Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-10-27
What Roman Catholics are Doing.

What Roman Catholics are Doing.
In q letter sent from Canton. men
ton was made of the Cathedral going
up there which is to cost three million
dollars. We learn that another, quite
as magnificent and costly, is being
erected at Pekin; also that in nearly
every important city of the empire
churches are being erected. The Je-
suits are in China in great force
Here comes one of their priests, a
Frenchman, wearing Chinese clothing,
with pig tail hanging down his back.
He has become a Chinaman, following
to the letter the apostolic example
and precept-becoming all things to
all men, to accomplish the end in view.
The Jesuits throughout the empire
have adopted the dress, the habits,
and customs of the Chincse-eating
as they eat, sleeping as they sleep,
shaving the forehead and not the
crown, just as the Chinese shave theirs.
Your readers will remember that
two hundred years ago the Jesults
were numerous throughout the empire,
but upon the accession of a new dy
nasty they were driven from the king
dom, and their property confscated.
But through all these long years
Rome has had her eyes open. When
the French brought forward the trea-
ty lately signed between France and
China, one article stipulated that all
the property contlscatcd TWO hundred
years ago should be restored to the
Jesuits.
at is impossible" said the Empe-
rOr'S ministers.
3" 1t must be done" was the reply
of the French Commission.
Who can tell where it was situa-
ted ? How can it be identified ?
There have been great commotiOns-
great many changes since them
We cannot find it" said the ministers.
"Of course there may be some diff
ficulty, but if the Fathers of the
Church can identify the property,
your highness will restore it, said the
bland Commissioners.
40 yes; if they can show that it
was once owned by the Church, - was
the reply, and the article went into
the treaty.
A few months later the Fathers ap-
peared at Pekin with a great bundle
of title deeds and documents, yellow
ed by time and moldy from their long
repoSe in the archives of the Propa
ganda at Rome!
The Emperor's ministers were con.
founded, but there was no help for it,
and so the Church is to-day in pos
session of immense estates in nearly
every city Of the empire.
The other day, while walking thro'
the streets of the old city of Shang.
h8, Rev. Mr.. Yates pointed out long
ranges of buildings which had been
restored to the Jesuits under that ar.
ticle Of the treaty. The income from
these estates Is enormous. No est
mate can be made vi the amount
which is known only to the " Fathers,
who keep their own counsel.
The Jesuits are having great sue
cess i'll this empire. The forms anC
ceremonies ol the Buddhist religion
are so much like those of the Romal
Catholic that one can hardly tell tht
,iH~. ~..-~- - C,s.-~.----,- --->--:---o
Protestant church sees no gods, ina
ges. nor pictures, and he comes to TN
conclusion that the PrOtestants arr
altogether goddess; but he enters
Jesuit church and sees better elias
OF images than those he Is aCcustOn
ed to worship, pictures more pleasln
than those upon the walls of his Ow
temples. He sees the priests at til
= altar in gorgeous robes, inhales swee
er incense than that ascending tror
| the Joss sticks. The music Of th
choir, the deep-toned organ is NOR
1 pleasing than the rub-a-dub of drum
Is it any wonder that the churches al
: thrOnged at morning mass, or at tn
: hour for vespers
+ Rome takes long looks ahead. Sh
a is educating for the future. Foun'
i lings are picked up 10y the hundre
l and the thousand; poor parents Sc
l. their children for trihe, parting wit
e them that they may be educated +
t the priests. A few years hence thes
Il foundlings will be traversing the hill
Il and valleys, stopping at all the will
J. yes, setting up schools, carrying G
. the work of the church.
T. A gentleman at Shangh8, one wi
e has been long in the country, who Ca
u speak the language, who has travele
i through several OF the provinces Dire
IL sed as Chinaman, in search of CO.
and iron and other minerals, has ha
excellent opportunities for observ
y ton, and his opinion is worthy Of co
N sideration. He says:
K "Of the missionary effort put for
n in China, at least ninety per cent.
# by the catholics"
- The restoration of the cOntiscatt
x property has given the church of Ron
s, great vantage ground. The prizes
10 have been pressing the Imperial go
as ernment in another direction. II
re French minister has obtained an Il
a. perial decree permitting the priests
at decide all questions Of law betwe
&c the Chinese catholics and those W
of still adhere to the Chinese religic
I'd Secretely and persistently, constant