The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-05-13

brated the divine mysteries Of their faith, thus
early planting the seed of Christianity In Cal
ifornia But the territory was doomed to
long neglect, and although the Jesuits were
the pioneer missionaries, by deception and
bad faith, the Spanish Government prevented
them from accomplishing any good, and final
", accused of no CRIME, condemned without
trial." those missionaries were dragged from
amid their neophytes and carried off prisoners
from California. More than hundred years
later came Father Junipero Sierra, and his
Franciscan followers, who again planted the
seed of Christianity, erected temples and es.
tablshed missions, and here amid the ruins
one of those crumbling monuments which he
he himself had raised now rest his bones,
and those OF nineteen of his faithful followers,
Here, too, are laid to rest beneath the same de.
caying roof, the remains of fifteen governors of
the state, over whose graves loathsome weeds
and brambles are allowed to grow and have
grown for nearly half q century. Here, also, In
the early part of 1916, Commodore Sloat
took possession of the territory in the name OF
the United States, and short time after here
sat the convention that framed the first cOnsti-
tuition OF California. AT one time 1t was the
most tiourishing place on the coast, and was
the first capital of the state. But with the re-
moval of the capital to San Jose, it entered on
Rip Van Wlnkle sleep and has been SUM
berlng ever since. The site of the old town is
beautiful one but there is nothing attractive
IN its old buildings or streets. The latter run
pretty much as they please, here, there and
everywhere, and the old tile rooted ddobes,
block house, tort and state house, are such as
all old Spanish towns present. But resting
almost beneath the shadow of the pine clad
hills, away from the principal part OF the
town, stands the old church OF the missions,
the finest and Oldest church in California; and
tho hundred years have passed away since
1t was erected it Is today the best preserved of
all the old missions. 1t Is built of white
Indians. 1t is after the style of all those old
mission churches, with slight variation in
belfry and front from those which | have so
often pictured to the readers of the FREE
TRADER. 1t contains many rare paintings
and few of great age. But this is not the
church in which the bones of Father Junipero
Sierra and his followers lie buried. That Is
about four miles distant from the town and is
called
1.-THE SAN CARLOS CHURCH
of Carmelo Valley" 1t was constructed OF
white sandstone, quarried IN the neighborhood
and Is about 40 feet wide by 1865 deep. 1t was
abandoned about twenty-five years ago and all
the valuables and ornaments removed. Up to
that period it was in a good state of perseva-
ton But the ravages of even SO short time,
neglect and the spoliation OF relic hunters
have played sad havoc with the deserted
church until now but little more than the
bare walls remain. The roof is almost entirely
gone, the altar mass of ruins, the buttresses
partly destroyed, the floors long since rotted
and covered with debris from the crumbllng
walls, the rudely carved stone fonts broken
and the belfry, from which the faithful Indians
were once summoned to prayer from their
peaceful duties on the hillside and valley, is
tenanted by owls that screech their disap.
proval as visitors climb the crumbllng stair.
case In the center of the church are the
graves of the governors of California and
those of the fathers, and in the sanctuary that
of Father JunIpero Sierra. A weather beaten
pine board marks the location of each grave
of the former, but naught indicates the latter
Loathsome weeds luxuriate and thrive above
the graves, while gophers and other animals
burrow IN the dust of the pioneers of Cali
fornia civilization. 1t Is sad sight to see
those sacred piles OF stone and mortar, built
with jack knife in comparison to the con-
structlng utensils used In this age of the nine
tenth century, crumbling into dust, for mo
matter what our creed or belief is, these are
monuments IN which we see ana realize the
and friends, old associates and the sweet char
Ites of family scenes at the call OF religion
which accepts no halfhearted devotion, gong
to bury themselves forever in a remote corner
of the world, among savages, ancouth in form
and dull in mind, and there to toll in planting
the seed of which God alone can give the in.
crease. These apostles of the Indians are so
near US IN time that we can almost touch their
hands; but in spirit they n, - far from our
selfsatisfied, lo@!. Dabbllng days, as the east
is from the west, and looking back on the
peaceful existence of their days, is almost to
lay ones hand on the middle ages and the
conquest of barbara races by the culture and
religion of the Catholic church. "And IN this
contemplation we are made to realize the
greatness OF the noble Marquette, when he
says, "A life IN the wilderness has its charms,
and the rude hut of the savage is better adapt.
ed to true disciple of Christ than the palace
of a king. My heart oftlmes swells with