St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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13, THE IGNA TJAN church, Palo Alto, and National Chaplain of the Spanish- American VVar Veterans, ascended the pulpit. His address was phrased in the words of a real American and de- livered with a spirited eloquence and a fervid enthusiasm which reached the hearts of his hearers. He spoke of the distinguishing characteristic of a Catholics patriotism, his clear concept of a dual duty to God and to country. That is why, spoke Fr. Gleason, the Service Flag of St. Ignatius University lies here this evening, here where it should lie, at the foot of the altar of God. A musical number followed the sermon and then the ceremony of blessing the Hag was begun. Father Mc- Quaide with his two aides approached the altar and. stand- ing beside the Hag, sprinkled holy water upon the out- spread banner and invoked with most beautiful prayers the blessing and the protection of Almighty God upon the heroes represented on its starry field. Then, as tears filled the eyes of many onlookers, as just pride kindled in the eyes of students, alumni and faculty members, and as the majestic tones of the Star Spangled Tlannerw brought all to attention, the Hag was slowly raised to a place above the altar. A song, written specially for the occasion by Vincent VV. Hallinan, '19, and set to music by Professor Albert Schuh, was now sung by the choir. Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed and the magnificent and impressive ceremony of consecrating the Service Flag of St. Ignatius University concluded with an appropriate and heartfelt Laudate.

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BLESSIXG OUR SERVICE FLAG 17 the Rev. Joseph Riordan, S. vl. As the last note died away the Military lland of the 62nd Artillery Regiment, occupy! ing the spacious upper gallery, broke forth into the martial tones of the Stars and Stripes Forever march. lf ever brazen throated instruments have lent the charm of in- spiring music to a scene, and if ever a military hand has with rhythmic harmony made hearts beat quickly, it was on this occasion when the majestic temple vibrated with that full sonorous melody. Truly it was the grandest commingling of the military and the religious that the Catholics in San Francisco have ever witnessed. Now, down the middle aisle between the stately colon- nades on either side and past an eager and deeply im- pressed congregation, eight lchalcifclad soldiers, proud to perform such an office for their Alma Mater, carried the magnificent banner to the altar and draped it before the very door of the tabernacle. There it lay for all to behold, with red border. white field and blue stars, a significant Flag, bearing in its ample folds an eloquent tribute to the noble virility, the stead- fast devotion and the lively patriotism of the sons of St. Ignatius lvniversity. There were 378 stars in all, three of which were set in gold, telling the simple story of three lgnatians, who have already offered the last full measure of devotion. The honored dead are Charles R. lX'lcYey, a victim on the torpedoed Tuscaniag Xliilliam Lasater and George XY. Ross, both of whom died of disease, the latter across the seas in France, the former here in his own native city. The lgnatian of highest military rank, represented on the ll W is llrieadier-General Charles A. Mclfinstry, A. ll. '84, Zig, J he at the present time commanding a division of engineers in France. After the choir had intoned the l'Veni Creator, the Rev. Joseph Gleason, A.R. '87, pastor of St. Thomas'

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ilinuinga nf at 3larkir New York, Feb. 22, 1918. Saturday Night, 6:15 o'clock. Dearest Dad and Mother: I've been swept off my feet so completely by my Hrst im- pression of New York that, although 1've been here only four or five hours, I decided that 1 just had to let you know all about it. W'e left the station at 1:30 o'clock, and after a mile's walk through the snow, which was very exciting in itself, we reached the railroad station: after a ten-minute ride on the train we changed cars. and to my surprise we were landed on a station fifty feet above ground: then followed my first ride on ele- vated railroads. To the other Cali- fornia boys it was just as much a CHAS. J. WISEMAN, A. B. '17 surprise and novelty as it was for me. 1 used to think that it was a lot of nbunk' when I heard that trains ran alongside of four and five story buildings. Our ride took us along the famous Harlem and its countless number of tenement housesg they were the same as 1 have often seen in moving pictures: row after row of houses identical in architecture, with millions of little kids lined up on every street, coasting down the hills with their snow-sleighs. We rode as far as Forty-second street and then descended to terra Firma again. The first sight to greet our eyes was the Grand Cen- tral Station, and in we went to investigate. 1 guess, Mother, that you remember it very Well, for to my way of thinking once you have seen it you will never forget it. After we had spent a half-hour looking around we de- cided to keep going till we hit old Broadway. By this time