The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-09-29
CALIFORNIA; FIFTIETH ANN
VERSARY

1
VERSARY
California, in celebrating its
1ftieth anniversary, has seen many
marvellous changes during the last half
of the Nineteenth century. The Argo-
nauts who sailed around the Cape in
40 have nearly all passed to their re-
ward. A strong energetic and perse-
vering race were they. Bold and fear
less they .combated many dangers, and
like the hero of ancient Hellenice
Myth, who sailed with Jason in the
ship Argo to Colchis on the Euxene sea,
in quest of the golden fleece. the modern
Argonauts braved all dangers of land
and sea when CALIFORNIA; gold fields
were published to the world.
The sand banks of the golden gate
have long since disappeared, and San
Francisco, with its modern improve
ments, public spirit, and enterprise
shows that the grit and snap of the
early pioneers still pervades its inhabi-
tants.
San Francisco, which owes its great
growth to the early gold hunters, dates
it's origin to the foundation of the re-
public. When the Fathers of the Coun-
try were drafting the Declaration of
Independence, Father Juniper Sierra
was founding that city On June o.
1875, it first became known in history
Since then what marvellous changes
have taken PLACED The first building
erected there was the old adobe church
at the Mission Dolores, which still
stands as a monument of the faith
and piety of the Sanity Franciscans.
Long before Father Juniper Sierra
visited the Golden Gate, and laid the
foundation of the present site by dedi-
eating its first building to the service
of God, Catholic missionaries visited
California. In the history of the !
Catholic missions we read that .in 1901 !
a band of Franciscans celebrated the
first Mass on a rustic altar beneath the
branches of time honored
oak. This may be considered the natal
day of the California Mission
Nor can the discovery of its rich gold
deposits be brought down to AS. since
Father Picola. S. J.; doing missionary
work among the Indians in 1902, was
aware Of its hidden treasures. In a
etter written that year to the govern
ment of Mexico he said:
IT have no doubt that the most
mines might be discovered in
many places were they but sought for.
RMS country is under the same physi-
al influences as Cinaloa and. Sonora.
which are so richly veined with precf-
Jus metals
But gold was not the object of the
cal pioneers of California. Imbued
With the spirit of the Good Master. the
of one soul was dearer to
hem than all the precious metals that
ay concealed in its rolling hills and ;
ich valleys.
San Francisco, in its jubilee celebra
ion, has many reasons to be proud, not
he least is the great progress of the {
'hurch since the days of the jealous
nd devoted Sierra who should hold the
rst and proudest niche in it's history.
n 1853, Most Rev. j. S. Alemany. then
Bishop of all California, with his '
Episcopal residence in Monterey. be-
anne Archbishop of San Francisco, i
Thich was raised to the dignity of a ]
metropolitan see. His successful adj
continued till 1884. when {
e was succeeded by the present t
lcumbent, Most Rev. P W. Riordan. c
lnce the latter took charge. in no part G
the United States has the Church 4
lade greater progress. Church edi- T
ces have more than doubled. Col I
1ges, saminaries, converts, homes for O
aifs, and many other charitable in e
atutions have sprung up in the Arch
iocese under his able and jealous 4
eign. With just reason can the n
-rchbishop Of San Francisco, in look o
lg back and reviewing the work ac- a
during the past sixteen a
ears, rejoice with all its citizens. The V
reat work accomplished under his own L
Use guidance, and through his own o
lsiness ability, viii ever remain as a T.
onument to his zeal and devotion 5
ore enduring than granite or marbel. o
Id will serve to perpetuate his name G
J one Of the great prelates of the q
merican church. The "Intermountain" o.
'ngratulates San Francisco on its a
eat growth and thrift, and its illus 81
ious Metropolitan on the gigantic II
rides made by the Church under biy 81
Use, farseeing and gentle administra- eC
IN. st
c.
RYANs TALK TO COLLEGE A