The San Francisco call., 1905-04-19
BY LAURA BRIDE POWERS.


why is it that Mission Dolores is
I closed to visitors?" asked an Eastern
visitor Of me yesterday. Having visit
ed every one of your splendid old mis-
sions from San Diego to Santa Clara,
1 was greatly grieved at being denied
permission to enter the Mission Do
lores-particularly since its founding is
coincident with the birth of our ma
tion," said he with a sigh.
That inquiry has been made before.
In fact, it's been voiced every day for
many years-ever since interest in the
old Missions has been created.
During the last winter thousands or
tourists have been taken out to the old
adobe sanctuary reared by the good old
friars Palon and Cambon in the long
ago; but view Of the exterior walls,
its long-stilled bells, and it's ruined
churchyard were all the visitors were
permitted TO see.
STRANGE say they, that San Fran
cisco closes to the public the most in
teresting structure within it, AND
why?"
Because says the pastor. the Rev.
Father Brennan, vandals nave
entered there. Do you see those
statues yoEder? Every one within
knife of the relic hunter-to whom
nothing that holds historic value is sa-
cred
And herein is a plain statement of
facts-vandalism is to blame.
Through the unlawful acts OF the VI
cious. people legitimately interested in
the old Mission are deprived Of the
privileges that should be ours by right
of inheritance.
Now. for a remedy+for surely. San
Francisco cannot rest under the i'm
petuation OF apathy toward her proud
est possession by keeping the church
locked forever.
The California Landmarks League is
now preparing petition to the
Rev. Father Brennan, setting fortn
the facts herein stated, offering to the
pastor the services OF a caretaker,
whose duty it shall be to guard the
ancient church from assault, with fixed
hours of service to be publicly an
nounced.
such action has been urged by the
California Promotion Committee ana
such public-spirited citizens as desire
that the best San Francisco has to Of
fer should be available to her visitors
then let us have the old Mission opened
to an appreciative public, and open at
the earliest possible moment-for there
are thousands of San Franciscan
particularly the wee ones VINO nave
never set foot in the sacred old place.
so full of history and romance. and
only because they couldn't.
Fancy New York, Boston. Philadel-
phia. or nearer home-take Los An
geles or Santa Barbara. for instance
Dernitting so valuable an asset to go
unnoticed and unsung.
1t is a civic and a social sin!-and 1t
is hoped that the Rev. Father Brennan
&n "a nf the land
marks League, petitiontng through its
president, Congressman Joseph R.
Knowiand.
To such as have been longing for a
visit to the church, with it's recently
restored altars-restored, by the way.
in a sane and artistic manner-the
doors will be open tomorrow for the
Holy Thursday devotions, and all who
enter with reverence and respect will
be welcomed.
And a beautiful sight will greet the
eye, as a wilderness Of blossoms will
be banked upon the dull gold altar.
with sconces of brass glittering In the
light of a thousand candles. Incense
will I'LL the sanctuary, as hundreds Of
worshipers kneel before the ancient
tabernacle, wherein rests the holy
eucharist.
This is the service of Holy Thursday.
in commemoration of the last supper.
ana one Ol Tie cOlClIucSl CCIfACCc III
the Catholic ritual.
Three years have passed since the
movement began in the north toward
saving the Old Missions. At that time
Miss Nora Fennell. born and reared
within the shadows of Mission Dolores
est. Francis de Assisi) took I'D the task
of raising money for the purpose Of
restoring the interior of the old church
TO it's original state. Succeeding adj
mirably as to finances. she gave the
work of saving the tottering affairs to
the Mahoney Brothers, who performed
their service in such manner that a
century hence will see the affairs safely
anchored to the adobe walls.
Then the whitewashed walls were
literally "water-washed, and lying
below the surface were found the orig
inal traceries of the Indian neophytes.
With rare skill these have been re-
vived.
Besides the statues in the sanctuary.
many of which are narvelously
carved and colored, and none under
century old, have been carefully re-
paired by c. e. Fennell, who for two
years has devoted his leisure hours to
this labor of love-a phase of patriot
ism that doesn't affiict many OF us
children here below.
But such resultsi-Ahl There's the
reward for these good people who
have done so much for Mission Do
lores.
Then let us have 1T open, that the
world may see what we OF the West