The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-05-24
PRO EST a n T r jim rs.
Discussing the Future Of Cathon-
3ss cism IN America. 5s

u ~. u
Discussing the Future Of Oatholi-
i VI cisnn IN America. s.s:
The Great Gain Of the cl,nrch-A Protest.
ant Minister says It Will Become .
h Great Power-Catlolic. Making Rapid
Strides in Canada. S5 NJ 81 s
There has been a good deal of contro-
versy Of late, writes the editor OF the
Review of Reviews" as to the destiny
Of the Catholic Church in America.
The following extract from an article
by DR.. Fleetwood in the Missionary
Review will be read with interest. 1t.
cannot possibly be alleged that DR..
Fleetwood is biased in favor Of Roman.
ISM" He reckons the number of
Catholics in America at 5000, 900, which
is a "strong stranded, hard, twisted
agency which no one can ignore. He
says: 34
''In the first place, the great Cath
olic gain in America has been due main.
~ to the constant tide of immigration.
This is not likely to cease solong as
the populations Of Europe throw off a
surplus, and this alone will constantly
affect the comparative ratios Of Roman
ism in this country. In the second
place there is greater increaae Of Cath
Ollie population by natural generation.
The influence of wealth upon our native
born citizens Of the Anglo American
stock, and the increased extravaganza
which widely prevails, operate unfa-
vorably upon the number of marriages
and the natural increase Of population.
Thus, from 1900 to 1850, the population
Of the country increased nine-fold; the
menbershipof all evangelistic churches
twenty-seven- fold; the Roman Catholic
sixty-three-fold. From 1850 to 1880 the
population increased 116 per cent. for
1876 per cent, and the Roman Catholics
294 per cent. Or, to take another line
Of comparison, in l $50 the Catholics
equalled Is per cent. of the total Prot
estant church membership, and in 1880,
So per cent.
''W hen we consider the boldness and
assurance Of infdelity, I think that
every true friend of the cause of Christ
must rejoice in the alliance of the
Roman Catholic Church, in America.
That it is Christian Church in its
great body of believers, and aside from
it's hierarchical assumptions, |, for one,
have no doubt That there are tens and
tians in its communion am confident.
That its strong faith and it's undinch-
ing maintenance of it's principles will
hold to interpose an important barrier
against the fippant inhdelity Of the
day, there is good reason to believe.
Cardinal Gibbons's able book, recently
published, is a strong defence Of the
common Christian faith.
"That the Roman Catholic Churc in
this country will become great power
we have no doubt. That it will exert
disproportionate influence i'll our
pc tics seems probable. That it will
ever gain such power as to overthrow
our liber ties do not believe"
Quite another note. he continues, is
sounded by w. Fl. Hunter in the North
American Review" for March, in which
he declares that the "Papistical" power
is getting everything in Canada. The
Legislature is organized as method
:ally as if it were O. Congregation of
Rome. He says:
CHOW Jesuit and Ultramontane have
supplanted the Galican as keeper of the
conscience of the people. There are
habitants no longer, only nationalists.
Faith and patriotism 60 hand in hand
under the new regime.
s1Religious fervor being quickened by
race motives and by the relief that
under the shadow Of the cross the
French Canadian is appointed TO rule
this continent, an entire people have
enrolled in the active militia Of the
Church of Rome. And brave handsel
have they already got of the future
promised their obedience to the state
craft Of priests. From Quebec, that
'consecrated abode of the Catholic
faith. the invader has been hour by
hour thrust back, and of the English
settlements, SO long the stronghold Of
Professionalism, nearly all at this mo-
menu OIL WIlC1Hg nave Deeu oIeCIeu 1uLO
Catholic parishes. Lands that for up
wards of century were held in free
Engli sh tenure are now titled by
farmers, who, for the
glory of their race, submit gladly t.
La Fabrique' and the visits of the
tithe-gatherer. In northern and east
ern On tario a veritable army Of occupa-
tion is busy founding new Quebec.
St. Jean Baptiste societies
keep the French Canadian colonist in
touch with the controlling principle
that New Frances mission of civiliza-
ton should advance as of old by the al
lance for mutual protection between
religion and the state
''For eminent service in thus present
ing America with still another prob
lem of race and creed, the Society of
Jesus in Quebec has just been endow ed
out Of the public moneys of that prov
ince"
It is pleasure to see our Protestant
friends noting the progress Of the
Church in the New World. ..
A Will 5000 Years Old.
A will 5000 years old has recently