Show STUDENl UFE the early coast explorers it seemed best to plant their first mission Here on July 16 1769 these devoted disciples of St Francis established the mission of San Diego and chanted the first “Gloria Domini” heard on the Pacific Coast They builded better than they knew for at the same time they unconsciously laid the foundation of the civilization of California Part of the company remained here while the rest set out to find Monterey the place where it was decided to establish the second mission After months of hopeless wanderings this party failed to find Monterey and returned to San Diego There they found the companions they had left behind ill and starving as no supplies had arrived The most of the from Mexico company w£re in despair but the faith of Juniperro Serra never wavered He believed the Lord had called him to redeem the Indians of the New World and he knew the way would open before him When the last hope seemed- gone from the devoted little band the long looked for supply ships arrived Courage now returned to the company and the renewed search for Monterey was rewarded with success On the picturesque rocky coast overlooking the peaceful bay under stately pines and gnarled old cypress trees was planted the second mission to St Francis The cross was reared the flag of old Spain flung to the ocean breeze and the country taken possession - 35 of in the name of God and the King With renewed zeal Father Juniperro Serra now pushed the work of establishing missions as rapidly as men and money necessary to accomplish the work could be secured from Mexico In the summer following the establishing of Monterey the mission of San Antonio was planted and a few months later the San Gabriel mission not far from the present city of Passadena was established Four years later the mission Dolores at San Francisco was built Within a few years were established the missions of San Louis Obispo San Juan Capis-tian- o Santa Clara Santa Barbara Santa Cruz San Jose and others So great was the energy of these early Fathers that before half a century had elapsed after that first Easter Hymn echoed across the hills from old San Diego twenty three missions had been dedicated These mission to St Francis formed an unbroken chain from San Diego to San Francisco each one but an easy day’s journey from its neighbor The ceremony of establishing the missions was similar in all cases Father Juniperro Serra with a few faithful brethren a little band of Mexican soldiers and a few mules laden with supplies marched out from an established mission into When the unexplored country a had found river valley that they promised great fertility a cross was erected a booth of branches built and dedicated to some saint and holy mass said The bells so well |