The Irish standard., 1900-08-18
Watchmakers Of Pekin Belong
to the Catholic Fold.
INHERITED FAITH FROM ANCESTORS
Who We're Converted by FIR. Rieci
Three Centuries Ago.

The following letter from John P
Sutton recently appeared in Lincoln,
Neb., newspaper in reply to sermon
by a Protestant minister:
According to your report of the SER
mon on "China from Religious Point
OF View," delivered by Rev. DIX Row.
lands on Sunday evening last, the rev.
erend gentleman is made to say,
amongst other things:
"Then came Catholicism, but it was
not long before the Chinese discovered
that their new teachers were schening
to get control of the country. Then they
(the Chinese) rose in their national
spirit and expelled every Catholic and
Christian. Then China closed its doors
to all religions"
When I read this, I could not help
recalling that scene of nineteen hun>
dred years ago, when the Divine Found
er of the Roman Catholic church stood
before the court of Caiaphas the high
priest-"and some rising up bore false
witness against him"
Will the Rev. DR.. Rowlands name
some respectable, unprejudiced author
ity fof the serious charge he has fnade
against the early Roman Catholic mis-
sionaries in China, that they were
scheming to obtain control of the coun-
try? May I ask him also what differ
ence there is between a Catholic and
Christian? 1t certainly has comical
aspect, this idea of self-imagined in
fallible pastor of a little subsequent Of
a section of sect, placing the grand
old mother of churches with her 3oo.>
100000 of children outside the pale Of
Christianity.
The various Protestant sects have
spent enormous sums of money on for
eign missions during the past century
Their boundless generosity in that re-
spect is magnificent tribute to the sim
cerity of their convictions. Have the
returns been commensurate with the
outlay?
Rev. Dr. Rowlands says: "In 1S42
missionaries of Protestant faiths could
go in if they wished to do so and risk
their heads. But few went, and not un>
til 1860 did the great influx of Christian
missionaries begin. Now 5000 of them
are there, mostly Methodists and Pres
byterians. AS result 100000 Chris
tian Chinese children attend Christian
schools, and $500 more attend universl-
ties, while there are 10000 Christians
among the great common people there.
Is not this great promises"
The reverend doctor does not tell us
how many OF these 10000 brands snatch
ed from the burning are living in state
of polygamy. 1t must not be forgot
ten that man can be full-hedged
Methodist, Baptist or Presbyterian in
China, and have at the same time two
or three legal wives, and as many con-
cubines. (See Missionary Herald,
February, March and April, 1879 Not
being acquainted with DR.. Rowlands'
system OF theology, don't understand
why there should be different editions
of the Ten Commandments for use in
America and Asia With such system
of Christianity made easy it is Won
der to me that DR.. Rowlands' Chinese
Christians are not much more numer-
rous, If it were extended to the United
= States it would undoubtedly retard the
growing decrease in church member
shin What is good for Cinnamon ought
certainly be equally good for the breth-
ren in America.
But there are other Christians in
China, although DR.. Rowlands does not
acknowledge them as such. They are
not "rice" Christians, nor are they pro-
moters of harems, but Christians that
obey the same Interchangeable laws Of
faith and morals that prevail wherever
the Roman Catholic church has juris-
diction. In 1893 there were in China
s32,448 Catholics; 1890 churches, 1,168
priests, of whom 40 per cent are ma
/tives; 4o ecclesiastical semharies, 2,o15
schools, besides hospitals and asylums,
and monasteries and converts for re-
ligious men and women, native and
foreign. The watchmakers OF Pekin
are all Catholics, inheriting their faith,
as we'll as their trade, from ancestors
who received the knowledge of both
from the Jesuit, Father Ricci, 800 years
ago. One would think, from the uproar