Chimes of Mission Bells | Page 7

official record of the fact, the
Mass celebrated on the improvised altar under the oak (which is
preserved in the premises of San Carlos Church, Monterey), is recorded
as the first. Mass over, Junipero Serra and Gaspar de Portolá exhorted
the Spanish soldiers to hold to the traditional faith and purity of the
Spanish race, and to kindness to the natives, calling them "weaker
brethren who should be christianized, not debauched." Then Junipero
Serra planted a Mission Cross and blessed the Spanish flag which
Portolá hoisted, taking possession of the land in the name of "His Most
Catholic Majesty King Carlos III, by right of discovery."[1] Junipero
Serra also blessed the sea and land.
As Monterey was from the first established as the civil, military and
religious headquarters of the Spanish kingdom in California, her
Presidio was known as el Presidio Real (the Royal Presidio), and the
present parish church of Monterey, which was built as a chapel for the
Presidio was la Capilla Real de San Carlos (the Royal Chapel of Saint
Charles).
Junipero Serra found the Indians of Monterey and the surrounding
country very docile, while the Indians from Lower California soon
learned their dialect and acted as interpreters of the missionaries. The
Cross which Vizcaino had planted in 1602 was found decked with
skins and shells. On inquiry the Missionaries were told by the Indians
that they had often seen mysterious rays of light around it, and thinking
that some god was angry they were trying to propitiate him by means
of those offerings.
As we have already noted Junipero Serra said his first, Mass in
Monterey on June 3rd, 1770, and two years later he recorded his first
baptism. From that date the Indians would come in dozens to present
themselves for instruction. Then the marvels that had attended Junipero
Serra at Sierra Gorda in Mexico, were repeated in Monterey. The naked

savages were clothed, many of them were beginning to learn Spanish
and to sing the Latin responses of the Mass and hymns both in Spanish
and Latin, playing such musical instruments as the cymbal and triangle,
keeping perfect time to every beat. The flocks and cattle were
increasing and the harvest fields were golden with grain. While some of
the Indians were taught to till the soil others were herdsmen, and some
were taught to work as artisans. Nearly fifty trades were taught the
California Indians under the supervision of the Missionaries. In 1771
Junipero Serra founded the San Carlos Mission in the most entrancing
location of the Carmelo Valley that the nature loving Serra could have
chosen; the forests of oak, pine and cypress for which Monterey is
noted to this day, stretch with even greater beauty as we pierce farther
into the interior, while the fertility of the land drained by the beautiful
Carmelo River together with the commanding position of the spot,
made the site of the Mission ideal. And this Mission of the Carmelo
Valley of Monterey, was Junipero Serra's headquarters, here he lies
buried, and here was the center of that unequalled hospitality and pure
society for which every mission was noted. The Spanish Government
made large grants of land to the missions, and under the labor, care and
excellent methods of the missionaries, they became powerful and
wealthy institutions, the pride and blessing of New Spain. Fine stock,
teeming grain fields and luscious orchards graced every mission, and
Mission San Carlos was no exception, indeed it was one of the most
prosperous and beautiful.
Fathers from the Mission at Carmelo, attended the Royal Chapel of San
Carlos in Monterey and continued to do so until long after the last Act
of Secularization in 1835 had been passed by the Mexican Government,
and San Carlos of Carmelo was left desolate with no priest to guard her
own altar light. But of this we shall, alas, have but too much reason to
speak later. Junipero Serra did not stop his arduous work by founding
beautiful San Carlos of Carmelo and consecrating the Royal Chapel of
Monterey; he was to christianize all California, for all California had
now been added to the Crown of Castile and Leon. Spain followed in
California the same policy which has distinguished her in her other
possessions such as Cuba, the Philippines and other colonies, steeped in
idolatry until the Spanish Missionary, whose zeal is proverbial, wrested
their countless inhabitants from the cymmerian gloom of paganism.

Thus as soon as San Carlos Mission was founded, the glorious march
of El Camino Real continued.
Mission San Antonio de Padua, the third mission, was established in
July 1, 1771. The beauty of the spot and wonderful eagerness of the
Indians to receive baptism greatly touched Junipero Serra and the other
two Franciscan Fathers who accompanied him as well as some