G^iO
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02992 3445
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S u g r a n e s , E u g e n e J o s e p h ,
1373-
T h e o 1 d San Gab r i e 1 m i ss i on
•THE-
Hlstory of Mission
ABRIEL
OLD FPANCl-SCAN MISSION , NEAR
*• LOS AMGELES , CALIFORNIA '•
Libranf
900
SAN GABRIEL CAMPANILE
THE. OLD
5AN GABRILL MI55ION
Historical Notes Taken From Old Manuscripts
and Records, Accurately Compiled After
Diligent Research, With Mention of
the Other California Franciscan
Missions and Their
Founders
REV. EUGENE SUGRANES, C. M. F.
SAN GABRIEL, CALIFORNIA
THE RIGHT REV. JOHN J. CANTWELL, D. D.,
Bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles, to whose devoted interest and labor, the
restoration of our California Missions is chiefly due.
CONTENTS
Page
Foreword 7
Commendation g
The Bells of San Gabriel 10
Chapter I — Founding of this Mission. Those who founded it. Dates of found-
ing. Motives for its establishing 13
Chapter II — Life at the Missions. The occupations and pastimes of the inmates.
Romance of a Beata. How matrimony was effected 30
Chapter III — The educational system of the Franciscans. They were more than
two centuries ahead of the present educators in instituting methods now-
considered most modern. Industries and development 40
Chapter IV — Art treasures at San Gabriel. Many Murillos. Some made by the
Indians. They gave the features and dress of their tribe to the portraits
and images they made 44
Chapter V — The soldiers who guarded the Mi;5sions. The troubles they caused.
Their gambling propensities and other immoralities. The massacre of
Rivera and his companions. Battle of San Gabriel. Other military matters. . 5S
Chapter VI — Administration of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary. They have taken up and are carrying on the unfinished work
of the Franciscans, preserving their traditions. They are restoring San
Gabriel to its original condition, developing and improving this venerable
landmark. Other California Missions 66
Chapter VII — Story of a marvelous Indian crucifi.x. The Mission Play amid
replicas of the old Missions. It attracts many thousands to San Gabriel's
vicinity ^4
Chapter VIII — Founding of Los Angeles. Her old Plaza Church. Her many
beauties and charms 83
Containing Eighteen Illustrations of the Art, Antiquity, and Architecture
of the Mission San Gabriel
[ 5 ]
Nihil Obstat
LEON MONASTERIO, C. M. F.
Censor Depltatls
Prei.o Mandari Potest
DOMINIC ZALDIVAR, C. M. F.
Superior Provincialis
Imprimatur
-1- ARTHURUS HIERONYMUS
Episcopus Sancti Antonii
Copyrighted 1921
BY
FATHER EUGENE SUGRANES, C. M. F.
Los Anceles, California
[ 6 ]
FOREWORD.
This is a glorious year for old San Gabriel, long to be
remembered. The year 1921 marks the one hundred
and fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of San Gabriel
Mission. One hundred and fifty years ago the brown-
robed Sons of St. Francis came here not in quest of gold
but to conquer for Christ the souls of the natives given
up to pagan practices and lost to God. A band of these
Missionaries, led by the Saintly Father Junipero Serra,
in their excursions across the land halted here and
being most favorably impressed by the beauty of the spot,
selected it as the center of their future apostolic activities.
Here they erected our peerless Mission; here they planted
the Cross of Christ and started with undaunted zeal the
arduous task of converting the Indians to Christianity.
What labors, what amount of suffering they had to un-
dergo in this superhuman enterprise it is hard to describe.
Living in an age of refinement and comfort with every
faculty at our command to satisfy the most fastidious
taste, we cannot properly picture to ourselves the extent
of self-sacrifice involved in the conquest of the savage to
religion, especially at a time when civilization had made
little or no inroads into this part of the New World. There
is one, however, who did fully measure the extent of
their hardships; it is the Divine Master whom they so
faithfully served and followed.
They have long since gone to their reward but the frag-
rance of their holy examples we still perceive; they are
here no more, but their generous sacrifices are left behind
for us to admire, and their splendid virtues for us to
emulate. Their bodies rest somewhere in this land of
perennial sunshine, but the fruits of their labor, their
wondrous achievements, survive them.
No, not all is gone with their passing out of this earth.
Their mighty deeds speak to us even after their death.
The Missions founded by them stand yet; sermons in
stones as someone has called them, they loudly tell us of
[ 7 ]
their courage, patience, devotion to God and man. In
justice we must say that the Missions have been the cradle
of our civilization. Within their sacred walls the Indians
gained the knowledge of the true God; they were taught
to serve Him and to love their fellow-men; their hands
were trained to manual labor and useful trades. And
who will not admit that under the wise direction of
the Mission Padres, they succeeded in becoming skillful
mechanics and even good artists? Witness Ihe Missions,
and the remarkable structures about them, some of which
have stubbornly withstood the test of time.
Our very town of San Gabriel owes its birth to the good
old Padres whose energies were devoted not only to God's
glory but also to man's welfare, who in consequence built
up along with sacred edifices, dwellings for their charges,
the Indians, community houses, schools, workshops, in a
word, whole villages and towns. Look over the California
map and see how many cities sprang up by the Missions
that still bear their names. Those sweet, musical names
were given them with exquisite taste by the founders of
the Missions.
For all this we owe those pioneer Missionaries an
immense debt of gratitude, a gratitude which should be
expressed by public festivities during the present year
in recognition of their part in the upbuilding of our
State. It is but proper that we should do this in order to
fittingly celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniver-
sary of the foundation of this Mission which is also the
anniversary of the birth of old San Gabriel.
RAPHAEL SERRANO, C. M. P.,
Rector of San Gabriel Mission.
r 8 ]
COMMENDATION.
This book, I believe, constitutes the most elaborate and
complete history of the Mission San Gabriel that has yet
appeared in print in a single volume. It is compiled from
the Mission records handed down by the Franciscans who
built it and held possession of it until secularization and
after. The facts herein set forth may, therefore, be relied
on as being absolutely accurate.
The work of compiling and arranging and writing this
work was done by a hand well worthy the task. Fr. Eugene
Sugranes is eminently fitted by education, training and
experience to be the historian of San Gabriel. Moreover,
his whole nature and his sacred profession of the mission-
. ary priesthood and his nationality makes him a sure inter-
preter of Mission history and tradition.
We may all rejoice that, after the wreck and ruin of the
centuries, the Mission San Gabriel is still intact and in
charge of those who are of the same blood and religion as
the brown-robed Franciscans who founded and erected
San Gabriel — those splendid men of the past who came to
California with the immortal Junipero Serra to convert
the savage from heathenism to the faith of Christ, and to
make the desert blossom as the rose.
JOHN S. McGROARTY.
[ 9 ]
THE BELLS OF SAN GABRIEL.
By CHARLES \V. STODDARD
Thine was the corn and the wine,
The blood of the grape that nourished;
The blossom and fruit of the vine,
That was heralded far away.
These were Thy gifts and Thine,
When the vine and the fig tree flourished,
The promise of peace and of glad increase
Forever and ever and aye.
What then wert Thou, and what art now?
Answer me, oh! I pray.
And every note of every bell
Sang: "Gabriel!" Rang: "Gabriel!"
In the tower that is left the tale to tell
Of Gabriel, the Archangel.
Oil of the olive was thine;
Flood of the wine-press flowing;
Blood o' the Christ was the wine —
Blood o' the Lamb that was slain.
Thy gifts were fat o' the kine
Forever coming and going
Far over the hills, the thousand hills,
Their lowing a soft refrain. ■^
What then wert Thou, and what art now? co
Answer me, once again! gJ
And every note of every bell O)
Sang: "Gabriel!" Rang: "Gabriel!" O
In the tower that is left the tale to tell ^
Of Gabriel, the Archangel. $2
Seed o' the corn was thine —
Body of Him thus broken
And mingled with blood o' the vine — ,
The bread and the wine of life;
Out of the good sunshine
[ 10 ]
They were given to thee as a token —
The body of Him, and the blood of Him,
When the gifts of God were rife.
What then wert Thou, and what art now,
After the weary strife?
And every note of every bell
Sang: "Gabriel!" Rang: "Gabriel!"
In the tower that is left the tale to tell
Of Gabriel, the Archangel.
Where are they now, oh! bells?
Where are the fruits o' the Mission?
Garnered, where no one dwells,
Shepherd and flock are fled.
O'er the Lord's vineyard swells
The tide that with fell perdition
Sounded their doom and fashioned their tomb
And buried them with the dead.
What then wert Thou, and what art now?
The answer is still unsaid.
And every note of every bell
Sang: "Gabriel!" Rang: "Gabriel!"
In the tower that is left the tale to tell
Of Gabriel, the Archangel.
Where are they now. oh ! tower.
The locusts and wild honey?
Where is the sacred dower
That the bride of Christ was given?
Gone to the wielders of power,
The misers and minters of money;
Gone for the greed that is their creed —
And these in the land have thriven.
What then wert Thou, and what art now.
And wherefore hast Thou striven?
And every note of every bell
Sang: "Gabriel!" Rang: "Gabriel!"
In the tower that is left the tale to tell
Of Gabriel, the Archangel.
[ 11 ]
P'>u< /7?g
rx
J
- /
uvii(:tro
TeJi
THE FATHER AND FOUNDER OF THE OLD SAN GABRIEL
FRANCISCAN MISSION
The History of
Mission 5an Gabriel
CHAPTER I.
Founding of This Mission. Those Who Founded It. Dates
of Founding. Motives for Its Establishing.
ITH noblest motives impelling them, the
Wmen who bore the Cross to and planted it
in California, carried Christianity and
civilization to a then wild region, in-
fested by barbarous beings. On a site
previously selected by them they reared
the Cross with the ritualistic ceremonies
of their Church. Here they were soon
after to erect their Mission Structures,
both ecclesiastic and secular. These cere-
monies were impressive to a high deg-ree.
They were characterized by the loftiest
spiritual reverence and devotion. This sacred spot was con-
secrated to the grand purpose to which it was dedicated.
San Gabriel has a feature peculiar to itself. It stands
unique among the Missions of California. Go anywhere
else over the Golden State, even among the other Missions,
and you will find the old customs exchanged for modern
ones. It has never been — it never will be so with San
Gabriel. While welcoming whatever means progress and
improvement, it will unhesitatingly rebuke any attempt
to change the old Pueblo and its typical ways.
Hence in this place must remain the old adobe huts,
the old fashioned people and their antique institutions and
mode of life. I venture to say, the Americans and Euro-
peans coming here become so intensely and thoroughly
imbued with the spirit of the place, that their anxiety is
to keep alive the old traditions. The melodious songs of
14 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
the Mission, the old popular Indian airs, arts, sports
amusements, etc., must forever remain San Gabriel's most
charming and attractive features.
Within the sacred mures of the church the harmonious
accents and sweet cadence of the language of Cervantes
still thrill the souls of the faithful. While our official
tongue, the language of Shakespeare, is used in the church
services, yet the pious old Doiias say their prayers and tell
their beads in the rhythmic and sibilant Spanish language.
Even the children, while reared and educated after our
wonderful American school system, when at play, must
use the tongue of the pioneer missionaries that first scat-
tered the blessed seed of Christian civilization.
Any. visitor at Corpus Christi Day may see the solemn
procession, as of old, with its typical songs and the Holy
Eucharist carried along amidst clouds of incense and flow-
ers, escorted by hundreds of pueblanos and rancheros,
bearing lighted tapers. This imposing line stops at the
temporary altars, or ermitas, as it used to do in the cen-
turies past. The melodious, angelical salutation, the "Dios
te salve," so many times sung around the old Plaza Church
in the City of Angels, is still heard in this Mission, espe-
cially when the Angelus Bell summons the faithful to greet
the Mother of God.
Such is San Gabriel in the midst of modern environ-
ment. Thus while anxious to keep alive the typical physi-
ognomy of the Mission, the watchful Fathers in charge
of it are wide awake to the necessities of modern times.
Hence the work of restoration in the Mission — the better-
ing of its grounds, — the beautifying of the old cemetery —
the renewing of the old ovens, living witnesses to the cul-
ture and industrial enterprise, go hand in hand with the
moral upbuilding of this interesting community.
Those who founded the California Missions were Fran-
ciscan Friars. They followed others of their order who had
previously come with the Conquistadores of Cortes in May
3, 1535. These former had unsuccessfully attempted to
found such institutions, yet they had held religious ser-
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 15
vices and preached to the Indians. The real founders of
the Franciscan Missions there did not reach Upper Cali-
fornia until more than a century later.
The power to found Missions in California was vested
in a prominent and peerless personage, Fra Junipero Serra,
who was president of the Franciscan group who accom-
panied him and came to found them. In this work he had
associated and working with and under him several other
members of this Holy Order.
Those directly connected with the founding and estab-
lishing of this particular Mission of San Gabriel were the
Friars Pedro Benito Cambon and Angel Fernandez de la
Somera, whose noble attributes of most admirable charac-
ter, especially their undaunted courage and perseverance,
enabled them and their followers and associates to success-
fully contend against and overcome many adverse obsta-
cles that confronted them and so long delayed them in
their worthy work.
Tempests, pestilences and exposure, attacks by savages,
shipwrecks and other untoward occurrences, hampered and
delayed them unduly, but persistence finally prevailed and
triumphed
They had to undergo persecutions and privations such
as seldom befall mission expeditions of peaceful purpose.
But they were sustained by the conviction that the worthy
objects for which they strove must prevail. This was why
they won.
They were the spiritual messengers of Our Savior,
heralding the Gospel of Christ. They were animated by
the purposes of educating, reforming, and uplifting human
savages, and of securing safety for them, a tolerable
amount of comfort during their temporal existence, and
the salvation of their immortal souls hereafter.
Miracles happened at critical moments to save these
holy men when upon the brink of destruction.
THE INFLUENCE OF A FLAG.
Of these was one that occurred while those missionaries
Q
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 17
and their party were on their way to the founding of this
Mission of San Gabriel. It happened while the party were
in consultation over the selection of a site for this Mission.
At such a juncture they were surrounded by hostile Indi-
ans who made an attempt to attack the missionary train.
