The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-11-15
Failure of Romish Missions.

Before proceeding to deal with Romish
missions in their relation to Protestant
work, it may be we'll to clear away some
vulgar mistakes concerning them. 1t is
not uncommonly supposed that these
missions have been carried on upon a
scale so gigantic and so successful as
Now, priority may be conceded to them.
The nations which established them
selves on the shores of Africa, which dis
covered America, and first reached the
East Indies, extending themselves as far
as China and Japan, were prominently
Romlsh, In complete subiugation to the
Paracy. Before England had a colony,
or had thoroughly received the Reforma-
ton, Romish missionaries were in the
field. Although other orders have par
ticipated in the work, these missions fell
so completely, though never exclusively,
into the hands of the Jesuits, that it is
not mlsnomer to treat them as jesuit
Missions. We cannot here undertake to
trace their history but it is remarkable
as we study 1t, to note how almost uni
versally true it has been that the con-
verts In them, having no root, have for
while believed, and in time of tempta-
ton fallen away" This must be ascribed
to the nature Of the seed sown, and the
manner of sowing it, as we'll as the
ground on which it fell. "The seed is
the Word of God" Have the Jesuits
sown the good seed in its purity and in
tegrity? While Romish or Jesuit mis-
sions have been propagated and upheld
by the secular arm, they have prevailed
for a season; when that has failed them
they have persisted. We might take as
an instance the celebrated Reductions Of
Paraguay. In them Romanism reigned
supreme for one hundred years; no other
religion was tolerated What is the pre-
sent condition The inhabitants have
"relapsed into astate of barbaris1a. {"
What has been the fate of the Abyssinian
Mission, where, according to the Jesuit
historian, Teller, unless the Catholic
preachers were defended and authorized
by dragons they would never have the
success desired among the schismatics r
They had no success. 1t was a mission
instituted by Ignatius Loyola himself,
In other portions of Africa it would be
almost impossible to give an adequate
conception OF the failure of Romish mis-
slons. At one time she had her mis-
slons at Angola, Loango, Cape Lopez, the
islands Of st. Thomas, Princes, and Fer
nando 20, Waree, Benin, Whydah, Ell
nina, Asaini, Sierra Leone, Goree, and
Senegal but at none of these places, ex-
cept the few that have been retained bv
the French and Portuguese governments.
can traces Of this religion be found at the
present day" But the most memorable
failure was in the kingdom of Congo.
There, for two centuries, successive com.
panies of missionaries labored with un-
firing assiduity. One missionary there
during twenty years, baptized more than
100000 persons Ultimately the mis-
sionaries left the county, and, stimuli
taneously with their departure, Chris-
tianity disappeared. 1t was an exotic
that had taken no root. But Rome had
boasted Of it in terms CT unmeasured ex-
ultation. Jesuits, Dominicans, Francis
cans, Capuchins, Augustus, Bernardians,
Carmelities-all had labored in the field;
but there was not even left so much +" as
grass growing upon the house-tops"
wherewith the mower flleth not his
hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his
bosom-all had withered before it grew
Missionary Herald