New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-20
1MERIC1N CAIHOLLCISN.

Intelligent observers have known for long
time that in the American Roman Catholic
Church there are two distinct schools of thought
First Of all there are the conservatives, who take
as little account as possible of modern thought
and modern ideas and who try to make the
American Church faithful transcript of Euro
pean ultramontanism They may be called trans
Atlantic churchmen. Secondly, there are the pro-
gresSive Catholics whose motto is "An Ameri-
can Catholic Church for American Catholics"
whose minds are open to all the better manifes-
tatiOnS of the spirit of the age, and who are in
tensely desirOuS of making American Catholi-
ciSm the best possible religious expression of
social and political liberty. For convenience
they may be called cis-Atlantic churchmen.
The most notable fact about the recent Cath
Ole celebration in Baltimore was its demonstra-
ton that the cis-Atlantic churchmen are now
in the aScendancy. The conservatives took only
a minor part in the exercises. II was the recoe-
nized progressive leaders like Cardinal Glib
bons, Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia. and
Archbishop Ireland, Of ST. Paul who struck the
keynote of the celebration. While these mon
yield to none in their loyalty to the teachings
of the Church, they believe that the Church
must become a distinchvely American institu-
ton. This idea was the undetone in all tho
important utterances of the week. But if vas
perhaps most perfectly expressed in the yosner-
sermon of Archbishop Ireland in the Cathedral.
as the following extract will show:
The Church Of America must be, OF Course nc
Catholic as even in Jerusalem Rome bur So ,a AZ
her garments assume color from the local a,rnosh.
she must be American. let one dare main, her
brow with foreign tint or pin 10 her mantle orelgn
Innings Their IS danger I'm receiving large acceso,e
Of Catholics from foreign countries God wltneso :,
they are welcome. / Will not lntrude on their ner-
sona affections and tastes, but these II forel0n thcv
shall not ntrilde upon the Church. American. have
no longing for Church with foreign aspect II
would WELD no influence. over them In no manner
could t prosper Exotics have but sIckIv farm,
II is time 10 bring back the primitive Gospel sni,
IN 90 out into highways and byways, to prach an
bouse-fops and I'm market places. Erect stately
churches II you Will II all are not there prcss ,hs
.hsentees 10 hear you beneath humble roofs II somc
remain vet outside, speak TO them IN the streets OF
| tho nubIc road The time has come for salva,iou
armiass 10 penetrate the widest hckct OF thorns and
br,crs and bring Gods Word the of the most vile
the most ignorant and the most goddess. Saving those
who insist on being saved We are satisfied In doing
Is not the mission Of the Church This Is the ~
| lgion we need to-day. 10 sing lovely anthems ir
cathedral stalls, 10 wear capes OF broldered gold Will,
no multitude throng nave or aisle and the world out
side Is dying of spiritual and moral starvation.
seek out men, speak to them not In stilicd phras,
or seventeenth century sermon style but In burninG
words that go TO their hearts we'll as their minds
Popularze religion far as principles permit Int,
the arena priests and laymen, seek out social grev
snces. lead In movements to heal them peep mercull