The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-24
BI-GENTENARY OF
 FATHER OF FAR
 WESTERN CIVILIZATION

California Will celebrate today the bi-centenary of the birth of 'tthe faith sr of far western civilfzation,'' Friar Junipero Sarra, the Franciscan mis- sionary who founded many of the old missions for which Ca1ifornia is lam ous, and which remain centers of at traction for visitors to the Golden State The bones of Sera and many of his co-workerz. including Crespi. ..the brother of his soul,'' now repose beneath the altar of the old Mission San Carlos BoEromeo, near Monterey, Rounded by the great pioneer in TITO A monument to Serra's memory was erected some years ago at Monterey, the gift of Mrs Leland Stanford
 Another center of interest for those who VIII pay honor to Serra today is the Mission San Diego AIcaIa, near sansDaegO. Ehasnrst founded of a mis- sion family of twenty-one. This an c1ent ruin was founded by Father EerTa in 1769, and the edidce, al-- thought cEunbIed in decay. is a mon ument to the se1f-sacraRfces herolsn. bravery and 11aEtyrdo1n of serra and his associates. Originally this mis-. sion was near the water front, but after several years it was removed inland abouk five m11esL The city of San Luis Obispo also contains an in terest1ng relic of Serra's beneficent ruIe-1n fheisTzIIs and altar of the Mis- sion San Luis ObsipO de ToIesa- Many other California cities boast of edi- rices thz4 are benevOlent benedictions, +N IA tury, nrom Serra and his fellow sol aiers of religion and civilization
 In the seventeenth century pro-. cesszon of baack-robed figures, armed only with breviary and crucifx. pass ed from Nova Scotda's bleak shores westward through the wilderness of Canada to fine mouth of the Mis- siss1ppd. and from Mexico northWard Into California Brayfng a thousand dangers >-for the glory of God.'' they laid the foundations of civilization in California, as in many other sec tions of North and South America When the aJesuits were expelled from California. the Franciscans took up their work, and Junipero Serra was the acknowledged leader.
 Serra was born in the island Of Aajorca, Nov "A, 1713, and entered the Franciscan Order at the age of eighteen In 1749 he went to Mexico, where he laboped among the Indians until 1767, when he was sent to Cali rornia. He was made president of the order in California, and on July I6, 17s9, he consecrated the Mission San Diego de A1caIa, as the first of the California outposts of Christian lty. Under the authority of Spain, he set about founding other missions. Up and down the coast went the reIi- yious pioneers, until there were twen- ty-one missions between San Diego and San Francisco. Most of the edi- rices were built of adobe and roofed with tile, and the work of the priestly architects formed a model for thou sands of public and private buildings all over the West and Southwest. The Indians were brought under con tro1 by Serra and his co-workers and followers, and served as laborers. The fathers cultivated the olive and the vine, and the great fruit and wine growing industries of the Golden, State began with them. Mexican in dependence led to the downfall of the missions in 1s45, shortly before the