The San Francisco call., 1909-04-19
CHURCH SOCIETY
PLAY IS SUCCESS
Vivid Mechanical Stage Effects
Well Done by Amateur
Company
History of st. AnthOny's,
Founded Is Years Ago for
German Catholics

The st. Francis young mems society
of st. Anthony's churcn gave a most
creditable performance or the medieval
melodrama, The Orphan Avenged"
yesterday afternoon. The affair netted
more than $500 for the church fund.
The performance was given in st. An
thongs hall, adjoining the church at
Army and Folsom streets, and the
three acts and seven scenes were
mounted in way which would have
done credit to a metropolitan play
house. The third scene in the second
act, in which a vivid flash of lightning
illuminates the stage and is followed
by reverberating thunder was man
aged splendidly and the illusion was
complete The scenery, costumes and
effects were in capable hands.
Joseph de Witt. former stage man
ager of the Tivoli theater, rehearsed
the amateur players. and the cast,
chosen from among the young men of
the st. Francis society, was equal to
the demands OF the play. Robert Karp,
as the Wronged hero who dived into the
rushing waters to save a drowning
boy, played Estevan with intelligence
and was roundly applauded; Henry
Arnke as the baron, John Dettling and
Leo Ruegg as his sons. Charles Ruegg
as Captain Zavier and Eugene Gilligan
the dumb orphan were all splendid.
as was John Fanger in the role Of the
eccentric steward. After the perform
members of the Christian mothers So
ciety.
Is Is YEARS OLD
St Anthony's church, built and es-
tablished 10 years ago by the Fran
ciscan fathers. who had already founded
the Church of St. Boniface, takes care
of the German Catholics in that Sec
ton of the city. At present more than
500 persons attended services there.
Father Placidus, the pastor. is popu-
lar. and under his guidance all the
auxiliary societies of the hurch have
grown and prospered. The st. Fran
els young mems society, which gave
the dramatic entertainment yesterday.
has so members and besides the dra-
matte section has an orchestra which
is considered one of the best amateur
musical organizations in the city.
Father Placidus was formerly a mis-
sionary among the Indians in various
parts of this state and came to Cali
fornia-more than 90 years ago. Be-
fore that he worked among the Indians
qualities made thousands of converts
to the Christian faith. He has made
himself the warm personal friend of
the young people of his parish, and
the societies are steadily increasing in
membership. Besides the st. Francis
society there is the ST. Josephs benevo-
lent society, with $50 members; the
Christian mothers, with 200 members;
the young ladies' sodality, with 100
members and the Sf RaDhaeIs society
with membership of more than 100
boys. Father Placidus has two assist
ants, Father Nazarius and Father
Agidios.
FATHER LEO FIRST PRIEST
The church was founded in 1894 and
Father Leo was the first priest. At
his death in 1904 he was succeeded by
Father Raphael, who had been his as
sistant, and Father Placidus. who had
been in Los Angeles, was called to be
second assistant in the parish and later
was chosen pastor.
Every year the societies give an en-
tertainment OF some sort and raise
funds for the church. The young
ladies' sodality is at present preparing
a play which will be presented in the
near future. The hall is equipped with
stage and all modern scenic effects
and the st. Anthony's societies have
won the reputation of presenting plays
of real merit in a manner hardly ex-
celled by any dramatic organization in
/ eft y