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ESTABLISHMENT OF CAPUCHIN ORDER IN INDIA- II 563 Capuchins t_o lay a solid basis for the Order 191 • Giving up Mangalore was indeed a missing out on a well-head of well-disposed vocations to the Order 192 • A retrospectus: In the history of the establishment of the Capuchin Order in India the Novitiate of Sardhana (1922) marks a quantum leap forward from its namesake of Mussoorie (1880) inasmuch as the former was racially open while the latter had been exclusive to the natives. Despite this avowed openness, the priority given to training friars for ministering to the European population tipped the balance in favour of introducing "the European way of living" in the Novitiate of Sardhana. There is no blinking the fact that the European style of life with its statusful adjuncts and mores, took its toll of the meagre funds of the Missions. In 1926 maintaining a cleric in Sardhana/Mussoorie cost yearly Rs 600, an amount in stark contrast with the annual Rs 210 needed for training a Capuchin cleric in Europe (1 Indian Rupee= 10 Italian Lire). Independently of the wrangle over the use of the Friary of Mussoorie, the project's cumber– someness itself would have drastically cut short its life-span. Thus, structurally it was ill-starred as the Capuchin Missions were not in a position to take the strain of the upkeep of this white elephant. The ad hoe decision to name a caretaker at the helm in the wake of the expiry of Fr John Baptist's term of office, was motivated by the felt-need to reformulate the whole project in the cold light of day. The interregnum was to enable the general superiors to thoroughly review the work done and adopt remedial measures against its crippling malaise. SO:M!VfARIO. - Questo studio continua la travagliata storia dell'insediamento e implantazione dell'Ordine dei Cappuccini in India. TI noviziato, aperto nel 1880, fu sospeso nel 1889 e gli sforzi fatti per una sua riapertura non ebbero l'effetto sperato. Nel 1920 i superiori generali chiesero ai superiori delle 5 missioni cappuccine -Agra 191 AGCap G 68, II, Novizjato e Stud.to, "Damao - Mussoorie: Memorandum, Lettere...", Fr Armand of Vannes' letter, Ajmer 19 July 1926: "I have received your communication about the refusal, by our Father General, of the offer made by the Administrator of Mangalore. Though, perhaps, the place offered is not suitable as hous·e of studies, could not the Order accept it all the same as an ordinary monastery, from which some of our Fathers would have been able to work at the spreading of the Franciscan spirit 'exemplo et v~rbo' and thus to get many good vocations? In my opinion, we are losing a very good opportunity of increasing the field of our activity, both by refusing the offer of Mgr Perini and by leaving Bandra. It is a pity!" 192 AGCap G 68, II, Novizjato e Stud.to, Fr Hilary of Arezzo to Fr General, Sardhana 11 August 1926: "Conosco per esperienza che i giovani i quali vengono da Mangalore sono i piu disciplinati, di buona volonta e buon spirito".