The Irish standard., 1905-09-09

Father Salvierderra, is said to be
life sketch OF Rev. Jose Maria Zal-
videa, under whose direction the mis-
sion OF San Gabriel grew into great
prosperity and influence. 1t is also
asserted, however, that it is pen por-
trait OF Father Sanchez, late OF the
mission OF Santa Barbara, whose tomb
in the monastery grounds is shown to
visitors.
The good and wise Father Sierra
lived until August 2S, 1884, when he
died at the mission OF Monterey. His
last words were:
"Pray ye, therefore. the Lord OF the
harvest that EIe send laborers into His
vineyard
These good men we're hampered and
held down by opposition and obstacles
which the servants of God have met
with in all countries and in all times,
and it is astonishing that they accom-
plislled as much as they did, for it is
asserted that there were never more
than forty padres among all the eigh-
teen California missions at any one
time. There were other good and
great men as we'll as Padre Sierra, men
equally devoted and successful in the
cause OF their work, but it so hap
pened that Providence selected him for
the founder and leader OF this memor-
able work.
Most OF the missions are in ruins.
None Of them has been entirely aban-
doned; some have been restored; sew
eral are being protected by the Land
mark Club. a society of earnest, pa
trotic people in Los Angeles, OF which
Charles F. Lummis is president. The
old San Diego mission, the first found
ed by Father Sierra in honor OF lie
Sonora de Los Dolores" (Our Lady OF
Sorrowsl, was destroyed during the
Mexican war, and only few crumbling
walls remain to show the outlines OF
the original buildings. The farm,
which was confiscated and sold to a
Mexican politician, was restored to the
church in 1856, and is now used for
an industrial school for Indian chill
drer from the reservation in Southern
CaAjatlfa, in care of the Sisters OF ST.
Joseph. The place is visited by all
strangers who come to San Diego, and
is particularly interesting because it
contains the first olive trees ever plant.
cd in North America The fine old
orchard is still bearing. The fruit is
still considered superior to that pro,
duced by any other trees, and "The
Old Mission" brand OF picked olives
and olive oil are famous the worlt
over. About three miles above the
mission you can find dam constructed
by the monks 125 years ago, which
shows how thorough was their work
nanship and how skillful was their ell
gineering. From the reservoir il
created they obtained water to irrigate
their farms, and they carried it through
al aqueduct constructed of tiles i'm.
bcdded in mass of cobblcstoncs anc
cement. This aqueduct passed through
a deep, precipitous gorge and crossed
several gulc1es fifteen to twenty feet
wide. The engineering was done b,
the monks, and the labor by the In.
dians.
San Luis Rey Mission, forty miles
north OF San Diego, was the largest
and grandest Of the religious establish.
ments. 1t was built in 1898 i'll honor
of Louis TX, King Of France, and is
now being restored under the direction
OF Father O'Keefe, jolly, but earnest
Franciscan, who is much beloved ant
respected by the people OF California
He has already reconstructed tho
church, and is now at work upon the
quadrangle, which is being rebuilt o.,
the same foundations and aft.r tn,
same design, as the original = tho
heavy arched, Moorish style. You arc
familiar with the picture of it, l have
no doubt When it is completed the
monastery will be used as a theolooica
school.
All of the missions are extremely in.
teresting because OF their picturesque
architecture and their history. 1t is
rather singular that the authorities al
Rome and the hierarchy of the Catho.
lie Church in the United States take
SO little interest in their preservation
Father O'Kcefe has been at work re
building the mission of San Luis Rcy
since 1893, and has been able to do but
very little at time because OF the lack
Of funds. He is almost entirely de.
pendent upon the casual gifts of tour.
lists and other visitors who became in.
tcrcsted in his work and quietly slir
a grcenback or gold piece into his
hand. Most of the money has beer
contributed by Protestants.