The San Francisco call., 1905-06-12

nothing OF recent development has
so interested the clubwomen of San
Francisco as has the knowledge that
old Mission Dolores-the oldest and
most intensely interesting structure in
the city-will soon be open to visitors,
through the courtesy of the venerable
pastor, he who caused it to be closed
years ago to protect it from hordes of
thieving relic hunters and vandals.
And that this splendid old sanctuary,
reared a century ago, may once again
resound to the footsteps of the rever-
ent, Father Brennan has given per-
mission to the officers of the Land
marks League to place caretaker
therein, whose duty it shall be to safe
guard the sacred place and all the HIS
toric appurtenances within it-also to
give to the visitors some knowledge of
the history of the Mission and of it's
beautiful old churchyard abloom with
roses.
Astonishing as it may seem, knowl
edge of this cradle of Western civiliza-
-tion is woefully scant-and scant
among people who OUGHT to know.
Can you who have visited in Boston,
Philadelphia, New Haven, New York,
St. Augustine, or any other Eastern
city, that holds within it historic
spot, conceive Of a citizen thereof not
being on intelligent terms with it's his
tory?-or who fails to conduct his
visitors to the cherished spot with
sense of personal pride in it's possess
sion?
Or coming nearer home, can you
fancy a Los Angeleno overlooking so
important an asset as the old Mission
Dolores-an asset that, through it's his
tory, its quaint architecture and it's ex-
quisitve romance, possesses a financial
valuation--if one munt establish all
argument upon practical basis.
But infinitely more valuable is it in
the story 1T tells of industry, self-sac-
rifice, devotion to duty and brotherly
love-these are the foundation stones
upon which it was built in the long
ago.
When it is recalled that the sane
tuary was built by untutored natives,
under the guidance of the patient
friars, that the huge timbers that sup
port 1t were hewn many miles away,
tortuously dragged to the site, that
every adobe in the building had to be
made from the soil by Nhand, as well
as every tile that protected its roofs
and surrounding corridors. There
were no architects to draw. up the
plans, no lumber mills from which to
order the required trusses and beams,
no brickyards to call up on the tele-
phone for the necessary building ma
terials, no hardware shops from which
to buy nails and necessary implements,
no planning mills for doors and mold
ings.
Instead the padres-having acquired
the language Of the natives-taught
them to make adobes and tiles, to lay
them properly, to hew and dress the
trees of the forest for timber, to use
simple tools (wooden pegs and raw
hide in lieu of nails). to make doors
and carve holdings, and to combine
the whole into a comfortable, pictur-
esque structure-a work OF infinite pa
tfence and infinite love, and all for God
And that the good old padres huilded
well-Palou and Cambon and De la Pena
the survival Of their handiwork through
a century of storm bears testimony. 1t
Is. however, of interest to note that in
1885, when the English navigator Beechey
sailed into San Francisco Bay and paid
visit to the mission he found the settle
ment by the Laguna de los Dolores
dilapdated and sorry and the chapel
thereof rather shabby The exterior con-
tinued in more or less of degenerate
state until 1860, when the Very Rev.
Father Prendergast then resident priest
of the Mission. caused the walls to be re-
stored 1t was he who built the weather
board protection to the west wall and
who reroofed the ancient structure with
SOoo tiiCS, anu tAuS IL Is 10 Hllu Dan
Francisco is indebted for the preserva-
tion of its most precious heirloom
Now that thousands Of knights of Co
lumbus are to visit the city during the
week it is to be hoped that loyal citizens
will point out to them, and to every Wis
itor that comes among us, the cradle In
which San Francisco was nurtured. and
that manifestation of pride in our pre-
cious possession will atone for our apathy
in the past.
AS a matter of information, the care
taker will be placed in charge of the old
church just as soon as sufficient funds
are obtained by Congressman Knowland,
president of the Landmarks League. to
guarantee the salary Of the custodian
which must be soon.
Do you want to help?
If you do, write to Joseph r. Know
land, 1543 Everett street, Alameda.
Where are the thousands who knelt at
its altar rail in the years agone and who
sat In reverie in its quiet depths; who
learned to lisp their prayers beneath its
roof and who plighted their loves at it's
altar? And where are they who loved 1t
for the memories that clustered about
it-of it's bells, those sweet-toned bells,
of which Bret Harte sang in the long
ago?