Just as the savages were making an onslaught, one of
the Friars seized, raised aloft and waver the banner on
which was a portrait of the Blessed Virgin. Immediately
the Indians became abashed. In a sudden transition from
hate to humility, they knelt and joined in the worship.
They then came forward to be baptized and embraced the
Holy Catholic faith, after which they joined the train of
the missionary pilgrimage onward to the spot that was
chosen for the location of this Mission. This miracle is
recorded by Fray Francisco Palou in his "Vida del V. P.
Junipero Serra."
The memorable date for the original founding was
September 8, 1771. This was but a few days after the
miracle mentioned. When the Cross was raised, this same
blessed banner was a^ain unfurled and waved in the breeze
of that sunny region. Then was presented and enacted a
superb scene in a most important and eventful historic
drama.
After a period of experimentation, the site first selected
proved unsuitable for the purposes required, but the first
ceremonies indicated took place at this location, and the
first temporary structures were placed there. This site was
near the San Gabriel River, then known as the River
Temblores, or "Earthquake" River. That site was between
five and six miles southeast of the present one on which
the Mission of San Gabriel is now located.
The first structures consisted of poles, or saplings and
reeds whose interstices were chinked with mud. They were
roofed with thatches of tule, or rushes, and were enclosed
within a stout stockade of heavy posts. This was for
defense against attack from without.
The present site is more centrally located, nearer the
Sierra Madre Mountains and within less than nine miles of
18 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
the city of Los Angeles. The Angelas Bell at this Mission
can be heard in the city of Los Angeles. Wisely was it
selected where the soil is fertile, water is abundant, timber
plentiful and accessible, where the place is sheltered from
tempest and secure against flood. It is in a lovely valley
about twelve miles in length and nine miles in breadth.
The buildings erected here are permanent ones of stone.
These include the sacred church structure and other eccle-
iastic edifices for quartering the clergy, their monastery,
and the secular ones for the soldiery, forming the escolta,
or guard, and the dwellings for the servants and converts.
As is characteristic with most of the Franciscan missionary
institutions this one -forms a group enclosed in a high and
massive wall. The group constituted a square ranging
about a court or inner patio.
FRANCISCAN ORDERS FOUNDER.
St. Francis of Assisi was born in Umbria, Italy, in 1182.
He founded the Franciscan Order about February 24,
1204. While he was preaching in the Chapel of St. Mary
of the Angels, the Gospel of the day told him the disciples
of Christ were to neither possess gold, nor silver, nor
scrip for their journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a
staff, and that they were to exhort sinners to repentance
and announce the Kingdom of God. Francis was then liv-
ing in a small hut he had built near this chapel. He took
these words as if spoken directly to himself. So, as soon
as Mass was over, he threw away the poor fragment left
him of the world's goods, his shoes, his cloak, his pilgrim's
staff and empty wallet. At last he had found his vocation.
Having obtained a coarse woolen tunic of "beast color,"
the dress worn by the poorest Umbrian peasants, and tied
it around with a knotted rope, he went forth at once ex-
horting the people of the country-side to penance, broth-
erly love, and peace. Companions soon began to follow
and join him in his life work. All of them procured rough,
brown habits like his. They built huts near his at the
Porciuncula, located in Umbria, near Assisi. When the
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 19
number of his companions had increased until there were
eleven of them, Francis found it expedient to draw up a
set of written rules for their government. When this was
ready, the Penitents of Assisi, as Francis and his followers
styled themselves, set out for Rome to seek the approval
of the Holy See.
From Pope Innocent III they met with opposition. He
deemed their mode of life uncertain and unsafe. This
Pope was later moved by a dream to change his mind. In
that vision he saw these Poor Men of Assisi upholding the
tottering Lateran Basilica. After the Friars Minor, as
Francis next named his brethren, returned to Assisi, they
found shelter in a deserted hut at Rivo Torto in the valley
or plain below the city, but were forced from this poor
abode by a rough peasant who drove his donkey in upon
them.
The first general chapter of the Friars Minor was held
in 1217, at Porciuncula, the members of the Order being
assigned diferent provinces and stations in the then
known and civilized portions of the world, where Fran-
ciscan Missions were to be established by the members of
the Holy Order.
The gentle Francis was at once chivalrous and poetic
in nature, which gave an added charm to his other at-
tributes and rendered him a romantic and a beautiful
character. He delighted in the Songs of Provence, rejoic-
ing in the new born freedom of his native city. He cher-
ished what Dante terms "that pleasant sound of his dear
land." This exquisite human element in Francis' career
was the key to that far reaching, all embracing sympathy
which may almost be called his characteristic gift. In his
heart the whole world, as an old chronicler puts it, found
refuge. The poor, the sick, and the fallen were the objects
of his solicitude.
Once, as we are told, the whole Friary was aroused by
cries: "I am dying!"
"Who are you?" exclaimed Francis, "and why are you
dying?"
20 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
"I am dying of hunger," answered the voice of one who
had been too prone to fasting. Thereupon Francis had a
table laid out for the fasting Friar, and that he might not
be ashamed to eat alone he ordered all of the other brethren
to join him in the repast.
The very animals found a friend in Francis, for he even
plead with the inhabitants of Gubbio to feed the famishing
wolves, that had been ravaging their flocks. The early
legends have left us many idyllic pictures of how bees
and birds, alike susceptible of the charms of Francis'
gentle ways, entered into loving companionship with him,
how the hunted leveret sought to attract his notice, how
the half frozen bees crawled towards him in the winter to
be fed, how the wild falcon fluttered around him, how
the nightingale sang about him in sweetest content in the
lovely grove at Carceri, how his little brethren, the birds,
listened so devoutly to his sermon by the roadside, that
he chid himself for not having thought of preaching to
them before.
His love of nature also stands out in bold relief in the
world he moved in. He delighted to commune with the
wild flowers, the crystal springs, and the friendly fire, and
to greet the sun as it rose upon the Umbrian vale.
After the Columbian discovery of the New World, Fran-
ciscan missionaries were sent to it with the adventurous
soldiery, the originator of their order having died in
October. 1226.
FATHER JUNIPERO SERRA.
This illustrious empire builder, the founder of the Fran-
ciscan Missions of California, Father Junipero Serra, was
born at Petra on the island of Majorca, November 24, 1713.
He entered the Franciscan Order September 14, 1730, and
made his vows on September 15th of the following year.
Before receiving holy orders, he was made a Doctor of
Divinity. He asked that he be accorded the privilege of
devoting himself to the Missions in America. His petition
having been granted, he sailed from Cadiz, on August 28,
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 21
1749, with his friend, Father Palou. They landed at Vera
Cruz and made their journey on foot from there to the City
of Mexico. January 1, 1750, was the date of their arrival
at the College of San Fernando in that city. He preached
there. On his own request he was sent with Father Palou
to the Indians of Sierra Gorda among whom they remained
for nine years. Then he was assigned to the Apache
Indians in the San Saba country in Texas with Father
Palou, but the death of the Viceroy at that time prevented
their going to those charges, so Father Serra and Palou
remained at the College of San Fernando and were engaged
in preaching to the Indians in that locality for seven years.
While so engaged he received the appointment to the presi-
dency of the California Missions.
On July 14, 1767, accompanied by eight other Friars,
with the blessing of the Father Guardian, he left for his
new field. On his way from Mexico he reached Tepic
December 1, 1767. In March, 1768, they left the Mexican
mainland, crossed the Gulf and arrived at Loreto Mission
April 1, 1768. After appointing Father Palou, Superior of
the Lower California Missions, Father Serra proceeded
with a land expedition to Alta California. Four different
expeditions had been planned, two to go by land, and the
other two by water. One of the land expeditions was per-
sonally conducted by Father Junipero Serra, it having left
Loreto March 28, 1769. Father Junipero founded the first
of the Upper California Missions at San Diego on July
16, 1769. The next founded by him was the San Carlos
Mission located near Monterey, California, on June 3, 1770.
The third was the one of San Antonio, on July 14, 1771.
San Gabriel was the fourth Mission founded in Califor-
nia. Father Junipero Serra was not present at the cere-
monies incident to the founding, but was duly represented
by Fathers Pedro Benito Cambon and Angel Fernandez
de la Somera, and this was during his presidential incum-
bency. Previous to his death he visited San Gabriel sev-
eral times, and on one occasion prophetically remarked
that its site was such a suitable one that it could serve
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 23
as the location of a large metropolis. This prediction is
mentioned by Father Palou in his "Vida."
Father Junipero Serra arrived for the first time at San
Gabriel on September 11, 1772. He rejoiced greatly at
there being so many Christians at this Mission.
Father Junipero died at San Carlos at the age of seventy
years after having confirmed 5,300 Christian souls. Au-
thority to confirm had been issued more than four years
previous to the time he commenced to exercise it, the
authorization not reaching him from Rome for that long
after the Pope had granted it. His unbroken devotion to
the arduous tasks of his ofice, together with his illness
brought his brilliant and useful career to a fitting close.
He died at San Carlos on the day of the feast of St.
Augustine, August 28, 1784. He had been to San Gabriel
shortly before, although he was quite ill and feeble, so
much so that one of the little Indian altar boys exclaimed:
"The old Father wants to die." But notwithstanding his
illness and feebleness, while on this last visit, he baptized
infants, administered confirmation, encouraged his breth-
ren and preached with his usual fervor.
Eight years before his demise he had a very narrow
escape from death and one that was miraculous. He had
left San Gabriel with one soldier and one neophyte, pre-
ceeding the balance of his party. On the way the trio were
attacked by Indians, who would have slain them, but for
the fact that the neophyte informed the Indians if they
molested the Father and his two friends, the Indians, in
turn would inevitably be slaughtered by the soldiers com-
ing close behind them. The Indians became converted and
Father Serra blessed them and gave them presents of beads
and other gifts.
That the Indians at San Gabriel were very intelligent,
is shown by the fact that Father Junipero took one of
them from this Mission as an interpreter with him. To
the services of this interpreter were largely due the fruits
of the Father's labors while so accompanied.
Father Junipero's last visit to San Gabriel was in 1783,
24 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
shortly before his death. He was a man of great piety and
persistence, courage and intelligence.
First of all it was to Junipero that we owe California
and its historic monuments. Junipero, the dreamer of a
dream, was not a theorist. He was a man who made his
dream come true. Of the California Missions, nine of them
were founded by him personally, and all of the locations
of the balance of the twenty-one comprising them, were,
doubtless, determined by him. Likewise, the policies of all
of them were founded upon his rules. No builders of ours
have surpassed the architecture of his structures. None of
our colonizers have ever chosen such sites as those he
selected. His achievements attest this statement. A cur-
sory glance at the Missions themselves and their sites will
convince the most skeptical.
Considering the environment and the small number in
the fellowship there, his funeral was a most glorious one,
not because of the pomp displayed, nor because of the
great multitudes, but because of the tears of the Indians
and missionaries who had all come to love him.
Amidst the tolling of bells of the Mission, the booming
of cannon and the final rites of the Church, Father Juni-
pero was laid to rest at the Gospel side of the sanctuary of
San Carlos Church. The most impressive, yet concise,
eulogy of this hero is found in the words of Holy Scrip-
ture wherewith Father Palou, as with a golden brush
finishes Father Serra's portrait: "The memory of him
shall not depart away: and his name shall be in request
from generation to generation."
The monument to his memory recently unveiled by
the Knights of Columbus at San Gabriel, contains this
inscription:
"In memory of Father Junipero Serra, the Apostle of
Civilization, this tablet is erected commemorative of the
two hundredth anniversary of his birth, by Pasadena
Knights of Columbus, November 23, 1913. In the time of
the Right Reverend Thomas J. Conaty, Bishop of Monterey
and Los Angeles."
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 25
FATHERS CAMBON AND SOMERA.
Next to Father Serra in important connection with this
Mission was Father Pedro Benito Cambon, who together
with his associate, Father Angel Fernandez de la Somera,
not only actually conducted the ceremonies incident to the
founding of San Gabriel, but were in charge there from
1771 to and inclusive of 1772. Father Cambon was a native
of Galicia, Spain. He was ordered to California in August,
1770, and sailed from San Bias in January of 1771. He
arrived at San Diego first in March and at Monterey May
21st of that year. He and his associate who came with
him, instituted San Gabriel Mission. Father Cambon's
name appears at San Gabriel as late as 1782 on the bap-
tismal records. In April, 1172, he left for Velicata in
Lower California for the benefit of his health and to look
after Franciscan property. In 1776 he went to San Fran-
cisco, but was absent from October, 1779, until May, 1782,
during which absence he made a trip from San Bias to
Manila as chaplain of the ship San Carlos, devoting his
pay to the purchase of supplies for his neophytes. In
March, 1782, he founded San Buenaventura Mission and
then for a brief space returned to San Gabriel. Here his
health gave way and he was permitted to retire in 1791.
He was a very zealous and able man.
Father Angel Somera, who came with Father Cambon
to California, attended the important meeting held in San
Diego at which it was decided that Father Junipero Serra
should go to Mexico to report concerning the California
Missions. He assisted in the founding of San Gabriel on
September 8, 1771, and remained there until he lost his
health and was sent in 1772 to San Diego, where he re-
mained for some time.
Upon his first return from San Diego, he brought back
with him several soldiers to augment the protection of
San Gabriel.
In 1773 two regular ministers, Fathers Juan Figuer and
Fermin F. Lasuen, came to San Gabriel to assist and re-
lieve Fathers Cambon and Somera. In turn they were
26 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
relieved by Father Antonio Cruzado, known as the Great
Pioneer, and Father Miguel Sanchez, who came in 1788.
Fa.ther Cruzado remained in charge until 1804. In 1792,
besides Father Sanchez, Father Cristobal Oramas was with
him. In 1792 Father Juan Cortes succeeded Father Ora-
mas. In 1798 Father Pedro de San Jose Esteban joined
Fathers Antonio Cruzado and Miguel Sanchez, relieving
Father Cortes. Father Pedro de San Jose Esteban retired
in 1802, leaving Fathers Antonio Cruzado and Miguel
Sanchez in charge. Father Sanchez was relieved in 1803
by Father Isidoro Barcenilla.
In 1804 Fathers Antonio Cruzado, Jose de Miguel, and
Isidoro Barcenilla, were stationed here.
