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New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 42, 4 November 1925, Page 34

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The Golden West ; . /■lf is a dreary journey across continent from Chicago to Santa Fe, but the traveller is cheered and stimulated by the hope of seeing at the end of the long trail the glorious land of California, in which nearly all that is beautiful and romantic in ' the United States is contained. All day and all night the slow train passes through a; lonely, sun-baked country, pulling up now and then at little stations, winding • among gaunt brown mountains, and rushing across sandy wastes. On the long trail westward there is one delightful respite —a visit to the marvellous Grand Canyon, of Arizona. Up on the mountains, six thousand feet above the sea, the train pulls up one morning at a quiet station on the rim of the deep crosssection which the Colorado River has cut into the earth. The mountain air is delightful, and. the color of the Mediterranean is in the skies as one emerges from the train and hurries up the pathway that leads to this .wonderful panorama. At the edge of the vast precipice one can see the river winding along, a mile below. Cliffs a mile high tower above it, varied in color, cut into fantastic shapes, and constantly changing as the sun moves across the heavens. All day one moves along the edge of this huge fissure, overwhelmed by the grandeur and the loneliness of the place, discovering fresh marvels at each new point of view, refreshed and exhilarated by this silent communion with nature, and loth to leave it all. Los Angeles Leaving the Grand Canyon the train descends once more into the baked sands of the desert. The heat is intense and dust penetrates even through the double glasses -of the windows. The one relieving feature js the color at dawn and sunset —the beautiful lights in the sky which have a charm as subtle as cue finds at morning and evening :in the Irish midlands. Then the cactuses appear, and soon palms are. seen dotted over the landscape. A little later we are among the orange. and almond groves, and at last comes . the station at Los Angeles. Hotels are god in this new city. Traffic regulations are the best in the United States. On© visits the quarter in which the prominent “Movie” artists have their villas. There is a motor ride through the enchanting avenues and gardens of Pasadena, where the millionaires love to linger. Over the sunny sea a Lust steamer takes yon to the island of Gitalin rugged as Capri in outline, a place ■-•of rest and peace where one may dream beside the creaming waves. One can almost t: see the great city growing, so rapidly does At develop, and; in the midst of its noise and hustle one comes on an old Snauish Mission church, eloquent of the good work of the early Franciscan Fathers who carried the | banner of Christ all. along the Camino Real —the King’s Highway— from south to north S of California.

Santa Barbara . T - , - A *' ; ; The-juost famous of . the old Missions is At Santa Barbara. A ; Jew mouths ago a ter- : ; rible earthquake visited;this little city,;-shook v? to 1 the ground its- . big hotels, -a ud^blight' ; much .damage to the towers of the ahfeieht church. Wooden buildings, Stood the' shock' well, concrete resisted when well mixed, trick not at all. The builders were at work and the ruins were rapidly disappearing, but " traces of .the havoc were. to be seen every- ■ where. Below the city is a glorious ‘ beach upon which. the summer seas made music all day and all night. Above, on the hill- v side, stood the Mission church. its towers A were damaged, and much of, the adobe work ' had tumbled down (hiring.the shock. - But the interior of this hallowed sanctuary was untouched, anti one could- still ■ admire the : decoration on the. walls, the work of:.lndian hands, under the guidance" of: tire Franciscans. In the old-world monastery garden the, shade was grateful, and walking: there wash: all the more enjoyable because the guide was a Franciscan who came from Ivillarrrcy. There among the trees and flowers we lingered and spoke of that dear land far away which no son of St. Patrick can ever forget, San Francisco This city of St. Francis is the most beautiful town in America. It has a harbor which is like an inland lake. • North of it are mountains and forests of grant trees, and to the south are avenues of palms and fields teeming with corn and wine. Stanford University is a thing of beauty; and its rival across the bay, with its lofty campanile, Its Greek theatre, and its noble colleges set .in shaded parks, is the last word in efficiency. It is doubtful if the world has a more delightful park than that of Golden Gate, with • its art galleries, its aquarium, its herds of deer and buffalos, its lakes and cataracts, and its bosky woods. It is a Catholic city, and it has a seminary and a preparatory college which are worth going a long distance, to visit. Among its,many churches,-that of St. Patrick is the most beautiful and the most interesting. It was destroyed Jby- fire after the earthquake, hut has - now. been rebuilt by its worthy pastor, Monsignor .Rogers, who is one of the most, ardent of Irish patriots. His love of the old land is not mere lipservice. From far Connemara he brought the wonderful green marbles that line the walls and support the lofty roof,*-.ln the stained glass windows you can, read the story of Ireland’s faith. The decorations are rich in Irish symbolism, and it is. an -education to ' study them under his kindly; guidance. His altar charts, which are illuminated »in ancient Celtic scroll, are framed-in gold and silver fashioned ,in a Dublin school of art; and his. vestments, made by loving hands in the same school, can hardly be surpassed in Italy, France or. Spain, One has to go, there in order to learn what artistic work can be done at the present day in Ireland..., And

