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

a convert in the days of Father Ferron.
and now 79 years of age. On the out
break Of the bitter and bloody persecu-
ton of 1866. she and her baptized chill
dren sought refuge in Po-ryeng Here
she passed many years. From time to
time news of the arrival of Europeans
in the country reached her, but she
thought they would only be traders and
merchants. The family around her
grew in numbers aud as each little
stranger made his or her appearance
she hastened to give it to God in holy
baptism, and she gathered them round
her as they grew up, and taught them
what prayers and practices her mem
ory yet allowed her to retain and full
fill
Her son, Cosme, fervent convert. in
one of his journeys heard the almost
incredible news that the Fathers were
at the capital. Seoul. Immediately the
old lady gathered together her chill
dren and grandchildren and hastened
to the nearest town in which the Faith
ers had settled. There she and hers
formed the nucleus of a new settle
ment, conspicuous for it's fervor and
constancy.
Father Peynet observed that in the
province of Seoul the increase of con-
vertS is larger in the new stations than
amongst the old ones Of the north The
orphanage and dispensary established
at Chemulpo under the Sisters of st.
Paul are doing a great work. Corean
medicine-men, it would appear, have
drastic and vigorous notions as to the
application of remedies. The knife
plays a prominent part, as also hot
irons. 1t is hardly surprising, there
fore, that the ingenious natives flOcked
around the Sisters dispensary to par
take Of treatment which if it did not
heal, certainly did not harm the re-
cipient. A dose that cured at once rose
in favor, and upon it there was a de-
mand from all sufferers of every possi-
BILE and impossible illness. This blind
often leads to amusing
scenes.
in Seoul the conservation of the Ca
thedral. on May 80 1898, was a func-
ton of unusual splendOT Over 5000
persons assisted. The diplomatic rep
of France, Russia, Eng
land Germany, United States, China
and Japan were present together with
the whole elite of the native popula-
ton.
Monsignor Mutel brings his narrative
of the years events to a close with
piece of intelligence, to-wit:
The conversion of the reigning empe-
received into the Church in October,
1896. A year later she made her first
Confession and Communion. On her
death bed she was assisted in her last
moments by Catholic Iady-in-wait-
ing. Owing TO her exalted rank and
the necessity of consequence, of pro-
found secrecy, it was not found possible
for any of the Fathers to visit her.
She died Jan. 8, 1898, aged so years;
Tokio-Archbishop Osouf of Toxic,
referring to a slight decrease in the re
turns for 1898 compared with those OF
1897, attributes the cause, in some
measure, to the prolonged illness of
Father Vigroux, as also the great diff
Guilty in fully preparing and instructing
the neophytes and catechumenS in the
outlying districts, owing to the great
distances separating them. Yet, in ms
efforts and those of his clergy have not
been as fruitful as His Grace could
wish, there are assuredly not wanting
reasons for courage and consolation
Rather Balette's pretty little church
at HOMO. built in commemoratlon or
the twenty-siX Japanese martyrs, has
been solemnly blessed. Father Muga-
oure has been instrumental in bringing
about a great revival in the faith in
MS district of Shizuoke. He writes
Near here there is a populous village
n which my catechumenS and myself
have held meetings, most numerously
attended. and during which great en-
.husiasm was displayed still
20 to Mishima once a week, where
continue the duties of pastor and pro-
lessor. Our meetings are held IN the
police station, and it is indeed anus |
ne to see the native guardians Of the |
place vieing one with the other In their |
struggles to master French. Many are !
Inder instruction, several have become |
Christians" The Maronite College !
shows a decrease in numbers, due to |
Dad times and trade. The decrease of |
scholars appears general to all colleges |
.bout here. But in the convent schools |
1t Yokohama and Toxic there is a /
marked increase. The leper hospitals |
1t Gotemba, Nagoya and Tsukiji are
ull. Fathers Peri and Lemoine have !
.tarted a magazine in the native IAN
;uage called Tenchijin. Heaven, earth,
nan. political, social, philosophical, re-
igious and economical questions are
lealt with 1t is a journal Of recog-
lized influence and standing. Other |
publications for more general reading,
ealing mainly with religious SUBJECTS,
re also being issued, and they meet
With a ready and appreciative circula-
ion. All this has, of course, for its
ne exposure of falsehoods, 50 freely
ssued and read, and emanating chiefly
rom French and English sources.
agasaki-Monsigno Cousin, the vi
ar apostolic, in his summary of the
ears work. writes: THE years con-
essions and Easter cOmmunions are
lore numerous than ever the
eneral statistics show a slight increase
early all along the line" Father
'raincan has a flock of $500 Catholics
i his district of Urakami. He remarks
growing tendency on the part OF
lany of his people to leave their ma
i've hearth and homestead to embark
n some wild and risky venture for
This fever, probably of
European importation, has laid hold of
lany promising neophytes and catech-
mems, and it is to be feared that theiy
)sses viii be not only of material ma
Ire but spiritual. North of NagaSaki
nd eastward a large series of is
lnds are met with to the straits of
Iirado. Within a distance of sixty
lilies no less than seventeen stations
ave been established; indeed, they
lay be said to stand out as land
larks over 5000 Catholics inhabit
lese parts. The Groto group of islands
administered by Father Pelu and two
-her fathers, with two Japanese
RESTS. There are over 10, 500 Catholics,
churches and twenty ora
,rios in the district. The leper settle
lent at Honmioji has been taken over
y the Franciscan Sisters of Mercy
ather Honda, the native priest in
large of the province of Chikugo and
$ three districts, struggles manfully ..
gainst many difficulties; two in par
cular. The first is the habit the Chris ,,
an natives follow in sending their /.
lildren of the age of u and upward :
} live among the native pagans with
hom they stay until their marriage.
he second is that the youth of the To- {
llity, not TO be behindhand or def :
ent in the games of their pagan neigh
'rs, Introduce and eagerly participate +