Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/332

324 but are simply lay brothers assisting the mission as architects, accountants, or in general household work; those who belong to some teaching order which has branches in Europe; and others who form special teaching congregations. The first three may be Chinese or foreigners, but the fourth class is composed exclusively of Chinese. Nuns, also, may belong to the great religious orders, which receive Chinese members on a footing of equality with foreigners, or they may be members of special Chinese congregations.

It is a well-known fact that Catholic priests, religieux, and nuns are bound to celibacy. It may be added that when they request to be sent to foreign missions it is generally for life, and with no prospect of a return home. Circumstances or superiors may decide otherwise, but the Catholic missionary gives himself up to his work for his whole lifetime in this world.

It can be affirmed, as a general rule, that wherever there is a sufficient number of Christians a school is established, and all the children of Christian parents must attend it. The principal aim of these schools is the teaching of religious doctrine and morals, but more is taught according to circumstances, whenever children are able to learn more. In some cases the school fee is extremely small, the work being carried on practically at the expense of the mission. The organisation of these schools exhibits a considerable variety. The numbers and attendance are approximately as follow:— As some missions do not include in this number schools for orphan children, it cannot be very far from the truth to say that there are about 6,000 of these lower schools attended by considerably more than 100,000 pupils. The number of girls is fairly equal to that of boys. Non-Christian children are generally not excluded.

To these village schools must be added those schools in which the Chinese classics are regularly taught. In a few missions they conform to the new official organisation, and are divided into lower elementary, higher elementary, and secondary schools, but in other missions they do not conform, so that it is impossible to give anything like a complete summary. In Shantung there are 86 of these schools with 1,158 pupils, in Honan 13 with 518 attendants, &amp;c.

Some missions have normal schools for the training of masters and mistresses. There are also schools for boys who intend taking Orders, but who as yet follow the lower curriculum. Other schools, especially in the Treaty ports, are opened for foreign children. The teachers belong, in most cases, to the congregation of the Marist Brothers, or to an order of nuns. Mention must also be made of the schools which are now being opened in many places for Chinese boys and girls desirous of studying foreign sciences or languages. Some of these are lower elementary or higher elementary, and a few are secondary or even higher schools. Some priests or religieux are masters in Government schools at Tsinanfu, Lanchowfu, &amp;c. The work of instructing catechumens, who cannot be baptized before they have been thoroughly instructed and trained, has led to the organisation of a special educational work, somewhat analogous to classes for adults.

The work of the Holy Childhood depends on alms furnished by young children. There is no mission in which it has not a branch. Children, mostly female infants, abandoned or exposed by their parents, are received in "Foundlings' homes," the total number of which is about 300. Many, probably the greater number of the poor little creatures, live only a few days or weeks owing to the hardships they have undergone before being rescued. Those who survive are provided with nurses and entrusted to Christian families. In many cases, these families adopt the child as their own. For instance, in the very poor districts of Ch'ungming and Haimên the villagers consider it an honour and a blessing to add a "child of the Holy Church" to the numerous children who already crowd their miserable hovels. Children, when not adopted, are brought up in industrial schools, on model farms, &amp;c., until they are married or otherwise provided for. Orphans or pauper children belonging to Christian families cannot be supported out of the funds of the Holy Childhood; they are provided for by other benefactors. In 1907, in the seven Vincentian vicariates, more than 20,000 children belonged to the Holy Childhood.

Other charitable works include numerous hospitals, dispensaries, and homes for the aged, some of which are found in almost every mission. In Yaochowfu, Kiangsi, there is a lepers' asylum with 20 inmates, and there is another in Chefoo. In many places the secular "virgins" who take care of the schools and chapels visit also the sick in their neighbourhood.

There are several printing establishments at Hongkong, Siccawei, Yenchowfu (Shantung), Chungking (Szechwan). Peking, and Tsinanfu. Newspapers are published at Chungking, Yenchow, and Siccawei. The scientific publications of Hongkong and Siccawei are well known.

The Kiangnan mission maintains three first-class observatories—one at Siccawei for meteorology and seismology; another at the Zo-si Hills for astrophysics; and a third at Lukiapang, near Kunshan, Soochowfu, for terrestrial magnetism. There is also at Siccawei a museum of natural history and a large library, foreign and Chinese.

The French protectorate of Catholic missions dates from the Treaty of Tientsin, June 27, 1858. The French Minister at Peking delivers passports to Catholic missionaries of all nationalities, and is charged with the protection of their persons and properties. The German mission of South Shantung has been placed under German protection. It is reported that an Italian mission is desirous of obtaining the Italian protection. Any foreigner may apply to his own consul for protection, but a Catholic missionary runs a risk of meeting with practical difficulties,