Father Antonio Cruzado, after an administration of a
year more than a quarter of a century, in 1805 was replaced
by Fathers Jose de Miguel and Jose Antonio de Urresti.
These two latter were joined in 1808 by Father Dumetz.
Father Urresti was succeeded in 1807 by Father Jose
Maria de Zalvidea, and Father Dumetz retired in 1811,
leaving Fathers Zalvidea and de Miguel in charge. Father
de Miguel retired in 1813, and in his stead came Father
Luis Gil y Taboada, who retired in 1814. Father Joaquin
Pascual Nuez joined Father Zalvidea, but died and was
replaced in 1821 by Father Jose Sanchez, who came back
to serve again. Fathers Sanchez and de Zalvidea served
until 1826, when Father Jeronimo Boscana took Father de
Zalvidea's place. They remained together in service here
until 1830, when Father Jose Sanchez was in sole charge.
He was succeded by Father Tomas Estenaga who was the
last Franciscan in charge here. He retired in 1833, in
which year this Mission became secularized.
Erroneously Bancroft reports that Father Estenaga died
and was buried in San Gabriel, but the writer has person-
ally conversed with two estimable ladies who were present
at his death. They are Dona Catarina Lopez and Dofia
Maria de las Angustias Jeremias, both of whom stated that
Father Tomas Estenaga, having become quite ill at San
Gabriel was removed from there to San Fernando, where
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 27
he died in 1846. He was buried in that Mission. The
friends who removed him thither were Don Juan Manso
and Don Jose Arnas in the hope of saving Father Tomas'
life, but that hope was soon banished, for he died a few
months after being taken to San Fernando. Father Este-
naga was administered to by Fra Bias Ordaz. Before
receiving the Viaticum he rose from his deathbed and
approached a temporary altar built in his room and with a
loud voice exclaimed: "I have served at San Gabriel and
Los Angeles for fifteen years. Should I, during that time
have scandalized or offended any one forgive me for the
love of God."
Those about him, who were from San Fernando, San
Gabriel, and Los Angeles, all cried: "Yes, Father, yes,"
and all of those about him wept, in lamentation of his ap-
proaching departure from life. While he was in this ador-
ing attitude many saw on his shoulders the pitiful marks
of his extreme mortification. Soon afterwards he died and
was buried in the San Fernando Mission Church near the
sanctuary.
FATHER DE ZALVIDEA.
This estimable priest was one who served for a con-
siderable period at San Gabriel, that service running dur-
ing a double decade, or from 1806 to 1826. He was a na-
tive of Bilbao, became a Franciscan in 1798 and came to
California in 1805. He served first at San Fernando until
the following year when he was transferred to San Gabriel.
From the first he was regarded by his superiors as one
of the most zealous of the Fathers, as an ecclesiastic, an
instructor, and a manager of temporalities. His greatest
field of labor was at San Gabriel, where he toiled inces-
santly with greatest success in upbuilding the interests of
this Mission. Bancroft pronounces him "a model mission-
ary of those days," and says "in later ones he was looked
upon as a saint." He gave much attention to viticulture
at San Gabriel, being the first to introduce this industry
on a large scale.
We wrote a diary of an exploration in 1806, and in 1827
SOUTHERN ENTRANCE
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 29
an admirable petition and plea in behalf of the Indians,
with whose native tongue he was familiar and in which he
frequently preached at San Gabriel and elsewhere. There
is no evidence of his ever having had an enemy nor having
ever said an unkind word to any man. He was tall, stately,
and courteous, always smiling and genial. His complexion
was fair, his bearing erect. He had a kind word for all,
and was never annoyed by the presence of others.
He refused to quit San Luis Rey where he believed his
services were needed, but finally it was deemed best to
remove him to San Juan. A cart was prepared with all
possible conveniences, by advise of Fra Oliva and Apoli-
naria Lorenzana, who for some days had nursed him, but
the night before his journey was to have been made Father
Zalvidea died. He was buried in the church at the left of
the altar. The exact date of his death is not known, but
it was apparently early in 1846.
FATHER GIL Y TABOADA.
Father Gil y Taboada was one of the few Mexican Fer-
nandinos. He was, however, of Spanish parentage. He
was born in Guanajuato, May 1, 1773, became a Francis-
can at Pueblito de Queretaro in 1792, joining the San Fer-
nando College in 1800. He was sent to California in 1801.
He served first as a missionary at San Francisco from
1801 to 1802. He was at San Gabriel in 1813 and 1914.
In 1814 he blessed the corner stone of the Los Angeles
Church. In 1821 he was tendered the pastorate of that
church, but declined on account of ill health. He was a
man of nervous energy and considerable executive ability.
He possessed a certain amount of skill in medicine, besides
a knowledge of several languages. To his neophytes he
was indulgent and was well Hked by them. While at the
Rancho of Santa Margarita, whither he had gone to offici-
ate at the Mass for the Indians, he was seized with an
attack of dysentery to which he succumbed, December 15,
1821. He was buried in the Mission Church on the Gospel
side near the presbytery by Father Juan Cabot.
3 0 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
CHAPTER II.
Life at the Missions. The Occupations and Pastimes of the
Inmates. Romance of a Beata. How Matrimony
Was Effected.
IFE here, in common with the other California
Franciscan Missions, was divided between devotion,
labor, recreation, and rest. Always daily the Mass
was celebrated, the Angelus repeated and the prayers of
the priests were uttered as they told them on their rosary
beads.
On Sundays and Saints' days, religious exercises and
ceremonies, all of which were elaborate, were observed in
full in accordance with the ritualistic requirements of the
Holy Catholic Faith. High Mass was celebrated in the
morning and Vespers sung in the afternoons of such feast
days. All of the ecclesiastics were fervent and devout men,
zealous in their religious duties. They labored faithfully,
hard, and earnestly among their charges, not only among
the savages, but with the soldiery as well.
Those revered Fathers joined their Indian neophytes
and the unconverted aborigines in the labors of the field,
and in their agricultural and mechanical efforts, thus set-
ting and example of industry and toil for those under their
guidance.
Most of the natives became docile and obedient, al-
though naturally inclined to be somewhat indolent and
shiftless. But by good treatment, a wise system of rewards
and inculcation by precept and example, these Fathers
succeeded in getting a considerable amount of efficient
endeavor out of the aborigines.
After the coming of the Catholics, these missionaries,
of course, sought to secure converts. Curiosity frequently
attracted a number of savages to witness the religious
ceremonies, which were entirely new to them. On the
occasion of the ceremony of the Raising of the Cross
and the work of erecting the buildings, the inhabitants
gathered about the holy men and with keen interest
STAIRWAY LEADING TO THE CHOIR GALLERY
3 2 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
watched them. Gifts of food, clothing, trinkets, and above
all, the gentle manners of the missionaries moved the
Indians to lend helping hands in clearing the lands, pre-
paring and shaping the timbers and the erection of the
temporary huts. The excellent meals and other attractive
rewards gained their good will, thus inducing them to labor
voluntarily.
As every little assistance on their part was appreciated
and compensated appropriately, the Indians wisely con-
cluded that, after all, it was better for them to live with
the kind Catholics and to have plenty to eat, than to be
everlastingly on the look out for something edible in the
mountains and valleys.
The Catechumens at first reared their cabins after their
own fashion on a plot a few hundred feet from the chapel,
or church. These huts generally were constructed of poles,
dry rattan, and tule rushes. Later on adobe dwellings, one
for each family, were built in regular order and roofed
with tiles. The walls were whitewashed, this producing a
pleasing effect upon the eye of the traveler. In them the
married portion of the neophytes lived, subject to the
regulations of the institutions.
The girls and single females from eleven years and up-
wards and the wives whose husbands were absent, passed
the night together in a separate building whose doors were
locked on the outside. The officer, or Mayordomo, lock-
ing it would deliver the keys to the missionaries who would
hold them until morning when they would return them to
the officer who then unlocked the doors and allowed the
inmates to join the others in the exercises of the day.
When not occupied, the girls could visit their relatives in
the mission village close by, but were not permitted to go
alone beyond the limits.
The monjerio, or nunnery, as it was called, was, there-
fore, one of the first institutions of the Mission system.
The girls remained under this gentle tutelage until they
married. While there were no nuns among the Franciscans
at that tinje, there were elderly and pious women in charge
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 3 3
of the younger women and girls. These noble women were
called "Beatas," or blessed women. Each Mission had one,
San Gabriel not being an exception to the rule.
THiE ROMANCE OF A BEATA.
Some of these "Beatas" were induced to become such
through disappointment in love. One memorable romance
of that kind was the one relating to the beautiful and
charming daughter of a governor of the province and a
young Russian officer. The Russians, about this time, had
a force of men in California engaged in seal fishing and
seeking furs. The relations with the Spanish authorities
were not only friendly iTut very cordial. One of these
Russians was a young officer named M. de Resnoff.
He fell deeply in love with Seiiorita Maria Concepcion
Arguello and they became engaged to wed. He was a
relative of the Czar of Russia; so it became necessary for
him to go in person back to Russia to see that exalted
imperial ruler and get his consent to the marriage. He
also went with a proposed pact between the Spanish
authorities in California and the Russians which was cal-
culated and intended to promote and continue the friendly
relations between the two countries.
It was understood that immediately upon his return to
California he was to marry the governor's datighter. In
consequence of this expectation, the governor, Arguello,
and all of the friends of the prospective bride and her
family were eager for the early return of de Resnoff and
the nuptials.
On his way back to the Russian capital de Resnoff's
route took him into bleak Siberia, which he expected to
traverse successfully, but he unfortunately fell from his
horse when the animal stumbled over a hidden obstruction.
Resnoff was killed by the fall, his head striking a stone
that crushed his skull. He was buried in a snow mantled
and lone grave in far off Siberia.
The tidings of the terrible tragedy broke the heart of
3 4 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
the noble, dark-eyed senorita. She was inconsolable. Thus
were the dreams of love and empire shattered.
Senorita Maria Concepcion de Arguello became the
"Beata" of the appropriately called Dolores Mission, a
room being retained there for her, and she devoted her
attentions and efforts and services to God and to her
charges there until she became a regular nun of the Domin-
ican Order. She entered St. Catharine's Convent of this
Holy Order at Monterey and died at Benicia, December
23, 1857. The religious name which she took was Sister
Mary Dominica.
It was, and still is, a custom at San Gabriel Mission,
when a young man wanted a wife, to make known to the
Father in charge his desire and his selection. The priest
would then introduce the young man to the bride and to
her parents. If they accepted the young man's proffer of
marriage, the espousals took place in regular form and
were recorded before witnesses and the day of the mar-
riage was set. The marriage invariably was blessed in
front of the altar in the church after the bans had been
duly published, according to the ecclesiastic canons on
three successive Sundays, or feast days, previous to the
wedding ceremonies.
After their marriage, the young couple would be as-
signed one of the adobe cottages furnished by the Fathers.
They then became part of the community. If the girl
selected by a young man declined to accept her suitor for
a husband, she was perfectly free to do so, and could
wed any other who might be acceptable to her afterwards.
Processions were frequent and the Indians freely par-
ticipated in them. The procession incident to Corpus
Christi Day affected particularly the child-like neophytes,
as nothing else could.
The Indians were permitted to indulge in the pastimes
of their savage state as long as decency and Christian mod-
esty were not offended. Children received special atten-
tion. After the grown persons had gone their ways in the
morning, and in the afternoon before supper time, the
Fathers gave instruction to the boys and girls who were
3 6 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
five years old or more. They permitted no one to be absent.
These children generally assembled in the Sala, or large
reception room. On Sundays and holy days, when Mass
was concluded, one of the missionaries called every one
by name from the book of padron, or census. They all
approached, one after another, and kissed the hand of the
priest. Thus was it ascertained if anyone was missing.
The Indians were fond of participating in the mystery
plays. In truth, a more kindly patriarchal life hardly
exists anywhere than has at the San Gabriel Mission
almost continuously ever since its institution. Inasmuch
as there were many holy days and holidays and nothing
worried the neophytes, surely no one having been over-
worked, there were none to worry save the heads of the
Missions.
OCCUPATIONS OF THE NATIVES.
Agriculture was the principal occupation of the natives.
This included clearing the land, plowing, planting grain
and other crops, constructing irrigation ditches, irrigating
the soil, cultivating, harvesting and thrashing the wheat
and barley, husking the corn, picking beans, peas, lentils,
garbanzos, gathering grapes and other fruits. Their im-
plements for cultivation were very primitive. The old
plow, which was composed of two pieces of timber was
used. It was drawn by oxen. The harvesting was singu-
larly primitive and laborious. The carts that were used
for hauling harvest reapings were crude, unwieldly, gro-
tesque.
Many of the neophytes were set to work at various
trades, such as the needs of the community demanded.
Some made bricks, tiles and pottery, some laid bricks, or
did carpentry. Some made shoes, saddles, hats, clothing,
candles, soap, combed and spun wool, cured hides, and
did blacksmithing. Powder was also manufactured here.
Weaving was a prominent occupation. The cloth woven
was a kind of coarse cloth and blankets were made of the
wool that grew on the backs of their own sheep.
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 3 7
The women and girls ground corn and attended to the
household duties. Even the children were employed to
chase away the birds from the orchards and vinewards, or
did the small chores, such as they were capable of.
The flocks of sheep and goats were numerous and the
numbers of their live stock of other kinds were also con-
siderable, especially cattle. Most of their own wearing
apparel was manufactured by the Indians, so that very
little expenditure for their raiment was required. Their
apparel was simple and adapted to their tastes and modes
of life. The men wore shirts and linen pantaloons. They
were also given blankets, which they wore over their
shoulders in the day time, if cold, and wrapped themselves
up in, or- covered with at night.
The overseers wore clothes like the Spaniards. The
women wore chemises, gowns, a skirt, a shawl or blanket.
All these, likewise, were manufactured at the Mission. It
is no wonder, therefore, that these Indians, under the
supervision of the missionaries felt quite contented and
happy.
The garb of the Franciscan Friars was likewise simple
and plain. Their outer garment was a tunic of brown
cloth. Attached to it was a cowl of the same material. The
cowl usually was thrown back and not pulled over the head.
