The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-14
The Monks Have Returned to
San Luis Rey
SERVICES AGAIN HELD
In the Old Days Prosperity Relgned
About the Church Near san
Diego, Cal, and 1t Is Now
Returning.
BY GUY E. MITCHELL.

Los Angeles Cal, August l3-The
palmy days of the eighteenth century are
being revived In Southern California.
Brown-robed Franciscan monks have re-
appeared at the ancient mission of San
Luis Rey fifty miles north of San Diego,
citadel Of strength and a haven of rest
in the early days. But for two genera
lions this mission has been almost en-
tirely deserted, until in recent years 1t
has become a mere picturesque ruin, its
gray walls and arches crumbling, and its
capaeious halls and lofty towers ADAM
doned and silent-a decaying monument
of the former glory of SPANS church and
state.
Beginning about the middle Of the
eighteenth century the Franciscans Gre
, ated a chain of these missions settle
ments extending from San Diego, near
the Mexican border, to Sonoma, north Of
San Francisco. They were located about
one days journey apart, to convenience
travellers but this feature was only In
eidental to the great spiritual, eduoa-
tional and economic work which they
did for California, before the time of the
American occupation.
The mission fathers selected the most
fertile spots in beautifully sheltered val
leys for their settlements Here they
built their churches, founded their
schools and established communities
which took firm root upon the soil. Each
community was made self-sutficient and
self-sustainng. The usual arts and trades
were taught and carried on Within the
shadow Of the church artisans and skilled
workmen labored at their various tasks.
Water was brought In irrigation bitches
from the nearest stream flowing from
the snow-capped Sierras, and field orch
ard and garden, reclaimed from the
desert, yielded of their abundance The
Franciscans were the teachers of the
irrigation of the southwest and this is
perhaps the deepest and most lasting
mark which they left ON Californias CIV
ilization.
Comes AS a Surprise.
This new activity at San Luis Rey has
come as an entire surprise to the quiet
neghborhood. Patriotic Americans have
been engaged for some \ars past in an
effort to preserve some of the old mis-
sions from further decay and even to re-
store them, to a certain extent But those
most familiar with this work did not
dream that the Industrious followers of
st. Francis would ever return to make
practical use of the old landmarks. Even
now 1t Is not known but that the move
ment Is to extend to other historic spots
However that may be, the gentle
| brotherhood has come back to San Luis
Rey. The old church has been repaired
and services are again held beneath its
venerable roof. The cloisters are being
rebuilt and the irrigation aqueducts re-
| constructed. The fields will be titled
again and yield the same loyal support
| to the community.
| The leader In the movement is Father
O'Keefe, who came unheralded from
Mexico and quietly set out upon the res
toration of the old landmark His fellow
| laborers are all members of the Francis
can order and perform their heavy man.
ual work In the brown cassocks that were
familiar to generations now passed and
| forgotten. Father O'Keefe does not ex-
pect to revive the former economic life
of the settlement in all its amplitude
Much has happened since his predecessors
toiled and taught and ruled in those love-
~ southern valleys. Modern people have
come with modern Improvements, and
there is now need of the paternal
scheme which did so much for the sim
pie population of the country century
or more ago. Father O'Keefe's plan Is
to convert the old mission into self
| sustaining Franciscan college. Thus the
| spiritual and educational work will live
again, but the social and economic fea-
lures will not be restored, beyond what
is necessary to meet the necessities of the
monks themselves.