[p. 42] San Luis Rey de Francia
The Mission of San Luis Rey de Francia (Saint Louis IX, King of France, member of the Franciscans) was founded by Frs. Lasuen, Santiago and Peyri, on June 3, 1798. The ceremony of dedication was supplemented by the baptism of fifty-four children. Within a week Father Peyri, who was left in charge, had baptzed seventy-seven more. By July 1 he had 6,000 adobe bricks ready to begin the erection of the mission buildings. It was due to Father Peyri's energy, zeal and executive ability that San Luis Rey, the grandest mission building of Alta California, was erected. It was completed in 1802. During the first decade this mission made greater gains in number of neophyte population and had a lower death rate than any other establishment. Father Peyri was beloved by all. He ministered personally to the needs of his charges, and likewise superintended the agricultural pursuits. In 1818 San Luis Rey was the most prosperous mission in [p. 43] California, and this in spite of the fact that so many of its sheep died that it was necessary for the padres to go as far north as San Juan Bautista to obtain wool enough for clothing.
[p. 43 San Luis Rey, 1908d ]
Father Peyri early established a hospital and taught the Inidians the rudiments of healthful living. The highest number of neophyte enrolled at one time was 2,869. in 1826. In 1828 there was a white population of thirty-five at San Luis Rey. Father Peyri, unlike most of the Franciscans in California, was a strong supporter of the Mexican republic and his surprise and disappointment at the expulsion of the Order in 1829 knew no bounds. The pathetic romance of his being spirited away at night and taken on board a vessel lying in the Bay of San Diego, is one well known to those interested in the missions. When the neophytes learned that Father Peyri was gone, many of them mounted their ponies and rode in the gray dawn of the morning in a wild chase to the sea, in order to rescue their padre and bring him back to the mission. As they appeared on the shore the ship weighed anchor and slowly sailed out to sea. It is said that two venturesome boys swam after the shp and were taken on board and carried to Spain with the Father.
San Luis Rey is the only mission that progressed after secularization; but it, too, declined after a few years, and was finally sold, on May 18, 1846, to José A. Cot and José A. Pico for $2,437; but their agent was dispossessed by General Fremont, and they failed to regain possession. Later it was decided that the governor had had no power to sell the mission. San Luis Rey was used as a military post by our troops during the Mexican war, and at the close of the war the government caused an estimate to be made of the cost of repairing and restoring it to its former condition. The figures were $2,000,000.
An inventory taken August 22nd, 1835, gives a fair idea of the importance and wealth of the mission. Valuation, $203,737.00; debts, $93,000.00; the church, of adobe, tile roof, clay floor, board ceilings, nine doors, eighteen windows, four adjoining rooms, value $30,000.00, was included in the total amount, as was also the six ranchos, valued at $40,437.00. These were Pala, Santa Margarita, San Jacinto, Santa Ysabel, Temecula and one other.
In the day of its glory and wealth, San Luis Rey was the pride of all the missions. It owned and pastured upon its lands an annual aveage of 20,000 head of cattle, and nearly as many sheep. It kept 3,000 Indians to perform the various kinds of service. In 1834 the mission had 3,500 neophytes to support. In [p. 44] the zenith of its prosperity, it raised and harvested annually more than 60,000 bushels of grain, and 250 barrels of wine were produced from the vineyards.
The church is an imposing structure, 50 x 160 feet, and walls sixty feet in height, by four feet in thickness. The tower at one corner contained eight bells. The ornaments and vestments of the church, in gold and silver, were very rich and beautiful. On one side of the mission building extended a corridor of two hundred and fifty arches. In the rear was a large square enclosed by buildings on each side. The front and rear sides formed corridors, with beautiful arches. In this square was a well-kept garden, with a stone fountain, the favorite retreat of the padres.
In 1892, steps were taken by Father O'Keefe, who for so many years was well known at Santa Barbara Mission, to restore San Luis Rey to a condition of usefulness, and the good father had succeeded so admirably that May 12th, 1894, the mission was rededicated and title passed to the Franciscan order of the Catholic church. A school for the training of priests of the order is now maintained there.
[p. 44], Santa Ynez, Virgin y Martyr
[p. 44] Santa Ynez, Virgin y Martyr, p. 44
The Mission Santa Ynez was founded September 17th, 1804. The work of the Mission Fathers was there begun by the baptizing of twenty-seven children. The present buildings were not commenced until after the destructive earthquake of September 21st, 1812, when a corner of the old church and many of the best houses were destroyed. It was at Santa Ynez that the serious and wide-spread Indian revolt of 1824 started. After destroying many of the buildings they fled to Purisima and set fire to that establishment.
At the time of secularization, Santa Ynez was valued at $56,000. In 1844, the Mission had sufficient energy, enterprise and wealth to establish a seminary of learning. The Fathers, through the efforts of Bishop Garcia, received a liberal grant of land from the government for this institution, besides an endowment of $500 per annum, on condition that all Californians in search of higher education be admitted thereto. There were about 270 Indians at Santa Ynez at this time. By order of Governor Pico, in 1836, the entire estate was rented to José Covarrubias and Joaquin Carrillo for $580 per annum. The mission was finally sold to the lessees in 1846, for $7,000, but the title was declared invalid. Santa Ynez remained a religious institution until 1850, when it was abandoned, and the Fathers went to Santa Barbara.