USA > California > History of California, Volume I > Part 48
USA > California > History of California, Volume I > Part 48
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412
DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
blended with the first fifteen years of California mis- sion history that any attempt to present it here would result in an unnecessary résumé of the preceding chapters. I subjoin however in a note2 for convenient
2 Miguel José Serra, son of Antonio Serra and Margarita Ferrer, was born at Petra on the island of Mallorca Nov. 24, 1713, took the Franciscan habit at Palma Sept. 14, 1730, and made his profession Sept. 15, 1731, on which occasion he assumed the name Junipero. In early boyhood he served as chorister and acolyte in the parish church greatly to the delight of his parents, a God-fearing couple of lowly station. The lives of the saints were his favorite reading, and his fondest ambition was to devote his life to religious work. He was an earnest and wonderfully proficient student, and taught philosophy for a year before his ordination in the chief convent of Palma, then obtaining a degree of S. T. D. from the famous Lullian University with an appointment to the John Scotus chair of philosophy which he held with great success until he left Spain. He was also noted for his doctrinal learning and still more so as a sensational preacher. He was wont to imitate San Francisco Solano and often bared his shoulders and scourged himself with an iron chain, extin- guished lighted candles on his flesh, or pounded his hreast with a large stone as he exhorted his hearers to penitence. Thus he is represented in the engraving which Palou has attached to his life, but which has probably little or no merit as a portrait.
March 30, 1749, after repeated applications he obtained his patente to join the college of San Fernando and devote himself to missionary work in America. With Palou he left his conveut April 13th and sailed via Málaga to Cádiz where he arrived May 7th. On the way to Málaga he maintained a continuous disputation on dogmatic theology with the heretic master of the vessel and would not yield even to the somewhat forcible though heterodox arguments of a dagger at his throat and repeated threats to throw him over- board. Sailing from Cádiz Aug. 28th, he touched at Puerto Rico where he spent 15 days in preaching, anchored at Vera Cruz Dec. 6th, and walked to Mexico, reaching the college Jan. 1, 1750. Assigned the same year to the Sierra Gorda missions of Querétaro and San Luis Potosí, he made the journey on foot and reached Santiago de Jalpan on June 16th. For nine years he served here, part of the time as president, devoting himself inost earnestly and suc- cessfully to the conversion and instruction of the Pames. In 1739 or 1760 he was recalled and appointed to the so-called Apache missions of the Rio San Sabá in Texas; but the plans heing changed he was retained by the college and employed for seven years in preaching in Mexico and the surrounding bishoprics, in college service, and in performing the duties of his office of comisario of the inquisition held since 1752.
July 14, 1767, Serra was named president of the Baja Californian missions, arrived at Tepic Aug. 21st, sailed from Sau Blas March 12, 1768, and reached Loreto April Ist. March 28, 1769, he started-always on foot-for the north, founded San Fernando de Vehicatá on May 14th, reached San Diego July Ist, and founded the first California mission July 16th. April 16, 1770, he sailed for the north, reached Monterey May 31st, and founded Sau Carlos June 3d. July 14, 1771, he founded San Antonio. Aug. 20, 1772, he started south by land, founded San Luis Sept. Ist, and reached San Diego Sept. 16th. On Oct. 20th he sailed from San Diego, reached San Blas Nov. 4, and Mexico Feb. 6, 1773. Leaving Mexico in September, he sailed from San Blas Jan. 24, 1774, arrived at San Diego March 13th, and went up to Mon- terey by land, arriving May 11th. From June 30, 1776, to Jan. 1, 1777, he was absent from San Carlos, going down to San Diego by water, returning hy land, and founding San Juan Capistrano on Nov. Ist. In September and October 1777 he visited San Francisco and Santa Clara. From Sept. 15, 1778, to Jan. 5, 1779, he made another trip south, confirming at all the mis-
413
LIFE OF JUNÍPERO SERRA.
reference an outline of dates with' some items illus- trative of his character and habits taken from his
sions on his way back; and in October and November he visited Santa Clara and San Francisco on the same business. In September and October 1781 he again visited San Antonio, San Francisco, and Santa Clara. In March 1782 he went to Los Angeles and San Gabriel, founded San Buenaventura March 31st, was present at the founding of Santa Bárbara presidio in April, and returned to San Carlos via San Luis and San Antonio about the middle of June. In August 1783 he sailed for San Diego, arriving in September, return- ing by land, visiting all the establishments, and arriving at home in Jannary. Between the end of April and the early part of June 1784 he visited San Francisco and Santa Clara.
