The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-24
TALKED TO THE BOYS,
Father Yorke Explains the Ma
ture of the League of
the Cross.
GRAND RALLY OF COMPANY L.
Enthusiastic Gathering of the Friends
of the Order at Mission
Parlor Hall.

Company L of the League OF the Cross
held its second grand rally at Mission Par
lor Hall yesterday afternoon, and a rous-
ing rally it was. Long before the hour for
thee.ntertainmentt to commence there was
standing room only and very little of that.
The only decoration was an immense
American flag at the rear of the stage
draped about portrait of George Wash
lngton. Upon the stage were seated Rev.
Fathers Organ, Gleason and Yorke
Thomas Fallon, president of the league,
and c. Clarke, captain of Company L.
President Fallon announced the num-
bers on the programme, which were as
follows: League hymn, by assembly; pi-
ano duet, Misses P. Conway and P. G.
Blake; comic song, Richard Egan; recita-
ton, Sergeant Frank Sullivan of Company
l; song, Edward Lougery of Company K
"Veni Creator" audience; address, Rev.
T. c. Yorke; Kanaka chorus, members of
Junior Branch Company L.; cornet duet,
Frank Lycett and William Cadigan; song,
Bert Miner; specialties, Messrs. Egan and
Nulty; 'Te Deum,'' audience.
The main feature of the afternoon was
the address by Father Yorke. The ap-
piause with which the priests appearance e
was greeted testified to the popularity with
which he is held by the Catholic COM
munity.
The address was in part as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen and Boys of the League
Of the Cross. 1t is pleasant thing and it does
my neert good, to look down upon the youth
ful faces OF the boys and young men who have
enlisted under the banner of temperance, and
who are trying to spread in this town the
principles OF the cross they worship. A few
months ago would have thought ii labor lost
to explain what the League OF the Cross was.
Since then have heard that the League of the
Cross was bloodthirsty band that lay awak G
all night trying to think of some way to de-
stroy our American institutions. l never be-
fore thought there was SO much ignorance in
the world as have discovered during the last
few months. l have learned that the League
OF the Cross is an organization made up OF
Papists, mainly Jesuits, whose main object is
TO cut the throat of Americanism.
The Catholic church in dealing with great
questions does not believe it is the proper
thing TO go out on the street corners and wav-
ing red flag, go for everything in sight. She
does not believe that by passing a law in Sac
ramento we will all become angels like that on
the City Ha1l-an angel in everything but
wings. am sure our Board of Supervisors is
IKE certain place, very full OF GOOD lnten-
tons, but they might legislate twentyfour
hours OF every day but until men and women
are taught the true moral principles there will
be no great reformation.
There is in San Francisco saloon to every
100 people. From this you may imagine the
powers the temperance people have to com bat.
How are we going to prevent people from GO
ing down the road to ruin? You can't do it by
erecting barricade. They'll all go over it.
The only way to do it is by the will, and you
must take the will when it is young ana PHI
able. The young man, if he is taken when his
VIII is in this condition, may be SO trained
that he will not have to have forceful re-
straint, and will say of his own free manly
yoIition, 81 will not touch it," This is what
the junior branch OF the League of the Cross
is. The boys are pledged to total abstinence
until they are 81 years of age.
The senior branch is made up of men who
are over Il years of age. When the boys be-
come 81 years Of age they are free to still con.
tinue members OF the league by taking what
will not visit saloons or treat or be treated.
There is, besides this, the total pledge, and
am glad TO say that the large ma jority of the
boys show decided preference for the total
pledge, This is good sign, and l like to see
boys who are not willing to compromise with
this evil.
do not think it needs any argument of mine
to tell you the League of the Cross deserves
your support. The fact that so many of you
are here this afternoon SHOWS that you are
heart and soul in this matter. 1T is something
in which you might all be interested that we
raise generation of men freed from the curse
of strong drink, whose cheeks are red with the
glow OF health, whose eyes are bright with
purity, and whose brain is clear because they
never put an enemy in their mouths to steal
away their brains. 1t is an army of strong,
patriotic young Catholics, willing to do and
utrt lOT thelF CITY dlQ lltIT UdIlNe lana.
Members of the league, you have your part
to play. 1t is well enough to get up here and
claim for you all the virtues. but we know
that there are times when the foot stumbles
You are taught to be manly bows and manly
men. Remember there is only one thing
to do Keep your promise, and if you can't
keep your promise get out OF the league. II
you can't keep your promise, for Gods sake
don't go about town breaking it and have the
Philistines point you out and say you are
members of the league and not manly little
boys.
1t is sometimes said that people fIrish birth
ere more prone to temptations to drink than
any other people. People who wish to throw
a stone at the old church say the saloon
keepers are all Irish. / have been taught dur
ing the last few months never to take any,
bodys statement on faith. l have learned TO
look up everything anybody says, and by the
time you look it up you can generally believe
the opposite. / have had occasion to look I'D
this question. In the first place, there is sold
in England eighty times as much liquor in
proportion TO the inhabitants as there is in
Ireland. II the Irish get drunk oftener than
the English it is because they get drunk
eighty times easier. They say that the Irish
are the majority OF the saloon-keepeTs. A
friend of mine and / went down to the City
Hall and looked at the license books there.
OF 3445 names OF saloon-keepers only 600 were
Irish. Then we divided the City into north
and south of Market, because they say that ii
1t is not true of the City it is at least true
south OF Market. 1t isn't even true there. II
is not true in New York it is not true in
it is not true in San Francisco.
Boys, want to tell you right now that you
have nothing either in the present or the past
to be ashamed of. We do not go about carry
ing Uncle Sam under our wing as though he
were chicken. Uncle Sam is no chicken and
he does not need any one to protect him.
say that in this League of the Cross we are do
ing far nobler work than those who are GO
ing about shouting against their neig hbors
We are teaching those boys to love that old
flag, we are teaching them TO love their coun-
trys heroes. 1t is one of the grandest blessings
that was ever given to any country that at the
head of its history there should stand man OF
such glorious untarnished civic record as was
that of George Washington. Patriotism, honor
and truth we teach you in order that you may
raise I'D your hands before heaven and swear
allegiance to that flag under whose folds you
were born and whose protection you must and
shall enjoy.
Much of the success Of the rally is due to
the energy of the committee of arrange
ments, consisting OF Edward McDonough,
Thomas T. Quinn and Edward McKeon.