The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-02-09
VOLUME VI,
mrning Star and Catholic Messenger.
sew ORLEANS, SUNDAY. sFEBRUARY s.sls.s.
CATHOLICISM IN AMERICA.
Its Progress Reviewed BY Liberal Chfistian
THE RAPID GROWTH OF MoNAsTICIsM-TuE
NUMBER OF MoNAsTERIEs AND NUNERIEs.

Mr.. Samuel Leavitt writes to the Phrcn-
illogical Journal for February: The an
nouncement having been made that there
are now 1913 monastefies and $50 nuReries
in the United Statessi the writer has exam
ined the official records to ascertain what
facts of general interest they contained
concerning the growth and progress of Ca
tholicism, and especially of its conventtal-
ism in this country. Sachs .inyestig ATOMS
are apt To- psedass e RsafonnS Rssss,:aa
o Of thi .e sssanis al GA so sos
vince him TINT " Is provide aify sap-I
ready to nouristl individuals and nations
with its bitter sweet waters, when they are
in state Of reactive disgust from absolute
irreligion, or blind obliviousness of the
living waters of rational religion.
What thoughtful person can glance
through the official records Of this denomi-
nation with it's wonderful array of churches
priests, asy lufns, academies, converts,
schools, and religious societies. q without II
Princetoni Rochester! have you moth
ing still to learn from the mother church !"
The archdiocese of New York presents
most imposing array of Catholic institu-
lions. The 145 churches and chapels are
attended by 300 priests. There are twelve
academies, sixteen select schools, eight
monasteries, and twelve converts.
The most striking evidence of the power
of Catholicism in this diocese is shown in
the prodigious buildings which have been
erected for the fostering of this system.
True to that wise instinct which teaches
them that no religion can ultimately pros
per unless it is made a part of their daily
life from infancy, to old age, from morniE
until night, each day and every day, tue
church boldly undertakes to control in ev-
of it's adherents. Colleges, schools, asy-
lums, and converts are founded and sup.
ported with the openly -avowed object o.
Spreading Roman doctrine, and the heads
Keeping this one object in view, and main
tanning an organization that has been 6ve'
fifteen hundred years perfecting, lind thell
labors crowned with great success. Thu
Manhattan College for instance, on thu
rugged rocks. at Broadway and 13lst stree
has one of the most commanding situation
on the island. Indeed, in nothing do Ca
-thelics display their Eorldly~wisdOm NOR
conspicuonsly. than in, that keen fortast
which prompts them . buy, while they AZ
cheap, the finest building sites in the eopn
try. Protestants generally choose low, hs
piaces for their churches and other. publ
institutions. ButGatholics are suppose
to be SO earnest, that with them the CLINT
ing of a hill il a trife unworthy of consid
Grafton when any thing consecrated to tn
use of the Holy Church is ct the top. 1t
a fact that this grand organization has pos
sessed itself-in many cases long years 7ae
-OI mOSG Oh tic AOuahSio
and near the great American towns, elite
and villages, which our practIcal FRO
estants have voted only fit for goats"
Take, again, the orphan asyl1ms nea
the same metropolis. Long experience hi
taught Rome that in no way can it lay o.
money more probably to itself than
in feeding and educating the orphans. ~
the twig is bent" etc. The great asyiu
corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty-secor
street, New York, will DOUBTLESS soon 81,
place to private residences. But the ed
fee of the +" Society for the Protection
Destitute Roman Catholic Children" tbey
and the other for girls tlately burned
both in Westchester county, are new,
immense size, and amongst the most stri
ing-looking buildings on the contineI
The latter, especially, which formed III
low square, and was ornamented profuse
with towers and turrets, seemed to 7
writer the most imposing sectarlan bull
ing he had ever seen.
One cause of the success of Romanlsm
found in the fact that it opens 50 many
enues for women, cultivated and 9th,
wise, to engage in legitimate work. WI
oppertunities for usefulness and live
hood do the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Me
odist, or Baptist churches, as such, OF
women3 Scarcely any. To those who
lieve the doctrines. the position OF prln
pal of q church school, superior or sist
servant of O hospital or convent, prior
of q priory, or abbees of an abbey, 10
abundsntly satisfy the longing for poslti
of use and profit that AlIs the hearts o.
many % the most estimsbts women.