The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-04
Proceeds to Go to the School
Of the Presentation
Order.
SOURCES OF The SCRIPTURES.
one of the Most Interesting Lectures
Delivered By the Eloquent
Priest.

II needed apparently only the an
nouncement that Father Peter C. Yorke
was to deliver lecture to crowd Metro
poltan Hall last night TO its full capacity.
The occasion was an entertainment given
Tor the benefit Of the schools OF Presenta
ton Convent. American sflags were con-
spIcuous in the decorations OF the plat
form. James D. Phelan acted as chair
man.
The exercises opened with g tenor solo
by William J. oBrien, rendered with
marked ability.
Misses Clara Nolan, N. Quigley, J. Hef-
fernan and II. O'Dea took possession of
the two grand pianos on the platform and
IN finished ana artistic manner that
drew forth hearty pIaudits executed the
Kay nond Overture Miss Nolan fol-
lowed with q piano solo, charming the
audience with her skillful rendering OF
Unlonr a medley OF musical themes
taken from patriotic selections.
Chairman PheIan before formally intro
ducing Father Yorke spoke as follows:
i see on the programme that I have
been assigned the task of making some re-
marks, and while have but few remarks
10 make, still I desire TO carry out in good
faith this very deserving programme, and
viii say but few words.
In looking over the hall tonight the
thought occurred to me that how very few
OF Us appreciate the fac5 that but g few
generations ago this great country in
which we live was wilderness. Why,
Thomas Jefferson, living IN the security
OF he Government which he had aided TO
erect on the Eastern seaboard, said that he
did not believe that the Government OF
the United States could extend its power
over the vast territory, and that necessarily
there would be on the Pacific Coast an in
dependent empire.
''As late as 1S4S Daniel Webster said that
the United States could not extend its sys-
tenn Of government to California and that
llere would be an independent empire
there. But the pioneers solved the cues
ton for these statesmen, and IN q most
practical and most expeditions way by
overcoming ali obstacles and erecting g
commonwealth OF which we are 50 proud,
and which to-day Is endowed with all the
arts OF civilization
And while we enjoy these things we
rarely inquire as TO the causes which
brOugh t them about. When the history OF
this great country comes to be written all
the earlier chapters VIII be devoted to the
conversion OF the sbo-igines by the good
padres And when the pioneer pressed
his way over the desert and there grew up
2 wild white population, were it not for
the fostering care OF the padres, who al
ways follow where there is good to be
done au1 duty 10 perform, the settlement
OF the country would have been much
longer delayed.
These good padres were supplemented
IN their work by women who, IN the
Presentation and other orders, came to
this country, endured ali the hardshiUs
and met and overcame all the difficulties
OF the situation. And the efforts nf their
labor must be represented here tonight
Young women who have matured under
their care and grown in Christian grace
n the education OF the mind and in that
education of the heart compared TO which
especially IN women, as Walter Scott has
said, all things else are moOnshine.
1T was as early as 1854 that FIVE nuns
OF the Presentation order, under Sister.
afterward Mother Com merford, who. Won
all recOllect came to San Francisco to be-
gin that work, which has grown TO great
proportions, and which is represented in
the several houses OF the Presentation or
der il this State
1T was not until 1859 that thew were
enabled to erect on Ellis and Taylor streets
that convent school, which is their head
quarters, and from which have gone forth
so many young women to grace our homes
They have but one object, and that is why
We are here, and why l speak for your
generosity-snG that Is to do gooi-to
give a thorough secular and religious edu-
cation 70 those young people who come
within their charge, and that education
they give. which Is not generally known,
10 every one free and without charge.
They have the burdens Of taxes to bear:
they have subsistence 10 meet, and the
only revenue on which they can depend
must come from the generosity OF friends
Hence we are here tonight TO give them
that assistance, and hope that when you
20 away you will bear in mind that their
good work is being done free Of cost. They
H. IS 7s1r1r af~k-
better sense than those whose deeds are
exploited in the pages OF history; and it
requires q voice such as We shall have here
tonight TO blazon forth their glorious
deeds. Applause.
~ know that you are impatient to hear
that reverend gentleman who has stirred
deeply and lntently so many audiences IN
this hall, the Rev. PeterC. Yorke."
The applause that greeted the oonclu-
sion OF Mr.. Phelan's remarks and the ap-
pearance of Father Torke was hearty and
Of long Duration
Father XorEe announced that his next
lecture would be delivered a week from
next Monday, and then spoke as follows:
Il also wish before beginning this lee
ture, Where did you get the Bible7' 70
add few words to those spoken by the
chairman Of the evening. l wish 10 thank
you in the name OF the sisters for your at
tendance and the help that that attend
GE4Ce LUE&us-
LAS Mr. PheIan told you, these good
women in their cloisters, without sound
ing the trumpet, are teaching the chill
dren who are 10 be mothers in Israel; they
are building up the living strands OF the
new Jerusalem; they are training youth
in the paths Of virtue.
ITO do this they require nothing but the
food which supports their lives, the raj
nent which covers them and the roof
above their heads. They ask no salary.
They ask simply to be let alone 10 do
good in their own way.
In return the rich, the opulent, the
generous citizens of San Francisco tax
them TO the extent of nearly $1,000 q year.
This must they pay for the privilege of
doing good, and II IS TO pay this tax which
you levy, ladies and gentlemen, that this
lecture is given tonight.
IF il were not for this charge, this IN
expected imposition upon them, the sis
1ers Of the Presentation Convent would
sooner starve than come before the public
and ask for charity"
After again thanking the audience for
the support given the cause he repre-