The San Francisco call., 1909-10-20

IMPRESSIVE MASS
ENFORCES LESSON
Creeds Laid Aside by Brilliant
AssembIage in St. Mary's
Cathedral
Eloquent Sermon Is Delivered,
With Great Edifice Cor
geous in COIOrs

the great bay OF san francisco. inc
spirit of Father Junipero Sierra was the
impelling influence behind that expe-
dition- 1t was not to win new posses
sions for the crown OF Spain, but to
win souls and TO establish the church
among new peoples. that the expedition
was made.
The religious enthusiasm of these
men and the missionary zeal of the
monks were the lessons pointed out at
St. Mary's cathedral yesterday morning.
when, in honor of the discovery OF San
Francisco bay solemn pontifcal mass
was celebrated before a host of clergy
representing every religious and Sc
lar order in the church and a congre-
cation Of laity that filled the vast edi-
dce from sanctuary to vestibule.
Look TO the rock whence we were
hewn." the speaker declared. The de
voted courage that animated that little
band has been our heritage The
splendid endurance displayed by our
people in the face of disaster proves
that the noble daring of Portola's band
have found worthy followers in the
land they opened TO European ciyiliza
ton"
FESTIVALS SIGNIFICANCE
That sentiment embraced the whole
idea Of the religious observance of the
Portola festival. That the event was
of vital interest, not only TO Catholics
but TO all men who seek the elevation
OF mankind, was a. fact that was
strongly presented by every detail of
the solemn service.
That the world generally was inter
ested in the religious aspect Of the
Portola festival was strikingly set
forth by the cosmopolitan character of
the congregation. Consuls of every
nation found their place close to the
sanctuary rail Officers of the ships of
foreign nations that have come to do
US honor lent their gayly decorated
persona ges TO the picturesque scene.
Their presence excited a large attend
ance Of their countrymen. In fact the
church of Rome was yesterday the host
Of men and women of every nation on
the fact of the earth, of man and
women Of diverse creeds, Christian,
Jew, Buddhist and Mohammedan. Dis
tinctions OF creed were wiped out, how
ever and the eloquent words of Father
lowed by alb
IN SPANISH COLoRS
The colors Of glorious old Spain made
up the sanctuary decorations. Above
the golden tabernacle door, nesting
between delicately carved marble pill
lars. a huge cluster of red dahlias was
placed and the incandescent bulbs re-
fiected their crimson beauty on the poll
ished altar hewn from the rocky sum-
mits Of Carrara.
Chrysanthemums of golden hue were
grouped in splendid profusion through
the sanctuary and myriads of candles
lent a mangnificent Illumination to the
ceremony
Archbishop P. W. Riordan presided
He was preceded by fifty acolytes clad
in the purple. emblematic of the archi-
episcopal dignity, Christian brothers.
Jesuits, Sulpicians, Dominieans and six
Franciscan friars. defendants of the
monks who accompanied Portola on his
trip up the coast. special choir of
senninarians of st. Patrick's seminary
filled the gospel side Of the altar and
sang the proper of the mass in Gregor-
ian.
Bishop Denis O'Connell celebrated the
mass, Archbishop Riordan occupying
his throDe on the epistle side of the
sanctuary. Rev. ]. B. Hannigan acted
as deacon Of the mass and Rev. Charles
A. Ramm subdeacon. Rev. John Can't
well and Rev. W. p. Sullivan were mas
ters of ceremonies. Rev. Joseph Sasia,
s. J., and Rev. Macmillan Neuman
were honorary deacons to the arch
bishop Right Rev. Mon. ]. j. Prender-
Gc1N e-c RAACcN-
MUSIC APPRoPRIATE
The music of thet service was ar
ranged with particular attention to the
festival spirit. r. ]. Harrison presided
at the organ and his strengthened band
of soloists and choristers sang Haydn's
Imperial Mass with spirit and harmoni-
Gus ensemble. The elaborate nature
OF its coloring and the magnificence OF
It's harmonies contrasted sharply with
the plain, simple cadences of the chant.
heightening in a way the charm of the
latter monotone. A march written by
Mr.. Harrison in commemoration of the
festival was played for the first time
by the composer on the organ
Rev. Francis Marion Harvey was the
preacher of the day. He is professor
Of English at St Patrick's seminary.
Menlo Park, and one of the best known
pulpit orators on the coast. His SER
mon was a beautiful presentation az
what the monks had done for California
ana the lessons that Father Junipero
Sierra had left us as an abiding herf-
tage- Before beginning his sermon he
recited the following prayer, written by
Arcnpishop Riorden for the festival:
"Os Almighty and Eternal God,
Who through Jesus Christ, has re-
vealed Thy glory 20 all nations. we
pray Thee 10 preserve the works of
Thy mercy that Thy church, being
spread through the whole world.
may continue with unchanuinr
faith in the confession of Thy
Name.
I'VE pray Thee, o God of mfxhf
and wisdom and justice. through
Whom authority La rightly adnainis-
tered, laWs are enacted and judg-
Inent deereed, TO assist with Thx
spirit of council and fOrfftude. ali
those who are specially responsible
for the government of our conn
try; that they may lead IL in paths
Of peace and prosperity, by en-
couraging virtue and religion. and
by restraining vice and immortality.
"We pray Thee especially al this
time 10 bless our beloved State.
placed from the beginning under
the standard of Thy Cross and
sanctiAed by the names of Thy
servants. Preserve unto us the
riches of nature wherewifh Thou
hast endowed Il and, I'm the midst
of civil and industrial peace, teach
us 10 use them with industry and
sobrfety and wisdom.
~For all the gifts of Thy good
ness we here profess ourselves pro-
fOundIy fhanIkfuI; q especially for
opening this land OF promise 10 the
oppressed of the nafions; for the
plenteOus bounty with which Thou
hast enriched our people; and for
the advantages of civil and reIig-