California Missions: A Guide to the Historic Trails of the Padres

A Map Showing Location of the California Missions
A GUIDE TO THE HISTORIC TRAILS OF THE PADRES
By KARL F. BROWN
Illustrated with seventy-eight photographs By FLOYD RAY
Foreword by REXFORD NEWCOMB Dean, College of Fine and Applied Arts University of Illinois
COPYRIGHT 1939 BY KARL F. BROWN AND FLOYD RAY GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING CO., Inc. NEW YORK
Chapel, San Diego De Alcalá
Façade, San Diego De Alcalá
Along the strand of the Pacific between San Diego and Sonoma, the intrepid monks of the Order of Saint Francis strung that cordon of missions that were to become, as time went on, the outposts of civilization along the sunset coast of California.
Begun in 1769, this chain of churches along El Camino Real was complete by 1823, and in these establishments the devoted followers of Padre Junípero Serra sought to win for Christ and the Crown of Spain devotees among the dusky inhabitants of this land. How well they succeeded may be judged when we learn that often in the more prosperous missions as many as two thousand Indians were being trained at one time.
Cloister, San Diego De Alcalá
And what was the routine by which these fervent priests of Old Spain hoped to convert the backward natives of the coast into God-fearing, self-supporting and self-respecting subjects of his Hispanic majesty, the king? The system of training prescribed plenty of work accompanied by instruction in the handcrafts and Christian doctrine. To this end, each day, the morning bell assembled the Indians in the chapel for prayers and mass. Following this, breakfast was eaten, after which each went to his assigned task. At eleven o’clock dinner was eaten; then a siesta. Work, resumed at 2 P.M., continued until an hour before sunset, when the Angelus recalled all to worship. After prayers and rosary, supper was eaten, after which recreation ensued until early bedtime.