The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-04-01
METHODS EMPLOYED IN CONVERSION
Results Accomplished by Him
Among the Natives.
The FIRST CONVERT MADE BY HIM
The Wonderful Vitality of the
Catholic Faith.

lhe recent report that the Japanese
government is thinking about making
Christianity the religion oi the State.
reminds one of that fascinating chap
ter OF Church history which records
the rise and fall OF the Japanese mis-
sions OF the sixteenth century. says a
writer i'll the Providence Visitor.
When Alexander VI, on May 4, 14o,3,
fixed the line OF dcmarcation between
the colonial possessions OF Spain and
Portugal, he recommended that both
nations labor earnestly to propagate the
Christian faith i'll all the islands and
countries then discovered by them and
in all that might be discovered subsc-
quently. This recommendation was iav-
orably received by the Spaniards and
the Portuguese, among whom. during
the course OF centuries, thanks to the
lncessant struggle against the Moors,
military ardor and religious zeal had
become practically Synonymous terms.
The Gospel was preached in the East
and in the West Indies. churches, con-
vents and schools were built, and Epis-
copal sees were established But zeal
and sanctity are not everything. The
spirit OF organization is also necessary.
When that is lacking the best efforts
are of little avail
In l54o new religious Order was
founded, designed to fight with spir-
itual weapons just as the military Ord
ers fought with the lance and the sword
The success Of the Jcsuits as missionar-
les is due in great part to the peculiar
organization OF their Institute. Their
missions were based OH the most solid
foundations, were wisely organized and
we're conducted with the utmost vigor
and prudence.
St. Francis Navler was the greatest
of the Jesuit missionaries. He was the
first to begin the execution of the pro-
ject OF universal cvangclization which
had been conceived by his associates in
the University OF Paris. 1t is not our
purpose to tell here the story OF this
apostolic man, to follow this new Paul
in his many journcyings, to cnumeratc
the kings and mobiles whom he baptized,
the peoples he converted the churches
he founded. All this is related by his
| biographcrs We wish to insist on on
ly one point, namely, the plan he fol-
| lowed and the organization he adopted
to ensure the permanencc OF his work
Entering upon new field of labor he
| converted few OF the noblcst fam
ilies, took infinite pains with their re-
| ligious education in order that they
might serve as models and guides to
new recruits, and, after having estab-
| lislcd Christianity on a solid basis, he
turned over the government of the new
church to one or more OF his brethren
and sought a new field OF labor without,
however, ccasing to watch and guide
his successors and their flocks.
Nowhere did the Saint put this sys-
tenn more thoroughly into practice than
in Japan. The beginnings of Christian
ity in the Island Empire are curiousy
interesting. A Japanese noble from
Cangoxima, Augcroo by name, torment
ed by the recollection OF the crimes OF
his youth, sought the Apostle at the
suggestion OF a certain Portuguese, in
the hope OF securing through him peace
of conscience. He met ST. Francis at
Malacca, who told him that he could
regain tranquility OF soul by bccom-
ing Christian He was charmed with
the Saint and, as he knew little Por-
tugucsc, Xavier gave him such instruc
ton as time permitted and then sent
him with his servants to Goa. After a
| little while the Saint rcjoincd him at
| Goa and prepared him and his compan-
ions for baptism. The ceremony was
performed by the Bishop OF Goa in the
fast of Pcntecost, I54S. Augeroo took
the name OF Paul, one Of his servants
took that of John and the other that
OF Anthony. Then Xavier conceived
the design OF cvangclizing Japan. He
had already spent seventeen months in
structing Augcroo and continued this
instruction during the three month
voyage from Goa to Japan. He spent
one year at Congoxima. and during
that time though helped by Augcroo
and other companions had converted
only small number OF persons, the ma