The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-28
THE FRANCISCANS MISSIONS.


San Diego. Cal. May PA very conznenu-
able, and in fact. necessary, orgsnizat'ou
down here Is the Landmarks club. ''sor the
purpose OF preserving from destruction tho
missions and other historical relics In fths
southern part OF the State. The movement was
inausufated by Charles Il. Lummis, editor 81
the Sunshine Magazine. author of many inter-
csting and valuable volumes on Mexico ana
the Territories OF tho Southwest. and sen-
tleman to whom the State is under many obli-
cations Tho franciscan missions OF calfor-
MIA are the nobest aud most impressive ruins
IN the United States. but unfortunately the
people as wcii as the church. have allowed
them to fall into decay. Even those which
are sti used for religious worship and othvr
ecclesiastical purposes are lettering and vast
Ing away. Others have been utterly aban-
doned and neglected. so that few more years
will mud them nothing but mounds OF stone
and adobe. A little care and industry and
few hundred dollars Of expense wisely nr-
piled would make there ancient and pc-
turcsque structures permanent attraction in
this State.
There were twenty venerable missions
in California Eight OF them are In this I'm
nc late locality. and the oldest, at San Diego.
was founded or the 10th Of July. 1860. by
Father Jose Miguel Sierra, commonly known
as tho apostle OF California. The only mis-
sion that can be seen from the railroad is San
Juan Capistrano. which has been much
shaken by earthquakes and defaced by storm.
The tower has fallen, the sanctuary and this
closters arc roohcEs, and the bones OF tho
missionaries who came from Spain TO convert
the American heathon lie forgotten among the
roots of the tangled shrubhcry, but enough is
preserved to show the noble proportions and
/ ori trtth nft hna M
monastery.
, II was In the middle OF the eighteenth CEN
fury that the Spanish authorities at Madrid.
5 desiring to encourage the colonization OF Cali
I fornn entered into an arrangement With the
d brothers OF the Order of st, Francis. under
, which the latter undertook to establish assoc
ointions In the new country and convert the
r Indians to Christianity, thereby rendering
Thorn harmless TO the whites. Large grants
OF lands were made to the franciscan brother
II hood, and Sersa, monk Of sanity character
n md indomtabe energy. took charge Of the
Of work, He arrived at san Diego in the early
> summer OF 1869, and after founding the mis-
h sion here gradually worked up the coast as
1t far as San Francisco, building stations at in
% tcrvas, from which the monks aud lay breth-
a rem of his order undertook to preach tho gos-
n f~'l and teach the principles OF civilization and
, Christianity.
Tho Indians submitted with almost SUPER
p stiuous awe and performed gratuitously what
looks like hercuean lHhors under the dirfo-
lr ton of tho fathers. They brought huge TIM
Al hers from the mountain forests on their shout
dors through rocky canyons and over track
ID less hills; thoy cultivated the ground and
D. watched the herds and thousands OF them
,c were brought under spiritual and temporal au-
thority in manner that was remarkable
te The fathers not only engaged In agricul-
tura and in raising cattle ana ahoep. but o.
"a tabished variety Of manufactures and used
40 to shin from the ports OF Southern Calf
~ torniR cargoes OF hides, wool wheat and other
o., OF tho natural products OF the country to the
40 amount Of several millions year
"a Those energetic padres selected the best 10.
,lr cation in the country with a view to de-
az Tense. for the enjoyment OF the enhancing
o scenery. for convenience to running water and
. fertile soil and tho buildings they erected
II. are not only models OF architecture, but were
Of tho most durable and substantial char
"a acter
- II was not until the end Of the Franciscan
dynasty, which occurred when Mexico sepa.
>, rated from Spain aud became an independent
republic that this prosperous and romantic
period OF taltOfnlh history closed. inc mex
w lean authorities Heized all Of the mission
en pronerty that was not used for strictly re-
:" llgious purposos and sold It TO nay the ex
VI ponse OF their armies. rho holy fathers wer'
ne driven from tina scenes Of their long labors
'R and the Indians who had been their serts
." gradually deserted their happy homes and
'oi rolapscd again into barbarian. Here Hnc
there nowadays YOU find settlement o
oh MoxcanR or hglf-breods, and the old met
leB among them still remember the happy day
when the missions we're the centers Of al
their interest and tho spirit of conservation
ave Allied tho atmosphere.
aea Tho mission at san Diego Is the oldest
'et- that OF San Luis Bay has the most poetica
nee association; the San Gabriel is the most OK
ON tonsive and imposing San Juan Capriano 4
on hled with tragic memories and Santa Bar
md bnra is the most picturesque and we'll pre-
ms. served The last is near the famous resor
irst Of the name, The Others are all locate
ore near the Santa Fe railroad. Most of ther
to have been crumbling rapidly under the toot
be, OF time but the society TO which | have al
and luded, organized for the purpose OF restorin
ans and preserving them deserves not only th
but support but the gratitude OF all who reger
1t historical scenes and associations.
to William e. Curtis.