The Press., 1886-08-26
Issued ETsrJfh Evening.
THE GID SAN JUAN MISSION.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIC ol
 FAsT-DEPARTING DAYS.

FAsT-DEPARTING DAYS.
 One Sunday morning in February we started to visit the Old Mission of Sau Juan, founded in 1T97, by n colony of Spanish priests of the Franciscan Order. It was lovely morning, such as can be enjoyed only in Oalifornia at this time of year. s
 On we rode past vast wheat fields, and acres upon acres of pasture land, where hundreds of cattle were enjoying the tall rich gfaks. Every little while we came to some orchard all aglow with almond blos- soms, which the slightest breeze sent fly ing shfther and thither, making us almost believe we were in the midst of diminu- tive snow-storm. At last we came in sight of tho old church, whose doors have opened for so many years to admit alike the saint and sinners. The old building was originally composed entirely of adobe, but has been supplemented by a modern wooden tower, which, together with fresh coat of paint. does much to destroy it's an- cieut appeararce.
 We experienced something of pang of disappointment as we gazed on this work of renovation. But this feeling was for gotten as we made our way to the interior of the building. There, at least, at first glance, we see none of the features of modern church. Mass, which was being celebrated, was almost over, and as we stood looking through the bars of the tall white fence, which separates the vestibule from the main body of the church, we were not little impressed by the scene presented. In the distances rising to the ceiling, was the altar, bright with statues and sacred pictures and ablaze with many candles. Knceling on the old tile floor, in accordance with Spanish custom, were the old Spanish women, their black shswls covering their heads, busily counting their beads, and ever and anon raising their crucifix to their lips. In the congrega- | tion were several black-robed sisters, in whose charge were some sixty orphan children, some of whom constituted the choir. Their childish voices and the deep toned organ filled the old church with the music which seemed to say you are tread ing on consecrated ground. This added much to the impressiveness of the occasion. As the priest turned and delivered the ben ediction the kneeling crowd hurriedly arose and passed out, only few black robed figures remaining to recite prayer in front of the blessed sacrament or some
 holy picture. '' 's.''..'+ <..
 While the good father was partaking of his breakfast we wandered through the in- fterior of the church. It is probably one
 hundred and twenty feet long, and was originally almost as wide, but there is no
 longer use for so much space, and a few years ago the two side aisles were walled
 up. The walls of the building, which arc ladobe, are five feet in thickness. Protec-
 tion against the Indians may have had something to do with their being built SC lsubstantially '
 l fex1A ,.a,,@ f,,,.ro a<,,,o .3,s oi
 what labor of love it must have been tc erect this old edi6ce, when told that there were perhaps less than three dozen nails } used in the whole structure, the rafters 7 being held by means of rawhide cut i1 Istrips and securely tied. The preservation of many of these old rafters is due no donbl tlargely to the absence of nais. The fiool is iniaid with brick tiles, composed oi :, baked sandstone, which have stood their
 usage we'll, being but comparatively little } worn. The ceilings, whose hewn rafters were originally covered with concaye tiles made also of baked sandstone, and inter
 laping, so as to have been waterproof, hai
 been replaced by Q modern ceiling anC . shingle roof, thereby destroying much oi 3 the picturesqueness of the old church.
 The father, having finished his break
 fast, joined us, and in his somewhat broker d English Qor he was Castilian) gave us {
 most courteous welcome, and kindly offer.
 ed to show us the old building. The pic
 lures which adorn the walls on either side
 he explained, we're brought mostly iron
 Mexico, perhaps originally from Spain There is no record concerning them, and : their age can only be conjectured thougl \ z doubtless, from their appearance, they art quite old. Some of these are considered { by connoisseurs to be really works of art 2 especially Q portrait of Saint Ignatius 5 whose sad expressive face beaming dowr upon us from the canvass claimed our at 5 tention for some time. The statues on tho central altar, which are almost life size SS are said to have been carved by the In dians out of the native redwood. They 5 are well done, the image of St. John 1T
 particular, which occupies the most i'm
 portant position on the altar, being st o naturally carved that one can distinguish ! even the cords and muscles of the arms 2 The father next conducted us to the yes \ try, where from a chest of drawers owe 2 one hundred years old, he brought fortl \ the vestments, which have been so long il Q use. They are all made of rich cloth, prob 2 ably woven in Mexico, and handsomely em 2 broidered, the ornaments, such as tassels [ being made of foundation of rawhide an, 3 covered with rich tinsel. S Opening a small door at one side of tn Q church we came upon an old pair of ston Y stairs, leading up into the pulpit, upol a- whose platform it was easy to imagin
 some old priest, almost century ago, tell
 ing in the most simple manner the stor, x of Savisur's love, while his half-civilize' n congregation listened with wonder an,
 rapt attention. Passing into side room
 Iour eyes were attracted by what at frs
 Iappeared to be a toy pipe organ. This
 the priest explained, was used in earl,
 times by the fathers to attract the Indian n by it's sound, and having gathered then around by means of the music they woul
 lpresent them with some bauble, and the h.. proceed to teach them some simple truths p The little organ was turned by crank n and was constructed something on the pla | Iof our modern music boxea It was manu n faotured by,a London firm, but bore n m date, though it is known to have been il
 use here as early as 17g7. Looking owe
 itsFe repertoire of tunes, the writing of whic
 is still legible, we saw some very brett . ttwaltxea.p ,- isff I t.54 ,tl r Opening side door we stepped out ir a to the graveyard. The father informe at us that there was about four thousan Il. a xl. Is Al