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Show CALIFORNIA'S FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. ANNI-VERSARY. . California, in celebrating its fiftieth anniversay, has seen many marvelous changes during the last half of the Nineteenth century. The Argonauts Argo-nauts who sailed around the Cape in '49 have nearly all passed to their reward. re-ward. A strong energetic and persevering perse-vering race were they. Bold and fearless fear-less they -combated many dangers, and like the hero of ancient Hellenice Myth, who sailed with Jason in the ship Argo to Colchis on the Euxene sea, in quest of the golden fleece, the modern Argonauts braved all dangers of land and sea when California's gold fields were "published to the world. The sand banks of the golden gate have long since disappeared, and San Francisco, with its modern improvements, improve-ments, public spirit, and enterprise shows that the grit .and snap of the early pioneers still pervades its inhabitants. inhabi-tants. , San Francisco, which owes its great growth to the early gold hunters, dates its origin to the foundation of the republic. re-public. When the Fathers of the Country Coun-try were drafting the Declaration Of Independence, Father Juniper Serra Was founding that city. On June 27, 1776, it first became known in history. Since then what marvelous changes have taken place! The first building erected there was the old adobe church at the Mission Dolores, which still Ftands as a monument of the faith and piety of the Saintly Franciscans. Long before Father Juniper Serra visited the Golden Gate, and laid the foundation of the present site by dedicating dedi-cating its first building to the service of God. Catholic missionaries visited California. In the history of the Catholic missions we read that "in 1601 a band of Franciscans celebrated the J first Mass on a rustic altar beneath the spreading branches of a time honored oak. This may be considered the natal day of the California Mission." Nor can the discovery of its rich gold deposits be brought down to '48, since Father Picola. S. J.; doing missionary work among the Indians in 1702, was aware of its hidden treasures. In a letter Written that year to the government govern-ment of Mexico he said: '"I have no doubt that the most valuable mines might be discovered in many places were they but sought for. This country is under the same physical physi-cal influences as Cinaloa and, Sonora, which are so richly veined with precious preci-ous metals." But gold was not the object of the real pioneers of California. Imbued with the spirit of the Good Master, the salvation of one soul was dearer to them than all the precious metals that lay concealed In Its rolling hills and rich valleys. San Francisco, in its jubilee celebration, celebra-tion, has many reasons to be proud, not the least is the great progress of the Church since the days of the zealous and devoted Serra who should hold the first and proudest niche in its history. In 18r,3, Most Rev. J. S. Alemany, then T-iiVinr r,f rail 1 : c . . . . jl. an amui juh, wiin nis Episcopal residence In Monterey, became be-came Archbishop of San Francisco, which was raised to the dignity of a , metropolitan see. His successful administration ad-ministration continued till 1SS4, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Most Rev. P. W. Biordan. Since the latter took charge, in no part of the United States has the Church made greater progress. Church edifices edi-fices have more than doubled. Colleges, Col-leges, seminaries, convents, homes for waifs, and many other charitable institutions in-stitutions have sprung up In the Archdiocese Arch-diocese under his able and zealous reign. With Just reason can the Archbishop of San Francisco, in looking look-ing back and reviewing the work accomplished ac-complished during the past sixteen years, rejoice with all its citizens. The great work accomplished under his own wise guidance, and through his own business ability, will ever remain as a monument to his zeal and devotion-more devotion-more enduring than granite or marbel, and will serve to perpetuate his name as one of the great prelates of the American church. The "Intermountain" congratulates San Francisco on its great growth and thrift, and its Illustrious Illus-trious Metropolitan, on the gigantic strides made by the Church under his wise, farseeing and gentle administration. |