The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-07-24

- ed before PuritanS began their
conquest OF New England for
the sake OF their religious free
dom, century and a half earlier than
their wonderful story was begun in
California, the FranciScanS had en-
tered upon their work for the CONVEX
sion of the finest race Of aborigines in
the United States, the Pueblo Indians
of New Mexico.
The Pueblos were already far on the
road to civilization and were a peace
loving, BODYBUILDING people, so that
1T is not strange that progress among
them was rapid, even though martyr
dom was the lot Of many Of the earli-
est missionaries. AS monuments to
this first Christian work on this CONT
nent there are standing today nearly
thirty old churches, which are unques-
tionably the most interesting group of
buildings in America from an antigua
rian and tourist standpoint. Yet they
are practically unknown to the mass
Of travellers, even Of the more intelli-
gent class, writes Jessie Mcmillan
Strong in the Los Angeles Times.
The chain Of missions established by
the Franciscans, under the leadership
of Padre Junipero Sierra, along the mis-
sion highway from San Diego to San
Francisco, are justly revered and visit
ed annually by many thousands Of tour
lists.
These little-known missions of New
Mexico surpass their famous sisters on
at least three countS-the New Mexico
missions are from $50 to 200 years
older than those of California; their
history is more varied and most Of
them are still in actual use by the de-
scendantS Of the very folk for whom
they We're originally founded, whereas
the environment of those of California
has changed until many of the mis-
sions have become merely interesting
historical landmarks. ~ts-5> ~ 4,s>~~
The missions of New Mexico are cas-
lily accessible. The Ocean-to- Ocean
highway, over which motorists pass in
constantly increasing numbers, goes
directly through many of the towns
and villages where the missions are To-
Gated, while no less than four Of them
may be seen from the windows of
Fe.
In Old Santa Fe.
The tourist to the western coast will
be well repaid for the short side trip
from the main line of the Santa Fe
railway required to visit the quaint old
city of Santa Fe. No other town in the
United States can look back upon a
history so varied. No other town is SO
quaint in it's composite Of medieval an
cestry and modern utility.
1t was primarily as missionaries to
the Indians that the Franciscans &C.
companied the Spanish conquerors
And it is the little church built in the
Indian quarter Of Santa Fe, as a mis-
sion to them, that today claims the dis
tinctiOn Of being the Oldest place OF
worship in the United States. Old Sa1
Miguel was built in 1906. In the Pueblo
rebellion of 1850 the church wa:
burned, but, so SOlidly were the mas
sive walls of stone and adobe bricl
constructed, that only the woodwork
was destroyed. Small repair was nee
essary to make it again fit for u.s.
when the recSnquest of New Mexic
was accomplished by De Vargas il
1893.
These repairs were only temporary
Under the next governor the rebuild
ing was completed in ITO, as an in
scfiption carved on massive timber
which supports the gallery, bears wit
ness. From that time the church ha
been in constant use, since 1859 serN
ing as the chapel for the Christia
Brothers college.
Twelve miles distant from Santo d.
mingo, plainly visible from the trai1
is the pretty Indian village of San F.
lipe, with it's trim, well-cared-for mi
sion church, erected early in the eigl
tecnth Gentry, exact date unknown.
has always been served by clergy st,
toned at the more populous Santo D
mingo. 1t is interesting to know thu
the followers of st. Francis, WI
founded and served all these mission
until expelled in 1923 by the Mexica
government, have recently resume
charge of all the missions in this pa
of New Mexico.
Albuquerque was the third town e
tablished by the Spanish in New Me
1CO. 1tS CHurcu, Uedulllul Dan ell
de Neri, was from the first a paris
church for the Spanish settlers the1
selves, never a mission. But it ";
built at the same period as the restor
ton Of the mission churches after tt
Pueblo rebellion, having been erect
lin 17O6.
Mission Of isleta.
From Albuquerque the Indian villa
tof Isleta is only IL miles distant a