MISSIONS
376
MISSIONS
aries themselves. A report of comparative failure
does not prejudice their cause: the more numerous
the dilHculties with which they have to contend, the
more conspicuous is their self-sacrifice. As, however,
statistics now receive the attention of all denomina-
tions, wonis of explanation should be added concerning
local diliiculties, and in cases where a non-Catholic
might be misled. Thus, e.g., a non-Catholic might
not know that a Catholic priest may not, in general,
baptize a pagan child without its parents' consent,
nor an adult without proper instruction.
The object of mission statistics is to supply the reader with such information as will enable him to
used exclusively of such. How many of the mission-
aries are natives should also be indicated, since this
information reveals the progress made towards the
ideal of all missionary work, the estal>lishment of a
native priesthood. Besides the number of mission-
aries, exact information should be given concerning
the male and female auxiliaries, who are engaged as
catechists, as teachers, or to care for the sick; likewise
concerning all the lay brothers and sisters (not, how-
ever, mere servants) who arc employetl directly or
indirectly in the work of evangelization.
(3) Misdon Establishments. — In this category may be classed the mission-stations, churches, chapels,
STATISTICAL TABLE OF
Cathoucs
Cate-
chumens
Missionaries
Geoqraphical Divisions
Total
Of
European
Race
Total
Native
Lay
Brothers
126,773
1.026.168
1,060,369
56,217
2,242,922
629,797
157.640
About 1.000
14,000
„ 12,000
„ 25,911
„ 80.000
5,000
24.672*
426,480
22.576*
1,133 55,443
233
1.811
1,253
78 2,804 2,937
33
43
550
652
1
1,755
2,256
99
291*
184*
32
617
1,811
IS
5,299,886
170,054
92,840 231,358
74.032 145.359 310.342
137,911
45.000
15.000 50.000 20.000
530,304*
3.930
272,929
17,480
259,870*
9,149
392
313 587 378 347 217
5,257
9
1 2 7
HI 2*
123*
2,930*
291*
445
309
88
N. E
403
African Islands
112*
853,931
401,796*
350.953
112.700
110,711
130,000
150.000
20,000
554,209*
1,842
476* 186 59 138*
1,357*
239*
Central „ 1.
46*
„ „ Indians
Total for America
976.160*
170,000
859*
285*
7,300.031*
6.702.402 1.038.132 3.500.000 3.200.000 1,300,000 4,500,000 1.750,000
437.911
About 10.000 15.000
12,242*
1,100
5.389*
4,863*
Central .,
Mexico Indians
West Indies Negroes
Total of Missions (2)
21.990.534
29,290,565*
25.000*
462,911*
Total (1) and (2)
judge how far the work of the mission has been suc-
cessful. The special points on which exact infor-
mation is most desirable may be grouped under four
heads: (1) Number of Christians; (2) Personnel of
the Mission; (3) Mission Establishments; (4) Ad-
ministrative .Statistics.
(1) Xumber of Christians. — In recording the number of Christians, a distinction should always be drawn between converted heathens and Christian settlers. While, in most missionary countries, the latter class may constitute so small a proportion of the totals as to be negligible, there are many countries in which the number is sufficiently large to create a false idea of the progre.ss of the mission, if this distinction be not observed in the statistics. A distinction between Christians and catechumens is equally necessary, and under the former head none but the baptized should ever be included. By catechumens are to be under- stood only such heathens as are actually being in- structed for baptism: as they constitute the harvest of the mission, they .shovild never be excluded (as is now too often the case) from the statistics.
(2) Personnel of the Mission. — The statistics concerning the personnel of the mission should state how many are priests, the term missionary being
schools of every kind, hospitals, and charitable estab-
lishments. Chief stations are most simply distin-
guished from sub-stations by confining the former
term to stations which have at least one resident mis-
sionary, and the latter to stations where Divine ser-
vice is periotlically or constantly held by a non-resi-
dent missionary. To attempt to restrict the terra
chief station to centres of unusual missionary activity
must lead to great imcertainty, as it would be hope-
less to expect that any uniform dividing-line could be
universally observed. Again, the name sub-station
should never be applied to places where instruction
alone is given: the number of such might easily as-
sume proportions which would almost necessarily
lead to misapprehension of the exact position of
Christianity in the country. Outposts, such as those
here indicated, should (if given) be kept separate
from the stations. The schools and educational es-
tablishments possess a peculiar interest, since in many
lands the task of reclaiming adults of a low cultural
level, whose minds are obsessed with superstitions
and brutalized by crime, is a well-nigh impossible one.
The .stiitistics should always distinguish between male
and female, elementary and secondarj', Catholic and
non-Catholic pupils, and also between ordinary pupils
