flavored with zealous Catholicism. The most lasting one was La Gaceta del Norte, the Bilbao daily launched in 1901. It was part of the Catholic counter-offensive against the rising secularization tide and adhered to the “unity of all Catholics” platform, at the time advocated by the hierarchy; it mounted “oposición a ultranza” versus the liberal policy of Canalejas government, especially against the Ley de Asociaciones. Lezama co-founded the daily and provided own financial contribution; similarly, in 1904 he engaged in somewhat broader media initiative, setup of a Bilbao publishing house, Editorial Vizcaina; he served as its vice-president. At least until the late 1910s the Lezama brothers were key owners of La Gaceta; Luis remained in executive of the company and died as Presidente del Consejo de Administración of the daily. In the early 20th century Lezama was active in numerous other religion-related initiatives. In 1905-1906 he served as treasurer in Junta Directiva which organized diocesan pilgrimages to Rome and Palestine. In the late 1900s he was active in Junta de Defensa Católica de Vizcaya, a non-party association bent on confronting secular initiatives in the province. He set up and financially contributed to a foundation which supported schools in Etxebarri; the Lezamas donated money for construction of new churches in the same district. For years Luis acted as secretary of Junta del Santo Hospital Civil de Bilbao. His charity donations went also beyond the religious format: in the early 1920s he offered assistance to wounded soldiers, recovering from the Moroccan campaign, and made donations to offer accommodation to the deposed Austrian empress and Hungarian queen Zita, who was seeking exile in Bilbao. Lezama was a devoted music lover, active in Sociedad Filarmónica de Bilbao; in 1904 he rose to vice-president of the organisation. As he contributed financially, in 1909 the Sociedad organized him a homage concerto; its program included the first public performance of Así cantan los chicos, the first major work of Jesús Guridi. In 1926-1933 he served as president of Sociedad. His bibliophile collection included treasuries of musical history; in case of some, he donated them, e.g. in 1927 he presented a manuscript of Boccherini, consisting of separate vocal and instrumental parts of Stabat Mater, to his native Comune di Lucca. Until his late years Lezama used to take part in musical events, e.g. in 1928 he participated in Congreso Nacional de la Música Sagrada and upon death was