The tunic was fastened at the waist with a large cotton
cord, white in color. The heads of the Friars were shaven
except for a narrow circle about the crown. When indoors,
they wore a small skullcap. Out of doors, and particularly
in the sunshine, they wore a hat, such as was common to
the Catholic clergy of Spain in that epoch. Generally
their feet were bare. When not so they wore leather
sandals. Next to their skins they wore a garment of
coarse horse hair.
Before the coming of the Franciscan Friars, the Indians
were living evidences of the truth that without God and
religion there is no morality deserving of notice, inasmuch
as moral ideas follow religious ones.
3 8 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
The famous editor and author, Charles F. Lummis, who
has witnessed Indian life in Arizona, New Mexico, and
California, answers the question, "What is an education?"
as follows: "Is it the ability to repeat what you have
heard." He answers: "A phonograph can do that, and the
phonograph is about the measure of modern education.
To older fashioned folks an education is what fits a man
or woman how to live happily, decently, and usefully.
Whatever parrotry of text-books falls short of that is not
an education."
Hon. Francis E. Leupp, commissioner, successor of
Jones, says: "The gospel of Indian salvation, if I read
aright, puts industry at the top of the list of human vir-
tues. Whenever we find the Indian idle we find him a
pauper and unruly. Whenever we find him busy, we find
him comfortable and docile. It requires sympathy, con-
sideration, tact, firm, but gentle, handling on the part of
his teacher."
40 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
CHAPTER III.
The Educational System of the Franciscans. They Were More
Than Two Centuries Ahead of the Present Educators
in Instituting Methods Now Considered Most
Modern. Industries and Development.
10 THE Franciscans belong the honor and distinc-
tion of introducing the kind of education now
considered the most modern. What we now term
the Montessori school of instruction of children was in
vogue with the Franciscans and this method was used by
them in instructing the youth that came under their care,
although it was not then known by that name.
The Franciscan Fathers established kindergarten meth-
ods of instruction, using simple, or fantastic objects for
teaching rudimentary subjects. In order to help their dull
minds to grasp the significance of doctrinal points they
were shown pictures, and to excite the neophytes to prac-
tice virtue and avoid all evil habits the missionaries lined
and decorated their walls and corridors with various pic-
tures and images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, Angels and
Saints especially the patron saints of the Missions. There
were also pictures representing Heaven. Hell, Death, Judg-
ment, Purgatory, etc., and the fourteen Stations of the
Cross were to be found in every Mission.
INTERESTING REPORTS.
During the time intervening between the founding of
the Mission in 1771 up to and including December 31, 1773,
an old record reports that there were "80 baptisms, 1 mar-
riage, 3 deaths, 38 cattle, 11 horses, 17 mules, 20 hogs, 30
sheep and 12 goats." From that time until the period of
secularization in 1832 the total number of baptisms was
7,614; marriages, 1924, and deaths, 5,682.
Confirmations at San Gabriel during Father Junipero's
administration numbered 623 persons. When the first cen-
sus was taken the Mission settlement contained 409 people
of all ages and both sexes. The greatest number of people
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEJL 41
during any one year was 1,701 in 1817; cattle, 25,000 in
1829; horses, 2,400 in 1827; mules, 205 in 1814; hogs, 300
in 1802 and 1803; sheep, 15,000 in 1829, and goats, 1,380
in 1785.
The Mission lands in 1822 extended south three leagues
or nine miles to Santa Gertrudis; southwest six leagues
or 18 miles to San Pedro; west, one and one-half leagues
or four and one-half miles; north, 2 leagues or six miles,
and eastward seven-ninths of a league into the Sierra
Madre Mountains and towards the Colorado River. They
included the Pagan settlement of San Bernardino and fif-
teen leagues, or forty-five miles northwest.
In a report of 1828 there were named as Mission
ranches, La Puente, Santa Ana, Jurupe, San Bernardino,
San Timoteo, San Gorgonio. four sites on the San Gabriel
and also lands between the Pueblo and San Rafael.
In 1814 the Mission numbered 175 inhabitants of
"Razon" or intelligent white Europeans. In 1812 a private
school was founded at San Gabriel.
In 1832 the Missions were confiscated by the Mexican
government. They were put in the hands of a secular com-
mission. They were plundered and devastated all during
the period between that year and the years of restoration
to the Franciscans in 1843, but even as late as 1845 the
Mexican government resolved to rent the estates. The
land, therefore, was turned over to the comisionados, Mex-
ican emissaries, who plundered indiscriminately the priests
and natives. To incite and incense the Indians against the
Fransicans they circulated false and malicious slanders.
Retribution followed some of these robbers. One of
them who had deprived one of the Indians of his lands
and compelled the native to go to the "mountains by that
robbery greatly enriched himself, but he squandered his
ill-gotten riches and when he came to die money had to
be collected with which to bury him.
In 1845 only 250 Indians remained in the San Gabriel
settlement, the greater number having been scattered by
the confiscation of the Missions and their property allot-
42 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
ments, and the missionaries having during the interval of
secularization lost control of them. The Indians went into
the wilds and dispersed.
When the property was restored to Father Estenaga
there were only 72 head of cattle and 700 head of sheep on
the San Gabriel lands.
In June, 1846, the Mission estate was sold by the Mex-
ican government to Reed & Workman, for past aid and
services, but later their title was declared invalid.
In 1819 the poultry industry was in a flourishing condi-
tion. Among other industries there were a soap factory,
a shoe shop, a powder factory, a carpenter shop, a tan-
nery, a harness shop and a brick kiln. As early as 1804,
San Gabriel had a loom mill, in 1819 a mill run by water
power for grinding grain, and the same year a saw mill.
In 1780 a hospital of adobe was built, its dimensions being
26 varas in length by SMj varas in width, to which in 1815
a ward 110 by 6 varas was added.
Regarding the gloomy days following the confiscation,
John Russell Bartlett, who visited the Mission in 1852,
wrote:
"I saw more Indians about this place, Los Angeles, than
in any part of California that I had yet visited. They were
chiefly Mission Indians, namely, those who had been con-
nected with the Missions and had derived their support
from them until the suppression of those establishments.
They were a miserable, squalid looking set, squatting, or
lying about the corners of the streets with no occupation.
They have no means of obtaining a living, as their lands
are taken from them, and the Missions for which they
labored and which provided after a sort for many thou-
sands of them, are abolished."
The Los Angeles Star voiced much the same sentiment
in these lines: "When, at present, we look around and
behold the state of the Indians of this country, when we
see their women degraded into a scale of life too menial to
be domestics, when we behold their men brutalized by
drink, incapable of work and following a system of petty
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 43
thievery for a living, humanity cannot refrain from wish-
ing that the dilapidated Mission of San Gabriel could be
renovated, its broken walls be rebuilt, its roofless houses
be covered and its deserted halls be again filled with its
ancient, industrious, happy and contented original popu-
lation."
Finally the author of "The Old Missions of California,"
adds: "San Gabriel suffered sadly from the cruel blow
of secularization, administered, as it was, at a time wholly
premature and ill-advised. Secularization was but a sy-
nonym for destruction. Such was the fate of San Gabriel,
the fairest of the Franciscan possessions, the gener-
ous monastery whose portals were open wide to all the
wanderers of its time." This devastation and looting in-
cluded the "Pious" fund donated for the assistance of the
founders and administrators of the Missions in their work,
this fund being the generous contribution of the wealthy
persons of Spain. It amounted to a considerable sum, and
was confiscated together with all of the property of the
missionaries by the Mexicans, although it had a pragmatic
sanction by the king of Spain. By the just decision of
the Arbitration Court of the Hague, a very considerable
portion of this pious fund was restored to the Mission-
aries' successors.
4 4 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
CHAPTER IV.
Art Treasures at San Gabriel. Many Murillos. Some Made
by the Indians. They Gave the Features and Dress
of Their Tribe to the Portraits and Images
They Made.
M
OST impressive of the glories of the Old San Gab-
riel Mission is its venerable and massive church
structure. Here its most antique and valued relics
are exhibited. A few years after the founding of the Mis-
sion on the Rio Temblores, as stated hereinbefore, the tem-
porary buildings were abandoned and new ones erected on
the present site. It was in the latter place that the more
prominent work was begun. The first of these structures
was the Mission Church, which was dedicated to Saint
Gabriel, the Archangel. This church, begun in the last
decade of the 18th was completed in the early part of the
19th century.
The dimensions of this structure are 104 feet long,
27 feet wide and 30 feet high. The main walls six feet
thick, are made of stone masonry to the windows. From
there up the structure is of brick. The accessory walls are
built in a similar manner and of like material, but they
are not so thick. The main front finishes with a gable,
having on either side a strong leaning support, or buttress,
called machon, after the style of a Lombard sash, or belt.
On the northeast corner there formerly arose a strong
tower, which was destroyed by an earthquake on December
8, 1912. Of this tower there remains only the supporting
column or springer of an arch.
On the inside there remain, of the original edifice,
the very strong pilasters, or square columns after the Tus-
can style, which indicate that the original roof was an
arched one and the arches were band, or sash arches, called
fajones. To correspond with these interior columns, there
are buttresses on the outside that are crowned with pretty
merlons which give to the whole building a fantastic ap-
pearance and the air of a fortress.
OLD CRUCIFIX AND CHOIR GALLERY
46 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
The original roof destroyed by the earthquake of 1812
was replaced by another made of tiling supported by
crossed beams shod with heavy cedar shoes, or blocks, as
may be seen in the choir loft or gallery.
So beautiful and harmonious must have been the orig-
inal covering that it is a great pity that the present ceil-
ing, so out of harmony with the general appearance has
taken its place. It is common to attribute to the Mission
the Moorish style, but this, perhaps, is without good foun-
dation. The missionaries and pioneer Fathers, not lack-
ing harmony with the style of their epoch and having been
reared close to the Moorish castles in Spain, or closer to
more Romanic structures dedicated to Mary, either uncon-
sciously, or purposely stamped these Missions with some
lasting seal of their early impressions; or perhaps on their
return from among the savages they desired to breathe
some air of their fatherland and thus imprinted on the
key stone of the main entrance, the Star, the symbol of
Mary; or in the highest point of the exterior buttresses
they imitated the merlons of the battlements of the Muza-
rabic monuments. All of these, however, were placed
without departing from the general lines of the styk of
their epoch, which was that of the Renaissance in a popu-
lar form which we might term Franciscan.
THE BAPTISTRY.
One of the most interesting places worthy of the vis-
itor's notice is the baptistry, located on the Epistle side in
front of the main side entrance. Over its massive walls
rests a pretty dome, or cupola called "media naranja," half
of an orange. In the middle of this room arises a square
base of solid masonry upon which rests the baptismal font.
This font is made of hammered copper, the work having
been done by Indians. The original pouring vessel, in the
form of a shell, made of silver, is still kept and used. This
pouring vessel, together with the holy oil stocks, censer,
holy water pot with the sprinkler, and case for the altar
breads, were made of silver. They are found in the first
Mission inventory of December, 1773.
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 4 7
THE ALTAR.
The retablo of the main altar, divided into sections, ex-
hibits somewhat the churrigueresco style used towards the
end of the 18th century. This style, which was in vogue
mostly in Spain during that century, marks a noticeable
deviation from the genuine artistic taste. It is remarkable
for its extravagant and senseless profusion of adornment
and ornamentation. In this case, however, good taste is
shown in that it harmonizes more nearly with the rest of
the Mission. Their impress of art typical in Spain during
the era of their creation marks the stuccoed painted and
carved statues and retablo as being older than the ancient
church itself.
The statues occur in this order: On the right, St. Joa-
quin and St. Francis of Assisi; en the left, St. Anthony of
Padua and St. Dominic; in the center above the Arch-
angel, St. Gabriel, and in the chief place, as the queen, is
the Immaculate Conception. This last one, on account of
its delicate execution, its realism in the deep feeling it
breathes, stands forth as a product of the early I8th cen-
tury. The frontal piece or hanging of this altar, follows
the old Spanish style of the 17th century. Accordingly
this antependium was made so as to receive a framework,
gilded and ornamented within, on which was placed and
displayed fine embroidered and ornamental silk tapestry
of various colors. These colors were in such number as to
meet the requirements of various days and ceremonies.
PAINTINGS.
In addition to the paintings representing the Blessed
Virgin and St. Gabriel hanging on the walls of the sanctu-
ary, upon the main walls of the church the following paint-
ings appear; beginning with the Gospel side we have; St.
Peter, St. John, St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Matthew, St.
Simon, St. Luke, and St. Mark. On the Epistle side there
are arranged; St. Paul, St. James the Less, St. Philip, St.
Bartholomew, St. James the Greater, St. Thaddeus, and
St. Barnabas.
4 8 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
Unfortunately audacious and profane hands, under the
pretext of preserving those paintings, robbed them of their
original brillance and primitive color, thus depriving them
of their former lifelikeness. There is also the famous
symbolic painting representing the Blessed Trinity by the
noted artist Lucas Mena. All of these paintings are from
Spain. Above the exit of the sacristy next to the King's
Highway is a most original painting of Dante's Inferno,
with the figures being keenly tormented.
THE SACRISTY.
This, of all the buildings is the best preserved. On the
right of the main altar is the entrance to this room which
is a reliquary of antiquities. It was respected by the earth-
quake before mentioned. The roof is the original one.
This arched roof, called "cannon," has no mouldings, or
frescoed base, save the simple listel which divides the arch
from the walls. In the primitive "cajoneras," chest of
drawers, the old precious ornaments, imported from Spain
by the Franciscan Fathers, are found preserved entire.
Among these is a collection of rich copes, canopies, chas-
ubles, all made of silk tissue, embroidered velvet, silver
cloth and so forth.
There is also a small copper tank with a faucet and a
bowl beneath it furnishing water for washing the hands
of the priests. There is a holy water vessel likewise, with
its sprinkler made of silver, and various candlesticks and
two processional Crosses, carried by the missionaries in
their excursions among the aborigines. All these appear
also in the first Mission inventory. Concerning the statu-
ary there is in the Mission Church an old lifesized Crucifix
called: "Santo Cristo de Majusqui," and another smaller,
placed on the main altar. Finally here also occurs a life-
sized carved image of St. Bonaventure and another of
St. Joseph, the latter dressed according to the European
custom, the only one so clad. Formerly this statue was
on a side altar on the Gospel side. It was overturned by
an earthquake afore mentioned when the fingers of one
hand were broken.
