The San Francisco call., 1909-02-12
CHILDREN HONOR
LINCOLN'S MEMORY
Centenary Exercises Conducted
at st. Mary's Presenta=
ton Academy

ton Academy
Lincoln centenary exercises were
held at st. Mary's presentation acad-
emy, Franklin and Eddy streets, yes
terday afternoon. In the musical pro-
gram chorus of Us children partici-
plated. Rev. Father Prendergast. vicar
general, delivered the Grafton on the
life and character OF Lincoln, after
ward complimenting the sisters on the
showing made by the scholars and the
children themselves on their enthusi-
asm and patriotism. The hall was dec
GRATED by the girls of the academic
classes, palms and evergreens being
entwined with the national colors.
which also draped life sized por-
trait Of Lincoln.
Father Prendergast said that he had
carefully studied the administration OF
Lincoln, who, he said, always acted
from the highest motives and for the
good of the great mass of the people.
The priest said that excepting Wash
ington. Lincoln was undoubtedly the
greatest of Americans.
WISE AND COURAGEOUS
He was great as a statesman and
great as a man, a noble man and great
in every respect" said Father Prender-
CAST. 10 Washington we owe our
existence as a nation and to Lincoln we
owe its perpetuation, for had it not
been for the wisdom and courage of
the great man that which Washing
tor had established would have been
dissipated."
An effective feature of the exercises
was the recitation. The Virtues of
Lincoln" by the second grammar
grade. each pupil reciting verse, and
at the closing words laying a crown
Of roses at the feet of Lincoln. Miss
CIemence Rowe recited the Gettysburg
address with fine effect, and was COM
plimented by Father Prendergast An
other splendid number was the recita-
tion by the primary department, Lin
coins Name" in which each child held
gilt letter and lead a verse until
the name of Lincoln was spelled out.
TRIBUTE BY SENIORS
The opening address and the
Tribute TO Lincoln" by members of
the senior academic classes reflected
great credit on scholars and teachers.
/ The following is the program in full:
Address. s....................; Miss Beatrice zinns
.-......: :......--......M MISS Mary Meodle
Recitation, ?.Llncoln's Name ...........-
Recitation, For My Country" Master Parker
Gettysburg Address Miss Clemence Rowe
Cornet solo. American Airs Miss Frances Ford
Recitation, Hold the Fort Miss Lucille Tighe
Vocal duet, 20 Merry Birds, Tell Us" ;...-
Concert recitation America Arcrsr5e slnglne Of eass
Nations. "....................A Academic classes
Recitation. The Story of FredrIcksburg".
/ Miss Bernlce spencer
Vocal solo, MY Own United States .-......
/ ......................... Miss Cora Thorpe
Recitation. The Virtues of Lincoln" $3.50.
Observation-Disclosures Second grammar class
/ Piano SOLO Alice ....... Miss Carmen Cannon
Recitation, The Starry Flower of Liberty
.Elocution class
Remarks. rks............... Rev. Father Prendergast
Wheeler Addresses Hebrews
President BENJAMIN Ide Wheeler
and Lucius L. Soiomons were the ora
tors at the celebration of the Lincoln
centennial by the Young Mems Hebrew
Page street, last night when varied
program was given. The hall was dec
GRATED with evergreens and the stage
draped in silken flags. In spite of the
inclemency Of the weather a large
number of people assembled to do
honor to the memory of the great man..
President Wheeler spoke of his own
recollection of the days of the war
and of the events preceding the as
sassination of President Lincoln while
the speaker was yet boy. He talked
of the bitterness and hostility that ex-
listed against the president in many
quarters and equal loyalty in others,
and recalled the tarring and feather
! ing of an editor who had denounced
regiment of volunteers.
There never was man who suf-
/ fered such eXcoriation as Lincoln, I"
said Wheeler He was the target Of
the most Infamous remarks, vet he was
never bitter, for he understood that he
was misunderstood and knew that he
was doing his best for the good of
those who denounced him.
Lincoln was a plain man who un-
derstood US all-had sympathy with all
men. He stands as an example of the
] heights to which an American can rise
If he had been a cynic he would
/ not have been able to bind the ma
tion and the people together as he has
the common admission of the leader
/ ship of Lincoln and Of his principles
that makes US all one people and one
nation. 1t is in his name that we are
a nation"
Lucius i. Solomons said that the ad-
dress at Gettysburg, which had been
written by Lincoln on q slip of paper
while on the train on his way to the
burial ground. is the longest epfgram
and the shortest Grafton in literature,
and next to the declaration of inde- :
/ pendence, the greatest public docu-
/ rnent. Every element of greatness in
this man was as unconscious as the
heart of q child. He was thrilled with
Inspiration and had the power to cast
the spell upon others. His whole
thought was for the preservation OF
the union. It was not the question of
slavery of itself which brought on the
war. but Lincoln knew that slavery
could not exist on a soil which had
been consecrated to freedom and broth
erhood.
Miss Raye r. Loventhal recited the
/ Gettysburg address and brief addresses
were made by Benjamin Sloss and Nor
man E Eisner. The music was fur
nished by the Pacific Hebrew orphan
asylum band and "rhe Star Spangled
/ Banner was sung by Miss Marion Pc
ters. Following is the program in full: