As early as 10 o\u2019clock yesterday, the porticoes of the Academy\u2019s courtyard began to fill up with the most gentile guests, even though the ceremony itself would not start until 11 o\u2019clock. On the ground floor, a long table covered in green linen was arranged, surrounded by tasteful chairs for the Yugoslav academicians, and one soaring and more ornate than the others positioned in the middle, intended for the President of the Academy, but which was yesterday occupied by its very founder. In front of the table and chairs for the academy members, places were set for dignitaries, delegations, and guests of honor. Around 10:30, the building was already completely full.<\/em><\/em>(from: \u201cIn the Academy\u2019s palace\u201d, Pozor<\/em>, 10th November 1884)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Bishop arrived at 11 o\u2019clock, passing from the entrance to the presidential table in the atrium through a lane of around thirty young ladies from the most respectable families, dressed in white, followed by cheers and applause. Contemporary newspapers report that the gathered masses filled the lobby and all of the galleries of the first and second floors. The first rows were occupied by: Ivan Ma\u017eurani\u0107, Vice Marshal \u0110uro Jela\u010di\u0107, bishops Posilovi\u0107, Hranilovi\u0107 and Pavle\u0161i\u0107, the Great Prefect of Zagreb Ivan Vardian, department heads Danilo Stankovi\u0107 and Ivan Von\u010dina, retired department heads Deren\u010din, Muhi\u0107 and Pogledi\u0107, Count Miroslav Kulmer, Baron Ljudevit O\u017eegovi\u0107 and the barons Vranyczany, conte<\/em> Buratti, Kosta Vojnovi\u0107, Ivan Trnski, nobleman Jela\u010di\u0107 Jankomirski, Ante Ma\u017eurani\u0107, canons of the Cathedral Chapter Ga\u0161pari\u0107, Gugler, Hrvat, Kr\u017ean, Matkovi\u0107, Matunci, Rumpler, Smeti\u0161ko, \u0160nap and Veber, canons of the \u010cazma Chapter Ilija\u0161evi\u0107 and Lehpamer, Zagreb\u2019s Deputy Mayor \u0110uro Crnadak with the city\u2019s council members, representatives of the Parliament Erazmo Bar\u010di\u0107, Andre Bakar\u010di\u0107, Fran Folnegovi\u0107, Eugen Kumi\u010di\u0107, \u0160ime Mazzura, Tito O\u017eegovi\u0107 and Josip Zori\u0107. The ceremony was also attended by University President Pilar with the entire Senate and numerous professors, members of the Chamber of Trades and Crafts, representatives of the Croatian Heritage Foundation, the boards of all of the city\u2019s societies, as well as delegates from Ljubljana, Karlovac, Sisak, Kri\u017eevci, Samobor, Jastrebarsko, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Countess Eugenija Vojnovi\u0107, daughter of Kosta Vojnovi\u0107, handed Strossmayer a bouquet of flowers and gave a short, charming speech. With words of thanks, the Bishop went to the adjoining room in order to put on the vestments in which he would hold the service of blessing the Palace in Croatian, accompanied by spiritual music played by the singing societies gathered on the second floor. Newspaper reports are not in agreement as to the number and names of the priests assisting the Bishop in the service: Pozor<\/em> names the Bishop\u2019s secretary Cepeli\u0107 and dr. Ivan Bujanovi\u0107, along with prebendaries Ko\u0161\u0107ec and Rihtari\u0107, of whom only the latter was mentioned with prebendary Pliveri\u0107 in the Official Gazette. Taking off his vestments after the blessing service, Strossmayer, as patron of the Academy, sat in the presidential chair. Ra\u010dki sat to his right, secretary Bogoslav \u0160ulek to his left. Second secretary Petar Matkovi\u0107 sat next to Ra\u010dki, while other members of the Academy occupied the rest of the seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the cheering for Strossmayer has subsided, Ra\u010dki opened the ceremonial session with a fitting speech<\/a>, in which he mentioned the Bishop\u2019s patronage of sciences and arts, their development, and the gratefulness of the people for all of the good with which Strossmayer indebted them. After Ra\u010dki, the esteemed patron gave an inspired speech that lasted for almost two hours, which he ended by blessing all who were present, and