Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-03
THE CATHOLIC CENTENNIAL.
Cardinal Gibbons Pastoral Letter
Participation Of Washington Societies.


| ION the 9th of November, 1885," he says, Ibis
holiness, Plus vi, issued . bull creating the
hierarchy of the Catholic church in the United
| States, and appointing the Rev. John Carroll
the first bishop Of Baltimore, whose episcopal
| Jurisdiction extended over all the territory
| then comprised in the Federal Union. He was
consecrated in the chapel Of Lulworth.- castle,
in England, by the Venerable Bishop walmes-
| ley, vicar apostolic of the London district, on
the 18th of August, 1870, and soon afterward he
set out for Baltimore, where he arrived on the
It'll Of December. After occupying this see for
quarter of century he died. full Of years
and merits, December 8, 1916, in the eighty
| first year of his age.
| TRIBUTE TO ARCHBISHOP CARROLL.
''The history of Archbishop Carroll's admin
! istration clearly shows that his appointment
was not only wisejandju dicious but an espe-
cially providential one. Gifted by nature with
| talents o! a high order. he improved and de-
| veloped those talents by long course of
| studies In one of the best colleges in Europe,
| and, even among the brilliant scholars of st.
Omers, he won high reputation for learn
ing. Speaking of the advancement of
| the church he says that 1.-The Catholic religion
| subsists and expands under all forms of gov
| ernment and adapts itself to all times and
places and circumstances; and this she does
without any compromise of principle or any
! derogation from the supreme authority of the
| church or any shock to the individual con-
science"
THE CHURCH AS 1T WAS.
He proceeds to discuss the growth of the
church under Archbishop Carroll and its rapid
| development from then to this time. 'When
Bishop Carroll was conSecrated, in $780," he
says, 1.-THE entire population of the United
States was little less than four millions, free
men and slaves included. The Catholic popu-
lation was estimated at about 10000. A small
but heroic band of thirty priests, almost ex-
| clusively belonging to the Society of Jesus,
ministered to this scattered flock. There was
not single hospital or asylum throughout the
land. Churches there were none. unless We
designate by that title the few modest houses
of worship erected in Catholic settlements,
chiefly In Maryland and Pennsylvania. George
town college just then founded, was the only
Catholic seat OF learning in the country.
THE CHURCH AT PRESENT.
''Such is true picture of the past. Let us
now glance at the present Thanks to the
blessings of an overriding Providence and to
the benefcent character of our civil and politi-
cal institutions the population Of the United
States has grown within q century from four
to slxty-hye million people, as happy and con-
tented as any that move on the face OF the
earth.
And thanks to the fructifying influence of
| the Holy Spirit and to the liberty enjoy the
progress of the church has more than kept
pace with the material DEVELOPMENT Of the
country. There Is now embraced within the
territory of the United States a Catholic popu-
| lation of about nine million. There are Is
archbishops and II bishops, 5000 priests.
IL, 800 churches and chapel5 q seminaries ex-
clusiyely devoted to the training of candidates
| for the sacred mlnistry there are $50 colleges
and academies for the higher education of
youth of both sexes and 3,100 parish schools.
There are $40 hospitals and orphan asylums,
where every form of human misery and in
trinity is alleviated and where children Of
both sexes are rescued from spiritual and tenn
poral wretchedneSs and are reared to become
useful and honorable members Of society"
He speaks OF the church as the friend Of law
and order and contributor to the stability
and psrpesuation of the government
Speaking of the approaching centennial he
says that tine civic and moral virtues of past
generations will not rebound to our glory. but
| rather will be reproach to us. if We have no
share in their patriotism and piety. In vain
we praise their heroic deeds if we do not strive
to emulate them for God will not be content
with yicarious fealty. We have indeed the
divine assurance that His church shall never
fall but He ordinarily works His wonders
through secondary agents, and we should all
regard ourselves az included among the provi-
Dental instruments He has chosen for the full
fllment of His DEGREES. We have entered into
an inheritance not simply to enjoy it, but to
cultivate 1t and enlarge its bounds"
TEE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
OF the new university he says: I'VE hail IL as
an suspicious omen that the new century will
be inaugursted by the opening Of the Catholic
university. just as the closing century was ush-
cred in by the founding of Georgetown college
And as Plus VI gave an impetus to religion in
1889 by the creation of the Catholic hierarchy
among Us, SO does Leo XIII inspire Us with re-
| newed hope in 1889 by giving his august sane
ton to the establishment OF our national seat
lnf Lea -,
watered, may God give the increase.
INTEREST IN THE APPROACHING CELEBRATION.
1--WE take great pleasure il announcing to
you that benevolent interest in the approach
ing celebration is manifested by the hierarchy
and laity of the United States and even those
| in other lands. Seventythree archbishops and
bishops have already slgnified their intention
OF honoring US by their presence. Nearly
every state and territory of the Union will be
represented on the occasion; large number
OF Canadian prelates have also promised to at
| tend among whom l am happy to name his
emlnence the cardinal archbishop of Quebec.
Even our sister republic of Mexico will be
| represented by two or more prelates.
In q letter lately received the sovereign
pontif expresses his gracious intention of
sending church dignitary from Rome to
| represent the holy see at the Baltimore and
Washington festivities. The archbishop COM
| mlssloned by the holy father is not only an
sonal friendship Of his holiness himself"
Washington Societies to Participate.
Delegates from the various Catholic societies
OF this city held meeting last evening at Car
roll Institute hall and made arrangements to
accept the invitation to participate in the
torch-light procession to be held in Baltimore
November II, 1889. at the Catholic centennial
| II. W. Sohon was elected chairman and Vim. A.
johnson, secretary. David A. Boone and
Robert A. Jamison of Baltimore, who were
| present, spoke Of the arrangements for the
| parade, and said that it was proposed to have
twelve divisions, and it was expected that there
| would be between $4,000 and $4,000 men in
| line. The chairman appointed the following
| committees: Music-Msssrs. Lepley Manogue
| and Moran; transpor tation-Messrs. Land
voigt, Hannah and Fullerton; finance-Messrs.
| Hannah. Voigt, Miller, w. A. Johnson, Nc
Henry, Brahler. Rafferty,. Weiss, Fletcher, Full
| lalove, Doonan, Duffy. Reith, Hardin, Shsehy,
Coates, Conner, Manogue, Buscher and Hoff-
man.
Messrs. Lepley. Butler McGarraghy, Reith,
| Duffy, Fullerton, X. II. Johnson, Connall,
| Manogue, Beers, Taylor, Voigt and Rafferty,
were appointed a committee to wait upon the
| pastors Of the churches and ask that they urge
the male members OF their congregations to
take part III the procession. Ed. J. Hannah
was elected marshal of the Washington diyi-
sion. The meeting then adjourned to meet on
Friday night Of next week.
| THE COURTS.