In the last chapter of his biography Palou recapitulates 'the virtues which were especially brilliant in the servant of God, Fr. Junipero,' declaring that 'his laborious and exemplary life is nothing but a beautiful field decked with every class of flowers of excellent virtues.' First in the list was his profound humility, as shown by his use of sandals and his abnegation of self. He always deemed himself a useless servant; deemed other missionaries more successful than himself; and rejoiced in their success. He avoided all honors not actually forced upon him, shunned notice and praise, sought the lowest tasks, kissed the feet of all even to the lowest novice on leaving Spain and Mexico, ran away from the office of guardian, and was in constant fear of honors from his order or from the church or king. Then came the cardinal virtues of pru- dence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, resting like columns on his humil- ity as a base, and supporting the sumptuous fabric of Christian perfection.' His prudence was shown in his management as president of the missions, though he was always modest and ready to consult with the lowest about him; his justice was shown by his kindness and charity to all, his exact obedi- ence to the commands of superiors, and his patience with enemics as exempli- fied particularly in his writing a letter in favor of Fages to the viceroy; and only four days before his death he gave a blanket to an old woman who at the founding of San Carlos had induced a boy to kill the friar's only chickens. His fortitude appeared in his resistance to physical pain and constant refusal of medical treatment, in his self-restraint, in his steadfast adherence to his purposes, in his resolution to remain at San Diego alone if need be when it was proposed to abandon the conquest, in his conflict with the indifference or opposition of the military authorities, and in his courage in the presence of hostile Indians-for he only feared death or ran from danger because of the vengeance that would be taken on the poor Indians; and finally his temper- ance was such that he had no other passion than that for the propagation of the faith, and constantly mortified the flesh by fasting, vigils, and scourging. On these columns rested a superstructure of theological virtues, faith, charity, and religion, of which a mention must suffice. The author, however, does not claim for his hero the gifts of contemplation, of tongues, revelation, prophecy, miracles 'and all that apparatus of the gracias gratis datas which make admir- able and striking the saintliness of some servants of God,' but which are not essential to holiness.
During his novitiate Padre Junípero was small and sickly, but he says, 'with the profession I gained health and strength and grew to medium stature.' Of one of his sermons an able critic said: 'It is worthy of being printed in letters of gold.' A woman endemoniada shouted during one of his sermons, 'thou shalt not finish the lenten season,' and then the padre was exceeding glad, for of course the father of lies could inspire no truth. Suffering from want of water on the voyage to Mexico he said to complainers, 'the best way to prevent thirst is to eat little and talk less so as not to waste the saliva.' In a mutiny and a storm threatening death to all he was perfectly calm, and the storm ceased instantly when a saint chosen by lot had been ad- dressed in prayer. On the way from Vera Cruz to Mexico several miracles
414
DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
biography by Padre Palou, and his letters in the mission archives.3
Serra doubtless owes much of his fame to his posi- tion as first president of the California missions and to the publication of a biography by a warm personal friend. But it did not require Palou's eulogistic pen
were wrought in his favor. Coming to a swollen stream by a town in a dark night there was a man on the other bank to show the ford and guide him to a lodging. A man, perhaps the same, met Junípero and his companion next day and gave them a pomegranate which had a refreshing effect, and still later a man gave them a bit of corn-bread of excellent savor. It was on this journey that his legs first became swollen, from the effects of mosquito-bites as was supposed, resulting in ulcers that lasted all his life. 'Oh, for a forest of Junipers!' exclaimed a friar at the college when Serra arrived. In one of his revival meetings in Huasteca he was beating himself with a chain, when a man took the chain from him and with it beat himself to death as a miser- able sinner in presence of the crowd. Sixty persons who neglected to attend his meetings were killed by an epidemic which did not cease until religious duties were generally attended to. On his way back from Huasteca he was well lodged and entertained in a cottage by the way; but later he learned that there was no such cottage on the road; and of course concluded that his entertainers were Joseph, Mary, and Jesus-in fact he had noticed an extra- ordinary air of neatness about the place. Poisoned once in taking the com- munion he refused the antidote and was cured by a simple dose of oil, perhaps miraculously as he thought. It was at Velicata in May 1769 that he first saw and baptized pagans.
