in
which he is held by lalty and clergy alike.
The evenings programme began with a
march of welcome splendidly rendered by
the League of the Cross orchestra, followed
by few Introductory remarks from Chair
man John Nj. Burnett. Then came the
event of the evening in the address of well
come, delivered by the Hon. j. F. Sullivan.
The speaker referred at length to the his
tory of the Catholic church in America,
and the recent attacks of so-called lovers
of liberty. His address in part is as fol-
lows:
AS wanderer returned from foreign lands
we, representing the clergy and laity under
your charge as the Archbishop of San Fran
cisco, bid you welcome home.
During your absence we have observed your
movements and have been proud to note that
on the occasion of the centenary celebration
of the great Catholic Seminary of Maynooth
you were called upon to represent the Ameri-
can hierarchy.
And again we note with pleasure the fact
that on the occasion of the jubilee of that
patriot and priest, the Archbishop of Cashel
and Emily, you were present to represent so
hill Ir hn % frnr IL tba
church of which you are so distinguished a
representative and the country of which you
are so true citizen.
This day has been selected for our greeting,
because it is an anniversary ever memorable
to you, because it consecrated you to the
higher priesthood of your church; and memo
rable to US because it consecrated the best
efforts of your life to the development of the
Catholic church in California and to the intel
lectual and moral development of the Ameri-
can Catholic citizens abiding in the archdio-
cese of San Francisco.
Twelve years ago this day you were selected
to become the coadjutor of the sainted Arch
bishop Alemany-a man beloved and respected
by all who knew him and his works.
Nearly twelve years have now elapsed since
you first assumed exclusive charge OF this arch
diocese. During your administration you have
at all times manifested that tireless, progress
sive spirit that betokens your growth and de-
velopment in that city by the great lake which
stands to-day fully representative OF the heart
and conscience and progress OF the Nation.
the unsightly sandhill of Van Ness avenue
give way to the grand metropolitan Cathedral
OF st. Mary's erected under your supervision
as a worthy temple to the everything God.
The Franciscan friar, who more than hum
dred years ago stood beside the Spanish soldier
in view of our Golden Gate, claiming this
peninsula for civilization and Christianity,
long exile from our City, has been by you
welcomed back to this City of st. Francis and
set to work in the vineyard of the Lord, to
labor among our American Catholics of Ger
on in haxy frDrrD ynn IN p
church after church erected in our City, attest
ing alike your zeal and energy and the growth
OF our church in this City.
In refutatiOn of the Slanderous charge so
often made that the Catholic church delights
in illiteracy, we have seen from year to year,
in the very shadow of our churches one school
after another erected i'll order that the intel
lectual might keep pace with the moral de-
velOpment of our youth. We have seen you
lay the foundations OF great seminary for
the education of native priesthood, who, in
years to come, will speak the everything truths
of the Catholic church.
In rendering to you some expression OF our
sentiments and of our respect and loyalty we
stand here as Americans and as Catholics we
stand here as children of that church, the
citizens of every cline, the friend of every
color, the child of every race, the church
which walks abroad in the ubiquitY of her
benevoleuce. We stand here as children of a
church which exists throughout all the world
Notwithstanding the varieties OF government
and the vicissitudes of country, a church hav-
man, and knowing no bounds but the extremi-
ties OF creation.
The American Catholic is sometimes re-
garded by his fellow-citiZens especially re-
gardful OF the duties of his religion, and, on
that account, as being unmindful of the duties
that he owes the state. 1t is, indeed, true that
American Catholics are singularly loyal in
their adherence to the teachings and practice
OF their faith, but it may likewise be said, with
truth that in so far as they observe strictly the
teachings of their church they become better
God ha of Arf1nr
citizenship and more worthy OF their enjoy
ment.
AS Americans, we believe in the underlying
principles of our Cover nment: we hope for the
maintenance and perpetuation of her institu-
tionsin oil their integrity. We feel that there
is no antagonism between the teachings of the
Catholic church and those sacred principles of
human liberty upon which our country's
greatness has been builded up.
mol Catholics wish no union of church and
state upon American soil. They desire no
blending of functionsi essentially distinct.
They desire the perpetuation of the principles
recognized in the first amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States, which provides
that Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof" and embodied likewise
in the declaration of rights found in the con-
s;itution of our own State of California, which
holds that:
1.-THE free exercise and enjoyment of religious
profession and worship without discrimination
or preference shall forever be guaranteed in
Catholics seek merely that which is the due
of every citiZen-equal treatment and protec-
ton in consideration of equal loyalty and sup
port-such treatment as they were promised by
him who stood "first in war, first in peace and
first in the hearts of his countrymen"-the i'm
mortal Washington.
The history of every State in the American
Union will bear witness to the fact that the
Catholic population respects the sentiment of
equal religious liberty to all and of undivided
loyalty OF citizens of all classes of faith to the
common government of all. At times, during
the excitement of political campaigns, inter
ested persons, working for the spoils of Office
rather than the good of the country, have
sought to combine politics and religion, to the
serious detriment of both.
This charge cannot be justly made against
Catholics. Their priests have not participated
in political conventions. They have not pros
tituted their pulpits or their sacred offices to
partisan political purposes. They have not
Sought public stations. They have not pro-
truded themselves ostentatiously at the polls
to exercise their purely civil rights.
Notwithstanding the facts of our history and
the tolerant character of the Catholic popula-
ton of this country, we find that in recent
years an attempt has been made to revive the
rancor the religious and race prejudices of
an early day, and the idea has been
propagated from pulpit and rostrum,
and more especially from the rostrum,
that there is a deep laid conspiracy
among the Catholics of this country to make
the great American Republic a dependency of