University of San Francisco - USF Don Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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NEW FACU LTY W ILDING 11 Golden Gate, they symbolize another guidance through another Golden Gate. “On the other side, from nearly every portion of San Francisco and irom the transbay cities, the building presents an equally majestic appearance. Sometimes it is seen through clusters of trees, a stately outline in the distance; at other times, like the tall cliff of which Goldsmith speaks, it rises above the rolling log and stands alone in its sunlit glory; again, as when viewed from the Oakland side of the bay, it takes the topmost position in the imposing skyline of the city, lilting its graceful dome and prayerful towers out of the tangled and rugged mass of the downtown skyscrapers. And thus while its monarch-like magnificence proclaims the rapid growth and heralds the future glory of the new and greater San Francisco, its heavenward-pointing spires appeal. with mute but forcible eloquence, to all men of every creed and of every condition in life to join hearts and hands and to work together for tin realization of a better and in consequence a more enduring San Francisco.” “St. Ignatius Church . That is not the complete name of the old institution. It was St. Ignatius Church and Col-lege that was of twin birth with tin city of San Francisco, it was St. Ignatius Church and College that was blotted out of existence by tin fire of 1906, and because the new Faculty Building is a complement of the Church and a prophetic promise of the College, it has aroused unsual enthusiasm and occasioned much joy among the friends of the Institution. Standing before it we may notice at once tin' contrast between tin Church and the new building. The latter has not the same splendor, tin same ornate style as the Church. Xor would lavish ornamentation become the home of men who lead a life of renunciation. They themselves have spared no expense in building their wonderful church, they will spare no expense in building their College, when the occasion is at hand; but on their own home they desired none of the

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10 THE I OS ATI AS speaks with mute eloquence the familiar words: “San Francisco Welcomes the World”. Turning towards the north we see in quick succession, the towering office buildings, the white marble columns and the glittering dome of the City Hall, and the acropolis-like structures on the north western hills and then facing towards the golden portals of the western sea we behold an object that arrests our attention and commands our reverential homage. There is nothing like it in the city, nothing like it, we are tempted to say, in the world! From the summit of Ignatian Heights, far above the city of St. Francis rise the two crossed towers of St. Ignatius Church. If it be true, as Stevenson says, that “mankind was never so happily inspired as when it made a cathedral”, it seems equally true that in the whole wonderful course of San Francisco history, there never was a happier inspiration than that to which we owe this magnificent Church of St. Ignatius in its present situation. Many have been the tributes paid to its conspicuous beauty. We shall quote the following from the pen of Rev. I). J. Kavanagh, S. J.: “When the ocean-voyager approaches San Francisco from Xorth or South or distant Orient the first object to attract his attention is an immense structure that crowns tin Western hills of the city and lifts two massive towers towards the sky, like two arms outstretched in suppilant prayer. When the crosses of these towers and of the dome, which rises to almost equal height, are illuminated by electric lights, the object that first greets the voyager and bids him welcome to tin city of St. Francis, is visible by night as well as bv day. And if by day, the immense pile, glittering in the sun. is suggestive of noble thoughts, if it reminds the visitor that the people of San Francisco recognize the need they have of God—the effect by night is even more inspiring; the crosses stand out gloriously in the darkness and while serving as a beacon to guide the mariner through the

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12 THE 10S AT IAS architectural embellishments that are so conspicuously prcv alent on the Church. And yet, the architect, under the direction of the donor and with the desire of the Fathers in mind has succeeded in constructing: a home that is majestic in its simplicity and agreeable in its severity. Following the general style of the Italian Renaissance he has very artistically and with great delicacy adorned the front of the building in a manner restful to the eye. The main entrance surmounted by a cross and two shapely vases, is a little masterpiece of chaste grandeur. On the other side there is a portico running parallel with the main wing enclosed by arched windows set gracefully between pilasters of Doric suggestion. It is part of the main structure, a one-storied projection, serving the purpose, as we shall see on entering, of offices and reception rooms. Above this portico and set in from it, the main building of two additional stories rises in unadorned severity. At either end there is a two-storied wing running south, toward Fulton Street, thus forming an incomplete quadrangle. The arrangement is admirable. The morning sun will flood the eastern side of both wings, and in the afternoon the western side of tin wings will be bathed in its warm rays, while the front of the house will be assured of the golden flood of light throughout the day. The building is so tinted that its color scheme harmonizes with that of the Church, and further strengthens the suggestion that the two are but units of a greater whole. As we enter we find ourselves in a spacious vestibule and we pause to read the inscription above the door that leads into the cloister: “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam”,—To the Greater Glory of God. It is gracefully inscribed in letters of gold on a white marble plaque and tells the visitor the purpose of the building and of the lives of the men who are to make it their home. God’s glory is sought by all who serve and reverence their Maker. God’s glory is proclaimed by all Ilis crea-