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 4 9
Several years ago, as anyone may note, the main square
windows of the church which marked the typical Francis-
can style, were enlarged by hands lacking in taste. Thus
the sacred edifice was robbed of the plain, severe, yet
beautiful air which gave to the whole structure the odd
and fantastic appearance of a fortification.
THE DOORS.
There is a pair of massive and tall doors now in the
museum that earlier formed the front portals of the
church. There is a door within each of these doors, its
presence obviating the opening of the large ones, as the
main doors were never opened except on great festivals or
other processional days, or for the funerals of distin-
guished religious or secular personages and dignitaries.
These doors are artistically ornamented with copper nails.
The two iron hinges, also massive, are placed near them
in the museum. These hinges, as well as the doors, are
primitive but extremely artistic.
THE MUSEUM.
The old Mission monastery has been converted into
a museum. There are preserved two small silver statues,
one of St. James the Greater, and the other of Qur Lady
of the Pillar of Saragossa, of the 17th century, as well
as votive offerings of silver, gold and other metals and
a statue of the Immaculate Conception made of solid
ivory.
Upon entering this historic building there can be seen
the room in which is located the old library. This library
is a typical gallery and a living history of the many vicis-
situdes of the printing press during several past cen-
turies. Its books, brought from Spain by the Fathers,
were their constant companions. They are witnesses of
their excursions and heroic deeds.
The most antique work among them is the Summa
Alex. Ales of the year 1489. It is a theological work which
saw the early days of the printing press. Then follows
in age the philosophy of Gabriel Biel of the year 1501.
and the work of El Tostado, Bishop of Avila, Spain,
50 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
OLU MISSION DOORS
These Massive Doors Were Entirely Open Only in Token of
Rejoicing on Great Feast Days
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 51
1527. There are three volumes of the Summa Theologica
of St. Thomas Aquinas, 1534 and 1535. All of these thus
far enumerated were printed in the primitive Gothic Ger-
man characters. The work of San Fulgencio de Ruspe
shows us the first attempt by the famous Belgian house
of Cristof. Plantin at making the French italic characters,
while a dozen various works of the 16th century evidence
the domain of the character called the round italic used
in Spain, France, Belgium and Italy. There are to be
found among these works, several incunabula, books of
the very first period of the printing press, and of sacred
music printed in Salamanca, Spain, in the same century.
While these volumes are of great interest, yet even greater
attractiveness and curiosity is aroused by the old records
and other documents made by the founders of the
Mission. These documents show the handwriting and
signature of the president and founder of the California
Missions, the venerable Junipero Serra, a facsimile of
which with a portrait of the estimable prelate appears as
one of the illustrations of this book.
San Gabriel Mission can legitimately be proud of hav-
ing all of its records from its foundation. There also
exhibited in the Mission library are various specimens of
the round characters in different parchments of the 14th
and 15th centuries and other handwritings of the 16th,
17th and 18th and one map of the Holy Land drawn in
1705.
PAINTINGS IxN THE MUSEUM.
In the museum are a number of paintings. It being
the purpose of this chapter to give merely an historic
account no attempt at criticism of them will be made, but
simply the argument of the principal ones given. Being
of Spanish art and origin, they represent largely scriptu-
ral texts and subjects. Among others there are the Queen
Esther, Bethsabee Leaving the Bath, Salome Carrying
the Head of St. John the Baptist, and the Massacre of the
Innocents, noted for its freshness and expression in har-
52 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
mony with the delicacy of its execution. These belong to
the school of Seville founded by the celebrated painter
Murillo and continued after his death by his pupils. These
paintings, therefore, belong to the latter part of the 18th
century. They were done in Seville for the reason that
in no other part of Spain, at that time, could such works
of art be produced.
Noted for their antiquity are the paintings represent-
ing St. Paul bitten by the serpent while on the Island of
Malta, the Dream of St. Joseph, His Espousals, another
painting of St. Joseph with the child sleeping in his arms,
the Vision of St. Peter, etc. Here is also to be seen a
Byzantine style copy of a Madonna of the 17th century.
There are copies of St. Francis, the Immaculate Concep-
tion, and of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, attributed
to Murillo and others made in his school by his pupils
under his supervision and direction. Some of them bear
apparent signatures of Murillo, possibly made before he
acquired high reputation for his artistic talent and sold
personally by him when he so disposed of a number of his
early productions to voyagers sailing from Seville over the
Guadalquivir River.
These were called "Sargas," or cheap pictures on rough
canvas, which he sold to gain a livelihood. Doubtless some
of them found their way to America, and possibly some
may be included in the San Gabriel Mission collection.
The mest charming picture seems, to be the one rep-
resenting St. Mary Magdalene, attributed to Correggio.
It attracts especial attention because of its expression
and delicately executed work. From Italian artists, there
are exhibited in this gallery various copies reproduced
on copper of the Madonna called the "Grand Duke," by
Raphael, the "Madonna and the Child," by Sarto and
others, left to the study and curiosity of the visitors.
Painted on wood and of Mexican origin there are four
beautiful pieces representing as many apparitions of the
Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe. There are kept as historical
mementos of the Mission an old iron anchor, which
SAN GABRIEL MISSION CHURCH— MAIN ALTAR
54 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
belonged to one of the first ships arriving from Spain,
the first confessional box and arm chair used by the
Franciscan Fathers, other objects of Roman and Spanish
art of the first centuries of Christianity, and still other
articles of Spanish-Arabic* art; likewise some of the old
Indian craft, and finally the old gigantic rose vine, noted
for its fragrant, ever blooming, and snow white mantle
that saw the old days of the pioneer Padres.
One of the most striking features of the museum is a
rare and genuine collection of various mortars, pestles,
grinders, metates, tools, arrowheads, Indian baskets, beads,
tomahawks, vestments, and other artistic treasures.
THE BELFRY.
The belfry with its serviceable, yet plain, structure
reminds one of the old Franciscan style. The fame of the
San Gabriel Campanile with its historical bells is world-
wide. It has attracted tourists from far and near. The
same bells whose melodious peals called and summoned
the savages from their native haunts to this more blessed
spot of salvation and civilization, have given inspiration
to the poet's rhyme and the story maker's tales.
When San Gabriel's celebrated chimes send forth their
seductive argentine voices sweet remembrances and com-
forting thoughts come to the pious mind:
"Oh! solemn bells, whose consecrated masses
Recall the faith of old:
OhI tinkling bells, that lulled with twilight music
The spiritual fold."
— Bret Harte.
The largest bell called, "The Angelus," rung thrice
daily, gives forth the clearest and sweetest sound. Orig-
inally there were six bells, but now only four remain. The
date, author, names and inscriptions are as follows:
FIRST BELL.
AVE MARIA SANTISSIMA.
S. FRAN.
DE PAVLA RVELAS
ME FECIT.
N. CO.
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAX GABRIEL 55
SECOND BELL.
CAST BY G. H. HOLBROOK
MEDWAY, MASS.
A. D. 1828.
THIRD BELL.
AVE MARIA
S. JVAN NiEPOMVCENO
RVBLAS ME FECIT
A. D. '95.
FOURTH BELL.
FECIT BENITVS A' REGIBVS
A. D. 1830.
The second bell came to California around by the
Horn.
THE OVENS.
One hundred feet to the rear of the church in the
garden may be seen the ruins of the old bake ovens, where
the Indians trained by the Fathers baked bread for the
community, burned brick for the buildings, made soap
and candles from the tallow. There can yet be seen the
furnaces for the cauldrons.
THE NEW CHAPEL.
Forming a right angle with the old Mission Church
from the sacristy a new chapel has been built by the Mis-
sionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, now in
charge of the Mission. This tall, plain structure, plastered
on the outside, in style imitates the old Mission Church
externally, while the inside is a graphic reminder of the
chapel of the historically famous convent of the Rabida
in Spain. This convent was the first to open its wide
portals to the great discoverer of America and to offer
suport to him in the person of its illustrious Abbot, Fray
Juan Perez de Marchena.
THE CEMiETERY.
The original cementery was located immediately adjoin-
ing the church.- It was entered by a door of the church
through which the dead were borne to their graves. Many
of these were vaults above the surface of the ground.
56 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
Others were beneath it, but marked by ancient stone or
other kinds of monuments. They have vanished, however,
through the extreme ignorance of a secular person who
deemed them unsightly and removed them, thus obliter-
ating all evidence of the location of the graves in which
some very prominent persons were buried.
The priests were buried in the church, and the location
of their graves can be -determined by the records that
indicate their location. Among these the first was Father
Miguel Sanchez. He died July 28, 1803. Time of service,
twenty-eight years. He was buried by Father Juan Jose
de Santiago, under the steps of the main altar on the
Epistle side.
Next was Father Antonio Cruzado, who died on Octo-
ber 12, 1804. Time of service, thirty-three years. Buried
by Father Francisco Dumetz.
Father Francisco Dumetz, died January 15, 1811. Time
of service, six years. Buried by Father Jose Maria de
Zalvidea.
Francisco Roman Fernandez de Ullibarri. Died June
16, 1821. Buried by Father Jose Maria de Zalvidea.
Joaquin Pascual Nuez. Died December 31, 1821. Time
of service, seven years. Buried by Father Vicente Pascual
Oliva.
Jeronimo Boscana. Died July 6, 1831. Time of service,
five years. Buried by Father Jose Sanchez on St. Joseph's
side of the presbytery, near the remains of Padre Nuez.
Jose Bernardo Sanchez. Died January 16, 1833. Buried
by Father Vicente P. Oliva at the foot of the altar, in
the presbytery. He is said by Mofras to have died of
grief over the ruins of the Mission through seculariza-
tion.
Bias Ordaz. Died November 11, 1850. Time of service,
three years. Buried by Father Jose Joaquin Jimeno.
Antonio Maria Jimenez del Recio, a secular priest.
Died 1853.
Father Andres Moreno, C. M. F. Buried in the center
of the cemetery in the Priests' Plot, February 27, 1911.
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
57
There still survives Father Jeronimo Boscana, a man
90 years old, who was baptized by him and whose name is
Jeronimo Lopez, now living in San Fernando, California,
near the Mission there, but whose former home was at San
Gabriel.
The old cemetery was abandoned and parked. The
new one which was substituted for it is located practically
adjacent to the old one about 100 yards north of the
church. It is a beautiful spot and is admirably taken care
of by a regular sexton.
5 8 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
CHAPTER V.
The Soldiers Who Guarded the Missions. The Troubles They
Caused. Their Gambling Propensities and Other Im-
moralities. The Massacre of Rivera and His
Companions. Battle of San Gabriel.
Other Military Matters.
LL of the California Missions had military forces
stationed in them. While San Gabriel was no
exception to the rule, this Mission was not a reg-
ular presidio or military fort and the guard or escolta,
consisted of a very small squad of soldiers. The first
force was only and truly a corporal's guard, the rank of
corporal being that of the non-commissioned officer in
command of it.
These soldiers, all of whom, at first, were Spaniards,
were a profligate set. Having but little to do and few
military duties they often got into mischief, and caused
the missionary Fathers no little care and concern. Deser-
tions among them were frequent, and it was with great
difficulty that the deserters could be induced to return.
They were a source of almost constant annoyance and
uneasiness to the Fathers. Their misconduct retarded the
growth of the Missions, and San Gabriel in particular.
Not long after this Mission was first founded one of
them committed an act that came near causing all of the
community of San Gabriel to be assassinated. It injured
the Mission in the estimation of the savages and brought
it under their ill will for quite a period. The soldier who
caused this unfortunate state of affairs was one who in-
curred the displeasure of an Indian woman, the wife of
one of the chiefs of the tribe. The angered woman per-
suaded her husband to avenge the insult. Consequently
this chief summoned his companions and awaited an op-
portunity, which came one day when the guilty soldier
and his associates were guarding the horses of the Mis-
sion. The Indians attacked the party with arrows and
were repulsed by the superior weapons of the soldiers.
60 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
In this combat the chief whose wife was the complainant,
was slain and the attacking Indians were dispersed. What
renders this affair particularly interesting was the fact
that the child of this chief and his squaw was the first
Indian infant who was baptized at this Mission.
Up to that time when the Indians and soldiers fought,
the affairs of the Mission had progressed favorably and
prosperously. All the Indians had been perfectly content,
so this distressing affair was the cause of a considerable
period of unrest and distrust among the savages.
To avoid further trouble it was necessary to transfer
this objectionable soldier to Monterey, For greater secur-
ity the number of troops was increased to sixteen under
command of a sergeant. At the same time the number of
the Fathers on duty here was doubled, there being four
instead of two. These two additional Fathers soon became
the regular Fathers in charge, the founders, Fathers Cam-
bon and Somera, having been compelled by reason of
serious illness to retire.
In addition to their bows and arrows, the Indians had
for weapons long spears headed, or tipped, with flint.
Before the coming of the Franciscans or any other Mis-
sionaries to California these natives were persons about
whose morals, according to Father Engelhardt: "It is
inexpedient to describe. They were naked, dissolute and
even for long after the advent of the Friars gambled at
various games of hazard. In fact nothing was too sacred
for them to wager with from a deer skin to a human life."
One game generally very popular with them was that
of guessing which hand contained a small bit of wood,
or bone. It was a favorite because it required no effort
or exertion. Nothing, however, seemed to give them grea-;
ter satisfaction than to lie stretched out for hours upon the
ground with their faces down, doing absolutely nothing.
Both men and women smoked and danced, but as a rule
the Indian men and women did not dance together, nor
was their dancing anything like the dances now in vogue.
It was a swaying of their bodies, an alternation of lifting
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 61
first one and then another limb. The men usually danced
unclad, while their heads were adorned with feathers.
Their faces were painted with glaring colors in grotesque
patterns. The dancing was accompanied by chanting, clap-
ping of hands and blowing of hornpipes, beating of skin
covered drums and rattling of tortoise shells filled with
pebbles. Such horried discord was intended to serve for
marking the cadence of time.
