The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-20
THE EARLY FRANCISCANS.
Some Interesting Relics of the
Missions Of Last Century
in California.
Their Very Important Part in the
EARLY Civilization and
Governments

Though Some Are Well Preserved Mo,
of them Are In Ruins-Thrlft
at Missionaries.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 4.--California may b
said to have an ancient and 4 modern his
tory. The latter dates from The discsver
OF gold by Marshall at Suffers Mill, Jan
Is, 1S4S. and the first page OF the forme
was written whom that sturdy FRANCISCAN
friar, Faths, Junipsro Serra, established
the first mission at San Diego, July IL. l7Gs
and thus laid the corner stone of c~iviliza
ton in California. Father Junipero Serr'
founded not less than thirteen mission
before his death in 1884.
Those missions. together with severa
others founded by the Franciscan friart
after the death OF Father Junipsro Serra
extend along the Pacific coast from Sar
Diego to San Francisco. and have played
an important part in the civilization ano
government OF Mexican California. They
wore tho seata of learning, tho agricultural
centers, and in q measure the padre Of tht
mission ruled the country for miles around
With the establishment of a mission eulti-
walton OF the soil was begun, for each mis-
sion had to be self supporting. Orange,
fig, olive and pomsgrAnate trees were planted
and q vineyard cultivated.
As an example Of the thrift OF these mis-
sions I would cite tho one at San Carlos,
founded in ITO. Ten years later the padres
in charge owned 1000 head Of cattle. 1000
sheep and 500 horses and mules, to say
nothing of prosperous Vineyards. olive and
orange groves, Inc thirty years later their
hords had increased to include 100000 head
OF cattle, nearly ~ many sheep and half as
many horses and mules, and in 1880 they
shipped 100000 worth Of tallow and hides
and specie to Mexico.
In the sslection Of q location for a new
mission. Father Junipsro Sierra used rare
good Judgment. The lands in every in
stance were the most fs'tile, best watered
and the most picturesque within a days
Journey. The old mission at San Diego is
located in a beautiful valley q lew miles
north of the present city. Only tho walls
are standing, and the chief object Of in
terest to the tourist is the old bells, which
have been removed from the ruins of the
mission tower and are now hung on q low
framework close beside q new chapel and
schoolhouse.
About twenty miles north of San Diego
ve como to the Mission San Juan Capis-
trano. This mission was almost entirely
destroyed by an earthquake during divine
service in 1872. Many lives were lost, but
the church records do not give the number:
Portions of the mission were rebuilt, but
not equal to its former grandeur. 1t is still
occupied by an old padre. whose principal
dubies now are the singing of chant and
the daily ringing Of the old bells. OF these
there are five, and being composed of five
per cent. silver, they have q rich tone that
has made them famous. This mission was
once quite famous for it's school, and at enc
time several hundred Mexican Indians and
white children daily answered its roll call.
One of the most interesting of all the old
missions is the one at Santa Barbara, Al
though it was founded as long ago as Dec.
4, 1886, it is the best preserved and the best
tho only one in which there still meditates
and breaches = Franciscan friar, with
shaved head and hood and own This
grand old structure will compare with
Avila and San Sebastian. Its bells came
from spain. and are composed of equal
parts of copper and silver taken from Mex
leo. Fol moro than three hundred years
these sweet sounding bells have mingled
their mourning melodies with those of the
linnet and the thrush. All around are I'M
rivaled hillsides and sequestered sweeps of
lowlands interlaced with vineyards and
groves of all varieties of nuts and semi
tropical fruits.
Some twenty monks live in the building,
which accounts for the good state of the
mission. In fact it has undergone SO many
repairs that the building is to some extent
a modern structure. The main body nf the
church is 200 feet lsng and forty feet wide.
In a wing, 100 feet long and thirty-fve feet
wide, live the twenty remaining members
of tho community of Franciscan friars.
The friars and their cats and their moeking
birds f~ratsrnizs with each other serenely,
and tho former are undoubtedly happier
than all the milllonaires upon the globe.
They have all they want that is good to eat
and drink, they teach the young Santa
Barbara idea properly to shoot and they
doing all the good they can in their way.
feature of the mission is its extensive
garden, in which is what is said to be the
largest grapevine in the world. It's trunk
measures thirty-four inches in circumfer-
ence, its branches are trained over an arbor
seventy-iye feet square and it bears on a
yearly average over four and one half tons
of grapes. It has been known to yield a
crop OF six tons in a single season.
1t is a curious law of the Franciscan
frlars and most religiously adhered to. that
no woman shall be allowed to enter this
garden. The only occasion when this rule
has been knowingly violated. with the per-
- xiv jill WCS ln
favor of the Princess LOUISE at the time of
her visit to the Pacific coast a few Years
ago What influence was brought to bear
to make an exception in her case ia not
known, but the monks have nsver quite
forgiven themselves for this breach of dis
clpline, and for months after the walks
were daily %sprinkled with holy water.
Probably the most interesting of the old
missions. from an historic standpoint, is
the mission Of San Carnnelo. or Carmel an
it is commonly called. 1t was founded in
ITO by Father Junipero Sierra.
1t is here that Padre Sierra made his
home, and here he is buried in the sanctu-
airy fronting the Altar of Our Lady of tho
Seven Dolors.'
1t is here that may be seen the last rest
ing place of several priests who were CO.
workers with Padre Sierra, and of fifteen
governors of California whom it was vet
subject to Mexico.
For many years this mission was unoc.
cuplsd, but recently the church has taken
possession OF 1T again. Many repairs have
been made, and now masses nle again daily
sung from its affairs.
During August of 1883, Senate. and Mrs.
Leland Stanford spent some weeks at Mon.
terey. Ia their drives about tho old ms
sion they used to pass the rough, wooden
cross that marks the landing place of IA
ther Junipero Sierra. Mrs. Stuuford ron
celysd the idea of erecting q suitable mon
ument to the memory of the pioneer mis-.
slonnry. 1t il now completed, and standa
wit hi thn military ,oonr,n4;~