hardly less wonderful than- all this isv'ihe kindness and the hospitality which this--'genial pastor from the banks of the Slaney--extended * to a fellow Wexfbrdman-. ::'{■.]. -1 •'"*.' '• ; :^" vr - V

El Presidio v," S Out tliei*e on the heights, looking through the Golden;.Gat©; towards'the broad ocean be:yond stood tile "did Spanish fortress,, called El Presidio, t s . The fortress> has gone nowhut the name;, : 'stillVrema.ins. Remains r ; too the romance of the spot, and the memory of .Coneliita Arguello, the Spanish girl who so ntany years ago, when San Francisco was only a. village, watched and. waited here for the coining of Rezanov. -Day -by day- her eyes swept the sea for-the sight of his ship coming 'over the horizon. But no ship came; and at last a chance “word from ah ‘ English' visitor told her that: Rezanov had perished in the snows of Siberia, on his way back to claim his Spanish bride. And'so-it was-that Conchita gave herself to God,- and, taking the name .of Sister Mary Dolores, became the first American -Dominican'Nun. Looking seaward o’er the sandhills stands the ’ 1 fortress old and quaint" ' " ‘ By the San Francisco friars lifted to their patron saint. . . Only one sweet human fancy interweaves its threads of gold With the plain and homespun present, and a love that ne’er grows old : Only one thing holds its crumbling' walls above the meaner dust— Listen to the simple story of a woman’s love" and trust. ’ Turn up your Bret Harte and read the poem in which he tells part of the story which is the loveliest and most romantic story that America has to tell. And when you visit San Francisco go, as another traveller did, and sit on the hill above the sea, with your back to the busy streets, to dream of those • old days that are gone for ever, while the angelus bells ring and the autumn sun turns the waves in the Gold Gat© into that “countless laughter of the sea” of which the ancient poet sang. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Editor of the N.Z'. Tablet desires to • convey his sincere thanks to many friends . who sent him wireless messages, telegrams, and letters on bis return from Europe. DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN vw St. Joseph’s' Cathedral Choir was assisted on Sunday morning by nil the members of • the Sistine Choir Soloists now on tour of the Dominion; . Weber’s Mass in G- being ; selected for the occasion; At the offertory Signor Belli sang “Pieta Signor’-’-(Salvator Rosa),’followed by Signor Paganelli in “Ave . Maria ? (Gounod-Bach).v- The • Soloists gave a magnificent rendering of the “Agnus Dei” ■ (Paganelli) with Maestro Casolari at the organ. For Exposition of the Blessed Sacra- A ment the “0 Salutans” (Perosi) was sung by the Soloists, unaccompanied.

There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 11 o’clock Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Sunday. In the evening after Compline, at which his Lordship the Bishop officiated, the usual monthly meeting of the Men’s Confraternity of the Sacred Heart was held followed by an impressive sermon on Purgatory preached by the Bishop in the presence of a crowded congregation. Procession and Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament then took place. The Sisters in charge of St. Vincent’s Orphanage, South Dunedin, and Mount St. Joseph Boys’ Home, Otago Peninsula, desire to thank the ladies of the Maniototo district, Central Otago, for a generous gift of three crates of eggs. Donations of £5 from “Client of St. Anthony,” Herbert, and 2/6 from “Client of St. Anthony,” South Dunedin, were gratefully received during the month. On Sunday (Feast of All Saints) fiftyseven little children had the happiness of making, their First Holy Communion in St. Patrick’s Basilica, South Dunedin. They were afterwards entertained to breakfast, provided by their parents and friends. The ladies of tile St. Vincent de Paul Society , (South Dunedin branch) waited. on the tables which were laid out in the Orphanage diningroom. U On Sunday, the 25th ult., the corner stone of a new church at Woodlands, in the Waikiwi parish, : was laid by the Very Rev. Father Hunt, pastor of Win ton, assisted by Very Rev. Father Jas. O’Neill, pastor of the district. An extended report of the function will be given in our next issue. ~ . On Monday (Feast of All Souls) the first Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral was celebrated at ,6.15 a.m. The list of names of

