The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-02-10
THE HISTORY OF CATHOLIC MIS-
SIONS-A MILLION CATHOLICS
IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE AND
MANY NATIVE PRIESTS.


tion in China but little has been heard
OF the Catholic missionaries and their
f1ocks. though they are by far the
largest body of Christians in China.
kilograms have been published CIV
ing information about the Protestant
missionaries, their wives and other
members of their families. News
about the Catholics has, however, been
slow in coming, and in these islands
and throughout Europe generally
many are, am sure, anxiously await
ing definite intelligence as to the fate
of the Catholics in China and the con-
dition and prospects of the Catholic
missions.
Whatever pessimists may say,
writes C. B. P. in the Liverpool
Times" Christianity is still powerful
and progressive. 1t is the religion
with future, and all who sincerely
believe in it must hold that in the
course Of time it will obtain a strong
hold in the East as it did 80 many
centuries ago in the West. No mortal
can pretend to interpret the designs
of Divine Providence. Where we read
disappointment and failure, there are
often to be found the elements of
future success, and it may be that the
vicissitudes through which Catholic
missionary work has passed in China
were in some mysterious way neces-
sary preparation for the growth Of the
Church's influence there in years to
come. But to the human judgment,
limited as it is, it seems strange that
the Catholic Church should have come
so near bringing the vast population
of China within her fold and yet
should have failed so completely to
do 80.
The Period of Beginnings.
The story is one of the deepest in
terest. So far back as 1889 John of
Montecorvino, a Franciscan, reached
Peking, built a church, and founded a
Bishopric. In 1907 he was created
Archbishop and Primate of the far
East by Pope Clement v, and in 1870
Urban v appointed a new Archbishop
in the person of William de Prato,
who was accompanied by twelve Fran
ciscans. Nearly two centuries later
st. Francis Xavier was proceeding
from Japan to China when he died at
a small island off the Canton coast.
Not long afterwards two members of
the same Order, Fathers Ruggieri and
Pasio, obtained permission to settle
at Chao-King. This was 1882.
In the following year they were
Joined by a Jesuit of extraordinary
talents, Matthew Ricci He was a
man of extensive learning. In mathe-
matics he was especially versed. BY
his knowledge he made an impress
sion on all who came in contact with
him. But as a foreigner he was held
in suspicion as well as his brother
Jesuits. Amidst the gravest difficult
ties he went to Peking, was courteous
ly received by the Emperor, converted
the Prime Minister, Su Kwang-Ki,
founded a novitiate in the capital for
Chinese whom he had won to the
Faith, established seminary at
Macao and as Superior of the Jesuit
missionaries in China paved the way
for the development of their work. A
large number of imperial princes and
high officials were received into the
Church, and within twenty years of
Ricci's death there were thirteen thou
sand Christians in China.
When the Manchu Tartars took pos.
session Of Peking and the Ming
dynasty came to an end, one Of the
men whom the first Manchu Emperor
paid most Difference to, was German
Jesuit named Adam Schall, who, with
James Rho, q colleague, was mem
Der of the Astronomical Board. The
Emperor treated the Jesuit as an init.
mate friend, built splendid church
for him at Peking, ordered, at his re.
quest, that Christians throughout the
Empire should be free from molesta-
tion, and even entered on a course OF
instruction himself with a view to
embracing the Catholic Faith. He
died, however, at an early age with.
out being received into the Church.
Owing to the intrigues of Mussul.
man astronomer, Father Schall fell
into disfavor at Court and an anti
Christian movement was set on foot
but as soon as Kang-hi, prince oi
enlightened views, came to the throne
the Jesuits became influential. Two
of q band sent out by Louis XIV oi
France in 1885, Fathers Gerbillon and
Bouvert, were appointed general ad
visers to the Emperor and the out
look for the Catholic missions became
very bright.
Persecution and Prospects.
There were then three hundred
thousand Christians in the Chinese
Empire A beautiful Cathedral church
was built In the palace grounds, and
the important question whether China