tion: MISSION SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA.]

[Illustration: PRESIDIO CHURCH, MONTEREY.]

In the altar space or sanctuary are five chairs, undoubtedly brought to
California by one of the Philippine galleons from one of those islands,
or from China. The bodies are of teak, ebony, or ironwood, with seats of
marble, and with a disk of marble in the back.

In the sacristy is the safe in which Serra used to keep the sacred
vessels, as well as the important papers connected with his office. It
is an interesting object, sheeted with iron, wrapped around with iron
bands and covered all over with bosses. It is about three feet wide and
four feet high. In the drawers close by are several of the copes,
stoles, maniples, and other vestments which were once used by Serra at
the old Mission.

CHAPTER XII

SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA

The third Mission of the series was founded in honor of San Antonio de
Padua, July 14, 1771, by Serra, accompanied by Padres Pieras and Sitjar.
One solitary Indian heard the dedicatory mass, but Serra's enthusiasm
knew no bounds. He was assured that this "first fruit of the wilderness"
would go forth and bring many of his companions to the priests.
Immediately after the mass he hastened to the Indian, lavished much
attention on him, and gave him gifts. That same day many other Indians
came and clearly indicated a desire to stay with such pleasant company.
They brought pine-nuts and acorns, and the padres gave them in exchange
strings of glass beads of various colors.

At once buildings were begun, in which work the Indians engaged with
energy, and soon church and dwellings, surrounded by a palisade, were
completed. From the first the Indians manifested confidence in the
padres, and the fifteen days that Padre Serra remained were days of
intense joy and gladness at seeing the readiness of natives to associate
with him and his brother priests. Without delay they began to learn the
language of the Indians, and when they had made sufficient progress they
devoted much time to catechising them. In two years 158 natives were
baptized and enrolled, and instead of relying upon the missionaries for
food, they brought in large quantities of acorns, pine-nuts, squirrels,
and rabbits. The Mission being located in the heart of the mountains,
where pine and oak trees grew luxuriantly, the pine-nut and acorn were
abundant. Before the end of 1773 the church and dwellings were all
built, of adobe, and three soldiers, who had