The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-01-22
AMERICAN HISTORY is THE HIS
TORY OF THE MISSIONS.

The history Of North America for
two or three centuries after the dis.
coveries Of Columbus is the history OF
Catholic missions. ID
Catholic missioners bore the torch
Of civilization and carried the Cross
of Christ into the wildernesses of what
are now the United States, Mexico and
Canada.
Practically three-fourths of the cities
of this country have arisen upon
laid by these missioners.
These were striking statements ina
highly interesting and Informative ad.
dress which DIR. Herbert Bolton, pro-
lessor on history at the University of
California, delivered before the recent
meeting of the American Catholic His.
torical Association in, Washington. n
DR.. Bolton is recognized as one Of
the highest authorities of the history
of Mexico and the Spanish settlements
in the southwest section of the United
States. His original researches have
caused practical rewriting of many
pages of what was for years accepted
as the accurate history of the Spanish
regions of this country.
How His Interest Was Aroused.
Twenty years ago began rambling
through old Mexico, my interest at first
being chiefly in local history said
DIR. Bolton. Il soon found myself in a
new historical environment. The
minute I attempted to understand the
historical background of Texas, for ex-
ample, found that must go to the
history of the Catholic missions in
Mexico. spent ten years and travel.
ed $4,000 miles in Old Mexico-m OF
the time in the swildernesses and the
mountains. The history OF that coun.
try begins with the work of the mis-.
sionaries who accompanied the Con,
quistadores; for Spain sent her priests
and monks. in the same expeditions
with her soldiers
AT first the care and control of the
native peoples were left to secular
persons who we're charged with the re
ligious education and the protection
of these Indians But these secular of.
f1cials before long were giving more
thought to the exploitation than to the
Improvement of the natives. The Sc,
cular failed, and, as the Conquest was
extended, "a larger and larger share
in the education and civilization of the
people was assigned to the missioners
Through the seventeenth and eigh'
teenth centuries these missioners
spread civilization in Mexico, includ
ing those sections which have since
been annexed by the United States
and as far north as Oregon. The story
of their lives and labors and expert
ence is as fascinating as any romance
but it is nevertheless the. most ser
ious and precious part OF our American
history.
"The Franciscans, the Jesuits and
the Dominicans-t these were the pic.
neers of civilization in vast area
which is now one of the most progress
sive regions under the American flag
The Francisans established their first
center in Mexico City. 1t was the
Conyento Grande, that magnificent in
stitution which occupied almost all OF
what is now the heart of Mexico's CAPT
tai. The great Cathedral, many of the
governmental buildings-the Metho.
dist church of Mexico Cityan many
private institutions stand today on the
site of the Convento Grande. 1t was
a vast establishment, but suited to be
the: headquarters of an organization
that was dispensing Christian civiliza.
ton and material and spiritual prog.
ress through a considerable part sof
the Continent. 8
1.-THE Franciscans, of course, were
the earliest and the most numerous oil
the Catholic nissioners in Mexico and
the Spanish territories, but the Jesuits
and Dominicans played a great and
effective part, too. 1t will be, surpris.
ing to many to hear that the Jesuits
in Mexico and what are nov the South.
west States of the Union did q greater
work than their confreres in French
America.
When there is mention Of Jesuit
missioners, at once there come to the
mind Of the average person and, in
deed, Of the well informed those
heroic pioneers of Christianity in Can
ada. Great though the French Jesuits
were-and they were noble company
they were neither so numerous nor
so successful as were those in the
Spanish dominions- of this continent.
The Jesuit Relations of Mexico and
the Southwest are a glorious history
of Christianity and civilization in that
region n y ;g
Value Of Missionary Archives.
DR.. Bolton told his hearers of the
inestimable value Of the missionary
archives as the source Of additional
data respecting both the civil and &C.
clesiastical history Of Mexico and the
Southwest. He cited a discovery that
he had made while wandering through
remote part OF Mexico.
Il visited an old Franciscan convent.
where was the guest Of the prior"
DR. Bolton said II inquired concern
ing the archives that, felt sure, must
have been kept in the convent. The
prior assured me that they were lost
beyond recovery. Well, poked and
prodded aboutsan old garnet and found
about 10000 sheets which contained
the history Of that and many other
Franciscan settlements.