The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-15
1aIE1z1ii1 aa1 r1E11SsIAET EisssioEs.


The Cork Examiner of February pub
fishes the substance of an address delivered
before the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton of that city by Prof Jameson, of the
Imperial College at Pekin. The opinions
here expressed are the more valuable from
the fact that they are accorded by an intel
igent gentleman, who views the subject
from Protestant standpoint, to the devo-
ton of Catholic missionaries in the East
Speaking of the means that should be
adopted in order to raise the Chinese nation
to level with the European races, the lee
turer observed:
Let not our Protestant sense of liberty
render us, rs it too often does, illiberal
rather let us take g lesson fcom these de-
voted ministers of the Catholic faith, who
have spread themselves over the length and
breadth of China. Somebody, forget who,
remarks that the Jesuit priest in an Indian
village seemed to have changed the very
nature he possessed when he stood plotting
in the court of Madrid. In China, the
Jesuit missionary is very blessing to the
community amongst which he dwells. He
identifies himself with his people, he enters,
heart and soul into their interests, and
shares their joys and sorrows. Clad jn the
simple garments Of the natives, eating or
hungering according as plenty or/scarcity
reigns in his neighborhOOd, the Catholic
priest (chosen, recoHect, on account OF
talents that would in another sphere have
made him remarkably is found alike at the
wedding feast and at the bedside of death.
He is the friend, the counsellor, the ply
stefan, and the priest Of his flock. But it is
in his school that heis in his glory. There,
surrounded by happy infants rescued by him
from death by exposure (for need not tell
you that infapticide is one of the curses of
China,) or purchased from venal parents in
order to save yet innocent children from
misery and idolatry, he indeed takes the
place Of a natural as we'll as of spiritual
father. Now, 1 wish to draw particular at
tention to this feature of the Catholic mis-
si6nary system in China, for it is one that
I've must adopt if We even desire to plant
the Protestant religion in that land. 1t
were hopeless to attempt to eyangelize the
adult members of village community.
The reason of this lies in the intense ire
ligion and materialism of even the lowest
Chinese coolie. But the Jesuits, by selling
hold of the young, by creating generation
of Christians, have laid the axe to the tree
of idolatry and atheism. Education, not
conversion, is their aim, and hence their
triumph. They boast but few converts, but
they can point to entire communities where
in Christianity has been hereditary for two
or three generations. Around the simple
chapel that witnesses the first efforts of the
missionary in q new district, soon arise
founding hospital, an infant school,
higher seminary for more advanced pupils,
and finally, a college, wherein not only are
the dogmas of Christianity and the facts OF
natural science taught, but the students
are fitted for the native literary examina-
tions, which form the only means of access
to official life. The perfection of the system
is thus readily apparent. 1t commends it
self to us, inasmuch as it is an effort of re-
ligious enthusiasm it likewise commends
itself to us as practical men of the world.
The first lesson it teaches us is that we
must select our missionaries with view to
their fitness for the task they have to at
tempt. In China a man with no special
education, and with but small mOdicum
of general knowledge, will, unfortunately,
not leave the mission work where he finds
it, but will actually force it backward.
The learned and subtle reasoners OF CHINA
look for wisdom and dialectics; need l say
they are generally disappointed Now,
instead of hoping for miracles, let us exert
ourselves to secure O useful result to our
labors when properly directed. Let train
ing colleges be established where Oriental
are the theological dogmas ofet6e Western
schools. Let the languages be taught at
an age when even one moderately talented
can acquire them. Let the mind be prac-
tised in reasoning and sophlstry, for Ii
these are not the weapons we are to use,-
they are at least those we shall have to en-
counter. Let physical science and medicine
enter into tie curriculum of instruction,
and thus armed at all points, let our mis-
sionary go forth, as the Jesuits have gone
before him, conquering and to conquer
That is one lesson the Catholic missionaries
teach us. We must, In the next place, nke
them, attack the young, train the tender
shooG, rather than attempt 10 beTid tie
gnarled trunk.
A.