The evening times., 1898-11-28
Pope Seeks to Americanize the
Church in This Country.
UNITY FOR THE CATHOLICS
A Letter Placing the Seal Of Cen
demnatien on Cahenslyism.
The Result VIII Be n Gradual
etgB-Speaking Congregations.

New York Nov. 2S.-In all the Catho-
olic congregations in this city the great
est interest is manifested in the proceed
Sings of the Third Diocesan Synod, of
New York, held in St. Patrick's Cathe-
dral.
Special interest attached to the commu-
nication from Rome, which was read t.
the assembled clergy by Archbichop Cor
rigan. 1t is universally regarded as the
most important statement made by the
head of the church for many years. affiX-
ing, as it does. the official seal of con-
demnation on the policy TO which the
name of Cahenslyism has been given.
Archbishop Corrigan was absent from
The city yesterday so that it was not
possible TO obtain from him any details
OF the Pope's communication. The Rev.
Dr. Henry A Brann, rector of the Church
Of st. Agnes, in East Forty-third Street.
kindly explained the full purport of the
Pontifeal letter.
''The term national as applied 10 the
Catholic church." he said, lis misno-
mer. il would be more correct TO say
that the result Of the new policy, which
is only new in the sense that it is the law
OF the church, viii have the effect OF
Americanizing the church in the very best
sense.
"As We all know, there are throughout
the United States a vast number of
churches in which the services are con-
Quoted in foreign languages This has
been the necessary result of the vast and
diverse character of the immigration that
has flowed to US from every country in
Europe. There grew up among many
clergymen in charge of these foreign
churches, notably among the Germans,
the practice Of requiring the children Of
their parishioners to attend the churches
to which their parents belonged
''Of course this had the effect OF
strengthening and pe-petuating these
churches, but 1t was done at the expense
OF artificially perpetuating foreign Ian
guages in country in which the na ionaI
tongue is naturally English. This was
condition that was widely deplored re
tarding, as II did, the natural assimila-
ton Of our foreign population IL was
often, too a hardship on children who
had been born in this country and who
spoke only English 10 be compelled 70 at
tend church in which the services were
conducted in a, to them, foreign tongue.
Opposition to this system gradually in
creased, until as a matter Of very general
practice IL became possible for the chill
dren Of foreign born parents TO select the
church which they desired to attend.
While, however. this was the practice. il
WAS not the written law OF the church.
which II now becomes, in virtue of the re-
cent PRONUNCIATION Of His Holiness letter.
which establishes the right OF all Cstho-
Hes 10 attend wha atever church they may
desire
The natural result Of this viii be a
gradual diminution in The numbers of the
foreign-speaking congregations and the
ultimate AmericaniZsti0n Of the rnnrea
In the sense hat in due time s. will -on
sist almost entirely ~ gTcag body Il
Enghsh-speaking Catholics. think that
there is no doubt that the mex policy has
the very general approval of both the
clergy and the la:ty. In tact. / a. not
believe there is now one b.shop . Ger
man birth WHO is not in sympathy with
IT.
Speaking of the definition applied by tn
archbishop TO parishoRerS of Catholic
churches DIR. Brann said that il did not
Involve any departure from the existing
practice, but merely gave official app. oval
90 IL. According to existing custom par
fshiOners are persons who rent pews in
any church, irrespective Of whether they
reside within the limits of the parish. n
ST. Agnes Church there have always
been many parishioners who Occupy pew s
and live at a considerable distance from
the church. and this Is also the case AZ
the Cathedral, where probably the great
er number OF the parish0ners are not
Residents Of the parish.