The San Francisco call., 1904-12-16
STRUGGLES OF THE WEAK.

In this strife for pre- eminence the strong
cope with the strong. and the weak are thrown
oown and trampled on, and a bitter cry that
pierces, the heavens goes up from the dust OF
the struggle. In this city to-day with all its
Weaith and splendor there are thousands of
Sou creatures TO whom life is but damnlng
1ate; tnere are thousands more of whom 1T
might well be said it were better that they
The slums of this great city is like huge
morass inhabited by nolsome reptiles whose
lives begin in vice and end in "a curse; to
whom life is but Dantes hell over the door
OF which is written: IAN who enter here
leave all hope behind" Often have you and
tiful go down into the dreadful mire and
soon lost TO all sense of decency and virtue,
trampled under foot by the iron hoof of stern
sIiernatlVe; starve or sin. Young ana beaut1-
ful girls, whose souls washed white in the
purifying waters Of baptism made whittier still
as they red on the bread of angels; girls who
have struggled for a decent livelihood in our
stores factories and sweatshops, contending
day by day against the grasping avarice of
mamnon until overworked and underfed their
weakened bodies can stand the struggle no
longer; until. with one despairing cry, they
plunge into the dark ravine, and all is lost.
Oh, who is there who will stand by with
warning voice, tell them of the danger. with
before the plunge Is made? Who is there who
has the devoted heart that beats in sympathy
out the wealth of love that only a woman's
heart is big enough to hold, and lead them
back to the path of rectitude?
Oh, devoted Sisters of Mercy, ! preach you
new crusade rather I restate for you your
old vocation and. under altered conditions and
other circumstances point out to you the du-
ties that are nearer to your hand. II religion
Will ever more thoroughly commend itself to
the masses of the people while it saves souls
from that hell beyond the grave, ii must make
the world this side of the grave little less Of
hell to live in. While it lifts humanity up to
heaven. with strong. powerful arms, 1t must
bring some Of heaven down to earth.
GREAT WORK WORTHILY DONE.
Right worthy has your work of fifty years
been done This city is all the better because
devoted women as you are have lived in it
and have been in touch with all its uplifting
forces. Many a girl has bade good-by to
friends and home with a stouter heart and
has braved the dangers of city life because
mercy hath set up her throne here and opened
wide the door-of her heart. For the years
that are to come it needs prophetic voice
yet to be won. You are just about to break
ground for your new hospital and when
finished IL will be one of the great buildings
that the people of San Francisco will point
to with pride. It will enshrine In it's archi
lecture all the glorious memories of the padres
and bring into our modern life the symbols
OF their heroic endeavors. 1t will carry to the
highest perfection the sacred art of healing
the body, and there will be methods OF
modern surgery that will not receive their
highest exemplifcation. The work is at your
hand and you are better equipped to do it
to-day than were the little band of fifty years
ago. With schools and homes and hospitals
with riper experience and with many more
devoted hearts and what is far more important
than everything else, with a spirit OF zeal
and devotion and an Inheritance of sanity
memories from two brave women who have
gone before you, with the sign of the faith
These are your treasures and with them you
will march on to greater victories
Fifty years have not traced on your cheek
the lines of age nor is there any mark Of
decreptitude in your gait The first flush Of
youth is in thy face and there Is vigor and
strength in thy right hand AS LongfeIIow
beautifully expresses it:
''Oh, what a glory doth the heavens put on
For him who with fervent heart goes forth
Under the bright and glorious sky,
And looks dufV well DarfOrmPd
And days well spent"
A reception was held at ST. Mary's
ifal hxr IN Aa