The San Francisco call., 1913-11-22
Canonization Of + ather Sierra
Is Plan Of His Co1npatriots
Island Of Majorca Discovers Itself to Be Birthplace
OF Californias Sanity Pioneer and Seeks
Honor for His Name
BY H. MORSE STEPHENS,
Sather History, University California

To make a saint of Padre Junipero
Sierra. first apostle to California, has
become an impelling purpose of his
countrymen in the Mediterranean ISL
ago the great priest was born.
1t is a unique thing that the name
OF Sierra has linked California and
Majorca, forgotten as 1t was for two
centuries in the island. Father Serra's
name is one of the most important in
the early history of California. His
work is familiar to every inhabitant.
The missions which this state regards
as its most precious relics of the past
were founded by him. By him thou
sands of Indians were converted. The
power of the venerable father-presi-
dent was second only to that of the
governor, and in more than one clash
between these two the viceroy of New
Spain sustained Father Sierra.
We are at present learning much
history from the sources In Spain. 1t
has been through the generosity of
the Native Sons of the Golden West
that the university could send feA-
low to Spain to make researches.
Hence the Native Sons enabled this
state to have the only representative
at the Sierra celebration in Majorca.
Until 20 years ago the walled
medieval town of Petra, where still
STANDS the mouse In WHICH StTTa saw
the light, did not even know the
Then an obscure priest. Father Fran
cisco TorreHs, found in the archives
of the cathedral Padre Palous life of
Sierra. The narrative stirred his
Imagination. He wrote new brief
life of the Franciscan missionary.
He made the name known to Major
cans the whole length and breadth
of the island. He organized the GEN.
tenary, lately held. He caused to be
erected a monument of Sierra, the
first memorial ever raised in the
whole island And now he has set
himself as his life work and as one
of the church the task of having
Junipero Sierra canonized.
When the Ma jorcans arranged their
centenary, just completed, we of the
university saw the wisdom of having
a representative there. c. f. Chap
man. travelling fellow in history on
the foundation of the Native Sons of
the Golden West. was in Seville,
Spain, copying old records of Cali
fornia history Chapman was there
fore delegated, being given creden-
tials by Governor Johnson for the
state and by DR.. David p Barrows,
acting president of the university
Chapman was the only foreign rep
resentative at the celebration lie
was the guest of the prelates and of
the kings representative, the mill
tary governor Of the island. He was
the orator of the day, speaking in
Spanish The papers of Majorca and
of Valencia and Seville in Spain
printed columns Of the affair. paying
high tribute to California and to
America, and naming Chapman as the
avatar of the republic.
Mr.. Chapman wrote to me OF the
celebration. saying:
Petra Is a town of about 1000 peo-
pie / think they were all at this
station when we arrived, including
the acaIde. or mayor; the secretary
OF the ayuntamiento or town coun-
ell: Father Coll, the parish priest
members of the leading families, and
Father Torrens. Father Torrens pre-
sented me to all the notables. and it
was impossible to doubt that the rep
resentative of California was the OBJ
served of all observers.
The town itself was in gala array.
On the nearby hill of Bonany is a