This paper, as the author himself calls it, consists of a preface (pp. 9-18) and four chapters (pp. 19-85), to which is appended a bibliography (pp. 86-89). The chapter titles are: “Early Life and Work of Junípero Serra”; “The Missionaries’ Contribution to the Founding of Alta California”; “The Growth of the Missions After Serra’s Time”; and “Secularization of the Mission System in Alta California.”

The author’s avowed purpose “is to make an impartial investigation of the facts relating to secularization of the missions, etc.” In view of this clearly stated purpose both the title and sub-title appear to be far too broad. Nor does the limited purpose appear to have been realized, for the author does not give us many written (or printed) results of his investigation—indeed, he could hardly hope to do so within so small a number of pages, a number of which are wasted by needless repetition: whole paragraphs of the preface are reprinted in chapter four, which alone deals with the secularization. For his specific theme the author should have used Gerald J. Geary’s The Secularization of the California Missions, 1810-1846 (Washington, D. C., 1934), and consulted, if possible, Miss Kathryn Lee Langston’s The Secularization of the California Missions, 1813-1846 (An unpublished Master of Arts thesis, 1925, at the University of California).

In checking a few of the references, it was found that the original statements are quoted inaccurately, thus altering the meaning; furthermore, not every sentence lifted from the sources is so indicated. Actually, this hard-bound pamphlet adds nothing new to our knowledge.