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TITLE: CHIMES OF MISSION BELLS
AUTHOR: MARIA ANTONIA FIELD
EBOOK: E00395 (O'Briens Book Cellar)

Chimes of Mission Bells

An Historical Sketch of California and Her Missions

By
Maria Antonia Field

To the Revered Memory of
Junipero Serra

And of
My Great Grandparents
Esteban and Catalina Munras

This Book Is
Affectionately Dedicated

Acknowledgment of Gratitude

In producing this book I wish to thank my Mother, who wrote for me in
modern notation the music of the hymns of the Mission Fathers which are
contained in this work, and gave me much welcome information; also Rev.
Raymond M. Mestres, my zealous parish Priest, successor and compatriot
of Junipero Serra and the Mission Padres, for valuable data, and for
allowing me access to the early archives of San Carlos Mission and of
the Mission Church of Monterey.

Maria Antonia Field
Monterey, California, June 1, 1914

Contents

Translation of the Names of the Missions

Tribute to Junipero Serra and the Mission Padres

Chapter I
Junipero Serra, Leader of the Heroic Band of Spanish Missionaries of
California. His Coming to San Fernando, Mexico, Thence to California

Chapter II
Brief Sketch of the Conquest of California and of the Founding of the
Missions. Hospitality of the Missions. Care and Benevolence of the
Missionaries Toward the Indians

Chapter III
More About San Carlos Mission and Monterey

Chapter IV
California Under Spanish Rule

Chapter V
California Passes from Spanish to Mexican Rule. Secularization of the
Missions

Chapter VI
California Passes from Mexican to American Rule

Chapter VII
Mission Anecdotes and Hymns

Chapter VIII
Retrospection of the Work of the Spanish Missionaries, Explorers and
Settlers and their place in California's Appreciation

Chapter IX
Rev. Raymond M. Mestres Writes Historical Drama "Fray Junipero"

Appendix
A Letter of Junipero Serra.
The Meaning of California Missions.
Dances of Early California Times

Preface

In presenting this modest volume to the public, I wish to call the
attention of my readers to the following facts. Firstly, my humble work
is a work of love--love simple and unalloyed for the venerable Spanish
Missionaries of California and for the noble sons and daughters of Spain
who gave such a glorious beginning and impetus to our state. Being a
direct descendant of pioneer Spaniards of Monterey, I take a particular
interest in California's early history and development and as my family
were staunch friends of the Missionary Fathers and in a position to know
the state of affairs of those times, and to family tradition I have
added authentic knowledge from reading the earliest archives of San
Carlos Mission, as well as other historical references, I feel I can
fearlessly vouch for the truthfulness of my little work. Secondly--
while fully appreciating the sympathy and interest of many charming and
intellectual characters who grace California to-day, it must be admitted
that there is a sadly ignorant or misinformed number who scarcely seem
to know who Spaniards and their descendants are, judging from the
promiscuous way the term "Spanish" is used, and what is the result of
this among many? Prejudice, and absurd misunderstanding of the golden
days of Spanish California as well as of the Spanish race and character.
It is far from being my wish to offend, but I wish to present correct
historical facts. Thirdly--there is no pretense to consider this brief
sketch a complete or detailed history, but only a truthful outline of
the heroic and chivalrous Mission days.

Maria Antonia Field.

Translation of the Names of the Missions.

1. San Diego.--A Spanish form of Saint James, who is the Patron Saint
of Spain.

2. San Carlos.--Saint Charles. Mission San Carlos and the Royal Chapel
of Monterey were so named in honor of Saint Charles the Patron Saint of
King Carlos III under whose reign the mission was founded.

3. San Antonio De Padua.--St. Anthony of Padua.

4. San Gabriel.--St. Gabriel (the Angel of the Annunciation.).

5. San Luis Obispo.--Saint Louis, Bishop.

6. Nuestra Senora de Los Dolores.--Our Lady of Sorrows.

7. San Juan Capistrano.--St. John Capistrano.

8. Santa Clara.--Saint Clara.

9. San Buenaventura.--Saint Bonaventure.

10. Santa Barbara.--Saint Barbara (whose feast is commemorated on
December 4, the date of the foundation of the Mission.)

11. Purisima Concepcion.--Most Pure Conception (of the Blessed Virgin
Mary). This feast is celebrated on December 8, the day on which this
mission was founded.

12. Nuestra Senora De La Soledad.--Our Lady of Solitude. (In the
Catholic Church the Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated under this title to
commemorate her solitude from the time of our Saviour's death until His
Resurrection).

13. Santa Cruz.--Holy Cross (so named in honor of Our Saviour's
Passion).

14. San Jose.--Saint Joseph.

15. San Juan Bautista.--Saint John, Baptist (whose feast occurs on June
24, the day this mission was founded).

16. San Miguel.--Saint Michael.

17. San Fernando, Rey De Espana.--Saint Ferdinand, King of Spain.

18. San Luis, Rey De Francia.--Saint Louis, King of France.

19. Santa Ynez.--Saint Agnes.

20. San Rafael.--Saint Raphael.

21. San Francisco Solano.--Saint Francis Solano.

Chimes of Mission Bells

Tribute to Junipero Serra and the Mission Padres.

By Maria Antonia Field.

Read at the Crowning of the Serra Statue, Monterey, Nov. 23, 1913.

The fickle world ofttimes applauds the rise
Of men whose laurels are but vainly won,
Whose deeds their names could not immortalize
For their soul-toils were wrought for transient ends;
But heroes of the Cross, they truly great
Shall live, their halo shall no hand of fate

Have power to rob, albeit oblivious years
May veil the radiance of their glorious works,
Or slight their excellence, their light appears
But brighter, statelier in its splendor calm,
Or like the flowers that sleep through winter's snow
To bloom more fair, their lives' pure beams shall glow

With greater brilliance and sweetly gleam
As lodestars in the firmament of worth;
Such is the memory whose holy stream
Of noblest virtue, valor, truth and Faith,
Illumes our path and stirs our souls today,
Immortal Serra by whose tomb we pray!

What peerless aureole wreathes his saintly brow?
What stately monument doth bear his name?
Let this admiring thousands tell us now!
Let youthful lips pronounce his name with love!
Let California proudly sing his praise!
Let scions of fair Spain their voices raise,

And tell of him to whom so much we owe,
Tell of his interceding power with God,
His strong and lofty soul his children know,
His prayers where Carmel's River flows so clear;
O this his aureole, this his monument,

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