The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1913-09-11

of the remaining East Texas Mis-
sions, thus leaving Texas once more
in possession of the Indians. Some
of the settlers, however, were so de-
voted to their homes that under the
leadership of a remarkable character,
Antonio Oily Barbo, they stole back
and made a beginning of modern
Nacogdoches, erecting the Old Stone
Fort as a place of refuge"
This is the kind of patriotism that
has made Texas what it is, and not
the Fathers of the holy Catholic
Church" The lover of the home, the
lover of the rights of man is the
greatest figure in the history of Tex
as and of every other State and Ma.
ton.
1t is true that the early mission
work in Texas had some civilizing in
f1uence over the Indians, they being
overawed by the soldiers, a bright
picture, string of beads, a bit of
red cloth and the discourse of the
priests ON purgatorial miseries drove
many of them to accept the Catholic
faith, but what was the ultimate end
Of the matter, and what was the mo-
tive that prompted the mission work?
I will tell you.
About the buildings necessary for
mission work, the church, and con-
vent, there was a wall for protec-
ton, with strong gate and tower
on which were mounted cannons.
Near by were the farm and the
ranch, where the priests raised their
crops and cared for their horses and
cattle
EARLY each morning all the In
dams in the mission were assembled
for prayers; next they heard MACS
and a lecture. Each one then went
to his task, some to tOiIing in the
field others working on the massive
stone buildings, which were to take
the place of the wooden structures.
In the evening they had religious
services On going to their huts to
sleep, they were locked in to pre-
vent their escape" (Rome has to
turn the key on all her servants to
hold them, F.) In return for their
labor they were we'll fed and clothed,
cared for in sickness and old age,
besides being carefully instructed in
religious doctrines" (of Rome, F.)
GAS the Savages had lived as free as
birds of the air, such life of con-
t1nement told severely on them.
When one tried to escape-and many
Of them did so-sOldiers were sent
out to capture him. AS the supply
of converts came in too slowly for
the work the priests wished to ac-
complish, those who were trusted
were sent out to bring in others of
the tribe" History of Texas.
What glorious patriotism! What
wonderful sacrifice! What Chris
tian" devotion! Think of it. These
holy men of God" devoting their
time, skill and prayers to the cause
of religion" and all they received in
return for their devotional services
was the cultivation of the farms,
the gathering of the crops, the car
ing for the horses, cattle and the
building of the churches, converts,
etc.
The last Spanish mission was
founded in 1791-"the mission of
our Lady of Refuge at Refugio.
In 1894 all Texas missions were
taken from the Franciscan Faith
ers," and given to the secular priests,
and the franciscan Fathers, worn
and discouraged, gave up their work
in Texas and returned some to Mex
leo, others to SPAIN
''At the close of this era, in spite
Of all the labor and money expended,
there were in Texas not more than
twenty-siX hundred Europeans. The
priests claimed that ten thousand
Indians had been converted since
1890, yet in 1900 there were not