The San Francisco call., 1905-04-20

CHARLES SEEGBWICH AIKEN-Misson
Dolores is the only historic structure in San
Francisco-holding story OF romance and his
tory that Is OF thrilling interest, not only to us
Calfornians. but 70 every tourist that comes to
our city Therefore I think some plan should
under proper Tu1 superyiston snu Of course es
AS proof OF the popularity Of the old mis-
Mission story between its covers the demand
JoHN-J. LERMEN-with the rapid growth
OF our city the value OF land has Increased so
that the old has, OF necessity. given way to
the new sentiment has been almost lost. and
to-day there are left in our city but few
landmarks Of any historic value. In time
even these will pass away-all except one
old Mission Dolores 1t is and will be the
one connecting link between the past and
present. a reminder to the visitor that San
Francisco was builded on the rock of Chris
tianity and nurtured in the cradle OF sentiment
New York its Trinity and San Francisco should
ever have its Mission Dolores. BY all means
and let the visitor ever be welcome.
HELP FATHER BRENNAN.
But by all means help Father Brennan. its
pastor TO do this-good Father Brennan. whom
] have known since childhood, and who I
llIow will gladly cooperate with US of the
for him to do And when all our old
landmarks shall have passed away there will
then be left to us monument of time
and a life We shall never again. Like
the roses in its churchyard Mission Dolores
inscent of the purity and simplicity of its
founders and sweet with the memories of an
unsefshness whose object was the saving
OF souls rather than the making Of dollars.
RUFUS P. JENNINGS-I have heard the
lament of thousands of tourists who have Wis
tied every mission in the State and on going
This matter, however. can be easily adjusted
so the people who are really interested can
FRANK H. POWERS Ever, since the de-
oision of The Hague tribunal that the Pious
certain that the observation-disclosures of the Arch
bishop and bishops having In charge the fund
ing out the original idea at the time OF the
creation of the Pious fund: that Is, to make
the missions available TO the general public.
The strength of Mr.. McEnerney's argument
before The Hague tribunal was that this Pious
fund was given essentially for the purpose
of making the missions available as means
sons TO the Catholic faith. and that therefore
1t was inequitable for the Mexican Govern
Therefore i feel that the opening OF the Mis-
sion Dolores a means of creating public in
tical step toward renewing interest In the OBJ
1ects of those benevolent Spaniards who
created the Pious fund.
These missions are to US what the ancient
ruins are 10 Greece, the Pyramids to Egypt
and the cathedrals to Italy.
Thus is it seen that San Franoiscans
do love their old Mission-that they
love it for its memories and for the
things that it stands for.
To-day. through the kindly offices of
Mrs. Henry p. Gleeson and a corps of
friends, the old church will be beautiful
to look upon, the conservatory of the
Golden Gate Park having been levied
upon for its treasures.
Among its visitors to-day will be
Charles Warren Stoddard, the famous
writer and deep lover of the missions.
whom 1 shall have the honor of ac-
companying into the church of his
childhood.
What memories it will awaken, after
fifty years of absence!