The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-28
The Catholic Church In the
Inittl states-1S76.

lCNhOhc MorIu'I
The 18th Of next August eighty.six
wears will have passed since the conse-
Grafton Of Bishop-Carroll, and TO this
period the organized efforts Cd the Church
10 secure position in this country are
confined. The work then begun has not
for moment been intermitted. In the
midst OF losses, defeats, prosecutions,
anxieties, doubts, revilings, calnmnies,
the struggle has been still carried on.
With the more thorough organization OF
dioccses and congregations, parochial
schools became practicable, and the great
progress made in Catholic elementary
education is one Of the most significant
and reassuring facts connected with the
history Of the Church in the United
States. The number Of pupils in our
parochial schools was, in 1878, $50, 600
and to-day It is probably not much short
Of half million, which, however, Ia even
less than half Of the Catholic school pop
uIation Of the entire country. But the
work Of building schools ia still progress
Ing. and the conviction Of the indispensi-
bic necessity OF religious education is
growing with both priests and people; 80
that we may confidently hope that the
time ia not very remote when IN this
country Catholic children will be brought
up only in Catholic schools. BY estab.
fishing protectories, industrial schools,
asylums we are growing year after year
better able TO provide for our orphan
children.
The want OF priests, which has hitherto
been one Of the chief obstacles to thepr
gress Of the Church, is now felt only in
exceptional cases or in new or thinly set
tied dioceses. Ahundred years ago there
were not more than twenty-five priests In
the United States; in 1900 there were sup
posed to be forty; in 1880 the number had
risen to 232, and in 1s4S to 800. In ten
years, from 1862 to 1872, the number Of
priests was more than doubled, having
grown from 2,S17 to 1880. The lack Of
vacations othe priesthood among native
Americans was formerly subject Of anx-
iety and also OF frequent discussion
among Catholics In this country; but now
It is generally admitted, we think, that il
proper care Ia taken in the education and
training Of our youths, sufficient num-
Der Of them will be found willing TO de-
vote themselves TO the holy ministry.
In 1875 there were, according to the
official statistics OF the various dioceses,
Ave thousand and. seventy.four priests,
twelve hundred and seventy.three ecclesi-
asticaI students, and six thousand, five
hundred and twenty.eight churches and
chapels in the United States. There were
also, at the same time, thirty.three thee.
logical seminaries, sixty.three colleges,
five hundred and 6fty.seven academies
and select schools, sixteen hundred and
forty.tiye parochial schools, two hundred
and fourteen asylums, and ninety.six
hospitals under authority and control OF
the Catholic hierarchy Of this country.
One hundred years ago there was not
= Catholic ecclesiastical student or theo-
logical seminary, or college. or academy,
or parochial school, or asylum, or hos
pital from Maine to Georgia.
Father Badin, the first person who ever
received Holy orders In the United
States, was ordained in the old Cathedral
OF Baltimore on the 18th Of May, 1893,
Just cighty.three years ago. II ia now
years since Bishop Carroll was
consecrated, and down to 1908 he re-
NAMED the only Catholic bishop in the
American Church, whose hierarchy is
composed at present Of one cardinal, ten
archbishops, forty-six bishops, and eight
..tt'
In 1850 there was not o convent In the
United States; in 1900 there were but two;
to-day there are more than three hundred
and fifty for women, and there are prob
ably one hundred and thirty tor men.
We may be permitted to refer also 70
tho increase OF the wealth Of the church
in this country, especially since this seems
TO be the cause Of great uneasiness TO. the
faithful and unsel6sh representative OF the
sovereign people. The value Of the prop
erty owned by the church in this country,
as given by the census reports, was, In
1850, S9,25G,75S; in 1860, $26,774, l19;
aud in 1870, S60,9s5, 585. The ratio Of
increase from 1850 10 1860 Was 1870 per
cent, and from 1860 10 1870 12S per cent;
while the aggregate wealth Of The whole