The herald., 1897-09-10

About o'clock the luncheon basket,
were brought into requisition, and a.
many as could crowd about the lonl
tables that extended all down the
monastery cloister did so and the res
roasted comfortably on SINE hay-ricks
across the road. The hospitable Sar
Fernadpans had not only furnished
transportation from the train to the mis-
sion. but decorated the cloister with
palms and flags and set the tables with
their linen and china and had provided
besides. the roast meats, salads, coffee
and other delectable viands that would
have tempthA a more jaded appetite
than anyone present gave evidence OF
having.
The fascinating al fresco supper was
no sooner dispatched than that versatile
man and thorough good fellow. Charles
F. Lummis. who is president of the
Landmarks club, climbed nimbly to the
railing Of the cloister. and, calling the
attention Of the audience by thanking
them for having come in such numbers
he spoke with deep and reverent feel
ing Of the inspiration OF those silent
walls of the two men of God, the six
had erected them Mr.. Lummis tend derly
called the attention of the 300 men and
women present to the footprints time
and neglect had made in the arch!hec-
ture, and said he was certain Father
Junipero Sierra would like to see a GER
tain tardy Justice done in the way of
preservation.
The speaker said again that he was
glad so many had come, and just so soon
and just so fast as people could realize
he terrible simplicity in the magnificent
construction of those monuments of
heroism, the missions there would GER
tainly be wider and more concerted
movement towarG preserving them. He
then introduced with words of keen ap-
probation, Bishop George Montgomery.
The bishop extended cordial welcome
to the Landmarks club and to their
guests. He said lady had just asked
him why the church had not undertaken
the restoration Of the missions itself,
and he had replied that the fathers had
been driven out by the confiscation Of
their improved property, the results of
all their work. The bishop thanked the
club and all denomin ations, who were so
of their state, and who had the senti-
ment to appreciate the self-sacrifice an0
heroism that the missions stood for,
that they wanted to do what they could
to preserve the crumbling walls.
Col. Harrison Gray Otis was next in
troduced by Mr.. Lummis, with few
words that bespoke very Keen appre-
citation of the colonels sterling worth,
integrity and dauntless courage. The
speaker said he thought the crumblins
walls gave good reason for the exist
ence of the Landmarks club, and that,
although they could not restore the
missions, they could preserve them, and
in preserving accomplish a great work
for Southern California The walls
spoke with the tongue Of history, and
nothing else in Southern California was
of the same historical interest that sur
rounded the old missions. The colonel
said he wished he could have done more
to aid the work, and that he believed
the excursion would revive an interest
in the work.
Mrs. Eliza A. Otis was next intro
duced, and by this time it was so dark
that Mr.. Lummis gallantly helda candle,
hat, while Mrs Otis read some very
graceful verses, full Of the poetic feeling
and musical rhythm for which she is so
we'll and widely known.
The next and last speaker was Charles
Dwight willard, who said he should only
speak few sentences, but that to the
little band of people who were interested
in preserving them, the missions were
an inspiring and interesting class OF
ruins. Most Of them are not put to their
original use, and so the sun and wind
and rain are reducing them to the dust
they came from.
Mr.. Willard quoted Lamartine, who
says "If youth only knew-if old age
only could" and he said if this genera
ton only knew the duty. of the present
it would do all it could to preserve and
pass down to those that will follow
what the past has handed down to the
present, and with cordial hope that
those present would inspire others to
take an interest in and join those who
were working for that end, the speech
and the festivity came to an end.
A rousing three cheers were given to
San Fernando, and another three cheers