The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-10-12
Catholic Church In be Orient.

! Japanese barracks more than tests, 1t
often destroys religious vOcations.
Osaka-"We are still busy sowing,
writes Monsignor Chatron time, cir
cumstances and political events all tend
to render the ground hard and arid;
but my clergy are not discouraged, con-
Vinced that the day must come when so
many sacrifices and efforts will bear
fruit. The Sacraments are fervently and
regularly frequented, and if the num-
Der of our flock show me no very large
increase in quantity it certainly does
in quality" At Tisu, Father BirrauX
has opened a new church. He mentions
that in the adjoining town of Yamada
a fire made away with pagan temple
containing the ashes of many ancestors
of the mikado A period of public
mourning was officially ordained, and
officially observed, but the unofficial
remarks and comments of the pagan
natives were suggestive that they held
the old religion in scant respect. TIE
Angelus now rings out three times
daily and gaiIy from the steeple tower
of the cathedral of Osaka. Monsignor
ChatrOn blessed the bell the Julia An
selma, on the feast of the Immaculate
Conception, 1897. Father Mutz died on
Sept. 8, 1893 at the age of 80, of which
thirteen years had been given TO God in
the foreign missions The Maronite
Fathers from Toxic are to open a
school a Osaka. At Yamaguchi, Father
Cettour finds making headway very
laboriOus and slow. The town is the
seat of university, and from thence
is spread, with dire effect a spirit of
unbelief and theism. A station has been
opened at Matsuye, in the province of
Izumo, in the northwest. The natives
are very backward and ignorant. When
Father Angeles had succeeded in per-
suading them that he was neither a
French nor Russian spy, they took
more kindly to him. Father Ferrand,
at Maysuyama, is laboring in the midst
of flosk probably the poorest and
most suffering in Japan. His heroic,
mWearying zeal among these unfortu
nate creatures has won him the respect
and admiration of all the officials. The
better to meet the incessant claims upon
his i'll lgarnished purse, he gives lessons
in French to members of the civil ser
vice, and he has often the consolation
of winning souls to God and help for
his poor. Father Charron, at Uwajima,
is spending his few leisure moments in
translating Abbe Darras History of
the Church in Japanese. Monsignor
Chattron writes hopefully of the future
in Japan. The authorities look with re-
Spect upon the missionaries, and Cath
olics are admitted to teach in the state
schools. The influence of Buddhism
and Shintoism is slowly on the wane.
Hakodate.-Monsignor Bedlioz bears
out Monsignor Chatrons impression
that the situation in Japan has i'm
proved. More missionaries are wanted
The districts are too far apart Cister-
clan fathers and nuns have settled close
to Hakodate. Those who fancied they
knew the Japanese character prophe-
sled that the fathers would find no re-
crutts among them, lovers of personal
liberty and enemies of silence and rou-
tine, but in less than a year seven ma
tives presented themselves. Father
Lafon, at Sapporo, has opned a winter
school for the children of the country
districts 1t is proving a great success.
The numbers are increasing and the at
tendance is good. The immense district
of Yezo North and South, is under the
direction of Father Billet, who reports
well of his work. The new and COM
modious residence at Amori was but
recently the shrine of a Shinto diety
Father Deffremus, at Morioka, reports
that the number of communicates on
the first Sunday of each month is
steadily increasing, and that the school
under the sisters of st. Paul more than
hold their own with those of the state.
The death of their superior is a sore
loss TO all-elghteen wears of her life
had been spent in Japan. Divorce seems
to be as easy in Japan as in other coun-
tries laying claims to a higher standard
OF civilization. Father Marion of
lwate finds that the facilities for OBJ
tanning it are largely made use of. but |
there seems to be same chance of a |
legislative check forthcoming In the |
development of commercial relations be-
tween Japan and other countries he |
sees a hope for the disappearance of |
much prejudice and ignorance At Nj |
gata, Father Christmann has instituted |
the recital of nigh tprayers in com |
mon III his church, and he speaks with |
enthusiasm of the growing attendance. |