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William Henry Hudson - The Famous Missions of California
V.
News of the establishment of the missions and military posts at San Diego and Monterey was in due
course carried to the City of Mexico, where it so delighted the Marques de Croix, Viceroy of New Spain,
and Jose de Galvez, that they not only set the church bells ringing, but forthwith began to make
arrangements for the founding of more missions in the upper province. Additional priests were provided
by the College of San Fernando; funds liberally subscribed; and the San Antonio made ready to sail from
San Blas with the friars and supplies. On the 21st of May, 1771, the good ship dropped anchor at
Monterey, where, in the meantime, Junipero, though busy enough among the natives of the
neighborhood, was suffering grievous disappointment because, from lack of priests and soldiers, he was
unable to proceed at once with the proposed establishment of San Buenaventura. The safe arrival of ten
assistants now brought him assurance of a rapid extension of work in "the vineyard of the Lord." He was
not the man to let time slip by him unimproved. Plans were immediately laid for carrying the cross still
further into the wilderness, and six new missions - those of San Buenaventura, San Gabriel, San Louis
Obispo, San Antonio, Santa Clara and San Francisco - were presently agreed upon. It was discovered
later on, however, that these plans outran the resources at the president's disposal, and much to his regret,
the design for settlements at Santa Clara and San Francisco had to be temporarily given up.
There was, none the less, plenty to engage the energies of even so tireless a worker as Junipero, for three
of the new missions were successfully established between July, 1771, and the autumn of the following
year. The first of these was the Mission of San Antonio de Padua, in a beautiful spot among the Santa
Lucia mountains, some twenty-five leagues southeast of Monterey; the second, that of San Gabriel
Arcángel, near what is now known as the San Gabriel river; and the third, the Mission of San Luis
Obispo de Tolosa, for which a location was chosen near the coast, about twenty-five leagues southeast of
San Antonio. In his account of the founding of the first named of these, Palou throws in a characteristic
touch. After the bells had been hung on trees and loudly tolled, he says, the excited padre-presidente
began to shout like one transported: - "Ho, gentiles! Come to the Holy Church; Come! Come! and
receive the faith of Jesus Christ!" His comrade, Father Pieras, standing by astonished, interrupted his
fervent eloquence with the eminently practical remark that as there were no gentiles within hearing, it
was idle to ring the bells. But the enthusiast's ardour was not to be damped by such considerations, and
he continued to ring and shout. I, for one, am grateful for such a detail as this. An even more significant
story, though of a quite different sort, is recorded of the dedication of San Gabriel. It was, of course,
inevitable that here and there in connection with such a record as this of Serra and his work, there should
spring up legends of miraculous doings and occurrences; though on the whole, it is, perhaps, remarkable
that the mythopoeic tendency was not more powerful. The incident now referred to may be taken as an
illustration. While the missionary party were engaged in exploring for a suitable site, a large force of
natives, under two chiefs, suddenly broke in upon them. Serious conflict seemed imminent; when one of
the fathers drew forth a piece of canvas bearing the picture of the Virgin. Instantly the savages threw
their weapons to the ground, and, following their leaders, crowded with offerings about the marvellous
image. Thus the danger was averted. Further troubles attended the settlement at San Gabriel; but in after
years it became one of the most successful of all the missions, and gained particular fame from the
industries maintained by its converts, and their skill in carving wood, horn and leather.
VI.
Though, as we thus see, Father Junipero had ample reason to be encouraged over the progress of his
enterprise, he still had various difficulties to contend with. The question of supplies often assumed
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