The Old Franciscan Missions Of CaliforniaJames, George Wharton
Religion
The Old Franciscan Missions Of California
James, George Wharton
Franciscans -- California; Spanish mission buildings -- California
Manuel Crespo was the comisionado for secularization in 1835, and he and
Padre Mercado had no happy times together. Mercado made it so unpleasant
that six other administrators were appointed in order to please him, but
it was a vain attempt. As a consequence, the Indians felt the
disturbances and discord, and became discontented and unmanageable.
In 1843, according to Governor Micheltorena's order of March 29, the
temporal control of the Mission was restored to the padre. But, though
the order was a kindly one, and relieved the padre from the interference
of officious, meddling, inefficient, and dishonest "administrators," it
was too late to effect any real service.
As far as I can learn, Pico's plan did not affect San Antonio, and it
was not one of those sold by him in 1845-1846. In 1848 Padre Doroteo
Ambris was in charge as curate. For thirty years he remained here, true
to his calling, an entirely different kind of man from the quarrelsome,
arrogant, drinking, and gambling Mercado. He finally died at San
Antonio, and was buried in the Mission he guarded so well.
In 1904 the California Historic Landmarks League (Inc.) undertook the
preservation of San Antonio, but little has yet been accomplished. Much
more should speedily be done, if the walls are to be kept from falling.
CHAPTER XIII
SAN GABRIEL, ARCÁNGEL
We have already seen that San Gabriel, the fourth Mission, was founded
September 8, 1771. The natives gave cheerful assistance in bringing
timber, erecting the wooden buildings, covering them with tules, and
constructing the stockade enclosure which surrounded them. They also
brought offerings of acorns and pine-nuts. In a few days so many of them
crowded into camp that Padre Somero went to San Diego for an addition to
the guard, and returned with two extra men. It was not long before the
soldiers got into trouble, owing to their treatment of the Indian women,
and an Indian attack, as before related, took place. A few days later,
Fages appeared on the scene from San Diego with sixteen soldiers and two
missionaries, who were destined as guard and priests for the new Mission
of San Buenaventura. But the difficulty with the Indians led Fages to
postpone the founding of the new Mission. The offending soldier was
hurried off to Monterey to get him out of the way of further trouble.
The padres did their best to correct the evil impression the soldiers
had created, and, strange to say, the first child brought for baptism
was the son of the chief who had been killed in the dispute with
the soldiers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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