The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-12
ST. STEPHENS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.


Celebrated Jesuit NIissiouary-His Expe-
rience Among Three Hundred Millions Of
Pagans-China the Great Battle Field Of
Christianity.
st. Stephens Roman Catholic church was yester-
day filed by an attentive congregation, who
listened to sermon from the Rev. Father vasseur,
OF the Society OF Jesus, the only Roman Catnoc
missionary who has ever represented the United
States as missionary among
THE 'HEATHEN CHINEEs."
The text OF the reverend gentleman was as
follOws:-"Put on the armor of GOD, that you may
be able to stand against the deceits of the devil,
Having your feet shod with the preparations OF the
gospe"-Ephesans W., As This solemn theatre
for sacred eoquence this large and so respecta-
BILE an audience Of the faithful. the splendor and
divine ceremony OF the house OF GCd, are not made
for poor foreigner ana poor missionary, accus-
toned but to adventures among O little flock OF
CHINESE NEOPHYTEs OR CATECHUMESs,
but am encouraged by your beloved and we'll de-
serving pastor, who 10 an ardent lover OF the mis-
sion as well Of the great flock committed to his care.
to speak. Moreover, have lived for several years
among nation OF three hundred millions OF pagans.
nave seen them prOstrating themselves before i'm.
piOus idols, killing their children and selling their
wives. cannot be slent ! must speak, even In
my uncouth language, to help them to know their
God, their Saviour and the way to
ETERNAL SALVATION.
And whether, at this dread moment when O ter
rble flood of calamitles Is rushing against the
Church OF God, cannot begin to detach your eyes
part, shall Conform myself to the views EXPRESSED
some months ago by our Holy Father In his to
the deputation from the United states-"My beloved
children"-did Fills Holiness answer-"tel all my
sons OF the United States that bless all of them,
Tell them that at the present time there are no more
Catholic governments but only one great army,
SOLDIERS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
scattered through the battle field OF the whole
world. Yes, one battle field, in which are but
two camps, two chiefs, two flags and only one
victory and mat WIN be ours Now, from
US look on high at the blessed Mother OF God. nelp
OF the Christ and we will overcome our enemies.h
Let us conform ourselves to this view OF our COM
mon father, and to-day, meeting on the young and
thriving soil OF America-I, coming from old Pagan
having saluted our common nag, follow the inten.
ton Of our Holy Father and animate ourselves to
hight for Christ IN taking general glance at the
BATTLE FIELD OF CHRISTIANITY.
Then we Will follow The direction OF ST. Paul, ex-
horting US TO put on the armor of God, for two
fold purpose. First, TO stand our ground against
the enemies Of God IN our own countries second.
the Gospel and win over all the nations to the king
dom Of Christ. mad occasion TO consider ~ my;
the battle field OF Christianity Seven years ago on
FRANCE TO CHINA,
I was witness Of the Mohammedan superstition
enslaving so many millions o. souls on the very
DSrdy popnar u%as Of those fanatics
In consequence OF the entering OF my companions
into their MOSQUE without the celebrations OF their
"Oh nv God" said !, "when will Your mercy en-
tighten
and deliver from their impure grasp whole Chris.
tian countries and the sacred tomb Of ChrlstW
iSo 0oo 600 men are ensaved by the superstions Of
Asa0manism, over which powerful nation OF
European merchants are welding the sceptre OF
their dominion, not to infuse In them the divine
light OF Christianity, but all
THE VICES or EUROPEAN CORRUPTION
I'LL their treasures with the proud fairness OF
their land and TO gather from their fields large har-
vests OF opium to increase their treasures by trade
trade which polsons millions OF bodies anu souls in
the vast empire Of China.
wDen arc ron ,ns MY cr eo1 roru,tous or
Tno%ss, among which are ''H numbersa but "a a
ioid OF Christianity When Is the formerly Catholic
nation OF Entered and Edward the Copfessor TO
SON the heathen nations. but to open to them the
way OF Christian civilization and eternal salvatiOn
IN the the mission Of Gnna In THIS IMMENSE empires
containing 3oO.oo0,OOo OF men and 1oo,0ooOOO OF
tributaries.
THE THIRD PART OF MANKIND
plunged into the dark superstition OF Buddhism,
Frustrated before idols, little flock of half mil
lion Christians scattered among them, Europeans
displaying unshamelully all the scandals OF an un-
cody life. The ruling class OF China cOniounding
the traders and the missionaries IN common ap-
probation and hatred OF foreign MISUNDERSTANDING
themselves Of the popular
IGNORANCE OF CHRISTIANITY
to make 1t basis for perpetual Notwithstanding
At this very moment the most formidable conspiracy
that ever existed against Christianity,
CONSPIRACY
which IS 10 break out when assisted by our own en-
tremendous fleets and armies edaipbsd With our
engines or war; 10 rush on with eight or ten mil
lions OF soldiers, and overthrow at the same time
foreign influence and Christianity.
The learned missionary went on at length to
describe the Catholic missions In China and the re-
suits which may be attained bv their work.
FATHER vAssEUR WILL DELIVER,
this evening" at st. stephens church, lecture on
the Catholic missions In Cnlna, illustrated by maps
and drawings, and complete with statistical infor-
nation. From the learned missionary's expe-
rIcnces during many years In China this Will, no
DOUBT prove to be one OF the most interesting lec-
lures ever delivered In New York city on similar
-aaaAlA nf