$ Serra, Correspondencia, 1777-82, MS., is a collection of his letters to dif- ferent missionaries and officials. It is impossible by means of extracts to give any proper idea of these long, rambling, and peculiar epistles. Palou has selected the very best of his letters for publication, if indeed he has not changed and improved them. Large portions of some of them are utterly unintelligible and were apparently intended to be so for the ordinary reader. Sen todo por Dios and similar pious expressions are used in great profusion whether the subject be important or trivial. To Pieras he gives the most minute directions how to answer the governor's letter and how to make out mission reports and inventories, leaving nothing in mauner or matter to the padre's judgment. He wishes all made ready for signatures because the most serious part of it is to feed the governor's agents while doing the business. He expresses deep pity for some condemned criminals, and directs a padre to attend to their spiritual needs. 'It will be some work, but very holy and meritorious.' To Lasuen, announcing the governor's refusal to increase an escort, he says, 'and this the result of all my efforts and all a viceroy's rec- ommendations, and in response to an affectionate and humble suggestion made with all the honey my mouth would hold. Believe me, of all the draughts I have to swallow none is so bitter.' 'I and your Reverences-for this once I name myself first.' In the matter of escoltas, however, he directs the padres to 'go on as if they had a legion of soldiers; punish whoever merits chas- tisement; and if in the exact performance of the holy ministry trouble arises not to be repressed with the force at hand, then retire to the presidio, write me the facts in detail; then dirán y diremos.' He writes a long letter to induce Figuer to give up his intention of retiring, reminding him that 'patience and suffering are the inheritance of the elect, the coin with which licaven is bought.' He begins by an anecdote of a friar at matins who wished to retire to bis cell not feeling iu a good-humor, and to whom the prelate replied that if such an excuse were admitted all would retire, 'and I among the first.' Then he compares San Diego life with that at other mis-
415
SERRA'S CHARACTER.
to prove him a great and a remarkable man. Few who came to California during the missionary régime were his equal in devotion to and success in his work. All his energy and enthusiasm were directed to the performance of his missionary duties as outlined in the regulations of his order and the instructions of his superiors. Limping from mission to mission with a lame foot that must never be cured, fasting much and passing sleepless nights, depriving himself of comfort- able clothing and nutritious food, he felt that he was imitating the saints and martyrs who were the ideals of his sickly boyhood, and in the recompense of absti- nence was happy. He was kind-hearted and charitable to all, but most strict in his enforcement of religious duties. It never occurred to him to doubt his abso- lute right to flog his neophytes for any slight negligence in matters of the faith. His holy desires trembled within him like earthquake throbs; in his eyes there was but one object worth living for, the performance of religious duty, and but one way of accomplishing that object, a strict and literal compliance with Fran- ciscan rules; he could never understand that there was anything beyond his narrow field of vision. In an eminent degree he possessed the faculty of apply- ing spiritual enthusiasm to the practical affairs of life. Because he was so grand a missionary he was none the less money-maker and civilizer, yet money-making and civilizing must ever be subordinate to missionary work, and all not for his glory, but the glory of God. A St Augustine in his religion, he was a Juvenal in his philosophy. He managed wisely the mission interests both spiritual and temporal; and his greatest sorrow was that the military and political authorities were
sions, showing that each has its advantages and disadvantages. He suggests the question which is worse 'to be hungry and have nothing to eat or plenty to cat and no appetite.' When San Francisco and Santa Clara had nothing to eat they attributed to this want 'el no hacer prodigios de conversiones;' but now that there is food there is nobody to eat it. 'Therefore, my brotner, let us go on with our matins to the sancto sanctore.' 'Adonde irá el buey que no are? sino va á Campeche?' Some who have gone away would perhaps gladly take what they left.
