Monday, Jun. 29, 1925

For Peking

Was the Church of Rome losing ground in China while Protestants assumed control of the higher education of the country and thus of the new leadership of the country? At once the Holy See forewent its policy of building only hospitals and asylums, decreed that a Catholic University should be founded at Peking, designated St. Vincent's Archabbey (Benedictine) of Beatty, Pennsylvania, to execute the task, called on the Church's faithful throughout the world and particularly in the U. S. to support it. To encourage the work and lend example. Pope Pius has personally contributed 100,000 lire and ordered the new University's Library to be supplied with copies of all Vatican publications.

But how to take root where Protestants with their Union Medical College, and the outstanding Peking University under President Leighton Stuart are already so well established? By emphasizing Chinese studies rather than European culture. Said Cardinal Van Rossum: "It is fitting . . . that the order of St. Benedict, which during the Middle Ages saved Latin and Greek culture from certain destruction, should found an institute of higher Chinese studies in the city of Peking, as the most apt means of fostering a more vigorous growth of our holy religion in the vast territory of China."