New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-23
DR. McGLYNN ON CATHOLICISM

DR. MCGLYNN On CATHOLICISM
EXTRAORDINARY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN MAN
MFRS AND MORALS PROM POLICE POINT OF
VIEW.
The Rev Edward McClynn answered tribune
reporters questions touching the state of the Roman
Catholic Church in the city. He said: There are in
the diocese of New-York about 700 600 protesting
Catholics about one-half of the entire number In
the so-called ecclesiastical province of NeW-forK
which embraces besides this city all the rest oil the
State and jersey. .NewYork City IS the centre
of Catholicism in the United States, and here the
growth has been greater than anywhere else III the
country. Father Hecker has shown In an
article in The Catholic World, by actual stats
tues that the ratio of growth OF the
Catholic population Is maryellousiy greater
han the growth of the population of the United
States. Besides this constant growth OF the
Catholic population there has been much moro
than proportionate growth in the number, size,
beauty of the churches convent schools anu other
,nstitutiops The increase OF the parishes ana
clergy has also than kept pace with the pOpuis-
t,ou so that in parochal districts In THIS city wDee
fifteen or twenty years ago there were pOpuiaiohs
of 80 900 or 40 900 souls dependent upon the ihin
istrations of a single parish church. there are now
three or four churches ard where there were rarely
more than two, there are now four, hve ana even
six priests to minister to the same population. lhis
increase, far beyond the increase OF popuianon'
voud naturally lead one to suppose that there must
have been an increased demand Tor such services
and a corresponding growth IN the spiritual life
and the practice of Religious duties; anu
from a long and intimate acquaintance with the
| work I know this to be fact. new church can
not he opened without being crowded, and the con-
| fessionals and communion tables are frequently
| crowded to their utmost capaciiY. -, :,
| The sources of the'grOwth In tue CathOnc popu-
| I.x.. fIY
| tapce) immigration from Catnohc countries;
secondly, Catholic immigration from other paris
| of The country thirdly land chiehyl, natural IN,
crease the Catholic people being conieNsediy Dy all
ODDS the most prolific of all peoples ana TINS not
merely or chiefly because b ans s,nry irish and Ger
| man races. but also for certain sufficiently we'll
known reasons, that have time ana aRa,h
| been commented on by learned ana puoie-
| SPIRITED physicians aud Jealous Protestant
| clrrgymen all OF whom have PAID honorable
| tribute to the almost total absence among
| the Catholic population of the pernlclous
! habits unnatural. aDti-socia and to the
last degree criminal. 10 which they 90 no'
one one of these men. though PrOtestants no
doubt. attribute this most ,n rflarnso o1
"in this city the Church is constantly establish
city in the uptown districts and-what is almost
ea9alIy Important-has within the last few years
established many Ga aTsets IN districts aG %s
| so large portion of our people are
Of the poorest ana laboring classes IT 8. might
more than their proportonate share Of those need
ing the charitable assistance OF inc puplic
funds and also, perhaps. more than their aus
proportion of the petty offenders who come under
the cognizance O. the police; vha 50 may may
already said touching the growth IN religious
feehng, that while | have not the figures al
hand know that there tas been an immense ameii.
Grafton OF the manners and morals OF the city
| as seen from police point OF view
The number of arrests for petty offences, thost
growing out of liquordrinking and the ilke Is nucl
less proportion to the population than nIesn %
| women for similar offences Is great deal less
AS to the question whether the tendency
, | of the times seems to be TO draw the nnel
| less rigidly between creeds and denominations
, | may say that while from. our standpoint
. | there can he no modification of doctrine. am a
| tho same time glad TO believe that there 10, with
Catholics, q more charitable and social feelini
! | growing toward members OF every othri
, or no denomination aud while l am happy
|, | 10 observe similar growth OF g3ot
!, and no denomin ation | also rejoice to observe
among members of all Christian churche
that are not drifting toward rationaiisn
! and inhdeIty an approximation, create
the Catholic Church. Witness the growt
in taste for and love OF ecclesiastical arr
,nnsic more elaborate and ornate service
in general and. in the Protestant Epscopa
TO the whole of the CATHOLIC ritual but 10 d iAig
part of the Catholic dogma" .c....uo g.,
5 Another not unmportant source OF Cathonc ~
crease is in the s.eaay bnr nG" Of person
: | of non-Cathoc parentage ana eoncau .,o
MANY of these are persons VINO have married Cathe
/ | lies but there are many also VINO nave no 5uo
domestic ind uceInsnts or attractions Even Wher
A. Holt "A