t 28, 1784, he passed to his
eternal reward, at the ripe age of seventy years, nine months and four
days. His last act was to walk to the door, in order that he might look
out upon the beautiful face of Nature. The ocean, the sky, the trees,
the valley with its wealth of verdure, the birds, the flowers--all gave
joy to his weary eyes. Returning to his bed, he "fell asleep," and his
work on earth ended. He was buried by his friend Palou at his beloved
Mission in the Carmelo Valley, and there his dust now rests.[1]

[1] In 1787 Padre Palou published, in the City of Mexico, his "Life and
Apostolic Labors of the Venerable Padre Junipero Serra." This has never
yet been translated, until this year, 1913, the bi-centenary of his
birth, when I have had the work done by a competent scholar, revised by
the eminent Franciscan historian, Father Zephyrin Englehardt, with
annotations. It is a work of over three hundred pages, and is an
important contribution to the historic literature of California.

CHAPTER IV

THE MISSIONS FOUNDED BY PADRE FERMIN FRANCISCO LASUEN

AT Padre Serra's death Fermin Francisco Lasuen was chosen to be his
successor as padre-presidente. At the time of his appointment he was the
priest in charge at San Diego. He was elected by the directorate of the
Franciscan College of San Fernando, in the City of Mexico, February 6,
1785, and on March 13, 1787, the Sacred Congregation at Rome confirmed
his appointment, according to him the same right of confirmation which
Serra had exercised. In five years this Father confirmed no less than
ten thousand, one hundred thirty-nine persons.

Santa Barbara was the next Mission to be founded. For awhile it seemed
that it would be located at Montecito, now the beautiful and picturesque
suburb of its larger sister; but President Lasuen doubtless chose the
site the Mission now occupies. Well up on the foothills of the Sierra
Santa Ines, it has a commanding view of valley, ocean and islands
beyond. Indeed, for outlook, it is doubtful if any other Mission equals
it. It was formally dedicated on December 4, 1786.

Various obstacles to the establishment of Santa Barbara had been placed
in the way of the priests. Governor Fages wished to curtail their
authority, and sought to make innovations which the padres regarded as
detrimental in the highest degree to the Indians, as well as annoying
and humiliating to themselves. This was the reason of the long delay in
founding Santa