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Page 33 text:
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EULOGY Francis A. Kirby One of the greatest characters in western history and yet a man little known here in the east was Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish priest who started the spread of Christi- anity on the western coast at California. Father Junipero was a native of the village of Petra, Isle of Majorca, Spain, and was fifty-six years of age when he first set foot on the golden shores of California where he founded the Franciscan Missions, some of which are still standing. He died at his own Mission of San Carlos of Carmel at Monterey, in the year 1784. He was not only a great priest, but also a great administrator, with a pro- found genius for organization, a poet, an orator, a musician, a scholar, and master of the arts and graces. His labors in California during the sixteen years of his ministry were her- culean and were marked by extreme self-sacrifice and a Christ-like love. Though he never sought worldly honors, his name is now, over a century and a half after his death the one great, immortal name in the history of California and one of the immortal names in the history of the human race. There were many great and beautiful incidents in the life of this disciple of Christ and one of the most touching was that which occurred several months after the arrival in California of the Spanish party of which Father Junipero was a member. Not one conversion had been made and Don Gaspar with his band of soldiers, some of whom were in a terrible condition with hunger and wounds from poisoned arrows, had returned from a trip to the north in search of Monterey, and had reported that their search had failed. He immediately ordered the entire company to board ship to re- turn to Mexico, All the survivors sent up shouts of joy and then--a firm voice was heard at the side of the Spanish cap- tain. It was that of Father Serra-- Serra Gaspar, my son, you do not know what it is you do. Gaspar What do you mean. Father? Serra How can you abandon this land v ith so many, many souls here that are crying for help and do not yet know where to find it. We are needed here. If you go, I must nevertheless remain, Gaspar No, Father, you are going with uaj Why do you not give up the idea that you can ever help these un- couth savages? Have v e not seen since my return
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Page 34 text:
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today that these people are afraid of us? You have accomplished nothing here J r hey are too ignorant to worship a god wnich they cannot see J Our people are ragged and hungry. The men want to see their wives and children. We must sail home before we all die of famine i Serna l r es, my son, we have seen that they are ignorant, and yet that is all the more reason why 1 am de- termined to stay. It is my duty as a priest to follow the divine command, Go ye into all the world and teach my words to all men., I shall re- main, I say, even if you all go hack. I cannot ask you to stay. I do not wish to see you starve, hut I shall stay and I shall make these Indian savages Christian men and women J I will not aban- don these simplest of God’s children. Gaspar No, Father i By my sword, you shall not stay when we sail. I shall make you go even if I have to use force. Your Franciscan robe will not even save you! Serra Very well, Don Gaspar, but nay this old priest make one last request? Gaspar Yes, But make haste J The sun is already setting and we must sail with the tidcj Serra I ask that you do not sail. Let me have but one more day -a day in which I may pray to our Pro- tector in Heaven to send us the relief ship for which we have waited so long. Gaspar Father, I cannot deny you that privilege.. You may have one more day J Then we will leave this god- forsaken land of savage heathen. Serra Thank you, my boy. And with that as the purple shadows of night crept over the bay Father Junipcro fell upon his knees and began to pray as he had never in all ' is days of priesthood prayed Almighty Father, hear my prayer. Desert us not in our hour of need. From the face of the great waters, from the waves of the ocean, send us the ship that was promised. a voice come out of the shadows, faintly at first and then louder as the owner approached. When his voice was audible, the listeners heard works which thrilled them to the pro- foundcst depths of their hearts. A saili A sail J LookJ Father Junipero, God lias answered your prayer J So as dark- ness crept over the land, happiness crept over the old priest’s heart.
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