rs as, also Vallejo.

The discovery of gold in 1849 brought on a mad rush of all classes
of people into California and acts of lawlessness and violence became
numerous and frequent; for the purpose of checking these disorders
the "Committee of Vigilance" was formed in San Francisco in 1851. This
committee was composed of responsible men and much good came of it but
like in so many enterprises of the kind, many abuses were committed and
many innocent persons were unjustly punished.

As soon as affairs became settled and order established, American rule
in California became marked by progress and order, the discovery of gold
brought on a wonderful increase in population and more towns and cities
sprung throughout the state.

Much indeed could be said of the present, but as our story is only a
brief sketch intended to deal chiefly with the beloved old missions
and missionaries, and unravel if but a few of the tangled skeins of
misrepresentation cast about the older history of the state which is
more wrapt in mystery, with warm gratitude for what the present is and
for what the future will bring, we will return to the traces of the good
fathers whose missions are still the wonders of California, with them we
can still hear the chimes of mission bells.

Chapter VII

Mission Anecdotes and Hymns

Told of Father Vicente Sarria

Father Vicente Sarria, a venerable and saintly missionary in charge of
Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad at the time the first two acts of
Secularization were passed, was one of the keenest sufferers from the
injustices of the times, undergoing untold labors and hardships, which
in no small degree contributed to his death in 1833, which found him at
his post of duty at the mission. Father Sarria's reputation for sanctity
was well known throughout California, particularly in Monterey and
Soledad, and after his death it was no strange thing to hear both from
Caucasian and Indian such an ejaculation as "alma de nuestro Padre
Sarria, ayudanos con tu intercesion" (soul of our Father Sarria help us
by your intercession). Of course this pious demonstration was not public
because for many wise reasons, the church forbids the public veneration
or invocation of a saint until the required process of canonization
has authorized it, however, the allowable private invocation was freely
practiced as it has been done in the case of other saintly missionaries,
namely, Junipero Serra, Magin Cata