One of the first missionaries assisted by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

Upon the day of the election of His Holiness Pope Pius X., the Central Councils of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith sent congratulations to the new Pontiff, at the same time assuring him of their continued submission to the Holy See. In addition to this it was decided that a delegation, consisting of the directors of the Councils and the editor of the Catholic Missions and ANNALS OF THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH, should go to Rome.

The delegates were granted a special audience by His Holiness on the day after their arrival in the apostolic city. The reception accorded them by the august Pontiff was most kind, his manner was charming and his words marked by a gracious simplicity.

M. Berloty addressed His Holiness, speaking in the name of both Councils. He first expressed the hope that the new pontificate would be long and prosperous; then he assured the Holy Father that the Society for the Propagation of the Faith placed itself entirely at his command, and that his will would be law to this association, which for eighty years had had for

its only object the extension of the knowledge, love and service of Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer, in the most distant lands.

"It is our hope and prayer," he continued, "that, under the supreme direction of Your Holiness, and with the support of your good-will, it will furnish the apostolate with those resources which are now more in demand than ever and that it will renew, according to your desires, the world in Christ.

"As your illustrious predecessors have often done, we beg you also, Most Holy Father, to bless the delegates of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith who now humbly kneel at your feet. Bless our Central Councils, our diocesan and parochial directors, our promoters, all, who in any degree -missionaries, priests, faithful-have helped to make our Society more prosperous."

Pope Pius, in replying to this address, thanked the delegates for their expressions of submission to his authority and said that the Society for the Propagation of the Faith was a work designed by Providence and that, as all his predecessors had recommended it to the faithful, he would do likewise, for it assisted greatly in spreading the kingdom of Jesus Christ in the world.

"Upon all sides," he continued, "the truth is opposed. The Protestant sects are particularly strenuous in the fight against it; they labor hard and are backed by large resources. The means at our disposal are not so great as theirs, but our missionaries are self-sacrificing workers and their success springs mostly from the example they give.

"We must re-establish all things in Christ,' as St. Paul says. The Gospel must be made known throughout the world and the precepts therein contained must be practiced, for in the Gospel all the means of salvation are found. Our priests spread the knowledge of Christ, it is true, but in the times in which we live a good Christian laity is their powerful auxiliary and every member of the faithful may become an apostle."

His Holiness finished by conferring his blessing upon all the members of the Society, both clergy and laity, their parents, families and friends-tutti da per tutto, as he said, with his charming smile.

Kui-chau is a Chinese mission in which the spread of the Gospel has been greatly retarded. Nevertheless there are at present about twenty-thousand Catholics in a total population of ten millions of souls. The European missionaries number thirty; the native priests eight. One hundred and fifty catechists are devoted to teaching neophytes. There are no Sisters in the mission, but, in a certain number of parishes, pious natives conduct schools for girls and take charge of the manual training schools and orphan-homes. The number of churches and chapels is seventyThe capital of the province of Kui-chau is Kui-yang-fu. The vicarapostolic, Bishop Guichard, has made this city his place of residence.

seven.

LETTER OF REV. FATHER CAVALERIE, P. F. M.

Visit to the People of of Chui-Kia. Con

versions.

My district comprises the parishes situated in the prefectures and sub-prefectures of Tuyun-fu, Tu-chan-chau and Li-po-hien. This is the country of the Chui-kia natives, excellent people indeed, but somewhat afraid of the Chinese who oppress them.

A large number of conversions (more than two hundred families) having taken place on the banks of the Li-po, I determined to visit the newly-received Christians. Upon the way I learned that the mandarin of Li-po was irritated at the fact that so many people under his control were leaving the faith of their fathers and that he was using every means in his power to prevent their doing so. Eight native Christians had been thrown into the prisons of Li-po. Others fled for concealment from house to house or sought a refuge with the tigers in the jungle. The poor neophytes were fast in the

clutches of the first magistrate. The mandarin, " father and mother" of his people, was hurrying to the scene. After having passed the night at Chui-tso he rode upon the following morning into the

market-place of Kiu-tsien. Dismounting, he strode forward, struck his breast and sputtered forth maledictions against religion and its ministers. His final words were:

"If the stupid people of Chui-kia are firm in their resolution to practice the Catholic religion, they cannot remain here; they will have to go and work on the rice plantations of Europe."