Romish Missions

It was before the final extinction of the Nestorians that the first efforts of Rome were made in China. But little, however, was effected by its emissaries before the 16th century. During that and the following century, through the efforts of Ricci, Schaal, and their successors, the Romish missionaries made great progress. In the commencement of the 17th century, and under the enlightened emperor Kang-he, their efforts were very successful, and their influence was widely extended; but by their own dissensions, and by the assertion of the authority of the Pope, they raised the suspicions of the Chinese, and brought about their own suppression. In the persecutions subsequent to this period, many Romish missionaries laid down their lives rather than abandon their work. Within a few years, seventy French priests are said to have suffered martyrdom; while others of different nationalities, bore every conceivable torture ere death closed the scene. And never have they given up their hold of China. Entering by stealth, living in concealment, pursuing their labours under the greatest disadvantages, ever and anon meeting with imprisonment, sufferings, torture, and death itself, they have presented a remarkable instance of fidelity to their calling. Shall we who have the full light of the pure gospel be so much behind these men in our zeal and patience and perseverance for the spread of that gospel? Shall we prove less obedient to the command of our Superior, the Lord Jesus, and neglect His behest, “Go ye, into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature?” To our shame we must acknowledge that such has been the case hitherto. Let us confess our sin, and earnestly seek grace to wipe away the blot from the honour of our Master’s cause.

The statistics of Romish missions in China are difficult to procure. We were able to refer in our first edition, to the fact that in 1848 they counted 34 European missionaries, 135 native priests, 14 seminaries and colleges, 326 churches and chapels, and 315,000 Chinese converts; but that since the political concessions of 1858-60, they were reported to have added to their staff about 200 European priests and sisters of charity.

In our third edition we were able to give a comparative table of Statistics of Romish and Protestant missions for 1 866, which shewed the great advances they were making. They then had 33 bishops, 263 European priests, 243 native priests, 15 colleges, and 383,580 Chinese converts.

Nor have they been less active since. The Manual of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America for April, 1882, quotes from” The Roman Catholic Register’’’ of Hongkong, the following statistics of Roman Catholic missions in the Chinese empire: — Bishops 41, European priests 664, native priests 559, colleges 34, convents 34, native converts 1,092,818.