Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-30
STRICKEN CITY
BOWS IN PRAYER
SCATTERED CONGREGATIONS
REUNITED
open-Air Services Attended by Thou-
sands-In One Instance Mass
Is Celebrated Under an
Elm Tree
BY Associated Press.

| BY Associated Press.
| SAN FRANCISCO, April 29.-Scat-
tered congregations were reunited this
morning during the hours given over to
religious services which were, in many
instances, held in the open air or in
tents.
| Wherever church buildings were dam
aged but slightly the people assembled
as usual, and where it was possible
sheltered the worshipers. Pastors from
various religious institutions, however,
visited the camps where hundreds of
homeless families are quartered, and in
every instance the attendance was
large.
| The clergymen addressed to their
! flocks words of hope and encourage
ment, advising them to abide by all
regulations and cooperate with the
officials who have charge of the city.
Held Mass. at Elm Tree
Rev. w. P. Sullivan of st. Mary's
cathedral celebrated mass at the base
of a great elm tree in Jefferson square.
For nearly an hour tents were almost
deserted and silence prevailed while
the people knelt in the ashes of camp
fires.
A small table in the doorway OF a
residence at 1926 Van Ness avenue
served as an altar for Father Grant
of st. Bridget's church. The people
knelt on the sidewalk and in the street.
In the city of tents before tho
Presidio, Archbishop Montgomery cell
ebrated the last mass of the day near
the roadway. where an unbroken
stream of wagons creaked along, carry
ing provisions for the hungry. The con-
gregation surrounding the tent that
sheltered the altar was large, including
many officers and soldiers from the
neighboring camps Bugle calls sounded
from a distance as the people knelt in
prayer and military messengers on
horseback or in automobiles hurried
by every few moments.
Archbishop Mounts Chair
When the service ended Archbishop
Montgomery mounted chair and read
the epistle for the day, commencing:
For unto this are you called; for
Christ also suffered for u.s.
In part he said
I'VE are all suffering under extra
ordinary conditions and we must face
things as they are. / do not think that
history records an instance where q
city has been so greatly afflicted.
1T is pleasure to see after all, that
you take 1t is it should be taken, with
courage, fortitude and patience.
Authorities Commended
1--WE are indebted greatly to the civil
and military authorities who have as
sisted us in avoiding greater suffering;
to the mayor and the police; to the
army, which was fortunately at hand;
to the governor and the state militia.
you cannot suppose that a situation
such as this could be handled by diff
ferent branches of authority without
the possibility of mistakes, but there is
no reason why you should grumble.
There are some who will say that
this calamity has come upon us be-
cause of our sins. I am not going to
say that and 1 should be sorry to believe
that we had been so sinful as to need
such shaking up and such burning.
Advise All to Obey
Catholics or not, advise all of you
to remember that you are best observed
by obedience to authority and that
every order is a military order for
which you should thank God.'
At st. Mary's cathedral, which is re-
garded as unsafe until the damage sus-
tained shall be repaired, the altar was
erected in the vestibule and the con-
gregation at the several masses cele-
brated knelt upon the granite steps.
Services by Protestant clergymen of
every denomination we're heidi during
the day at Alta Plaza and in other pub
halls that escaped the fire. In some
cases there was simple musical service,
the choirs being accompanied by organs
secured from private residences