Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-05-16
Total,
1921 13,967,A9 se7,l49,459

The Roman Catholics in 1850 then sixth in
denominatona strength-while compared with
the aggregate they had one thrtieth Of the Church
es, not quite twenty -second of the church ac-
commodations and not tenth of the whole value
of Church property of the country. But conpa
ritve view of their strength with that Of the Metho
dists presents still more startling results and
lect them because the most powerful and most
venient for reference. The Methodist Almanac for
1854 states that there then attached to their
connexion 1878 travelling preachers-whiie their To-
cal ones estimated at q, 900. The Catholic Al
for the year states that they have 1904
priests of all kinds employed and unemployed By
:he same authorities we find the Methodists have
1887, 562 active processing, communing church
members, while positive claim is made to the
Roman Catholic population beyond $780, 500 and
allowing the most liberal number for those docesses
not included in that enumeration they cannot posi-
bly, exceed 100000, who by birth, descent or
ISOLATION are inclined or attached to their church
This is, however, three times the number that the
census shows they can accommodate in their church
edfices Allowing the same ratio to Methodism you
have II, 600 900 the Methodist population which
suppose nearly correct for them the esti-
mate of the Catholic Almanac is for its own church.
In 1854, the number of Roman Catholic schools
of every kline, collegiate, female and charitable was
only 800 While at the same time the Methodists
had 9,074 Sunday Schools, 9S, OBJ teachers and 504
679 scholars The Roman Catholics, therefore, as
compared with the Methodists have not one-tfth of
the active ministers, oneeleventh of the church
es nor one-seventh of the church accommodations,
latter have. By the census there in 1850, I91
religious newspapers published in the United States
According the Almanac in 1854 there were only
% Roman Catholic papers and periodicals then pub
]ished. In 1850 there were 81, 257 public schools
instructng Os9, 507 pupils. The influence of pub
lie school education is generally and truly believed
to be detrimental to Catholicism. With nine times
as many presses vehicles and instruments of discus
sion and thought and the enormous weight of edu.
cation against it, can any man in his senses pretend
now to believe Romanism dangerous as present
power. But with these odds of the religious con-
troversia press and the whole tendency of the youth
full mind Of the country against it. there is less pre-
tence for fear of its future aggression The fairest
mode for it indeed is judge future achievements
by its past success and in order to give it every ad
vantage in the comparison select Louisiana for
century and a half Roman Catholic province where
that religion was established by law and supported
by all the prestige of governmental and social inu.
opened to Protesantsm and the contest between the
two religions has been progressing with every adyan
tage on the side of Romanism. Mark the result
In 1850 there were in Louisiana:
Churches. CHI accom- Oh n-on
Methodists, log sO,26O 1886 800
Roman opaas,sc. Catholics, So sS,s4o 1o9 5s5S
Aggregate all sects, 800 109, 615 I'7s2470
In half century OF open discussion the Roman
Church has entirely lost the predominance ranking
third in the number of churches having onIv one
fifth of the whole number in the State, while the
value of her Church property is doubtless to be at
tributed to the appreciation III VaIuc OF her colonial
acquisitions. If She cannot hold her own on her
own soil with everything in her favor what fear of
her influence in the country at large where her pros
meets are still more dreary according to undoubted
authority? In the Christian Advocate and journal
Of January 18th, 1853 the organ Of the Methodists
in this country paper With its H. branches we sus
influence in the world there is an extract from let
ter of Bishop England, Roman Catholic Bishop of
Charleston, written in 1886, wherein he states that
this country 1000, 600 of Roman Catholics, that
there were 900 900 here before that date but now
Instead Of 600 600 there were only 1850 600" In
the same paper there is another extract IRON letter
try to one in Ireland, who states that from emgra