The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-12-02
CONTRIBUTED.


The history of the Church in Utah,
briefly sketched in the columns of The
Intermountain Catholic, is only a. repe-
tition of her history in all new coun-
tries. Ever the same, there could be
no novelty in her history Wherever,
or whenever the mustard seed of Cath
olic faith has been planted, be it in
the frozen north, or beneath the South
ern Cross, it is but a repetition of the
work first begun in Bethlehem by her
divine founder, continued by his chosen
twelve and their successors down
through the centuries.
Circumstances in different countries
and at different times may have varied
the methods of planting the seed of di-
vine faith, but not the faith itself.
What SITS. Peter and Paul did in Rome
St Augustine did in England, st.
Patrick in Ireland, Boniface in Ger
many, Jordan in Poland, or Francis
Xavier in India, and a De Smet among
the American Indians. All animated
with the same spirit and fired with the
same burning zeal, could not having the
same end in view, present new phases
in their laboTs. Like causes produce
similar effects. though the results may
not be always equal.
THE WORK IN UTAH.
In reviewing the work done in Utah
since '67 when the first Catholic priest
began his labors, down to the present,
the results have been greater than that
attained in most states, when ell cir
cumstances connected with early hiSto-
~ Of the church and down to the past
few years have been considered. It's
numerical strength was small in the
beginning; its means limited and I'M
der these adverse circumstances the
first missionaries were obliged to COM
mence at the foundation of all its ma
terial edifices. The first three Cath
Ollie priests who came TO Utah to plant
the faith have gone to their reward.
Their beginnings, though small, were
indeed great. A priest in IS securing
a site for future church, and not one
Catholic Eamily in the city, shows the
efforts then made to work for the
honor and glory of God. His second
successor in II. under circumstances
a little more favorable, succeeded in
erecting the church, where the Cath |
olics at present worship.
BISHOP SCANLAN'S COMING.
The fourth in succession, the present |
Bishop of the diocese, took up the |
work of his predecessors in rs, and /
with the material growth of the /
Church since that date his life and la /
bOrs are so intimately interviewer that
a history Of the Church without fire.
quent mention of his name would be
Incomplete. The churches, schools, hos
pitfalls and orphanages which are in the
different parts of Salt Lake diocese owe
their origin to Bishop Seaman, who has
been at ali times aided and encour-
aged by jealous and devoted priests,
and has received the co-operat ton of
public.
From the commencement of his adj
the present Bishop has
l,T~ al 1r,--e-
;iOner. a devoted church man, but also :
thorough business man His policy
las been from the beginning conserva-
i've, while the principle which directed !
III his actions has been that of the Di- :
-ine Master, viz, charity. Uncom- I
in his faith and devotion to !
Catholic truth. he has always confined
himself strictly to his work. AS a ,
Of Souls he has devoted his
ife to his flock, ever striving to inn !
Jress them with their duties and obi
,ations. carefully avoiding ever to say
IN unkind word of those who differ
rom him.
THE BISHOPS POLICY.
BY no influence could he at any time
Turing the tWenty-six years of his pas
oral charge in Utah be induced to take
my part in the agitations of the Utah
problem. The feelings Of others were
or him something sacred, and why not
respect the same. Wherein he differed
rom others all know. 1t was needless
Tor him to put himself on record by
vaging war on those who believed and
taught differently from him. To do so
was not in line with the principle
which directed his church work. Whilst
leaving all men according to their con-
sciences in the hands of a just God. he
is for the inquirer a stern Catholic;
offers only what he has, viz, the Cath
olic Church as the true way to saliva
ton. His judgment lead him to adopt
this coruse from the beginning, and to
It. as the Wisest and most prudent, he
still clings. Through it, respect for
Catholic truth and practices has not
been lessened. On the contrary, all, ir-
Of creed, commend the wise,
charitable and prudent course of the j
RI. Rev. Bishop Seaman.