The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 30, 1906, Page 8

PLENDID the majesty of breoze, which fro the dawn of history has been molded into the shapes of mo men, preserving for the admira of posterity the features of the great, the of the gentle Padre Juni Serra will sson stand in Golden Gate Pa Seeking no re- ward, hoping for none save the joy that to the godly from serving the Master, man brought to the rages of the Wi il Christianity, his statue, soon to rise in Golden Gate thoughtful crowds will gather to pay to his memory and, in reflection, to om the lesson of his life. ng tribute to the memory of this o y monk, whose name ] vith the early history of t before been paid has ment; that it is to be paid clan, and, in com- ork of the sculptor completed, so well, it of art has been en- y a masterpi Archbishop Riordan on a certain occasion about 2 year ago expressed his surprise that there was no mom t to Father Junipero Serra erected in Sz ncisco, and I then in- forme im that 1d be honored by the i crecting such a monument,” said I told the Archbishop that there Calif o was capable of honoring th mder of the missions and the i i t a monument wrought tive Son; and just as St. ored by having a ¢ missionaries r W ¥ his name, so the Father Junipero Serra should rected until a native craftsman had risen to the dignity and importance of the task. “Douglas Tilden was the man. I gave hima eommission, and he modeled a figure which met the approval not only ot the Archbishop, but of the critics, and after the fire, there be- Ing no local foundry capable of casting the statue, it was sent to the American Bronze in Chicago, where a successful cast- , and the monument has now 1d myself have selected # site, with the consent of the Park C i sion, in Golden i erected. The statue will be ecight feet high, standing on a pedestal of about ‘the same height. Edgar Matthews has designed the pedestal. “Father Junipero Serra is the foremost fig- ure in the history of California, and it is fitting that the metropolis of the State should possess this work of art. The old Mission Chur after the earthquake and fire, still stands, ane I believe that for several weeks Father Jun- ipero Serra lived there. He considered the iscovery of San Francisco Bay and the founding of the mission the most important life work of his devoted followers.” Word comes from the East that the firm that cast the statue considers its work the best it has yet accomplished, especially the face, which in the metal retains the soft lines wrought with perfection by the sculptor. The statue represents Father Serra standing with one foot and one hand extended, as though Freaching the gospel he brought to the thenm ittle known California coast. The right pa supports a cross which leans against the right shoulder of the figure