The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-09

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work undertaken by these Mission
Fathers. After its removal, this church
was built on an eminence in the valley,
which commands a view Of the sea on
the one side, and of the mountains on
the other. In front, on the bottom
| lands, the olive orchard planted by the
Fathers is still standing, and, if not
felled, will stand for centuries. 1t is
noteworthy as being the Oldest orchard
in California; and from it all The olive
trees III California have been prOpagated.
From 1927 to 1884, during which time
| this mission was most prosperous, it
had within its premises an Indian pop
ulatiOn Of about 5000; owned II 900
head of sheep, 600 head of cattle, and
1 900 horses. These San Diego churches
are fast falling into the decay that comes
to the body when the spirit has left it.
The ruins of the mission buildings at
Cosoy, are the most ancient relics of
civilization in California. Great pains
should be taken for their preservation :;
the work of the Mission Fathers formed
base on which the superstructure of
Californian prosperity rests, and its ex-
ternal evidences ought not to be allowed
to decay.
The San Luis Rey Mission, forty-five
miles west of San Diego, was estab-
lished in 1898. This church was built
on magnificent scale. A description
of it, and of the walls which enclosed
the grounds, will give a general idea of
the work laid out by the Fathers, and
the means adopted for it's fulfllment
Fertilization walls extended around an
area half mile square. Adobe was
the only material used in their construc-
ton; and judging from the ruins they
were from six TO eight feet in height,
and two feet thick. At one side was a
aad9aagssssz- -ette+osfnssss -eTifd-'
ings. At ore end Of this the church
was erected, ninety feet in length, with
an imposing battlemented facade at
one corner the fine tower, from the op-
posite corner the arcade extended three
hundred and twenty feet. There were
thirty-two pillars on the front of the
arcade, and twenty-thTee on the sides
massive pillars, two feet square, with
Doric capitals, from which rose round
arches, A double row of rooms extended
the length of the arcade, opening on
one side into the arcade on the other
into the court, forming the cloisters.
The pillars and outside walls of the
church are of large burnt brick, the rest
is of sun-dried adobe. Outside of the
f0rti1eation walls, in the narrow valley
and on the mountain slopes, the large
herds and focks of sheep and cattle fed.
Within the court, the Indian women
spun, sewed, cooked, washed, ground
corn, and aid whatever other work fell
to their share while without, the In
dian men were constantly engaged as
herdsmen, farm-laborers, blacksmiths,
masons, carpenters; doing, in fact, all
the work necessary for large commu-
nifty. This was the richest of the mis-
sions, and famous for its hospitality.
The Indians were converted readily
to Christianity. The life of Father
Junipero, published at Mexico, is full
of touching passages Illustrative of the
mild and inoffensive character of the
aboriginal CalifOrnians. How far their
theological knowledge goes, it is diff
cult to tell The simple Fathers seem
to have thought that there was pro-
found philosophy, and nearly all of re-
ligion in that sublime idea, Love God -
Peace did, indeed, seem to have settled
down upon this lovely valley. 1t is
easy 20 imagine the Fathers seated in
this capacious court with their Indian
pupils gathered about them the warm
semi-tropical sun, and the cool winds
of the calm Pacific lending their gentle
influence, giving to the Indians idea of
the white mans Great Spirit, a sense of
infinite TepOse the invigOrating cool
ness and the genial warmth, forming
an unseen medium, through whose
serene control these simple children
could be led into a better cOmpTehen-
sion. of their Fathers goodness. OF all
the valleys of California, no other is
more regal in beauty, than is the San
Luis Del Rey. From the ocean it can be
reached by either Of two roads one lead
ing over the mesa, the other through the
valley The constantly changing views
give to each a succession of happy sur
prises. Upon the mesa, the eye rests
upon the varied shades Of green on the
opposite slopes, and upon browns on
/ theriveT- banks and bottom lands. The
/ two mesas, or table-lands, approach each
other, descend the broken mountain
sides through winding gorges and semi
preeipitOus grassy slopes, and meet in
this lovely valley, through which winds
the river to which the loyal Fathers
gave the name of their good Spanish
king. The passage through the valley