proclaiming the Gallery open. He was often interrupted by the enthusiastic cheers and salutations of the crowd. To the \u201cAcademy\u2019s collection of artworks\u201d, he further gifted the medals of Pope Leo XIII, minted in honor of the great pilgrimage of Slavs to Rome in the year 1881, as well as two illuminated manuscripts on parchment: a breviary from the 14th century, and the Liber officii Beatae Mariae Virginis<\/em>, known as Strossmayer\u2019s Book of Hours<\/em>. Cheers of rapture roared from the gathered crowd, followed by a short speech of gratitude by Deputy Mayor Crnadak on behalf of the City of Zagreb \u2013 instead of Mayor Hoffman who could not attend because of health issues. After President Ra\u010dki asked Zagreb\u2019s citizens to allow the most honored guests and those from out of town to tour the Gallery first, the Bishop himself, accompanied by Izidor Kr\u0161njavi, led them to the second floor. The Gallery\u2019s Director played a very discreet role in the entire protocol, while Boll\u00e9 was ill and on bedrest, according to newspaper reports. The Gallery tour took around 15 minutes, after which the Bishop, followed by a cheering crowd, returned to his temporary abode. Honoring him under the balcony of the Vranyczany palace, the societies carrying insignia dispersed, followed by the rest of the gathered crowd on Zrinski Square. The ceremony ended around 1 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A luncheon for around twenty dignitaries who attended the ceremony was organized at the Baron\u2019s palace. The role of headmaster was given to Canon Veber, who led many of the toasts. Apart from the King and dynasty, toasts were made for everyone present, especially for the Bishop and the generous host.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yesterday at noon there was another grand, official luncheon held at the house of our esteemed Baron Ljudevit Vranyczany. Apart from Bishop Strossmayer, attending the luncheon were Vice Marshal, Count Gjuro Jela\u010di\u0107, Baron Dragan Vranyczany with his wife, Baroness Ivka, Baron Vladko Vranyczany, department head Dane Stankovi\u0107 and Ivan Von\u010dina, Bishop dr. Gjuro Posilovi\u0107, Hranilovi\u0107 and Janko Pavle\u0161i\u0107, President of the Academy dr. Franjo Ra\u010dki, President of the University dr. Gjuro Pilar, Deputy Mayor of Ljubljana Petri\u010di\u0107, Deputy Mayor of Zagreb Gjuro Crnadak, representative at the Imperial Council dr. Vo\u0161njak, court adviser and City Council representative Badovinac, Canon Adolfo Veber, department advisor Janko Jurkovi\u0107, University professors dr. Kosta Count Vojnovi\u0107 and dr. Fran Vrbani\u0107, the great merchant from Karlovac Turkovi\u0107, Secretary of the Bishop of Djakovo Cepeli\u0107, and Academy member and secretary Radoslav Lopa\u0161i\u0107.<\/em> Several patriotic well known citizens of Zagreb organized a dinner party for around seventy guests from other cities, mainly leaders and members of delegations and the parliament, at the inn At the Austrian Emperor<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zagreb was not the only city celebrating Bishop Strossmayer. The whole of Croatia, along with its neighboring regions of Dalmatia, Slovenia and Bosnia, joined in the celebration. Some patriotic citizens of Zagreb organized a grand dinner on the first floor of the inn At the Austrian Emperor for guests who came from abroad. At two o\u2019clock, seventy-five great faces sat around the table, among whom were leaders and some members of delegations, especially from Slovenia, representatives from the white City of Ljubljana, which fondly follows all events that take place here. The esteemed Fr. Pogledi\u0107 presided over this event, while the role of headmaster was given to our beloved senator, Gjuro De\u017eeli\u0107, who began an array of speeches with a toast to Their Majesties, the King and Queen. All guests rose to their feet and the hall reverberated with the words \u201cLong live the King\u201d.