Chapter VII: Appendix: I

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF MISSIONS IN CHINA, CONDUCTED BY THE DOMINICAN FRIARS OF THE PHILIPPINES. [8]

Missionaries supplied by the religions Orders in the Philippines to the large fields of labor in China and Japan are not confined to the Dominicans, but as we have not details at hand regarding the other Orders, we present to our readers part of the work done by the Dominicans, which will serve as a specimen of the rest.

The Dominicans have charge since 1631 of the Vicariate Apostolic of Fo-Kien, which at present contains 20,000,000 inhabitants. The Most Rev. Dr. Salvator Masot, O.P., is the present Vicar-apostolic, and working under him are eighteen Spanish Dominicans, one native Dominican, and twelve secular native priests. The vicariate is divided into twenty-two districts, each under the care of a priest, and the Christian population numbers 35,000. The districts are subdivided into what are called Christianities, or places of meeting where prayer is said, and the Christian doctrine taught. About fifty of them are provided with an oratory or chapel where Mass is said, and the sacraments administered; and they have also attached to them thirty schools for boys and eight for girls. There is also under the care of the Dominicans a seminary for the education of young native students who show a vocation for the priesthood.

In 1883 part of the vicariate was cut off and formed into the Vicariate Apostolic of Amoy, which also was made to embrace the Island of Formosa. The most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Ibanez is Vicar-apostolic, and under his direction are working fourteen Spanish Dominicans, one native Dominican. The vicariate is divided into fourteen districts, half of which are in Formosa. They have forty chapels or oratories, twenty schools for boys and girls, and a seminary in the town of Ta-Kow in Formosa.

A few words about the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic, who are engaged on the work of the Holy Infancy in both vicariates, will be interesting. There are fifteen European sisters in all, besides eight native women. They have five orphanages in which are housed 200 female orphans abandoned by their unnatural parents in infancy, and kept by the Sisters till they can marry them into Christian families. Besides these they have rescued since 1891, 800 others whom they place under the care of Christian nurses, and look after till they can settle them in life.

The only fact we can give of the Vicariate of Central Tonquin, also under the care of the Philippine Dominicans, is that in 1890 alone 2,100 natives were converted and baptized.