1820
– Unrest in Spain – and Mexico
“I
will no longer be able to spend such enjoyable evenings like this, my
children.”Seeing
the questioning looks of his audience, Padre
Señán explained that he had been elected by the other friars to
become president guardian of the California missions. “It has been
two years and Padre
Payeras' term has ended.”
“I
thought you wished to continue to administer to your congregation,
reverend father.”
Padre
Señán sadly smiled. “That is so, my son,” he responded to
James' comment, “but one cannot shun the responsibilities given by
one's fellow members of the Order Minor of Friars. I know others are
equally gifted – if not more so than I – but I must pick up the
mantle passed to me.”
“At
least that will return control of the missions here where you are
close to the governor.”
Father
President Señán nodded. “That has already been pointed out to me
by Governor de
Solá. With the unrest in Mexico, he feels we need to be where we may
consult with one another on a regular basis.” He then added that
his first order of business had been to transfer Padre
Gil from Misión
San Rafael
to Misión
Santa Clara.
“We have had some serious illnesses at the mission and I felt his
skills as a physician were needed more there. He agreed and says that
Padre
Amorós
is more than able to carry out the duties of tending to the ill Miwok
and others living near the mission.”
Even
though quite occupied with the work of administering the missions,
Father President Señán continued to join the gathering on the
veranda
whenever possible. He found the information provided by Mateo to not
only be of great interest, but vital to the decisions he had to make
about mission business. It also confirmed information he received
from the City of Mexico.
The
people of Carmel continued to work hard, resulting in good crops and
an abundance of wares produced at the mission workshops. In the event
of another pirate raid and with the governor's concurrence, some
heavy log warehouses were erected four miles up the valley to store
excess goods. Of course, a lot of goods went to the presidio
as well as Pueblos
Branciforte
and San
José.
Misión
Soledad
also needed some as the earth simply did not produce the needed
crops. Yet their herds of livestock did quite well.
“The
Lord has blessed us once again, my children.”
“And
how is that, reverend father?”
“Well,
James,” Padre
Suria responded, “the disciples have turned their hearts to serving
The Lord and He has blessed us with record crops and plentiful
livestock.” He briefly paused to inhale from his pipe before
saying, “As an example, the president guardian has received word
that Misión
San Buenaventura
is owed over twenty-seven thousand dollars for supplies, six thousand
dollars in stipends, and one thousand, five hundred for a cargo of
hemp.”
“Of
which the church will never receive one centavo,”
Jaime muttered.
Nobody,
including the friar, argued about that.
“Although
they completed three new granaries, the friars at Misión
San Diego
can do little more than struggle to keep what they have built in good
order.”
“Exactly
like here and all the missions,” Jaime said in strong, clear voice.
“When you Padres
are not saying prayers, conducting rites, teaching, gardening, and
doing all the others things, you are busy mending and repairing all
the mission structures. I know that adobe
is
a firm and solid building material, but I wonder if it would not be
wiser to use the plentiful wood surrounding us to do the same. They
would be less damaged by rains and the small earth shaking we have
here.”
Padre
Suria had often heard Jaime say the same, as had the president
guardian and all the other friars. He simply shrugged. “It is what
they tell us from the apostolic college and, as you know, we must
follow the rules.” He also went on to talk about how the senior
friar at each mission had been instructed to keep detailed accounts
of what had been procured for each chapel and Asistencia.
“As an example, the smith just made a new set of bronze Sanctus
bells and I had to ensure they were entered into the mission
records.”
James
turned to David and they smiled. They knew full well the records they
kept for the Carlita were far, far less complete. He also noticed the
look on his father's face telling him he felt the same about the lack
of detail in family records.
“I
wish I would have been there.”
“Why
is that, José
Antonio?” James asked. “And where are you talking about?”
“At
Bahia
San Miguel,
concuño,”
the boat wright replied. “I have learned that an American whaler
Discovery has refitted there. I would very much like to see how she
is put together. I would learn very much from their methods of
building.”
“But,
have you not examined those that have anchored here for supplies?”
“Yes,”
José
Antonio replied. “But, it is not the same. I have but been able to
conduct a very cursory examination of their hulls and keels.”
“Then
why not wait until the Guadalupe
arrives and examine her? I was told that John Chapman is a master
ship builder and the sixty ton schooner is most beautiful and sea
worthy.”
José
Antonio nodded, resigned to wait the arrival of the ship built for
the friars at Misión
San Gabriel at
the behest of
Padre
José Maria Zalvidea sent
there to supervise the mission.
“I
was told the Gringo
Chapman has been sent to
Misión
Santa Inés,”
David added, surprising the others. He seldom spoke of the rumors and
stories from other places. “He was clearly taken with Senorita
Ortega and is seriously courting her.”
That
was really not news as all remembered how the daughter of the mission
corporal had stepped forward, begging for the freedom of the
American.
“He
has asked her father for her hand and it is said they soon will be
wed.”
All
turned at the sound of the sweet voice of Maria Rosa, Jaime's
daughter. “It is said also that he is asking to be baptized in the
church and will even petition the governor for the grant of Spanish
citizenship.”
“It
certainly appears Mister Chapman does not plan on returning to
Boston.”
All
nodded at James' comment.
“All
well and good, but it is time to cease your gossiping and let my
husband come to eat dinner before evening prayers.”
James
and David grinned, returning to their homes.
When
James mentioned Chapman during the evening pipes on the veranda,
Padre
Suria added, “He has been paroled to the supervision of Padre
Uria. Actually, several other missions have sought his services as he
is a most talented individual.”
“Well,
I am much tempted to visit Misión
Santa
Inés
to see the fourteen Ways of The Cross just finished in the chapel. I
have heard they are most beautiful.”
