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.
Bell Tower, San Diego De Alcalá
Bell Tower, San Antonio De Pala
This was the happy pattern of life that obtained in these picturesque missions which at once comprised the early churches, the first schools, the first factories and the work-a-day habitations of the priests and their charges. Viewed in this light these old buildings become real human documents and are therefore very precious to all interested in the beginnings of civilization within our broad land.
Chapel, San Antonio De Pala
Through the glamor that time and an exotic origin have cast over these old monuments, they continue to hold for us a fascination matched by that of few American structures. And, in journeying to these historic shrines, you will discover how these hard-headed priests, in sheltering their converts, created in simplicity and strength a type of architecture which considered from the standpoint of practical living, climatic background, materials of construction and ethnic significance, has rarely been equalled in any land. What a matchless artistic heritage they have left us!
Rexford Newcomb Dean, College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois