Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-20
MISSION PRESERVERS.
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY REV
FATHER ADAM.
Measures Proposed and the People who
Will Carry Them Out-Excur-
sion to San Juan.

A meeting OF the committee on the
preservation of missions was held last
evening at the assembly room, chamber
of commerce. A smaller number was
present than should have been the case
owing to misunderstanding of the
announcement. G. P. Dorland intro
duced Father Adam, who read a paper,
"Reminiscences of San Juan Capistrano,
which opened as follows: 81 first visited
San Juan in 1883. In 1906 the first
baptism occurred in the new church,
and from that date to 1883. 2733 bap-
tisms had taken place in that mission.
The new church, whose ruins are yet
imposing and causing admiration, was
built by the neophyte Indians. Work
was begun February 2, 1897, and was
finished in 1906. After the fathers left,
pointed bishop, in the person of Don
Garcia Diego Moreno, who resided at
Santa Barbara. His town was under
the regime of the Mexican government.
They missions-many of them-were
almost al total ruin other in the hands
of squaters. 1t took years and money
to reclaim them. The mission of San
Juan was in litigation over fifteen years.
l rejoice to see people OF another creed
taking such interest for the preservation
of the missions, prompted by love of
antiquity. 1t shows they are above
prejudice and lend helping hand to
keep from falling to the ground those
monuments of the zeal of the early
Franciscan missionaries"
Mrs. Jaenne G. Carr of Pasadena next
spoke in favor of the movement under
way, urging the assistance of the state
to preserve what is part of it's history
from spoliation. She said: II should
like to see fund established to
strengthen the mission walls, to COM
memorate by tablets on these walls the
jealous and sacrificing deeds of early
fathers. 1 should like to see fund
raised for this society to be devoted to a
good translation of Father Palon's mar
rative. i should like to see the graves
of these fathers preserved, and to see a
kind of Walhalla built around these
| grounds"
Miss Kelso then presented some of
the practical features of the plan formu-
lated, stating that in an interview with
| Bishop Mora he had stated that it was
not proposed to use the buildings for
church purposes, but in the event of
enough interest being shown by people
to preserve the ruins from further decay
| he would cheerfully aid the cause as far
panies had also been interviewed and
evinced the liveliest interest, promising
material support for go good an object.
The Overland Monthly had at
once volunteered it's assistance to
awaken public interest in the
| northern part of the state. In the
meantime proper precautions had been
taken to stop at once any further depre-
dations, it being proposed to prosecute
any one attempting such violation.
| Arrangements have been made for an
| excursion to San Juan on next Saturday
under the auspices of the Historical 60
ciety. The train will leave the Santa
Fe depot at S:15 q. m. and will return
at :15 p. m. Those not wishing to
take lunch can get dinner at the hotel in
San Juan.
Mr.. and Mrs. Coronel have kindly Of
fered to try and arrange for the presence
on that occasion of such mission Indians
as still live in the vicinity, and for come
Spanish games.
All wishing to join the excursion will
leayetheir names and number of tickets
desired at the Office of the Santa Fe
company on Spring street at an early
date, as the number will be limited to
200. u
The meeting closed with an exhibition
of stereopticon views Of San Juan Capis-
trano and other Southern California
missions. Much enthusiasm was
evinced by those present, and it was
urged upon the committee to have an
other meeting after the excursion.