deceased parishioners and their friends and relatives was then read, the souls of the departed being recommended to the prayers of the faithful. Solemn Requiem Mass was offered at seven o'clock, Rev. Father Monaghan being celebrant ; Rev, A. Gregory, deacon; and Rev. P. Breen, subdeacon. The music was impressively rendered by the Dominican Nuns’ Choir, and at the conclusion of Mass the absolution at the catafalque was given by Father Monaghan. Mass was also celebrated at eight o’clock. Commencing at seven o’clock, three Masses, were celebrated in succession at North-east Valley, Kaikorai, and Mornington, respectively. The sanctuary and choir boys of St. Joseph’s Cathedral were treated on Labor Day to a. marine excursion to and picnic at Company’s Bay-a beautiful locality across Dunedin harbor. The boys were accompanied by Rev. Father McMahon and the Christian Brothers. Suitable weather prevailing, the outing was most successful and enjoyable. Owing to the generosity of the parishioners and the kindness of. a * committee of ladies ample provision was made for the entertainment of the numerous party. A sports programme was carried out during the day. Tho date of the annual entertainment by the pupils of the Christian Brothers’ School has been altered to Monday, the 16th inst,, at His Majesty’s Theatre. ‘ An excellent programme has been arranged, the attractions including an operetta (“The Royal Jester”) in which 260 of the hoys participate; physical displays, elocution, instrumental and vocal selections, etc. The plan will open at the Bristol on Wednesday the 11th inst., and intending patrons are urged to secure their tickets without delay;' as only sufficient to correspond with the seating accommodation will he sold.

Otago University Catholic Students' Club The annual Communion of : - the Otago University 'Catholic Students’ - Club, held in St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Sunday, the 18th ult 7, was the final function of a very successful year. Since its inauguration the club" has ..ceased to grow until now there are about sixty members. During.the past year all the lectures.given at meetings were given by the students themselves. . The following were the lecturers for the year: “Latin America: Historical Glimpses,” Mr. R. O’Regan; “The Pilgrimage of Grace,” Mr. J. Rankin; “Father Damien,” Mr. T. G. Fouhy; “Cardinal Newman and the Oxford Movement,” Mr. C. Hastings; “Hildebrand,” Mr. E. W. Campbell; “Catholic. French Generals in the Great War,” Mr. J. N. Smith. The annual picnic was held at Shephard's Gully this year and was attended by over fifty members; and also two very successful social evenings were held during the past year. V ANNUAL BALL. ■ The annual ball of the Catholic Students’; Club was held in the Strand Salon, on Friday, September 18. This was the second, function of its kind held by the club, and was an unqualified success. Among the number present were Dr. K. Ross and Mrs.. Ross, Mr, and Mrs. J. B. Callan, Mrs. E. E. J. O’Neill, Miss Bryant and Dr. C. R. Burns. There were about forty couples present and good music and good dances made this evening one long to be remembered. ANNUAL COMMUNION. The members of the Catholic Students’ Club approached the Holy Table in a body at the nine o’clock Mass on Sunday, the 18th nit. .Rev. Father Morkane, who was celebrant, addressed the students in a wellchosen and scholarly sermon. After Mass a Communion breakfast was held, in the refectory of St. Dominic’s Priory, by the kind permission of the Mother Prioress. The great success which attended this function is entirely due to the ladies of the committee. At the conclusion of the breakfast the president of the club (Mr. E. W. Campbell) addressed the members. He spoke of 5 the very successful past year and attributed this success in great part to the ladies of the Huh, particularly the Misses Simmers and Miss Gonley. ‘ ' ’' ' His Lordship Dr. Whyte, in addressing the students, remarked on the .urgent need for a Catholic Students’ Hostel, and said if the students made this great need known they would undoubtedly receive support from all over New Zealand. Rev. Father Morkane, who has always taken the greatest interest in tho club since it was founded, also addressed the gatherings He reviewed the early years of the club,l tracing its gradual growth down to its present position. In conclusion he congratulated the committee on the wav they had carried out their duties during the year. h After the breakfast, the c- tu J mits, at- the kind invitation of the Mother Prioress were shown over the convent.