416
DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
not so easily managed as padres and neophytes. In his controversies with the governors he sometimes pushed diplomacy to the very verge of inconsistency, but all apparently without any intention of injuring them, though he knew he was dealing with men who cast obstacles in the way of his great work. His let- ters were long, verbose, and rambling, but left no minute detail of the subject untouched. The loss of a sheep from a mission flock evoked a communication of the same style and length, with the same expres- sions of trust in heaven, as the conversion or destruc- tion of a whole tribe; and it is to be noted that in writing to his friars, especially» about his political quarrels, he adopted a peculiar and mysterious style wholly unintelligible, as it was doubtless intended to be, to all but the initiated. On the whole the pre- ceding remarks fail to do him justice; for he was a well meaning, industrious, enthusiastic, and kind- hearted old man; his faults were those of his cloth, and he was not much more fanatical than others of his time, being like most of his Californian compan- ions a brilliant exception in point of morality to friars of some other lands and times.4
At the death of Serra the presidency of the mis- sions naturally fell temporarily to Palou as the senior friar in California, who had also held the position
4 Nearly all the books that have been written about California have some- thing to say of Junipero Serra, and it is not necessary to refer to the long list. It is somewhat remarkable, however, that there are very few if any official communications respecting his death preserved in the archives either secular or missionary. Hittell, Ilist. S. F., 33-9, gives a very good account of the padre's life, concluding that 'his cowl covered neither creed, guilc, hypocrisy, nor pride. He had no quarrels and made no enemies. He sought to be a simple friar, and he was one in sincerity. Probably few have ap- proached nearer to the ideal perfection of a monkish life than he.' I have his autograph signatures in S. Antonio, Doe. Sueltos, 9, 13, 17. See a poem by M. A. Fitzgerald on his death in Hayes' Miss. Book, 152. Palou's Vida con- tains a portrait more likely to be like the original than any other extant. Gleeson, Ilist. Cash. Ch., ii. frontisp., has one copied from a painting in the library of the California pioneers, about the authenticity of which nothing is known. Dr Taylor, Diseov. and Founders, ii. 41, claims to have obtained in 1853 a photograph from an original painting at the college of San Fernando, of which a caricature was published in Ilutchings' Mag. in 1860.
417
PRESIDENTS PALOU AND LASUEN.
before in Serra's absence. Palou at first declined to act as president, partly from real or affected modesty, but chiefly because he desired to leave the country as soon as possible. He had, however, to yield to the unanimous wish of his companions, who claimed that a vacancy would prove injurious to mission interests, and reluctantly assumed the duties until a successor . could be appointed.5 The choice of the college fell on Fermin Francisco Lasuen of San Diego; his pat- ent was forwarded February 6, 1785; and he took possession of the office probably in September. Fa- ther Mugártegui was named to succeed Lasuen in case of accident, and August 16, 1786, was appointed vice-president of the southern missions.6 By a later patent of March 13, 1787, issued in accordance with a decree of the sacred congregation at Rome, March 4, 1785, which extended the power to administer the rite of confirmation for ten years, Lasuen received the same powers that Serra had held; but he did not ob- tain the document until July 13, 1790, and had con- sequently less than five years for the exercise of his privilege. During that time, however, he confirmed 10,139 persons.7
In connection with the departure of Palou, the completion of his historical writings on California deserves notice as a prominent and important event in the country's annals. The notice however need not be long, because the reader of the preceding chap- ters is already familiar by constant reference with the
5 The records are very meagre on Palon's term and I find no official act by him as president. Payeras, writing in 1818, gives substantially the version of my text. Arch. Sta. Bárbara, MS., xii. 453. Mugártegui writes March 8, 1785, that Palou declined to serve. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 29. May 29, 1785, Fages urges Palou to accept for the good of the country, regretting his ill-health. Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 50. See biography of Palou in next chapter.
Arch. Sta. Bárbara, MS., ix. 306-9; xii. 35-6, containing the patents of Lasuen and Mugártegui. Lasuen's first record as president was Jan. 27, 1786; but he seems to have served from Palou's departure, which was prob- ably in September or a little later. Prov. Rec., MS., i. 180, ii. 128-9.
TS. Carlos, Lib. Mision, MS., 66-8; S. Diego, Lib. Mision, MS., 45. March 2, 1790, Gen. Ugarte orders Fages to interpose no obstacles. Prov. St. Pap., MS., ix. 350.
HIST. CAL., VOL. I. 27
418
DEATH OF SERRA; MISSION PROGRESS.
