The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-14
The Infant Poniatowski Chris.
tened in the Catholic
Faith.
BY ARCHBISHOP RIoRDAN.
A Promise Made to the Church in
Paris Was Hereby Fulfilled by
the Princess.

A Prince born to the house of Poniatow-
ski was christened in the Roman Catholic
faith last Sunday by Archbishop Riordan.
This event led to the circulation of
rumor that the Princess, becoming enam-
ored of the controversy between Father
Yorke and his adyersaries, was so earnestly
and profoundly impressed with the logical
truth of the reverend fathers position
that she had renounced her allegiance to
the Episcopal faith and embraced the doc
trines of the church of Rome. 1t is said
that Rev. DIR. Foute endeavored to i'm
press on her mind that the worship of the
Virgin Mary was really form of idolatry,
but the Princess was not convinced.
1t is a fact that the infant son of the
Prince and Princess was christened last
Sunday by Archbishop Riordan, but it
does not turn out to be true that the Prin-
cess has renounced her loyalty to the doc
trines of the Episcopal faith, and more
over it does not appear that such renunci-
alton is contemplated.
William II. Crocker was asked yesterday
how much truth there was in the rumor,
: and he said: at is true that the infant
child of Prince and Princess Ponia towski
was christened by Archbishop Riord an
yesterday afternoon, but this is how it
came about: When Miss Sperry and the
Prince were married there were three cere-
monies in Paris. The first was the civil
form in accordance with the laws of
France, on the following day they were
married according to the form of the EpiS-
copal church, of which the Princess is a
member, and of the Catholic church, to
which the Princes family belongs.
LAS for the Prince himself he is liberal
in his views, but according to the custom
of the Catholic church the Princess was
obliged TO promise that if any children
should be born of the marriage they should
be baptized in the Roman Catholic faith
and in line with that promise the baby was
christened by Arch bishop Riordan.
There was no display or ceremony and
no change of religious convictions. The
Princess Is an Episcopalian now and will
propably adhere to that faith as long as
she lives. That is all there is in the
story"
The Princess accorded THE CALL an in
terview yesterday and of the ceremony of
christening said:
"The christening took place at O'Clock
yesterday afternoon at the Archbishop s
residence. 1t was very simple through
out No special robe was worn by the
child. He was dressed simply in a
little white coat. Two priests assisted the
Right Rev. Archbishop Riordan in the
ceremonies, which were brief, and only
Immediate members of the family were
present.
THE godfather was Count LIE Hon, a
cousin of the Prince. The child's bap-
tismal name is Stanislaus August Ponia.
towski."
The Princess said, in reply to questions,
that no golden cup or presents of any
other description were given.
The young Prince, who is less than three
months old, was not embarrassed in the
least by the ceremony. When one of the
lighted candles held by an acolyte came
within easy distance he attempted to
grasp it. The Fourth of July spirit evinced
by the youngster in trying to grasp
candle excited the admiration of his
uncle, Will Croker.
As the Prince and Princess and Mr.. and
Mrs. Croker were about to leave, the
Archbishop said: "Here, let me give the
little fellow a present, and accordingly
Stanislaus August Poniatowski received a
prayer book.
The name Stanislaus August, which will
probably be abbreviated by young Ameri-
cans to "Stan" or Gus" is derived from
an illustrious King of Poland.