PIOUS FUND OF CALIFORNIA, an endowment fund dating from 1697 and created from voluntary donations and subscriptions re ceived or solicited from various benefactors and religious bodies, chiefly in Mexico, to be applied to the propagation of the Catholic faith in California. The first chief contributors who each gave $1,000 were Don Alonzo Davalos, Conde de Miravalles and Don Mateo Fernandez de la Cruz, Marquez de Buena Vista. By their example others were induced to subscribe and in a short time $15,000 more were made up, $5,000 in cash and $10,000 in promises. On 5 Feb. 1697 the necessary authority was con ferred on Fathers Juan Maria Salvatierra and Francisco Eusebio Kino of the Jesuit order, to undertake the invasion of California on the express conditions: 1. That possession of the country was to be taken in the name of the Spanish crown, and 2. That the royal treasury was not to be called on for any of the expenses of the enterprise. Don Pedro Gilde la Sierpe, treasurer of Acapulco, offered the use of a galliot to transport the missionaries to their destination, and the gift of a small boat or launch. Considering the remoteness and isola tion of the field, it was determined to establish a separate special fund or capital, the income from which should form a permanent endow ment for the missionary church. Toward this latter object the first recorded contribution is from the congregation of Nuesah Signora de los Dolores, of the city of Mexico, which con tributed $10,000 and Don Juan Caballero y Ozio who donated $20,000 more, besides giving Father Salvatierra the satisfactory assurance, that in any unforeseen emergency, he might draw on him for whatever money he needed and he would honor his drafts, large or small. This endowment fund, commenced by the pious liberality of the society and the individual just named, was increased by subsequent donations. The capital was invested as securely as possible, and as an income of $500 yearly was deemed necessary for each mission and 5 per cent was the current rate on safe investments, a capital of $10,000 was made the basis of each new mission founded. From 1698 to 1757 13 mis sions were founded on the peninsula and these sums of money forming a considerable capital, received by common consent the name of The Pious Fund of the Missions of California?) or more briefly, the "Pious Fund of California.)) In 1767 the Jesuits were expelled from the Spanish dominions; the Pious Fund was seized by the Crown and transferred to the Fran ciscans under whom from 1769 to 1823 the 21 missions in upper California were founded.
On the declaration of Mexican independence, Mexico succeeded the Crown of Spain as trus tee of the Pious Fund and it continued to be managed and its income applied as before, down to 19 Sept. 1836, when the Mexican Con gress passed a law attaching an endowment of$6,000 per year for the erection of a bishopric and conceded ri to the incumbent when selected and his successors, the administration and dis posal of the