The San Francisco call., 1897-01-25
THEY WILL HELP
THE LEAGUE ON
Prominent Catholics Or
ganize an Auxiliary
Society.
At the First Meeting a Hand
some Sum Is Quickly
Subscribed.
Members Will Contribute Yearly Il
Support the T importance o.
ganization in S Work.

The League of the Cross will continue
to carry on its great work in the cause of
temperance with renewed vigor and if pos
sible more enthusiasm than in the past.
Indeed, its future is now assured and still
greater progress may be expected in years
to come, for Yesterday the most substan-
tial kind of encouragement was given the
leading spirits in this movement.
An auxiliary society was organized un-
der the patronage of his grace, Arch
bishop R Jordan, and at his express desire.
The large exhibition hall of Sacred Heart
College corner of Larkin and Eddy streets,
was we'll filled with leading Catholic gen.
tlemen and ladies of San Francisco, and
then and there the League of the Cross
Auxiliary was instituted under circum-
stances that are regarded as especially
auspicious. They were gathered together
in response to a circular letter from the
Arch bishop, published week since, in
which the sentim ents of the writer were
expressed as follows:
The League of the Cross has now been in ex-
istence il our City for six years, ana the good
work which it has accomplished in training
our boys TO habits of temperance is manifest
to all Realizing the great dangers TO which
our youth are exposed, saw the necessity tor
this orga mia ton and | have watched its sue
cess with admiration. 1t has banded the boys
together, and by its frequent meetings, lee
lures, essays and other exercises, has made
them interested in the work of temperance
and has taught them the blessings of a sober
life. The league has accomplished all its
work without any regular fund to defray its
expenses. 1t has had to rely on the generosity
of private individuals for its support. The
time has come, however, when 1t should have
a regular fund. am confident that there
numerous persons who are only too willing to
contribute a small sum annually towards this
good cause.
Among those present were: Rev. J. J.
Prendergast, V. g.; Rev. P. R. Lynch;
O'Ryan, Rev. P. G. Yorke, Rev. P. S.
Casey, Rev. P. Scanlan, Rev. John Gull
len, Thomas H. Fallon, James J. Gildea,
William P. Sullivan, A. B. Mcguire. James
r. Kelly, A. H. Loughborough, DR.. Glib
bon, Thomas J. Welsh, Charles Gagan, T.
P. Kiordan, George Maxwell, James Dug
gan, Michael Flood, ]. C. Nealon, Colonel
J. G. Giesting and Dr. Cunningham.
the Rev. Peter G. Yorke presided in the
absence of the Arch bisnop. In opening
the meeting he briefly stated its objects,
as previously announced in the call for
such a gathering, and he read the follow
ing letter from Archbishop Rordan:
ST MARY's CATHEDRAL,
100 franklin street San Francis co.,
"
we're attack of the grippe shall not be able to
attend the meeting called for this afternoon
in the hall OF Sacred Heart College, and / ask
you to take my place and explain to the gen.
tlemen who attend the object of it, which is
as follows: namely, the organization OF an
auxiliary branch whose members will bind
themselves to aid by their influence and by a
small annual contribution the great work
which is being accomplished for our boys by
the society known as the League of the ross.
l wish you would explain to those who at
tom "a ms u hnIU q mr. oil
boys are enrolled in the organization, and
each year brings a considerable increase OF
membership; that the object is to keep these
boys until they have reached the age of 81
years under such restrai Mt and discipline that
habits of temperance may be contracted, with
the hope that during life they may be con-
tlnued.
1 wish you would explain to the meeting
that the years OF mans life between IL and
21 are the formative years OF life, when good
or bad habits are contr acted and bent given
either for virtue or vice.
The gentlemen present will readily compre-
hend that if we can bring thousands of our
boys to the years of manhood with habits of
sobriety and with love of 1t, with minds
fully open 10 the dangers of intemperance, we
shall have done an immense good for them
selves and for society.
Now, 10 effect this the League of the Cross
needs assistance OF pecuniary character
Halls have to be rented, literature procured
and many other things done for the malnte-
nance or so large an organization tax can
not be imposed on the boys; they have moth
ing to give, and even If they had it is better
not to impose it, as it would hamper the main
tenance and growth of the society.
1t is, therefore, better to appeal to outsiders,
and avn confident that sufficient number
will be found who will aid so meritorious
work. Two thousand dollars q year would
suffice for all present demands, and if 400 or
500 gentlemen could be found to join the
auxiliary branch the annual tax on each
would be very small. not less than $5 a year
The future of church and State depends in
training our children to receive, and whatever
we do therefore to make them intelligent and
virtuous will bear abundant fruit in their
maturer years and fit them to be deyout
Christians and honest. indus trious and law
abiding citizens. therefore from my heart
commend the good work to the meeting and
enroll myself as one OF the members of the
auxiliary body. Sincerely yours.
T. W. RIoRDAN.
Father Yorke related the remarkable