The number of Catholics had grown from 634 to 26,000 before he took over control and the whole region now counts some 166/40 baptised and 74832 catechumens (1998 statistics). To help its development the district has been divided in the course of the last fifteen years into five independent Missions, one of which has been given over to the Chinese clergy while four are under German Bishops: Mgr. Theodor Schu, successor of Bishop Henninghaus at Yenchowfu: Mgr. Dr. George E. Weig at Tsingtao; Mgr. Karl Weber at Ichowfu and Mgr. Franz Hoowaarts at Tsaochowfu. All these new Bishops were formed in the school of Mgr. Henninghaus.
All this development was not un-Tecognized by authorities; Pope Pius XI, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Mission in 1932 wrote him a gracious letter naming him a Bishop Assistant at the Throne and thus making him a member of the Papal Court. The University of Munster gave him an honorary Doc-ware in Theology in recognition of missionary work and writings.
Bishop Henninghaus laboured to obtain all that was best for the people to whom he gave his life and work. To understand them he studied Chinese literature deeply and perfected himself in their language, as anyone can tell who heard his sermons or &peechés in Chinese. He was an orator, speaking with eloquence and force in Chinese. Latin and German and able to quote both from the classics and from modern literature.
Well Loved He also wrote himself. In earlier days he edited the Chinese weekly "Kiaochow Bao," but of far more lasting value is his five volume "Explanation of the Chinese Catechism, "Wen Da- She I," already in his twelfth edition and used throughout China. He revised this work in his last years and was also given charge of producing the Joint Catechism decided on by the First Plenary Synod of China. dri the full spirit of the Church he sought to root the Mission deeply in the soil by formihig a good Chinese clergy. In his 32 years as Bishop he ordained over 40 Chinese, while one district of his original Vicariate is now under à Chinese Bishop and served entirely by Chinese priests. A Congregation of Chinese nuns, the Oblates of the Holy Family, which is in full development and doing valuable work, counts him as its cofounder.
He also succeeded, thanks to his knowledge of the language and friendly spirit, in establishing excellent relations with the Government officials. He was Honoured by all classes of the population and his door stood always open to rich and poor. it is larfély owing to his genuine love for the Chinese people and his exeéptiónàl familiarity with their speech and customs that his Mission had so little to suffer during the distürbaneés of recent years.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.