Mission Sarr Juarr Capistrano

The mission of San Juan Capistrano is fast assuming the grandeur of former years whdn it was at the pinnacle of its glory. Restoration of various portions of the tumbled-down g-roup of buildings has been undertaken from time to time by historical societies and other publicspirited citizens who have endeavored to perpetuate it as one of the greatest and most romantic of California missions.

Latest restoration is that of the convenr school, recently completed under the super- vision of F. H. Ruppel, Pasadena contractor. The work has been done with an attempt to blend the new with the old, reproducing even lines of age which so characteristically mark the other buildings. Altogether it forms a creditable and harmonious addition.

The Mission San Juan Capistrano was given its name from its patron saint, the great evangelical worker and reformer of Europe, who even in life was hailed as a saint. That the patron saint in life had to battle against huge obstacles, coming through his leadership .with glory and vast accomplishments, was in some measure transmitted as a heritage to the Mission named for him. No other

Mission of California has battled against such odds, or has arisen so gloriouslli from one hardship on another, no? has reached such heights of spiritual glory and temporal development, as did Mission Capistrano.

The Mission was to have been founded on October 30, 1775, on the last day of the Octave after the feast of the patron saint San Juan Capistrano. But a temporary altar had no sooner been erected and mass said than rvord was broLght _them of the uprising and destruction of the Mission at San Diego.-Bells and other property were buried and alf hurried to the succor of the unfortunate Mission in the South. ft was one year later when they returned to found the Mission San Juan Cap- istrano.

Most of the records of the old Mission were destroyed in the San Francisco fire so that of the complete record of events .onlv items here and there have been saved for posteritv. Immediately after its foundation, work of-building was commenced and carried forward from year to year. Not another Mission in all Cali, fornia has had such a record of untiring zeal and ambition for building as has this Mi-ssion.

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Mission San Juan Capistrano

Not one year elapsed but what found some -work of construction or reconstruction under way. But to offset their application came fire and earthquake to destroy their handiwork.

In 1797 work on the large stone church was commenced and foi the next nine years the Indians sweated to bring stone and cement a distance of several miles so that it could be strongly built. Then finally it was completed, one of the most beautiful churches in the new world, with six domes of cement and stone for its roof. But the structure lasted only six years for, in 1812 an earthquake came and the domed roof of which they were so proud came crashing down on the heads of rvorshiping neophytes. Forty were killed, only a few escaped.

But the evil genius which had followed its days grew more rampant after the appointment of Jose M. Echeandia as Governor of California. The year after he took office he emancipated the Indians from their Mission connections; in 1831 he secularized all Missions, and in 1833 divided all Mission lands among political followers and other friends.

Finally in 1845 the Mission was completely lost to the Indians by his order to auction the remaining property. The Mission building passed into private hands.

With the American occupation of California the Missions were reborn, for in 1855 the Supreme Court ruled that the sale of the Mission properties had been illegal, and the tumbled buildings again were placed in the hands of the long-suffering padres. By that time the Indians were completily dispersed and lost to them. Nor was it possible to carry on the work of rebuilding. Not until the present day has there been any work of restoration of the historic old structures.

Today, though, the Mission is coming into something of its own, although w'hat has been done only partially reflects some of the glory and beauty that once was hers. No longer do thousands of Indians flock about it for religious worship, and in their stead are sighteers and tourists whose interest, nevertheless, is the interest and fervor of the religious pilgrim, while the halo of former suffering has only added infinite charm to the present Mission San Juan Capistrano.