The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-10-07
STATE OF THE MISSIONS
OBSTACLES WHICH OUR FOREIGN
MISSIONARIES MUST SUR.
MOUNT.
written for The Catholic Bulletin by
Rev. James A. Byrnes.)

The chief obstacle to the awaken
ing of Catholic interest in foreign
mission activities has been the lack
of a proper statement of the question.
The need of some simple yet scholar
ly declaration with reference to the
good that a be achieved and the
method which should be adapted has
long made itself felt. The celebrated
saying "spes messis in semine" may
we'll be applied to the foreign mission
situation. The universal conquest OF
heather souls will not be accomplish
ed until adequate means are devised
for sowing entire heathendom with
the seed of Catholicity. Then, and
then only will there be reaped that
rich harvest Of souls for which a
Xavier labored and for which a Teresa
prayed.
The Hour of God in the Foreign
Missions by Hilarion Gill, S. j., is
a work which by reason of its splen-
did marshaling Of facts and happy
suggestions should commend itself
to every Catholic who is conscious
of his duty toward those outside the
fold. The author draws attention at
the outset to u movement which has
already begun to make rapid prog
ress and which he characterizes as
the undermining of the pagan ma
tiOnS."
The means of travel which u aid
affords us is claimed as the main rea-
son for this movement. Then fol-
lows u brief history of the chief ma.
tions which Nave felt the effects of
this development. Japan as, we would
naturally suppose first claims our at.
tention. We of the United States are
perhaps better able than any other
people to judge of the phenomenal
rapidity with which our Eastern
~neighbors have been coming to the
fore. China, ever watchful of her
more enterprising sister-nation, woke
from the slumber to which ancestral
Worship had long since lulled her.
The influx of Chinese students to
Western fonts of learning spelt the
beginning of a new era in the land of
Confucius. Korea, not to be outdone,
has had its revolution, and has thrown
off the old and put on the new. In
every part of the Eastern world where
Western interests are centered a like
movement is in progress.
The fact most potent in this march
towards civilization is, to quote FIR.
Gill, the development of national
and racial distinction The second
topic dealt with is the religious
evolution of the pagan nations"
After distinguishing between the bar
barous nations and those which are
more or less civilized it is pointed out
that nov is the acceptable time to
win these to the Faith. They are
now in IAN unstable equilibrium
under the pressure of opposing re-
ligious forces, and since they are
sure to cling strongly to that form
of religion that lays hold Of them
let it be none other than Catholicity.
The author then goes on to review
the various forces which contend for
the possession of the pagan world
Buddhism, Brahmanism, Mahometan-
ism, R~ationalism, Professionalism, and
last but not least Catholicism, are
each mentioned with a view to what
each has accomplished in pagan
lands. The number that have been
won to each of these respective creeds
is carefully set down.
Buddhism is far from being a dead
issue. Much that was repugnant in
its primitive teaching has been re-
moved. P~olytheism is recognized as
u~ntenable, and many Christian prac-
tees have been introduced which
tend to give an impetus to its spread
among the nations of the far East.
Brahmanism is the dominant fea-
ture in a ~nationalistic movement that
is revolutionizing India. THE Nation
alists are going in heartily for edu-
cation" and with an education comes
intelligence. AS a result the Poly.
theism and Mythology of the Brah-
,manist creed has been abolished to a
large extent, and the time honored
caste system is fast falling into de-
cay.
Mahometanism is Christianity's
chief opponent A reform movement
is also on foot among this sect. Its
Masters of the Koran" arc making
many converts among the millions
who are still unacquainted with the
Prophet. The effects of t'lis propa.
ganda are felt to some extent in
China and in Dutch India, but it is
in pagan Africa that the greatest