The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-12-02
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BISHOP SCANLAN'S EARLY
STRUGGLES IN SALT LAKE


After his three predecessors, who
were the first to plant the mustard
seed Of Catholic faith in Utah, the
work of development and extending the
Church's influence through her lnStltu-
tions rested with Father Seaman.
How that could be best done he solved
to his own satisfaction. To reach the
heart man must be appealed to through
the senses. Twenty-Five years ago,
when the church was in her infancy,
this could not be done through beauti-
full and grand churches, and even II 1t
could, the erection of such edifices was
impossible.
The best and most attainable means
were through her institutions, i. e., her
schools. hospitals and other charitable
1 institutions. To found such was the
/ first object of Father Scanlan's earliest
! labors in Utah The many churches
and other Institutions in the state be-
/ speak his success. The casual visitor
or settler of recent years have often
asked, why, with your fine academies,
| hospitals and other up-to-date lnstltu-
tions. you have not in the past built
a large and grand church?
/ BY the present they guage the past,
| forgetting that till twelvest years ago
/ the present church with only one mass
on Sundays was more than ample for
| the Catholics Of Salt Lake; that twenty
years ago there were not three Catho-
| lie families in the city; that when the
! present Bishop assumed charge of this
! parish his congregation rarely exceed
ed twenty souls.
HOPES WERE THEN REALIZED.
Three years ago his most sanguine
hope could not induce him to expect
getting in his whole diocese what one
generous soul during the present year
gave for a home for the orphans, and
five persons gave for his future Cathe-
dral, and without which a beginning
could not be made. Without an appeal
to his people, or any cost to them. he
managed by means unknown ever to
himself to secure the present site where
his future Cathedral will stand. Had
an effort been made two years ago to
collect funds for the buildings which
are now being built, it would be a mis-
take, and an unsuccessful attempt.
There is a time for everything" and
to anticipate the proper time would be
an error in judgment. Bishop Seaman
awaited an oppOrtune time, when all,
not members of his own church alone,
but others with faith in the future of
Salt Lake, and wishing TO impress
strangers with that idea, have literally
donated and promised the means for
the buildings already commenced.
GLORIOUS HISTORY.
Tracing the progress of the Church
for more than a quarter of a century in
Utah, it will compare favorably with
any diocese in America; nay, more, no
where do we know has the mustard
seed of Catholic truth planted under
such adverse circumstances developed
so rapidly and gained SO much. This is
true if measured by the nu-
merical strength Of its members.
Had the Church infancy hop71
directed by a less energetic and jealous
pastor than its present Bishop, who I'M
selfshly sacrefised his own comfort for
the Church's welfare, the advancement
would not be what it is today.
In 20 st. Mary's Academy was found
I'd. When Sisters NJ. Augusta and Ray
nond accepted the mission the real |
work Of building up the material eo1- |
ice began. The highest subscription |
received by Father Seaman for the |
work then begun was 500, and that |
only from a few persons.
NOT THREE CATHOLIC FAMILIES |
HERE.
There were not three Catholic fami- /
lies in Salt Lake at that time, and the |
entire congregation would not exceed |
thirty persons. Under these, circum- !
stances energy, backed by courage, |
was needed to begin a work which, /
when completed, would cost at least /
S25, 600. But the hand already put to |
the pillow was not TO be retarded. His I
faith on final success was not human
If it had been he would not have, in
the face of so many difficulties, begun.
He knew that "Nisi Dominus aedifi ca
VERT domium, in vanum laboraverient,
qui aedifcanteam. The work begun
was finished. and its success lead to
the foundation of similar institutions
in Ogden, Park City, Silver Reef and
Eureka. The little seed of Christian
truth was so slow in it's growth; but
was all the more secure in its develop
ment, gradually taking deep roots
wherever planted. The Church with it's
property nearly free from encum-
brances, also with its many religious
Institutions, all the work of one head
show a progress in twenty-five years
that has no parallel in America. If the
developments Of the next twenty-five
years should be in the same ratio and
in proportion to the numerical strength
and wealth of its members.