, 1876-06-25
CATHOLICISM,

CATHOLICISM.
ITS rRoGREas IN THE UNITED STATES IN NINETY
TWO YEARS.
The Catholic World draws the following con-
trasted picture Of the Catholic Church in the
United States in 11S4 aud In 1876, which is well
worthy perusal:
At the close Of the war which secnrcd our na-
tlon1l independence and created tho republic. The
Catholic Church found herself, for all practical
purposes, unfettered and free to enter upon field
he1e TO eef n vi whas A. that m
~, 900 Catholics and twenty five priests. In al
the land there was not convent Or religious
there was no Bishop; the sacranents Of conarma-
ton and Of Holy Urders had never been admin
istcrcd. The Church was without organization,
its Immediate head, the Ticar-Apostolic OF
lS London; i vas without property, with
81 rarey
saved from the rnpacy OF the colonial prrsecutors
and, surrounded b. bisoted Protestant popula.
past, il was also without honor. hut faith and
hope. which with liberty ought to make all things
possible, had not 1cd, and soon the budding prom.
ise Of the future harvest lifted its timid hend be-
noath the genial sun Of . brighter heaven. The
priests OF Maryland and Pennsylvania addressed
letter to Pins ", praying him to appoint a Pre-
Unitcd States; and as the Holy Sec was already de-
1iberatng upon step Of this kind, Father Carroll
was made superior Of the American clergy, with
power 70 administer the Sacrament Of c0nqrma-
1ion. This WAS in 1854.
The priests, who at this time, for fear Of wound-
ing Protestant tu*ccpt1bilitics thought IT nexrodi
cnt to ask for Bishop, were now, after longer de-
liberation, persuaded that in this they had erred.
and they therefore named committee to prceent
Sec IN he Gnd ste Tae oR IN
Father having sfsned his willingness to accede to
this proposition, and it having been asccrtained.
too, TINT the Government of this country would
make no objection, they at once fixed upon Balti-
more the most suitable location for the new'Sce,
and presented the name Of Father Carroll as tho
bulls were dated Nov. &. 1850, and npon their re-
ccption Father Carroll sailed for England, where
he was conaccratcd on the 18th of August the
Feast Ut the Assumption, 1700.
1876.
The 18th of next August eighty -six years will
have passed since tho consccratiOn of bishop Car
ro and to this period the organized efforts Of the
fined The work then begun has nut for moment
been internitted In the midst Of LOSSES defeats,
ansie,ies oubt rs,yinss' caIum
With the more thorough organization Of dioccses
and congregations, parochial schools became prac-
IF
tory Of the Church IN the United States:
Schools I .u1sF ~5s in Of 1sp apss &c., and esy Il
is probably not much short of half million, which,
however, is even less than half Of the Catholic
school pop4aa!on VI tie s"taS ;1 eoansl5. nat lug
work Of eulidis scnools is etil! pIos!esslhg, Ah1
the conFlctloh Of tnc mospensanite h@eeessl!y @ o.
t5a boe t
the time is not very remote when in this country
Catholic children VII! 9e brought up only n
schools. ~ es1aollsnans lno'ector;cs. !nuustIa.
1s,t uu ,,1 - roya fnr oHr orn,s rh;15rcr
The want oi prests' wn'en mas tns1to ~ nefn uhe
Of the enei 10 tne " - .ie
thinlJ settled diocesss hundred years ag0 tneEe
were not more than 20 priests IN .ne 0nite9 S
in aSog ad fssa 10 and il ISIS
ten years. from LOO? 70 to1-, lne hn'oet " plssss
"ss o m9Ie haa n
w. nercen. sa. ormerlr snheci Of anxetS
And also Of frequent dlscusblou annug ~