The Irish standard., 1898-03-05
A MASTERLY ADDRESS
DELIVERED IN PORTLAND, ORE, DY
REV. PETER G. YORIkE.
EXPOSITION OF CATHOLIC CITIZENSHIP
CHANCELLOR OF THE ARCHDIOCESE
OF SAN FRANCISCO.
RECEIVED an ENTHUSIASTIC OVATION,
HIS BRILLIANT DISCOURSE FAsCIN.
ATED THE AUDIENCE.


Sunday evening, Feb. 20, Rev. Peter c.
Yorke, chancellor of the archdiocese Of
San Francisco, lectured in Portland, Ore.
on the occasion of the twenty-fifth ami
versary of the conservation of Most Rev.
Archbishop Gross to the episcopacy.
Father Yorke we'll maintained his repu-
tation as a lucid and eloquent speaker.
He fascinated his hearers attention for
almost two hours. The high apprecia-
tion of the audience was manifested by
frequent applause. Learning, ready wit
and lofty flights of oratorical art we're
admirably combined in every part of his
discourse. Having made some few pleas
ant and humorous observations with re-
gard to Portland, its people and cline, he
said in substance as follows:
1t is human instinct a graceful
thought to recognize work done and we'll
done. In every walk of life there are
stopping places where men stand for a
moment and look backward over the past
1t is true our work is never ended. 1t is
true that every day brings it's own share
of toll. 1t is true that our hands shall
never cease to find some task ready for
them until they are folded forever in the
eternal rest. But it is a natural senti-
ment that prompts us to stop for mo-
ment by some milestone of the years and
survey the past. AS the traveller from
some lofty eminence looks backward over
the road he has traversed and recalls the
incidents of his journeying, so we love
to stand at times and consider the ancient
days and times Of old. We mediate on
the difficulties we have surmounted, on
the goal toward which we strove; and
we gain new strength for the difficulties
we yet must face and new hope for the
end at which we aim.
1t is we'll that on such occasions friends
should gather round for there goes forth
a virtue from friendly hearts, which
nerves the arm to nobler deeds and fires
the mind with higher thoughts. When
a man has given his life, not to the
amassing OF wealth and the pursuit Of
ambition there is an especial reason why
the great milestones on the way of life
should be marked by the loving care OF
friends They who follow wealth and
ambition have received their reward. The
world worships success and to give the
world its due it is not niggard toward
the object Of it's worship. They who fol-
low the higher good are the servants OF
the substance of things hoped for, the
inheritors of the evidence of things not
seen. Their reward is not here. They
are not judged by the light of human
day, but He who reads the secrets OF
hearts, He is their judge. Hence it is
more than meet and just that those who
believe with them and work with them
should on such occasions gather round
them and testify their appreciation OF
years spent in the service of duty. Hence
it Is that the people of this archdiocese
have resolved to celebrate the twenty
fifth anniversary of the conservation of
him who bea rs spiritual rule over them.
He is their chosen guide in the things
that appeartain to God. Non-C Catholics
as well as Catholics then are the wit
nesses of his works, his zeal, his charity
his devotion, his daily anxiety, the care
of all the churches. For twenty-five
years he has borne the burden of the
episcopate. For more than half that
period he has walked in the midst of his
people of Oregon, in life simple, in con-
versation blameless Wherefore it is
right that not only those who own his
spiritual leadership but also all those
who reverence devotion to duty, high
ideals, pure character, a simple mind,
zeal for the glory of God and the bet
terment Of man, should be ready to COM
memoratc such an anniversary. And
take it as no small privilege that from
another state and a different province
have been permitted to bear witness in
some small way to our appreciation OF
the life and labors Of the Most Rev. Arch
bishop Gross.
The subject which ! have chosen for
this lecture is one which deserves the
attention of thinking men, of non-Catho-
lies as well as Catholics. 1t is char
acteristic Of our modern thought that it
loves to deal with facts The Catholic
church is fact in the worlds history
No matter what may be the observers
opinion as to her claims, he must con-
cede t:at for ninteen hundred years she
has been powerful factor in the shaping
of the destiny Of humanity What she is
and what her relations to the American
state are questions of the deepest in
terest. Wise men will not ignore these
questions, but will strive to solve them
| according to their lights.
In the past few years these questions
have been brought more prominently be-
fore the public. An attempt has been
made to show that Catholicity and Ameri-
canism are irreconcilable and it has been
claimed that the good Catholic could not
be good citizen. That craze, however,