The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-07-04
CATHOLIC PROGRESS IN CHINA
STATISTICS WHICH SHOW THE
GROWTH OF THE CHURCH.
SYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE OF
THE RULING CLASS.

The revolution of 1911 brought
about many important changes for the
better in China. From religious
point of view not the least remarkable
is the larger spirit of tolerance which
now prevails among the governing
classes. Formerly the privileged
classes and the notables offered the
greatest opposition to the labors of
the missionaries - preventing them
from settling in the principal towns,
circulating false rumors with refer
ence to their work, fomenting disturb
ances, and in other ways showing
their hostility to the Christian propa-
ganda.
Consequent on the revolution and
with the liberty of worship proclaimed
by the Constitution, quite another tenn
per is being generally displayed,
which gives well-grounded hope for
the steady advance of Catholicity in
the early future. No better illustra-
ton could be afforded of the new spir
it obtaining than the regulations re-
Gently published by Tchang K'ien,
Minister of Industry and Commerce,
for the management of hospice he
has founded in his native city. Tchang
K'ien is one of the leading notables
of the country, and his popularity is
such that it is he who received the
greatest number of SURFACES in the
vote of the Senate ratifying the COM
position of the present Cabinet. The
following is an extract from the rules
and regulations he has drawn up for
his new hospice. 1t is interesting as
revealing how an intelligent and
thoughtful observer has been i'm
pressed by the zeal and abnegation of
the devoted Sisters who are pursuing
their apostolic ministrations among
the poorer class of Chinese.
'We had formerly" says the Minis
ter, mo asylums for the aged; now
that some exist, we are at loss how
properly to conduct them. Some
Catholic virgins, to the number of 20,
have had pity on our aged Chinese re-
duced to extreme poverty, and having
made the VOW to maintain them, have
established a convent for this purpose
to the south of Shanghai. Their mis-
sion is to direct and care for the aged;
they procure for their old people all
they need, even giving beyond what
they desire; they labor to please them,
they go from house to house to col
lect money, rice and clothing materi-
oil Sc, h. SO
Sisters Of Charity. Among our COM
patriots we see pious sons and grand
sons, respectful to their parents, but
these holy daughters surpass our most
renowned examples of filial piety.
have been to visit their convent; all
is in perfect order and everything is
carried on therein without the least
trouble or confusion. 1t is the Catho-
lie religion which has induced these
good Sisters to come to China; it is
their faith which is the handspring of
their devotedness. l would have
wished also to have Catholic Sisters
for my hospice, but have not been
able to obtain any. Conformably to
what | have seen and to the ref1ec-
tions / have made thereon, | have
drawn up the following regulations:
:" The 31st article runs as
follows: "Fervent and charitable Cath
olics may be chosen for the direction
of the establishment, and all that is
necessary shall be procured for them"
This is, indeed, f1attering testimony
to the effect produced on the minds
of impartial pagan witnesses by the
admirable charity and self-sacrifice of
our missionary nuns. The esteem in
which Tchang K'ien holds Catholicism
is further shown by a remark he made
not long since to his secretaries:-"If
I had to choose religion he said,
81 would choose the Catholic religion"
Some missionary statistics which
have recently been published afford
evidence of the gratifying progress of
Catholicity. In the course of last
year the number of conversions
amounted to upwards of 100000, the
total number of Catholics throughout
the country is 1,535,000 among pop
ulation of 440 millions, or 1 in every
280 On the other hand, the Protes-
tant sects, Notwithstanding their great
financial resources and the political
influences supporting their proselytiz-
ing efforts, count only 1 adherent for
every 2,069 inhabitants. This million
and half Catholics are distributed
among 48 Vicariates Apostolic, of
which 24-precisely the half-are in
charge of French missionaries, secular
or religious. The Italian missionaries
come next with Vicariates; the Fa-
theirs of the Congregation of Scheut
(Belgium) have 6; the Spaniard 4; the
Dutch and Belgian Franciscans 4, and
the German missionaries of Steyl, L
Vicariate of Western Shan-tung. Of
the "a Vicariates confided to French
missionary activity, II are in charge
of the Priests of Foreign Missions,
10 under the Lazarists, under Fran
ciscans, and 2 served by Jesuit Fa-
theirs. These latter are laboring in
the extensive provinces of Southeast
Chill and Kiang-nin, the former COM
prising population of II millions, the
latter of so million inhabitants.
AS regards Catholicity, the most
fourishing of the provinces is Chilli
it counts about $4,000 Catholics, more
than fourth of the total number in
China. 1t is divided into six Vicariates,
all excepting one, under the direction