The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-17

I we add the total q the second table

II We add the total Of the second table
to that Of the first, we have grand total
of Catholic immigrants arriving in this
country from 1920 to 1876, OF $780, S2.
OF course certain number OF the immi-
grants given in the above tables were not
Catholics. From Ireland, as the author
ties OF certain Canadian cities know to
their sorrow, the Irish immigrants are OF
centage OF Irish Protestants is small, and
many Of them Of Irish birth or descent,
whom we have received from England and
Scotland. There are some French Pro-
testants, too, but they are more than bal
anced by the Catholics who come from
European countries which We have set
down as Protestants. It will be seen that
these figures do not take into Considera-
ton the Catholics who were in this coun-
try previous to 1920, or the very large
number who were made citizens by the
annexation oil Louisiana, Florida, Texas,
California and New Mexico. II the num-
bers OF these could be ascertained, it
would probably raise the grand total OF
Catholics who have entered this coun-
try by immigration or annexation to the
number Of 100000.
II We take now the number OF members
OF the Catholic communion at present in
the United States, we will readily perceive
that the Catholic population has not in
creased at SO rapid ratio IS the non
Catholic. The number Of COMMITMENTS
OF the Roman church in the United States
in 1873, according to the returns OF the
Catholic authorities themselves, vast, $780,
600. This may be taken as an outside fig
ure, comprising, as it does, all those who
retain any relationship with the Catho-
lie church. Since the population Of the
United States doubles itself in twenty
two years, and inasmuch as the Catholic
mothers are confessedly the most prolific
OF our population, it follows Individually
that the Catholic church suffers from a
steady loss Of membership by abandon
ment. Judging from the fruitfulness oil
the Irish race, which is perfectly appa-
rent, there should be in this country by
this time nearly 100000 people Of Irish
birth and parentage alone. Not long since
leading Catholic journal Of New York
city acknowledged that the Catholics were
not holding their own in this country;
that is, that not all the children born and
baptized in the Roman communion re-
manned in it. The proselyting to the Cath
olic communion from the Protestant
masses aud from the ranks Of free-think.
ers and non.believers Of every sort, does
not begin to compensate for the loss
which the church suffers in the withdrawal
Of its children.
The process by which gradual transfer
OF population from the Catholic to the
Protestant communion is taking place is
perfectly apparent to every close observer
Of the social movements going on around
him. In this country, where the tendency
OF thought and education is in the direc.
ton OF liberalism, many men reared in
the Catholic Church become free-thinkers,
land abandon all religious associations
whatever. They do not baptize their chill
dren in any faith; but these children, sep,
arated from the communion Of their faith
ers, are merged in the masses Of the coun'
try. The social influence OF the majority
Of their companions eventually brings
them into Protestant Churches-not
as communicates, in most instances
but as mere attendants. In the
; course OF time many become members
, OF these churches; all OF them who
JOIN tueLubelNeS " uHy CuuICu WuhteNel
oin themselves to Protestant churches
They are not conscious OF any apostacy
and are not guilty OF any. Born outside
: OF all religious folds, they seek the one in
to which their associations lead them
. Protestant Prosecuting Is ten times NOR
i active in this country than Catholic prese
lyting, and as long as this remains tn
: case, the Protestants will gather in III
!. : walls left out in the wintry cold Of intideli
I ty by those who, feeling no need for re
). ligious consolation themselves, imagin
that their children will be- insensible to RI
: ligious influence.
}, From these facts the inference Is VI
Q ayoidable that whatever alarm is felt n
:: earding the religious situation in TIL
y country should be felt In the Roma
Catholic communion.