scope and contents of this author's literary works. There was no man so well qualified by opportunities and ability to write the early history of California as . Palou, and he made excellent use of his advantages. As early as 1773, and probably before that date, he began the accumulation of material by copying orig- inal documents and recording current events, without any definite idea, as it would seem, of publication. He continued this labor of preparing careful historical notes down to 1783, devoting to it such time as could be spared from his missionary duties at San Fran- cisco. During the years 1784-5, having apparently suspended work on his notes, he gave his attention to the preparation of a life of Serra, his prelate, former instructor, and life-long friend. This work he com- pleted in February 1785 and carried it to Mexico later in the same year, where it was published in 1787. It was extensively circulated for a book of that epoch, though since considered rare, and it has been practically the source of all that has ever been written on California mission history down to 1784. Very few of modern writers have, however, consulted the original, most contenting themselves with a weak solution of its contents at second hand; hence the numerous errors extant in books, pamphlets, and news- papers. The manuscript of the historical notes after lying for some years in the college vaults, was copied into the Mexican archives and finally printed in 1857, though it was utterly unknown to writers on Califor- nia until 1874, since which date it has been as care- lessly and superficially used as was the life of Padre Junípero before. The Noticias is far the more exten- sive and complete work of the two,8 though both cover
8 Palou, Relacion Histórica de la Vida y Apostólicas Tareas del Venerable Padre Fray Junipero Serra y de las Misiones que fundó en la California Sep- tentrional, y nuevos establecimientos de Monterey. Escrita por el R. P. L. Fr. Francisco Palou, Guardian actual del Colegio Apostolico de S. Fernando de México, y Discípulo del Venerable Fundador: dirigida á su Santa Provincia de la Regular Observancia de Nro. S. P. S. Francisco de la Isla de Mallorca. A erpensas de Don Miguel Gonzales Calderon, Sindico de dicho Apostólico Cole- gio. Mexico, 1787, Svo 141. 344 pages, with map and portrait. The author's
419
PALOU'S HISTORICAL WORKS.
substantially the same ground. While my researches among original manuscript authorities have brought to light a large amount of material not given by Pa- lou, yet his writings contain a few diaries which I have not found elsewhere. I have sometimes been
dedicatory letter and protesta is dated San Francisco, Feb. 28, 1785. The license of the audieneia to print is dated Dec. 7, 17SG; and the latest of the various approvals of Franciscan authorities on March 12, 1787. In his pro- logue the anthor, after explaining that the work, written for the province of Mallorca, is published at the urgent request of certain friends of Serra who bear the expense, goes on to say: 'I well know that some who read new things expect the historian to indulge in theories and to clear up all diffi- culties. This method although tolerated and even applauded in profane his- tories, in those of saints and servants of God written for edification and to ex- cite imitation, is deemed by the best historians a fault, the which I have aimed to avoid. As the soul of history is simple truth, thou canst have the assurance that almost all I relate I have witnessed, and the rest has been told me by other padres worthy of faith.' On Aug. 16, 1786, Palou writes to Lasuen, Arch. Sta. Barbara, MS., xii. 41-2, that everything is going well with the book, which he is told will circulate all over Europe, where all are curious to learn about California. He thinks it has been heard of at court, will send some copics to California, and asks Lasuen to pray for its success. It was sent to California, where each mission library had a copy. The work has be- come less rare and costly of late years than formerly. I have three copies, the most expensive of which cost less than $25. I have also the edition of Mexico, 1832, in which it was published with Clavigero's history of Lower California in a volume of the Biblioteca Nacional y Estrangera. It was also reprinted in a newspaper of southern California and in the form of scraps is found in Ilayes' Mission Book, i.
Palou, Noticias de la (Antigua y) Nueva California. Escritas por el R. P. Fr. F. Palou (tom. i. ii.), in Doc. Hist. Mex., serie iv. tom. vi .- vii. Mexico, 1857, Svo, 688, 396 pp. The latest date mentioned is in July 1783, about which time it was doubtless concluded. A passage in tom. i. 269, shows that chap. v. of part ii. was written as early as 1773 at Monterey. It is evident that the author collected material from his first arrival, and wrote up the record to date at intervals as allowed by his duties. The original manuscript in the college of San Fernando has disappeared; but by royal order of 1790 a copy was made under the direction of P. Francisco Garcia Figueroa, who certified to its accuracy December 3 and 4, 1792. This copy, a duplicate of which was sent to Spain, has since been preserved in Mexico with other documents copied under the same order, which form the first 32 volumes of the Archivo General, an invaluable collection, all the volumes of which (except tom. i., which has been lost from the archives) are in my Library, some in print, others copied for the Maximilian Imperial Library, and the rest copied expressly for my collection. Palou's work formed tomes xxii .- iii. of the col- lection. In 1857 (not 1846 as Doyle says), it was printed in the form of a folletin of the Diario Oficial, forming the last two of a set of 20 volumes of Documents for the History of Mexico printed in the same way and selected largely from the same source. This collection, thoughi badly printed, is the most important source of information extant on the history of Sonora, Chi- huahua, and New Mexico, as well as California; but it is very rarely to be found complete, and has been utterly unknown to modern writers on history. Palou's work is divided into four parts. Part I. includes the annals of Baja California, under the Franciscans from 1768 to 1773, and extends over 245 pages of the first volume in 40 chapters; Part II. describes the expeditions to Monterey and the foundation of the first five missions, extending from page
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