The civil government was headed by a governor. The
first one was Caspar de Portola, who was appointed by
Carlos III, King of Spain, the reigning Spanish sovereign
of that period. This king gave orders that the natives
were to have an alcalde, or mayor, which functionary was
chosen by the Indians from among their own tribal mem-
bership. With considerable ceremony these functionaries
were inducted into their offices, which lasted for a period
of just one year. They exercised the duties both of mayor
and magistrate, or justice of the peace. This furnished
the Indians measurably a species of self-government. There
were two alcaldes, a first and a second. They each had a
baton, or emblem of authority, and wore coats of a pecul-
iar and distinctive long cut and singular shape. They were
inaugurated on the first day of each year, were exempt
from punishment and were proud of their brief authority
which they not infrequently abused.
The soldiers were brought out from Spain for the pur-
pose of guarding the civil, religious, and military proper-
ties, particularly the Missions, the missionary Fathers
and the charges of the latter. The kings had issued orders
to secure the country for the dominion of the Spanish
crown which was the purpose of the secular conquest of
California, as it was the purpose of making the conquest
of Mexico. Always the strength of the guard, or escolta,
was proportionate to the size of the settlement, population
and importance of the Mission at which it was placed.
62 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
THE YUMA RIVERA MASSACRE.
One of the most notable instances of bloodshed by the
savages was that of the massacre by Yuma Indians of a
party of Spanish soldiers under Rivera de Moncada in the
vicinity of the Gila, Colorado Missions while en route
to Los Angeles on July 18, 1781. Rivera had brought a
company of forty recruits and their families out with him,
but most fortunately had left the greater majority of the
families behind in Sonora, seeming to scent danger for
them. He also sent on the main body of his troops ahead
to San Gabriel and he crossed the Colorado with but a
dozen men and camped near its eastern bank to rest his
cattle and recuperate his men.
The Yuma Indians attacked and utterly annihilated
this small force and retired into the mountain fastnesses.
They also massacred a number of people in the Pueblos
along the Gila and Colorado Rivers at or near various
Missions in their vicinity.
Almost immediately after this merciless massacre an
expedition, to punish these savages and avenge the slaugh-
ter of their companions, was organized by Lieutenant Col-
onel Pages and Governor Pelipe de Neve who also determ-
ined to avenge the killing of the Colorado Pueblo settlers.
These Yuma savages had killed the Friars, not even spar-
ing the universally beloved Father Francisco Garces, who
was the first one to visit the Indian tribes of the Gila in
1768. He was the first to urge the Viceroy and College
of Santa Cruz to found those Missions in that region.
He was the first, also, to insist on the Viceroy Bucareli,
acting also on the advice of Father Serra, to direct Cap-
tain Juan Bautista de Anza to open communications be-
tween Sonora and Monterey overland in California. De
Anza was the first to blaze the way and cross the desert,
previous explorers having gone by sea. He also stopped
at San Gabriel on several occasions.
These Yumas set fire to the buildings and carried away
women and children. This punitive expedition was organ-
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 63
ized at San Gabriel and went forth from there in pursuit
of the miscreants.
BATTLE NEAR SAN GABRIEL.
The most memorable battle that occurred in the imme-
diate vicinity of San Gabriel was one that took place on
January 8, 1847. It occurred not far from the original site
of this Mission. The Californians who were led by the
Governor and comprised their military forces that had
spent ten days in their marches against the American
forces, finally came near to the San Gabriel River just
north of the place where the Santa Fe railway to Orange
spans that stream. The Americans were commanded by
General Stephen W. Kearny. Colonel Philip Stockton
was second in command. The Californians had gathered
all of their forces consisting of 500 mounted men with four
pieces of artillery. They took the most advantageous
position on high ground about a quarter of a mile from
the river. The Americans sent forward their artillery and
were about to cross the river. The Californians fought
bravely and for some time successfully prevented the
crossing, but finally retreated. This action lasted but an
hour and a half, resulting in two killed and eight wounded
on the American side and about a similar loss among the
Californians.
This battle put an end to the season of strife and tur-
moil that had existed for the short period during the life
of the California, or "Bear Flag" Republic.
PRIESTS SUCCEEDING FRANCISCANS.
After the Franciscans retired the Missions were in
charge of these seculars, the first of whom was Father
H. T. Lempfrit who took charge in 1851. The following
year he was succeeded by Father Pablo Jordan, who in
1855 was succeeded by Father Pedro Bagaria. The same
year this priest was succeeded by Father Jayme Vila. In
1856 Benito Capdevila was the priest in charge and in
1857 J. Rogal, following whom in 1858 came Domingo
64 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
Serrano. In 1859 Juan Basso took charge and gave way
in 1860 to Angel Molino. Angel Delfino Casanova and
Sebastian Ignacio Gallo both served in 1861 as also did
M. Duran. In 1862 Cipriano Rubio was in charge of this
Mission. In 1863 Pedro Verdaguer and Joseph Mut had
charge. Father Verdaguer afterwards attained the rank
of Bishop and was stationed in the Texas See of Browns-
ville. In 1864 Pedro Sastre took charge and remained
there until 1869, in which latter year Thomas O'Donohoe
took charge and was relieved in 1870 by Joaquin Bot. In
1871 P. Farrelly was in charge and remained so until 1875
when Joseph McNamee came in succession. B. Smith
took charge in 1887 and in 1888 was succeeded by C. Scan-
nell, who had charge of the Mission for two years. Joaquin
Bot, the regular incumbent, returned and gave place in
1903 to Henry O'Reilley, who had charge for three years,
giving way in 1906 to P. M. Bannon. The latter was the
last secular priest until the Missionary Sons of the Im-
maculate Heart of Mary took charge in 1908.
Father Cipriano Rubio was one of the best known sec-
ular priests who did service at San Gabriel. He was chap-
lain at the Immaculate Heart Convent at Los Angeles at
the time of his death. He was a man of superior intellect-
uality as well as great spirituality, wise in counsel and
most patient in service.
Father Joaquin Bot was noted for his generosity in
the support he gave the Mission parish and also for his
genial nature and exceptionally long pastorate.
The last of these seculiar priests, Father P. M. Bannon,
died in Los Angeles in 1907.
_.^~fe'»|j>|ili,|A
66 THE HISTORY OF MISSION' SAX GABRIEL
CHAPTER VI.
Administration of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary. They Have Taken Up and are Carrying on the
Unfinished Work of the Franciscans, Preserving their
Traditions. They are Restoring San Gabriel to
its Original Condition, Developing and Im-
proving this Venerable Landmark.
Other California Missions.
I
T WAS in February, 1908, that the late Rt. Rev.
Thomas J. Conaty, D. D.. Bishop of Monterey and
Los Angeles, called Father Ramon Prat, C. M. F.,
then Provincial of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary, to take charge of Mission San Gabriel.
The Most Rev. Martin Alsina. C. M. F., Superior General,
accepted the offer.
Father Prat was followed by the Very Rev. Feli.x A.
Cepeda, C. M. F.. now General Consultor. Father Cepeda
was succeeded by the present incumbent, the Very Rev.
D. Zaldivar, C. M. F., formerly Rector of the Old Plaza
Church. Los Angeles, California.
San Gabriel Mission was placed in the charge of the
Reverend Father Felix Zumarraga, C. M. F. He was suc-
ceeded by the Reverend Andrew Resa, C. M. F., who was
followed by Father Miguel Ofiate, C. M. F., whose suc-
cessor was the Reverend Father Eustace Flamenco, C. M.
F. Father Flamenco was followed by the Reverend Leon
Monasterio, C. M. F., who later on was succeeded by the
present incumbent, the Reverend Father Raphael Serrano.
C. M. F.
The congregation of which these missionaries are
niemebrs was founded in Spain by the Venerable Father
Anthony M. Claret, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba and
confessor of Her Majesty, Isabella II, Queen of Spain, on
July 16. 1849. This institution was approved by Pope
Pius IX, on the occasion of the Ecumenical Council of
the Vatican at which the founder assisted.
This splendid congregation, like a wonderful tree, has
grown and spread its broad and salutary branches over
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 67
Europe, America and parts of Africa. On its glorious roll
are noted faithful laborers, confessors of the faith, and
even martyrs. It comprises different provinces, novitiates,
vicariates and prefectures apostolic, minor or preparatory
and superior colleges.
The illustrious founder of this congregation has been
given the title of Venerable and will soon be beatified,
being highly esteemed by all his clients and admirers. An
earnest endeavor is being made to bring to an end the
apostolic process concerning his miracles, which will point
to the nearby and happy day of the saintly Father Claret's
glorification. He was acclaimed the Apostle of the 19th
century. He belonged to the Latin American hierarchy.
was the soul and life of all the religious movements of
his day and was also called : "The Angel of the Apocalypse."
His wonderful life shows him to have been a giant who
rejoiced to run his way. He won a martyr's crown; yet
the culminating marvel of all of his works was the found-
ing of the congregation of the Missionary Sons of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was unjustly and in-
humanly persecuted and exiled by the ruthless Spanish
revolution of 1868. After he had been driven to foreign
lands he was received in a poor monastery of Cistercian
Monks at Fontfroide, France. Fortified by all the com-
forts of the Holy Church, surrounded by the hospitable
monks and amidst tenderly touching sentiments and feel-
ings of love and resignation, while in the arms of some of
his exiled children, his pure soul left this vale of tears
and took its flight Heavenward, October 24, 1870, the
Feast of the Archangel St. Raphael. His plain obsequies
were attended by wonders. A strange bird of mysterious
appearance was seen flying around the catafalque, alter-
nating with the monks in their solemn singing of the
office of the dead.
A priest was unaccountably prevented from intoning
the verse found in the office: "From the gate of hell,
deliver his soul, O! Lord!"
On his tomb was carved this inscription, the words of
68 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
the great champion of the rights of the Catholic Church,
Gregory VII: "I have loved justice and hated iniquity,
therefore I die in exile."
The missionaries of this religious institute, while con-
stantly engaged in the improvement and betterment of
this precious grand old landmark, are continually mindful
of the intellectual and moral upbuilding of this community
which has been confided to their pastoral care. In this
way they have followed closely in the footsteps of their
selfsacrificing pioneer Padre predecessors, who so faith-
fully and constantly labored among these people in this
marvel of usefulness, the pride of her sisters, the San
Gabriel Mission.
The first accomplishment was the restoration of the
Mission Church and of the old monastery, which latter
has been converted into a museum. They next built a
commodious abode where they exult in sweet memories
of the past. It is a mixture of Moorish and Mission arch-
itecture. This residence was finished during the admin-
istration of the Reverend Felix Zumarraga.
The parochial school is an institution which was
planned and promoted by Father Resa, but his ideas did
not materialize until 1912. In the summer of that year
his successor, Father Michael Onate, finished the building,
at the cost of $15,000. This school is conducted by the
Dominican Sisters. Its average attendance is about 300
children daily. Father Flamenco enlarged the school. It
is a "free" school in every particular, the tuition, the
books, and even the luncheons of the pupils being furn-
ished them gratuitously.
The cemetery originally lacked systematic arrange-
ment. The dead had been buried indiscriminately without
any regard to any formed plat, or plan, under the adminis-
tration of the Franciscans. Since the present administra-
tion of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary, the cemetery has been laid off in an admirably ar-
ranged form. The graves are placed in lines. It has been
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABiRIBL 69
beautified by the planting of trees, shrubbery and many
flowers.
These missionaries now in charge of the sacred and
venerable institution, the old San Gabriel Mission, are
doing splendid and effective work in saving the souls,
benefitting the bodies and minds of the natives and others
of their vicinity and, at the same time, are showing visit-
ing strangers the many attractive features the splendid
Mission possesses.
During the incumbency of the Reverend fceon Monas-
terio, C. M. F., a life-sized marble statue of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, standing on a granite pedestal, was erected
in the geographical center of the old Mission cemetery.
The present Rector of the Mission, the Reverend Raphael
Serrano, C. M. F., has installed a five-thousand-pipe organ
in the old Mission Church.
OTHER CALIFORNIA MISSIONS.
While San Gabriel stands alone and unique in its su-
perior excellence above all of its sister Missions, it is but
fair to give the reader a list of the latter and many of the
tourists coming to San Gabriel inquire where and when
the other California Missions were founded.
There were twenty-one of them and they were strewn
all along the Camino Real, or the old King's Highway,
which extended for a distance of approximately 700 miles
from San Diego to Sonoma's Valley of the Seven Moons.
Their foundation dates from 1769 to 1823. Father Juni-
pero Serra was the founder of nine of them, planting the
first Christian Mission and settlement when he and his
companions reached San Diego. This was on Sunday, July
16, 1769, the day of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Car-
mel, this same day being the Feast of the Triumph of the
Holy Cross. Father Serra was assisted by Father Fer-
nando Parron. The first governor of California, Caspar
de Portola, was present. The beautiful city of San Diego
it about this Mission.
70 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
The second Mission to be established was founded Sun-
day, June 3, 1770, by Father Serra at San Carlos, or Car-
mel of the Sea, on Pentecost Sunday, when Father Juan
Crespi was present. This was the Mission that Father
Junipero called his own.
The third was the Mission named San Antonio de Padua
which was founded on July 14, 1771, on the Feast of the
Seraphic Doctor St. Bonaventure, its founders having been
Fathers Serra, Miguel Pieras, and Buenaventura Sitjar.
It is twenty-six miles from King's City.
San Gabriel, previously fully described, was the fourth
Mission.
San Luis Obispo, or the Bishop of Tolosa, was the fifth.
It was founded on September 1, 1772, by the Presidente,
Father Junipero Serra, and Father Jose Cavalier. It was
established at the site of the present city of the same name.
The sixth was that of St. Francis of Assisi, located at
San Francisco. It was established October 8, 1776, by
Father Francisco Palou.
The seventh was that of San Juan Capistrano, founded
on All Saints' Day, or November 1, 1776, by Father Juni-
pero Serra, assisted by Fathers Pablo Mugartegui and
Gregorio Amurrio. This was located at the place where
the town of that name is.
The eighth was the Santa Clara, January 12, 1777, and
founded by Fathers Tomas de la Peiia and Jose Murguia.
Its location is at Santa Clara, California.
The ninth was that of San Buenaventura, established
March 31, 1782, on Easter Sunday on the site called by
the explorers the "Asuncion de Nuestra Senora." This was
the first of what was known as the "Channel" Missions.
