The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-05-04
TIE CHURCH IN AMERICA.

Tt affords us unfeigned qualification
to place before our readers in the
Northwest. in today's issue of the
Irish Standard the remarkable address
on "The Church in America" recently
delivered by Archbishop Ireland be-
fore distinguished audience at Du-
buque on the memorable occasion of
comforting the pallium on Archbishop
Keane. After an attentive perusal of
the address we have no hesitation in
saying that it is worthy of the earnest
consideration of bishops, priests and
laymen in every part of the United
States. 1t is one of the ablest address
es delivered by any American prelate
in many years and deserves to be pre-
served in n permanent form for future
reference.
Archbishop Ireland shows that, con-
Sidering the obstacles to he surmOunt-
ed, the Catholic church in this repul,-
lie has made marvellous progress and
is today in flourisling condition. He
estimates that the Catholic population
of the United States ut the present
time is 100000 instead of II 600, 900,
as given i'll the Catholic directory. He
includes within the church all who
have been baptized and have not for
mally renowned the faith of their fa-
Tiers.
The archbishop does not believe the
losses to the church are so enormous
as unfriendly critics allege The idea
that the losses aggregate 1G.OOO,OOO,
as was stated in a memorial carried
to Rome in 1891 by Herr Calensly. is
an absurdity of the first magnitude.
That the church has lost "one-half of
her children, perhaps two-tlirds of
Them" as stated by NJ. Tarlevel of
Quebec, is huge exaggeration. Such
statements emanate from men who are
hostile to American democratic insti-
buttons.
Bishop O'Gorman in his Church His
tory, after careful study and basing
his calculations upon official statistics.
arrives at tho conclusion that the
Catholic population in 1890 ought to
have been 1O,G27,OOO.
Another matter referred to by the
archbishop on the question of losses
to the church by backsliding is that
many emigrants from Europe had lost
the faith or ceased to practice 1T he.
fore landing in America. and. hence
that the American church should not
be held responsible for their apostacy
The conversions. however have been
more numerous than is generally sup
posed. In one diocese of Baltimore
the conversions to the church had aver
aged annually 700 for several years
and in 90 modest and comparatively
unimportant diocese of the west" they
have ranged from 300 to 400 a year.
The archbishop pays a glowing and
deserved tribute to American Catholics
and shows what people and priests
have accomplished in this comparative
ly new country. The following pass
age Is worth reading:
"Is there anywhere piety more unre
served, purity more essential than in
our converts? Is there anywhere zeal
more generous in the pursuit of souls
than in our sanctuaries? Glance down
through the naves and aisles of oul
temples; notice the thronging multi
tudes, multitudes of men as we'll as OF
women that press around the altar rail
not merely on high festivals, but on
ordinary Sundays; and tell me in what
land of Christendom today is seen sight
more enchanting. And follow these
multitudes from altar rail into their
homes, into their shops and marts
study them as they mingle with their
mont Catholic fellow-citizens; is there
upon their brow shade of human
respect? Is there upon their lips a
word Of disloyalty to the church? ]
challenge the most Catholic lands to
show me Catholics more courageous
in the profession of their faith, more
consistent in bringing its principles
into their daily manner Of life, and If