Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-09-18
ITHAS WAXED STRONG
CARDINAL GIBBONS SPEAKS OF CATHOL-
ICISM'S GROWTH.
An Address at the Dedication Of 81. Pstsrs-Frm
Forty Thousand 10 Nine Millions in
in 0ns 0entury-Ths Candidates
for The Papal Chair.

WASHINGTON, September 1.-THE lay.
ing Of the corner stone of the new st.
Peters (Catholic) Church Sunday was at
tended by elaborate ceremonies. 1t was
preceded by parade of Catholic societies
in uniform, the procession being an impos-
ing affair. The music was furnished by
the Marine Band and chorus of 100
voices. Contractor Donnelly laid the cor
ner stone. An address was delivered by
Cardinal Gibbons, who said:
about seventy pears ago st. Peters
old church was dedicated to Almighty God
by modest congregation. Bat the new
church will surpass the old one in grandeur
and maguiicence, and, indeed, the two
placed in comparison afford rs beautiful
aad significant type of the progress Of the
Catholic religion in the United States. On
the tenth of next November we will cele.
brate in the city of Baltimore the Tooth
anniversary of the establishment of the
hierarchy in this country and of the ap-
pointment of Bishop Carroll to be first
Bishop of the See Of Baltimore. We can
not review the history of the last century
and of that great event which we are
about to commemorate, without being
filed with profound gratitude to Almigh
ty God, who wrought such great things at
the hands of his servants, and, ut the
same time, without grave responsibility
to walk in the footsteps of our fathers in
the faith.
GROWTH OF THE CHURCH.
"When Bishop Carroll was consecrated
in 1870, the whole United States contained
not quite 1900, 600 inhabitants. The
Catholic population was then estimated at
about 40, 900 souls, including small but
heroic band Of missionary priests, chiefly,
if not exclusively, belonging to the Society
of Jesus. Churches there were none in
those days, unless we are to designate by
that title ths modest houses of worship
which were erected for the accommodation
of the faithful Hospitals there were none,
absolutely none. There was but one seat
of learning for the Catholic ministry
throughout the length and breadth of tine
United States, and that was Georgetown
College, just then founded. Thanks,
brethren, to the overruling Providence,
and 10 the blessings which God has thrown
upon our country, and to the benefcence
and inviting character of our civil and po-
liticsl institutions, the United States now
contains population Of s., 900, 900 of in
habitants, and thanks also to the fructify-
ing influence Of the holy spirit, we can
count to-day Catholic population in the
United States of s, ,OOO, 600 inhabitants.
I'VE have 5000 clergymen ministeripg
to the faithful, 10000 churches and chap
els. We have $50 colleges and academies
for the higher education of the youth Of
both sexes, and we have several hundred
ssylums and hospitals for the moral,
mental, and spiritual maintenance Of the
youth of both sexes and for the allevis-
tion of every phase of suffering mankind.
'I rejoice in the growth and progress of
the Catholic religion, because 1 am con-
vinced that the growth of the Catholic
faith IL this country will, more Than any
other means, promote the welfare and
stability Of our American institutions"