<\/em> At 4 p.m., the comedy Barun Franjo Trenk <\/em>(Baron Francis Trenk<\/em><\/a>) by Josip Eugen Tomi\u0107 was staged at the Theater and seen by Strossmayer from the second act onwards. Even there his presence was accompanied by ovations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The series of events organized for the two-day celebrations was concluded with an evening concert held at the City firing range, whose great hall was filled with dignitaries soon after 7 p.m. An hour later, the Bishop arrived accompanied by the sound of trumpets, and with general cheers and a standing ovation. Newspapers from the time did not fail to report that the program \u201cwas not put together very successfully\u201d, although it was mostly well executed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sgallery.hazu.hr\/izlozba\/svecanost-otvorenja-1884\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/6_1_1a_stolci.jpg\")
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It does not need mentioning that an array of zealous and wonderful toasts was given around the table, presided over by Canon Veber. It is understood that, along with toasts for his Majesty and the Dynasty, the greatest were those addressing the eminent Bishop Strossmayer and the esteemed host. Finally, we should also mention the toast made by the headmaster, the eminent Count Gjuro Jela\u010di\u0107, to which Bishop Strossmayer replied with an appeal that the Count arrange a ceremonious transfer of the remains of the deceased Ban Jela\u010di\u0107 to the family\u2019s new tomb, and he himself would attend on foot if necessary, to bless the tomb. Heb said that he was convinced that all patriots would also participate in this act, as it would be deserving of the memory of that honored and glorious man. The late Ban\u2019s brother, Count Gjuro Jela\u010di\u0107, promised to fulfill the Bishop\u2019s wish, which the gathered guests saluted with special gratitude.<\/em>
Finally, there is one more piece of joyous news that we need to report from yesterday\u2019s luncheon. When Duke Kosta Vojnovi\u0107, as the representative of the Provincial Council of Dalmatia, toasted Bishop Strossmayer on behalf of Dalmatia, he stressed that the Bishop, with all his good deeds, still owes Dalmatia something, and that is to visit it in person. To this, the Bishop replied that, God willing, he would do so the following year, but not only because it is what Dalmatia wishes, but because it is his own heart\u2019s desire.<\/em>
(from: \u201cFeasts at Baron Ljudevit Vranyczany\u2019s\u201d, Pozor<\/em>, 10th November 1884)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/a>
Of course, a toast to Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer ensued, as he lit the torch of education in our land, and a flame of love and gratitude in our hearts. The headmaster knew how to string toasts together in such a way that none could refuse to cheer \u201cLong live!\u201d Long live the Academy! Long live Zagreb! Long live Slovenia! Long live the real representatives of Croats in Rijeka!, etc., and long live our patriotic nobleman, Baron Lujo Vranyczany, glory to him for having opened his kingly halls to our treasured guest.<\/em>
Of the guests from Primorje, a brief yet concise speech was given by our patrician from Rijeka and representative of the people, Mr. Erazmo Bar\u010di\u0107 and Fran Folnegovi\u0107, while Mr. Hribar, a citizen of Ljubljana, spoke on behalf of our Slovenian brothers. His address was significant, as it expressed the feelings which all people of Slovenia bear for Croatians, taking joy in their progress and marveling at the great importance of our patron, who, if he had the millions of Makay or Vanderbilt, would without a second thought sacrifice them all at the altar of the Croatian people. The pronouncements of all delegations, especially those from Sisak delivered by Mayor Lovri\u0107 and representative Pavlica, from Kri\u017eevci through com. Markovi\u0107, from Ljubljana through Mr. Vaso Petri\u010di\u0107, from Karlovac through Mr. Banjav\u010di\u0107, and from Dalmatia through Mr. Ante Poli\u0107, mentioned with pride their boundless sympathy for our capital city, Zagreb.<\/em>(from: \u201eThe banquet at the inn At the Austrian Emperor\u201d, Pozor<\/em>, 10th November 1884)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>