Its founders were Fathers Serra and Cambon. It is near
the city of Ventura.
The tenth was the Santa Barbara, located at the place
where the city of that name now is. It was established
December 4, 1786, on the Feast Day of St. Barbara, virgin
and martyr. This was the second of the "Channel" Mis-
sions.
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 71
The eleventh was La Purisima Concepcion, founded
Saturday, December 8, 1787. on the Feast Day of the Im-
maculate Conception, by Father Fermin Lasuen, president
of the California Missions, and Fathers Vicente Fuster
and Jose Arroita. It is located in the city of Lompoc and
is the third and last of the "Channel" Missions.
The twelfth was Santa Cruz, founded August 28, 1791,
by Father Fermin Lasuen and Fathers Isidro Alonzo
Salazar and Baldomero Lopez, located at Santa Cruz.
The thirteenth is Nuestra Senora Dolorosisima, com-
monly called La Soledad, founded October 9, 1791, near
Soledad, by Father Fermin Lasuen and Fathers Diego
Garcia and Mariano Rubi.
The fourteenth was San Jose founded on Trinity Sun-
day, June 11, 17'97, near Irvington, by Father Fermin
Lasuen and Fathers Ysidoro Barcenilla and Agustin Merino.
The fifteenth was San Juan Bautista, on the San Benito
River, near Hollister, founded June 24, 1797, by Father
Fermin Lasuen and Fathers Jose Martiarena and Pedro
Adriano Martinez, on the Feast of the Nativity of St. John
the Baptist.
The sixteenth was San Miguel Arcangel. near San
Miguel, founded July 25, 1797, by Fathers Fermin Lasuen,
Buenaventura Sitjar, and Antonio de la Concepcion, at
Las Pozas.
The seventeenth was San Fernando Rey de Espana,
located near San Fernando City in the San Fernando
Valley, twenty-one miles north of Los Angeles. It was
founded September 8, 1797, by Father Fermin Lasuen,
Presidente, and Fathers Francisco Dumetz and Francisco
Javier Uria.
The eighteenth was San Luis Rey, near Ocean Side. It
was founded on June 8, 1798, by Father Fermin Lasuen
and Fathers Juan Norberto de Santiago and Antonio
Peyri. The latter was the first to introduce and plant the
pepper tree in. California. One of these trees of very con-
siderable size stands in front of the campanile of San
Gabriel.
72
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
The nineteenth was Santa Ines, virgin and martyr,
located near Los Olivos. It was founded September 17,
1804, by Father Esteban Tapis, successor to Father Fermin
Lasuen, and by Fathers Marcelino Cipres, Antonio Calzada,
and 'Romualdo Gutierrez.
The twentieth was San Rafael Arcangel, at San Rafael,
founded on December 14, 1817, by Father Prefecto Vicente
Sarria.
The twenty-first, San Francisco Solano, in the Sonoma
Valley, near the town of Sonoma was founded in July, 1823,
by Father Altimira. The Pala Chapel, the old Plaza Church
at Los Angeles, and the Royal Chapel at Monterey, are
frequently, but improperly, called Missions.
THE VERY REV. RAMON PRAT
THE VENERABLE ANTHONY MARY CLARET
Founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
74 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
CHAPTER VII.
Story of a Marvelous Indian Crucifix. The Mission Play Amid
Replicas of the Old Missions. It Attracts Many
Thousands to San Gabriel's Vicinity.
w
HEN Mexico was in the midst of her strife with
Spain for her independence from that monarchy,
while Upper California was unapprised of those
troubles, but dreamed in her sunshine, then it was as the
Aztec Eagle strove to free itself from the Lion of Castile,
that there occurred a marvelous incident. This was while
there sat on the throne of San Fernando Rey de Castilla y
Leon and of Queen Isabella, another illustrious king who
succeeded to the name of the former and to the virtues of
both — His Majesty Don Fernando VII. At the music of
this name, Fernando, our thoughts readily dwell on the
Mission San Fernando Rey de Espafia and its wonderful
valley, one of the richest and most marvelous of the inland
chain of Missions.
In this valley we may wander along the sunny road, the
King's Highway of the glorious days of the Spanish era,
trodden by conquistadores and footsore brown priests.
Sweet memories of the past, veiled in story and romance,
will linger in our minds and impel us to think of those
early days of California history. We may imagine Don
Tomas Feliz, the bravest soldier of the dozen that consti-
tuted the escolta of the Mission San Fernando under the
leadership of Sargento Damaso. Don Tomas was the
dearest among his comrades to Padre Pedro Mufioz. the
minister of this Mission.
While our hero was serving at Los Angeles, he fell in
love with Sefiorita Maria de Jesus Lopez, of the blood of
Castile. Padre Munoz united them in marriage in 1815.
The Feliz ancestors had ever been remarkable in the an-
nals of California for their loyalty and devotion to their
king. So the annexation of California to the Mexican
Federation, marked the fall of Los Feliz, from their as-
cendency. A living perennial witness of their loyalty to
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 75
the golden throne that bore the arms of CastiHan power,
is the old Rancho Los Feliz, granted by Charles III, King
of Spain, for past services rendered to the Spanish crown.
This ranch, in its original dimensions, extended from El
Monte de la Porciuncula to the Cahuenga Pass, covering
the western section of the city of Los Angeles, and stretch-
ing out to what is now Hollywood, Colegrove, Sherman,
and La Brea Ranch.
It was on a bright morning of April, 1816, that glad
tidings reached San Fernando Mission. Sargento Damaso
had been promoted to a captaincy in order to command the
troops of Santa Barbara. Don Tomas was chosen to go
thither with the happy news of the promotion of Sargento
Damaso to that important point and military post.
It was on the Viernes de Dolores, in the Passion Week.
This was indeed, a great day for the Mission. The devo-
tion of the Spaniards to Our Lady, chiefly under the title
or invocation of Her sorrows, is known the world over.
The early missionaries, the sons of the Poor Man of Assisi,
inherited from him their love and tenderness for the mys-
teries of our redemption; so they always endeavored to
impress them on the minds of the neophytes.
Let us retrace our steps to the San Fernando Mission
of those days of the old regime of care-free and pleasure-
loving California, — when such words as thine and mine
were hardly known, — when the virgin soil yielded freely,
and the hard, cold iron plowshare had scarcely begun to
furrow the face of mother earth, — when the Missions
ever thrown open to the wanderer, were a great patri-
archal family with their parental authority presiding over
them. Our friend, Don Tomas, clad in the characteristic
attire and with the accoutrements customary with the
Spanish soldiery, mounted a fiery steed. In less than an
hour he had gained access to the Santa Susana Mountains.
He was then in the Simi Valley, where the blossom was
on the trees, in the orchards, and meadows. This valley
lies north of the famous Santa Susana Mountains, which
rise 3,700 feet above the sea level, south of the Simi Hills.
76 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
that soar as high as 2,159 feet, and east of the Santa
Susana Pass. Westward it is separated from the Little
Simi Valley by a low range of hills.
The Camino Real, so often trodden by the cowled Pad-
res, along which was built the marvelous chain of Missions
between San Diego and Sonoma, runs through the Simi
Valley from east to west.- On that far off day, Don Tomas
Feliz occasionally lowered the speed of his spirited horse
that he might drink in the beauty of the fields aflame with
poppies, of the blue and transparent sky, and of the plains
and orchards, and thus tune the harp of his soul and
render in the presence of God the sweet music of prayer.
So he had finished his Corona Dolorosa in honor of the
sorrows of Our Lady. The gentle breeze from the ocean
had caressed the brave soldier, when a sudden backward
jerk of the steed aroused him from his reverie. He
spurred the horse but the steed could not move any further.
Then casting his eyes on the roadside he saw, as though
floating on a sea of light, a wonderful image of Christ
crucified. Don Tomas instinctively dismounted. Falling
upon his knees, reverently he picked the figure up and
pressing it to his lips exclaimed: "1 adore Thee, oh! Christ,
and I bless Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast
redeemed the world." The amazement of Constantine at
the flaming cross in the heavens, the devotion of St, Helen
when she discovered the sacred instrument of the passion,
the transports of joy of Heraclius when he recovered this
memorial of our redemption from the hands of the Infi-
dels— these alone can be compared to the joy of Don
Tomas.
But how great his surprise was when he observed that
the image had no Cross. He at once repaired to the nearby
hills, where the manzanitas grow and from a limb of that
shrub he hewed a Cross. As soon as he returned to San
Fernando, our soldier showed the crucifix to Padre Vic-
torio with a vivid account of the whole event. The aged
Father with tears in his eyes, murmured a word of bless-
ing and attached to the Crucifix the spiritual treasures of
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 77
the Stations of the Cross and the Apostolic Indulgences
at the Hour of Death.
Padre Victorio, by the crown of thorns and Indian tuft
of feathers, by the features of the face, and the charac-
teristic air of the image, traced its origin and proclaimed
it the workmanship of Juan Antonio, the neophyte who
had painted the Stations of the Cross for the San Fernando
Mission at the time of its founding.
At last, after his venturesome life, Don Tomas foresaw
the approaching Angel of Death. Then he summoned his
daughter, Maria, to his death bed. Gazing upon her, the
dearest of his children and clasping the Crucifix in his
cold and trembling hands, the old soldier exclaimed: "This
is the most precious legacy which I bequeath to you, my
dear child. Keep it with the love and reverence becoming
such a sacred memorial. May God, and His Blessed
Mother, continue to shower His blessings upon you."
Holding the Crucifix to his lips he murmured: "Thou
hast redeemed me oh! Lord, God of Truth."
Then his purified soul took its flight Heavenward.
Faithful to the commission, wherewith she had been en-
trusted, "Aunt China," as Maria was called, always kept
the heirloom with great care and reverence. The spring
of her life was spent in the Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la
Reina de Los Angeles, while the fruitful summer of her
useful career and the fall of her declining years found her
always in the San Fernando Valley.
When the Angel of Death would enter a household
she would be found at the bedside. With her Crucifix she
administered the religious consolations to many souls.
"Aunt China" reached two and four score years. In her
old days she could no longer peruse those spiritual books
which she used to read with so much delight. She could,
however, still gaze on that mysterious book, her Crucifix,
in which she found the lessons of life eternal.
It was on March 27, 1913, that one of the few golden
links connecting our money mad rushing age with the
early care-free California life was broken. One of the
78 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
most beautiful and unselfish lives that ever lived in this
wonderful land was ended. Dear "Aunt China" had passed
to her reward. She died pressing to her heart her old
treasured Crucifix, holding the blessed candle and with
her beads about her neck. Expressive emblems, indeed,
which bring out the three distinguishing characteristics of
her beautiful life, namely: her tender devotion to the
Blessed Mother, her strong faith, like an oak not to be
wind-shaken, and her spirit of sacrifice ever expressed in
deeds of charity. She was laid to rest under the shadow
of the Mission she had loved so much and which she had
seen in the days of its glory.
May what was mortal of her rest in peace there in the
valley while her soul finds Heavenly happiness. A sweet
fragrance will long linger around her memory.
THE MISSION PLAY.
One of the institutions incident to and particularly
connected with San Gabriel is its Mission Play. This fam-
ous dramatic production in some respects resembling the
great Passion Play of Oberammergau, attracts very many
people to the vicinity of Los Angeles. During the two
great expositions given in California, the first at San
Francisco, and the second at San Diego, a very consider-
able portion of the attendance at both of them also went
to witness this Mission Play.
Its environment is among a group of replicas of the
twenty-one old California Missions that were built and
strung along the original King's Highway, extending from
the Harbor of the Sun at San Diego to the Valley of the
Seven Moons in Sonoma's neighborhood. This replica idea
originated with Mrs. Ida L. McGroarty, wife of John Mc-
Groarty, author of this Mission Play, forming a most
appropriate setting for it.
Among the many very distinguished persons visiting
San Gabriel and witnessing this play, after first attending
the two expositions indicated, was the Hon. Thomas Mar-
80 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GARRIEL
shall, Vice-President of the United States, and many others
whose names are legion.
The play itself is a very powerful one. It is produced
periodically by a large company of highly talented pro-
fessional actors, some of whom are paid very considerable
sized salaries. It is a story of the founding, the rise and
fall of the old Franciscan California Missions, with their
principal founder, Father Junipero Serra, as the central
and most important figure portrayed.
The first act, whose opening scene is laid on the shore
of San Diego Bay and is to commence with the year 1769,
depicts the dramatic situation in which Father Junipero
Serra and his companions are situated. The group, at the
commencement, shows the eminent prelate surrounded by
a corporal and three soldiers seated in dejection, a weary
and almost starved Padre sleeping and exhausted anxi-
ously awaiting the return of the dark Don Caspar de
Portola, the first comandante-governor of California, and
also for the relief ship expected from Mexico.
Don Caspar had gone in search of the Port of Monterey
with his troops and train, in the expectation of there find-
ing and obtaining supplies for the relief and sustenance
of the noble explorer and evangelist and his companions,
as well as for Caspar de Portola's soldiery. Caspar returns
but without having been able to reach or find the Monte-
rey Port. He determines to put all of his people, including
Padre Junipero, on his ship which is lying in the harbor.
Although Father Serra is almost famished he is still
hopeful of succor and success, for a ship laden with sup-
plies had been promised to his party from Mexico. It was
long overdue, but Junipero expected its arrival hourly.
While they are thus waiting, some Indians come with
a child intended for baptism by the priest. Preparations
for the baptismal ceremony are in progress when the Indi-
ans suddenly change their minds, take the child away and
create a disturbance that threatens the safety of the party
of soldiers and the missionaries. This is considered by
Caspar as an evil omen, just as the coming of the savages
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 81
with the child for baptism had been considered an auspici-
ous one by the Missionary Serra,
Caspar determines that all of the party shall be aboard
of the ship before the sun sets, which it is on the point of
then doing, but Junipero declines to go and announces his
determination to remain, if he has to do so alone among
the savages. "He entreats Caspar to wait another day.
Reluctantly Portola agrees. The next day dawns and is
drawing to a close, when Caspar orders all present to
board his ship.
Then it is that Junipero Serra pleads earnestly to God
to send the relief ship. A miracle occurs. Just as all but
Junipero Serra are about to abandon hope of the coming
of the relief ship from Mexico a sail is discovered in the
offing near the very edge of the horizon. The ship finally
sails in as the sun sinks behind a golden cloud.