“They
cannot be as beautiful as those you have crafted, Tio
Jaime,” David said.
“And,
word is that Chapman is already designing a gristmill for grinding
corn and wheat,” Timothy added. “The friars have already
constructed reservoirs.”
“And
the president guardian sent Padre
Estévan
Munrás to Misión
San Miguel,”
Padre
Suria said, “to supervise the interior decorations for the chapel.”
“He
is a gifted artist and they will be a glowing testament to the Lord,”
Jaime said.
*****
With
plentiful rainfall and sunshine, 1820 proved to be a good year for
crops and livestock for all of the missions. Disciples happily worked
alongside the friars and many baptisms, confirmations, weddings and,
sadly, last rites were performed. Padre
Gil at Misión
Santa Cruz spent
a great deal of time healing the ill at Villa
Branciforte
and the Miwok at Misión
San Rafael
returned to good health.
However,
a pall hung over all of California due to news from the heart of
Mexico. As usual, Mateo kept them apprised of the latest.
“As
you all know, His Majesty King Ferdinand fled to Brazil during
Napoleon's wars in Europe. When Napoleon was exiled, he returned to
Madrid.”
“And
he has ruled as a strict absolutionist,” Padre
Suria added. Seeing
the questions in his audience's eyes, he explained. “That is one
who believes all power remains within the throne. It ignores the
wishes of a parliament or congress.”
“And,
he immediately began to persecute the liberals who had sided with
Napoleon, taking their properties and renouncing their titles,”
Mateo added. “Finally, Colonel Rafael Reigo led a mutiny of army
troops early this year and forced the king to agree to a liberal
constitution.”
“The
king did decree that an effort would be undertaken to regain all
colonies lost to rebellion,” Padre
Suria said.
Hildalgo
and Morelo had both died and after ten years of civil war, the
independence movement was stalemated and close to collapse. The
viceroy's forces had grown stronger and many of the influential
Criollos
had become apathetic. The violent excesses and populist zeal of the
irregular armies had reinforced many Criollos
fears of race and class warfare. Most had grudgingly acquiesced to
conservative Spanish rule.
“They
are but biding their time until a less bloody path to independence
can be found.” Mateo added, “They become more interested as a
strong figure appears, coinciding with the rebellion in Spain.”
“Uh,
may I ask a question?”
All
turned their attention to Jorge who usually remained silent during
the evening discussions.
“Of
course, my son. How else can you learn?”
“All
of this talk of who and where hurts my head. What I would like to
know is, what is all this about? What is going on in Mexico seems to
be similar to what is going on in many different places. Why? What is
happening to cause this?”
Everybody
appeared caught by surprise. Padre
Suria, Felipe, and Mateo searched for answers.
“None
of it is easy to explain, hijo.
There are many things that are causing such changes in the world.”
Everyone
turned their attention to Timothy.
“Much
of what is happening has never affected us here in California so we
do not easily understand it. One of the reasons is weather.” Seeing
questioning faces, he went on. “The northern part of America, along
with most of Europe, has undergone severe weather. Very long, cold
winters and short summers. That has led to a shortage of food,
especially in Europe where they do not have lots of wild game. People
are hungry, many starving. They see the wealthy and powerful living
well, and they are filled with anger.”
Padre
Suria
and Mateo both nodded their agreement.
“Another
reason is disease,” Timothy continued. “While we have minor
outbreaks here among the Gentiles, severe diseases have killed untold
numbers of people in Europe. The Black Death. Typhoid. And others
leave empty households in the crowded, unhealthy towns and cities.”
He paused to puff on his pipe before adding, “And again, the people
suffer while the rich and powerful live well.”
“And
this causes many to question the way things are,” Mateo
interjected. “They no longer accept The Divine Right of Kings and
feel they have the right to rule themselves.”
“That
brings questions about the Holy Church which supports monarchs of
many types.”
Padre
Suria's comment caught George by surprise. “The church, reverend
father?”
“Yes,
my son. Part of it appeared through the Protestant Movement and many
people who clung to those heretical beliefs were persecuted.”
“Where
they fled to North America to be free,” Timothy said. “They were
those who most fought to be free of monarchs. That was one of many
causes for the American Revolution, as it is being called.”
“Is
that what happened to His Catholic Majesty?”
“That
was one of the reasons, hijo.
The French overthrew their king to form a republic similar to the
United States. But, its excesses and the suffering it caused many,
led to a leader rising to become yet another form of dictator.”
“Napoleon
Bonaparte” George responded.
Timothy
nodded. “When King Ferdinand resumed the throne, he undertook
extreme measures to rid his kingdom of those who held to a
representative form of government, even to the part of forming an
army to recover those Spanish colonies that broke away.”
“And
all of this affected Mexico, grandfather?”
“Yes,
hijo,
but not similar to what occurred in Europe. It was also a case of
class envy there, the difficulties between Peninsulares
and Criollos.”
“Where
those of pure Spanish blood born in Mexico cannot have the same power
or wealth as those from Spain?”
“Exactly.
The same problem that has caused troubles for over more than two
hundred years.”
“So,
that is what has brought us to this point, George. Does it make more
sense to you now?”
“Yes,
reverend father. Now perhaps you and Mateo can continue to explain
what is currently going on in Mexico.”
The
elders grinned. But, as the sun was lowering into the Pacific, it was
decided to break up the evening session and prepare for sleep.
“For
a young man who spends all his time working in the soil, young George
appears to have a most inquisitive mind.”
“You
have brought a most intelligent son into this world, my dear.”
Teresa
Marta snuggled deeper into her husband's arms. “He takes after his
father. And his grandfather.”
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