The San Francisco call., 1896-06-04
States That Despite Prediction
His Church Continues to
Breathe Liberty.
HIS SPEECH AT ST. IGNATIUs
illustrated Scientific Discourses at the
Colleges Annual Graduating
Exercises.

"They seem to be afraid that our old
Pope, over 96 years OF age, will come ovel
and kidnap Grover Cleveland" said Most
Reverend Archbishop P. w. Riordan,
DID,, last evening in delivering an address
to the graduates, and large audience, at
the thirty seventh annual commencement
exercises of st. Ignatius College, at Haves
street and Van Ness avenue. The arch
bishop referred to the American Protec-
tive Association. st. Ignatius' is a Jesuit
college. Continuing, his said:
''They are so afraid of the Jesuits that
they would not have statue of Marquette
put into the capitol. Thirty or forty years
ago, when l was a boy, there was some
thing of the same agitation going on that
there is now. They said the old church
cannot live here. They said it needed to
be supported by monarchies and thrones,
and that it could not live in an atmos-
pnere of liberty-in a republic To-day
they say we have our hands on everything
and so they are afraid as l have said. But
the old church still stands. It stands" said
the Archbishop. using a figure of speech
suggested by the main feature of the COM
mencement exercises, ''as lighthouse by
in storm and sunshine, and sheds its light.
1t stands solidly on rock and gives a
light which passeth not away"
These sentiments we're applauded.
Referring particularly to St. Ignatius
College Archbishop Riordan said: 1--WE
owe a debt of gratitude to these professors
and this magnificent institution. During
the past year we have heard great many
things about US. One thing / would like
to know is, how these professors educate
| these bows and receive nothing. This in
stitution has not 81 of endowment.
''In its scientific depar tment it is more
advanced than any college in the State.
Any body can build church or an ecclesl-
| astical institution, but the intellectual
and spiritual editice which these professors
build up in the minds of young men is o1
vastly more importance. They are the
real tower builders of the age. They light
the light of Christian knowledge which
shall guide them through eternity.
"In the experience of 1900 years there is
but one sure light to follow. That is the
light which comes from our Lord, who
says, I am the light of the world Nc
human philosophy is better. The old
| lighthouse of the Catholic church still
| stands
When the graduating exercises opened
the large faculty sat in a semi-circle in tht
| first row of chairs before the stage, witt
Arch bishop Riordan and President Ed
ward Allen in the center.
The prospect of the stage was mad,
| pleasing and somewhat mystiting by clus
! ters of mirrors and scientific Instruments
| The only bright spot in the hall, for dark
ness prevailed during most of the occa
| sion, was screen on the stage on which
was thrown the brilliant focus of stereop
| ticon pictures.
/ An overture by an instrumental quintet
opened the programme, and then came
| Percy Hennessy, class of '98, who deliv-
| cred in Latin an Introductory welcome ad
! dress.
The main feature of the exercises asli,
| from the speech of the bishop was
scientific lecture on Lighthouses, Thei
| Building aud illumination"
Robert Richards, one of the graduates
appeared as silhouette before the bi!
screen, pointer in hand, and told abou
the building of The lighthouse tower.
AS he proceeded pictures of all kind
of lighthouses, from the Pharos of Alex
andria and the Colossus of Rhodes to III,
| most moderu lighthouses on the Pacit
and Atlantic coasts of this country, wer
thrown upon the screen. The picture
were rather indistinct, being thrown from
behind, but they served their purpose. H
traced the history of lighthouses from tn
first beacons on promontories to New Y orl
discourse which doubtless furnished in
formation TO the grayest and baldest head
| in the audience.
A violin selection by John Marquardt
| with piano accompaniment, "Fantasie
Sarasate," was encored, and he responded
John L. Mulrenin, another graduate
literally instructed the audience on tn
lighting of the lighthouse.
This young mans talk was even tech
nicauy scientific, and his familiarity witt
the subject of lights. prisms, refractions
etc., commanded the respect of his hear
ers. Various kinds of lighthouse illumi
nations were illustrated in lamps, reflect
ors and other apparatus on the stage.
The assistants for both these lecture
were graduates John M. Kelly, Franci
Morton, Richard G. Tobin Jr. and Francl
Reichling.
Two more selections by the instru
mental quintet were given, and between
them came the awardingof handsome golt
and silver medals and books to the pupil
whose scholarship and department. hac
won them. Archbishop Riordan pinne,
on the medals and distributed the diplo
mas The awards were as follows:
The degree of bachelor of arts was con
ferred on John l.. Mulrenin with praise)
Francis A. Norton, Francis Reichline
Joseph M. Kelly, Robert III. Richards AM
Richard C. Tobln.
Gold medal for the best essay in 'Philosoph
| of Religion" George ]. Cleary; special M en-
| ton, Francis L. Fenton; next In merit, Johl
| L. Mulrenin and Milton B. Lennon. Donor
Most Reverend Archbishop P. w. Riordan
DID,.
Gold medal for the best essay in "Christia1
| Doctrine" William A. Breen; special mention
| Henry Tanning; next in merit, Clarence Car
| rigan, Percy Hennessy and Walter Williams
] Donor, F. S. Wensinger.
| Gold medal for the best mathematical paper
| Francis L. Fenton; next in merit, George ]
| Cleary and William A. Breen. Donor, Jane
| D. Phelan, A. B., 81.
| Gold medal for the best Latin composition
| John Carrigan; next in merit-William
| Breen Zacheus Maher, Percy Hennessy
| Clarence Carrigan, William Keaney Ed wa RI
F. O'Day, Richard Lloyd Williams, JOSEPH
| Freechtle and John Cuneo Donor, Mrs.
Donahue.
Gold medal for the best paper in element
ary Latin and Creek" Rudolph Longabauph
special mention, William Canavan; next il
merit-James Dillon, Henry Clifford, william
Mcdonald. Joseph Council. Eugene O'Keefe
George Jobst, John Craviotto, Witold Zachert
James McInerny, Joseph A. Murphy, r. Red
mond, Henry Mccarthy, William Asst and Ber
nard Power. Donor, Mrs. E. Martin.
DEPoRTMENT PRIZES HIGHER DEPARTMENT.
Medal, Joseph NJ. Kelly; premium, Wylie J
Dunn. Honorary mention: Class of philoso
phy G. Cleary, F. Fenton, J. Meagher M Len
non F. ,Reichllng, J. Mulrenin, b. Richards
and r, TObin; class of rhetoric. G. For r. NAL.