The second act gives the Mission in its greatest glory
and at the height of its successful ascendancy. An inter-
val of fifteen years is supposed to have elapsed in which
success in every endeavor has crowned the efforts of the
faithful missionaries and their flock. Serra and his asso-
ciates have succeeded in civilizing and Christianizing the
Indians, in effecting an organization for systematic and
progressive improvement, educational, industrial, and re-
ligious. The Indians have learned to pray, to labor and
to imbibe instruction. Reports of the great progress are
read by a party of the players after they have participated
in a procession during which they sing the historic old
songs of the early days of the Missions. There is then an
intermission as at the end of the first act, and during it
the audience visit the group of replicas and take refresh-
ment and rest until summoned for the rendition of the
third and final act of the play. They are summoned by
the silvery notes of a Mission bell, brought hither from
one of the other Missions located elsewhere. During the
second act an anachronistic scene is introduced, showing
the Commander Rivera in an attempt to abduct Anita, a
girl half Indian and half Castilian, but frustrated and
82 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
driven out by the forceful mien and dramatic action of
Father Serra. This act also introduces a fiesta scene with
characteristic dancing, song and music, poetry and pleas-
antry, of the old Mission days.
The third act depicts the utter decay and ruin into which
the old Missions fell after the days of secularization came
upon them, when the Indians were driven out and scattered
and the Fathers were forced to flee and seek refuge else-
where. The scene opens with a visit to the Mission by
senora Joscfa Yorba of the blood of Castile, who has
come to make a pilgrimage from her distant ranch and to
pray before the altar at which her forefathers had knelt in
devotion. While she is conversing with the care-taker, old
and decrepit Ubaldo, some poor Indians enter, bearing
a litter on which is the form of one of the exiled Fran-
ciscan priests who has exacted the promise from them
when he died to bring his corpse and bury it in the con-
secrated ground of the Mission. This they do and attempt
to bury with it a golden chalice which they could have
sold for an immense amount, but which they refused to do,
although they were almost on the verge of starvation.
Thus they kept their faith and veneration for the sacred
vessel. They end the act with evidences of grief while
the Sefiora Josefa bewails the lost glory of the old Mis-
sions and the vanishing of those who originally had peo-
pled and conducted them and expressing the hope that
they might again be restored.
Since this Mission Play was first rendered in California
on April 29, 1912, several thousand performances of it
have been given at San Gabriel. It is one of the great
attractions here for the laymen and tourists who travel
many miles to witness it, all of whom are greatly interested
in its renditions.
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 83
CHAPTER VIII.
Founding of Los Angeles. Her Old Plaza Church. Her
Many Beauties and Charms.
O
I
NCE upon time, as a fairy tale would commence,
and her story is as enchanting as fairy fiction
to children, in the Valley of Our Lady, which
lies in the very heart of California of the South, midway
between the great wall of the Tehachapi and oan Diego's
harbor of the Sun, a hamlet sprang into existence, the
Mother mountains hemming it in as though with a shining
cimeter of a giant god.
This town, or old Pueblo of the Vale of Our Lady, has
grown into the world-famed city of Los Angeles, the
magical metropolis of the southwest.
It was in July, 1769, that an exploring party coming by
land was sent forth to make certain the discovery of the
Bay of Monterey by the celebrated mariner, Cabrillo, and
the landing there of the intrepid sailor, Sebastian Vizcaino,
in 1602, when he planted the Cross on its fair shores. The
final object in view of the adventurous expedition of
1769, was the founding of a Mission in Monterey, which
hazardous undertaking was under the direction and com-
mand of Caspar de Portola, first governor of California,
and Padres Francisco Gomez and Juan Crespi, as chaplains
of the expedition.
This exploring party, before taking possession of the
wonderful Valley of Our Lady, its rivers and mountains,
sent some emissaries to spy out the land and learn its
unsurpassed possibilities. Prominent among these were
the Pobladores Don Jose Vanegas, Don Francisco Navarro,
and Don Juan Rocha. These courageous explorers came
into a land where profusely flowed milk and honey as was
evidenced by its fine fruits. But this land, like that of
Chanaan, contained very formidable inhabitants. The In-
dians along the banks of the Porciuncula River were far
more ferocious than the Jebusites and Amorrhites of old;
84 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
SO much so, that some of the explorers grew timid, when
Don Francisco Navarro, taking a commanding attitude,
exclaimed : "Let us go up and possess the land in the name
of his Catholic Majesty, the King of Spain, for which, with
the help of God and Mary's powerful intercession, we
shall be able to conquer this beautiful terrain."
So they all at once crossed the river and ascended those
lovely hills, where they pitched their tents with the pur-
pose of remaining safely over night. It was late on the
afternoon of August 1, 1769, the eve of the Feast of Our
Lady of the Angels, the great Porciuncula day. Porciun-
cula means a mite, or small portion, comparable to the
'widow's mite."
These brave men, with strength almost exhausted, and
\vith well-grounded fears for their safety, slept on that
southern hillside under the twinkling stars of California's
cerulean sky. This hill is now known as Elysian Park,
but in the older days as "El Cerro de la Porciuncula."
Next morning the party arose from their slumbers, when
Navarro said to his companions: "I bring you good tid-
ings of great joy, that shall be to all people. I heard
secret words which it will not now be granted to me to
utter. I have been vouchsafed what mortal eye has not
seen nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart
of man to conceive. A wonderful sign has appeared to
tne in my dreams. I have seen a woman clothed with the
sun and the moon under her feet, and on her head was a
crown of twelve stars. Thousands of Angels adminis-
tered to her and ten thousand times a hundred thousand
stood before her. Had not faith taught me that she was
merely a creature, I would have worshipped her as a deity.
Henceforth,' she said to me, 'let this hill be called "El
Cerro de la Porciuncula." By the same name shall also be
known the sparkling river that encircles its feet below.
It is also my wish that a city after my name should be
founded here; and a church, as my memorial of this day's
events, as a witness of my love, should be erected in the
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 85
midst thereoi. So, Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de Los
Angeles de Porciuncula shall be the name of this city."
Forthwith the Princes of the Angelic hosts, falling
upon their knees, placed their crowns at her feet in token
of their guardianship of the future Pueblo. At the same
time God's praises were hymned by their lofty harps,
ten thousand harps that tuned Angelic harmonies; sweet
melodious notes filled the skies and rose to the very gates
of Heaven.
SELECTION OF THE SITE.
On a journey that Father Junipero Serra made from the
south to Monterey, he determined that a place so fair and
so rich, as the Valley of Our Lady, should have a Mission
and a city. No metropolis in this vast country has ever
had a more auspicious founding than had ours of the glori-
ous southwest. Unlike many a city that merely happened
to come into existence, or incidentally began as a camping
ground, or as a trading post, ours began to be in a far
more dignified manner. In fact, it was legally organized
from the very beginning.
Following the founding of San Jose, through the Vice-
roy, Marquis de Croix, and the general Visitor of the
Kingdom of New Spain, Galvez, a petition with its recom-
mendation for the founding of Los Angeles, was sent to
his Catholic Majesty, Charles III, King of Spain. A reply
to this petition was delayed four years, when a properly
signed document was returned by the King to the Viceroy,
ordering the City of the Queen of the Angels to be
founded.
At once volunteer Spanish settlers were sought in Mex-
ico. These Pobladores with their families were granted
liberal concessions in the way of property and political
privileges. Headed by Lieutenant Don Jose Zufiiga, they
gathered at San Gabriel. It was September 4, 1781, that
the Pueblo was founded by Governor Felipe de Neve, who
had gone for that purpose to the Mission San Gabriel, the
Mother and guardian of the future Pueblo, with eleven
86 THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL
families brought from Mexico. The party was accom-
panied by some soldiers, who bore aloft the banner of
Castile, a band of Indian acolytes, carrying the Cross, the
emblem of our Redemption, and finally the Franciscan
priests with the banner of Our Lady.
Among the numberless hosts of dreamers and seers
that, allured by the irresistible charms of the Land of
Heart's Desire, have ever flocked to this most beautiful city
of ours, there stands out, foremost, the great dreamer and
empire builder, the immortal Junipero Serra. It was two
years after the founding of Los Angeles, on March 18,
1783, that Father Serra came to this city on his way to
San Gabriel. He was for the first time the honored guest
of one of the most hospitable cities on the face of the
earth. Father Junipero stayed over night and the next
day, March 19th, early in the morning, he resumed his
journey to the Mission of San Gabriel. Fasting, he came
to this Mission in time to sing the Mass at which he de-
livered an eloquent panegyric on St. Joseph, this day being
sacred to the Holy Patriarch, the virginal spouse of Mary
and foster father of Jesus Christ.
In her early days, Los Angeles was but one of the visit-
ing points of the sandaled priests of San Gabriel, where
tfie people had to go to attend services. In those far off
days the great Angelus bell, the largest bell at the Mission,
could- be heard at Los Angeles. At the first bell in the
morning, two hours before the services, the people started
out in their ox-carts from the Pueblo, arriving at the Mis-
sion in time for Mass. However, later on they had their
own place of worship, frequently visited by the San Gabriel
Fathers.
The blessing and laying of the corner stone of the Old
Church, as it now stands, took place in 1814.
The venerable Plaza Church of Los Angeles was never
intended for a Mission in the formal sense of the word,
although there clusters around the old adobe church all
of the glamour of story and all of the romance of the Cali-
fornia Missions. This historic church was built on the
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 87
same style as the Missions, the timbers having been
hewn and carried by the Indians from the forest where
they were cut to the site on which the sacred edifice was
erected. It seems, however, that the plans were drawn
sometime in 1811 or 1812 and that the Comandante of the
Presidio of Santa Barbara had given orders to start to
build this church.
To Padre Luis Gil y Taboada, Minister at San Gabriel,
came the honor of blessing and laying the corner stone of
this grand landmark. The Church of Our Lady of the
Angels was finished towards the end of 1821; or, perhaps,
at the beginning of 1822. The date of its formal dedica-
tion, however, was December 8, 1822.
The "Libro de las Cosas Notables de la Mision de San
Gabriel" offers a bit of information concerning this sub-
ject of the finishing of the church and also giving the
reason for the absence from San Gabriel of one of its
bells. This book says: "In 1821 the Mission of San Ga-
briel loaned a bell to the Pueblo of Los Angeles, until the
Poblanos should receive one."
If the Angelenos borrowed a bell, it shows that. the
church was already or was about to be finished. There is
no evidence, however, that this bell was ever returned.
Then again, as early as 1823, we find in the archives 5f
the old San Gabriel Mission records of some dead people
whose funerals were held from the Plaza Church and who
were buried in the cemetery which at that time was ad-
jacent to the church. Prior to the building of this church,
a temporary chapel was erected on the first old plaza in
1784.
The architect who designed the present church was Don
Jose Antonio Ramirez. A neophyte from San Gabriel and
another from San Luis Rey Mission did the work for one
real, or twelve and a half cents of our money per day
each. At the time of the dedication of the Old Church,
Don Anastasio Carrillo was comisionado, and Don Manuel
Gutierrez was alcalde, or mayor, of Los Angeles. The
ayuntamiento, or city council, appointed sponsor of the
8S THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAX GABRIEL
ceremonies Don Jose de la Guerra y Noriega, who was
then the celebrated captain of the Presidio of Santa
Barbara.
JUNIPERO SERRA'S BI-CENTENNIAL.
It was on November 24. 1913, that the Mission San
Gabriel celebrated the second centennial of the birth of
Padre Junipero Serra, Father and Founder of the Cali-
fornia iMissions. Nature graced the occasion with a bright
and cloudless day, such as only California can boast of.
No one had ever dreamed before that such crowds, as
appeared on this important anniversary, would come to
and congregate at this Mission. Thousands and many
other thousands came to San Gabriel from Los Angeles,
the Crown City, Pasadena, and other towns and cities, as
well as from the foot hills and the beach settlements. As
of old. there was no barrier that would prevent anyone
from coming from anywhere and taking part in this cele-
bration. Christians, Jews, Gentiles, and people of many
creeds and of no creed whatsoever, all came to honor the
Great Empire Builder the man who won California for us.
On this occasion, as elsewhere alluded to, a bronze
tablet in honor of the Founder's memory was unveiled
and dedicated by the Knights of Columbus with appro-
priate ceremonial functions.
It may not be amiss to mention the reasons for sepa-
rating the settlements of the whites in Pueblos apart from
the natives, the Indians. One of the very strong reasons
was that the Spanish king's policy was to have the white
settlers grouped in towns for the purpose of conquest,
colonization, and civilization, while the motives of the
Fathers in gathering the natives and Indian neophytes in
the Missions was to Christianize and educate them, deem-
ing salvation and education of more importance than
conquest.
The cowled Padres of the Missions, like their founder,
St. Francis, loved intensely the beautiful and romantic in
nature. These appealed to them, especially the silence of
THE HISTORY OF MISSION SAN GABRIEL 89
the valleys, the sparkling flow of the streams, and the
majesty of the mountains, all of which required that their
Missions be somewhat apart from the Pueblos.
Still, those Franciscan Friars were not dreamy senti-
mentalists, to fall in love with melancholy winds and
purling rills, and water-falls and nodding groves; but
their poetry was the poetry of hard work and hard fare
unselfish hearts and charitable hands.
Thus it is that these two very distinct systems of settle-
ment began and continued and still hold and will continue
to hold their very divergent existence with their peculiar
but admirable customs, and both will continue through
their many charms and attractions to secure the interest
and admiration of many thousands and possibly million?
of present peoples and their posterity. While it is not
intended or expected that the Mission settlements will
grow greatly in populace, the material of native Indian
stock not warranting such expectation, they are likely to
perpetuate their existence enshrined in the beautiful cus-
toms of the past. It is not unlikely that the Pueblos will
continue, as they have steadily and rapidly been doing, to
grow while their populations and boundaries increase, until
the confines of Pasadena and Los Angeles overlap and
other cities of California unite in forming an unbroken
chain of wealth and beauty, power and populace, that shall
be peerless and continue on down through the corridors
of time.
THE END
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Showing the Title-page of the First Confirmation Record of Mission San Gabriel
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