The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-02-06
THE INTERMoUNTAN COLORADO FEBRUARY

but his thoughts, he walked with the step of cade
! through the crowded thoroughfares.
No man ever knew children better, except it ma
have been Father Harrington. With slight Span
ish accent which never left him, he used to draw
out in simple language for the children confirmed
by him, a sweet little comparison between the hum
bic caterpillar, which is changed into the beautiful
butterfly, and the change worked in themselves il
confirmation, and the children always understood
and never forgot it. Then too, at the old cathedral
when he would enter his confessional, the children
would line up either side, in order that they
might individually get that kind word he knew SO
well how to give. He followed beautiful old Gus
tom still observed in Spanish counties. On Hoiy
Thursday afternoon with towel and basin he used
to wash the feet of twelve altar boys in imitation of
the Saviors action at the last supper. This would
take place in space set apart in the middle aisle
of the old cathedral, and the ediiice was always
crowded.
His visitation of the distant parts of the diocese
was always looked forward to with JOY by the con-
gregation, for the spirit of love seemed to exude
from him. But the day was coming when the am
bition TO retire to a solitude and await in prayer
the end OF his days would oyerpower his love for
active service that years had only whetted.
TIE MODERN TRANSITION
More than thirty years had our pioneer arch
bishop labored for the welfare of the church. He
had spared himself in no way but Notwithstanding
his once WHY frame and the virile grit which never
left him, he felt the pressure of his years upon his
shoulders and realized that his strength was not
what 1t was in his prime. He applied to Rome for
a youthful helper, who would also succeed him. and
the holy see, providing for the great future of San
Francisco. gave him as his coadjutor in 1888 Most
Rev Patrick W. Riordan, who, late rector of the
PARISH OF st. James, Chicago, widely recognized
Tor an extraordinary executive ability as well as
for his deep scholarship.
Dlametrically opposed as the two preates were III
physique and disposition, they were both consumed
with burning zeal for the advancement of religion
No stronger bond could have cemented the warm
friendship that grew up between them Together
they went to the third plenary council of Baltimore
As the first council, in 1852 had by its recommen-
datlon to the see of St Peter made him archbishop
ot San FRANCISCO this last council in 1884 wit
lessed his final public act in that capacity His CO.
1dJutor also at that historical assembly revealed to
he hierarchy of America his comprehensive grasp
II the present and the wonderful possibilities of his
uture just as the young Athanasius did at the
council of Nicea. Thus. with unuestioned conf
ience III the coming welfare of the church in his
beloved California, the old archbishop felt that he
night resign his charge entirely to the care of the
-ounger prelate.
Dec 2S, 1884, he formally resigned the see of San
ranclsco, bade an afectionae farewell to the loyal
eople among whom he had labored for thrty-four
ears, and retired to the meditatiye seclusion of
monastery OF his whIte-robed order in the land of
10 "ih th' ArcAplShop fdordan, With whom his cor
espondence at once fatherly and brotherly was in
errupted only by death, knew the warm affection
j the dead apostle for his native town of Vich in
.atalonIa There. in his personal need of honor TO
ne dead, he provided resting place and an appro-
rate monument for him who was responsible for
he faith of California in her early American ca ,
eer' Though his remains are not i'll our midst, his
anne and deeds, comiemorated by the tablets in
lie cathedral sanctuary, will live forever as the
reclouS heritage of his children in the faith
lt Is now twenty years since his successor en-
red upon the administration of the archdiocese Of
an trancisco. 1t is difficult matter in a brief
'etch to dseribe adequately fraction of what he
IS done during these two decades towards the ad-
lncement of the church and her interests, and the
'omotlon OF manly Catholic pride in the hearts of
S people