The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-10-28
THE CHURCH IN THE INTER
MOUNTAIN STATES.

People outside the intermountain
country have small conception of the
condition of the church in this section.
This is particularly true of those who
live in the eastern and middle states
Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Mon
tana, Arizona, New Mexico, are names
that carry with them to many people
but faint idea of far away land.
Indeed, the civic, social and religious
conditions in these named states are
but little better known to many people
in the United States than the conditions
existing in the Transvaal.
The virile condition of the church in
these parts would no doubt astound
many people who yet associate what
was once the Great American desert,
with the Indian and the buffalo. Re
garding the condition Of the church 1t
will perhaps astonish some to know!
that in this intermountain country thu
relation of churches, schools, hospitals,
| asyfums, colleges and academies to the
Catholic population is greater than in
any other portion of the United States.
In the vast territory of New Mexico,
in parts remote by hundreds of miles
from railroad travel, the chapel, the
school and the priest are to be found.
In the strictly mountain states, in al
most inaccessible places, the same con-
diiton prevails. There is not a noun
tain camp in any of the intermountain
states that is without its Catholic
church It has not been an uncommon
thing for priests to follow the noun
tain trail so far that upwards of year
and half have frequently passed with
out giving them an opportunity Of see
ing brother priest.
The real true missionary spirit is not
thing of the past, but a fact of today,
a living, energetic reality. 1t is to be
found in the diocesan clergy of this in
ternountain country. These men never
fail to sacrifice themselves for their
people. Frequently they are to be
found living in small rooms attached to
the chapels-each man his own servant !
and his own cook. At times snowdrifts !
keep him hemmed in for weeks. The |
depths of the mine or the mountain |
peaks, as he brings a consolation of re- |
ligion to some poor unfortunate, mark !
the limitations of his home. /
In these far remote places priests ex-
ercise deep and abiding influence among
all classes of the population, regardless
of creed. This is not to be wondered at.
when the character of the average
priest in the mountain country is con-
A fairly accurate idea of the ability
Of the priesthood in all parts of the
country has led the writer to the con-
clusion that the priests who minister to
the people in remote parts of the coun-
try, exhibiting real missionary zeal, are
superior men.
We have always been struck with the
ability. in sermonizing which
the priests who are far
from the easy life of the city.
We believe that the average sermon
n the mountain camp is superior to
hat heard in the city churches. The
work of such men must, therefore, pro-
luce unusual results, and that such
Tond question. I
Splendid. indeed, is the work that
las been done for religion in the west
IN states of the, Union. Magnificent s
-lso are the future prospects! May the /
nen who are sacrificing themselves re- /
Give the reward to which their labor {
las entitled them. I