The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-01-17
An Eloquent Tribute to John Carroll, the
First Chief Preate of the
American Church.
The Church in America Indebted for Its
Growth to immigration From
Foreign Nations.

On Sunday Jan. 4, Cardinal Gibbons
delivered the following instructive SER
mon to large congregation ut the
Cathedral in Baltmore:
The first Sunday of the new year
in the early stages of the new cen
tury affords an appropriate occasion
for reviewing the history and pro
gress Of the Catholic religion in the
United States during the nineteenth
century. "A retrospect Of the church
in America would be manifestly i'll
complete il the name of the illustrious
Archbishop Carroll was omitted. John
Carroll was appointed first Bishop of
Baltimore by Pope Plus VII In an
apostolic brief dated November, 17S9
The See Of Baltimore then em-
braced the whole United States. He
was consecrated August IS, 1890, in
the chapel attached to Lulworth Cas-
tile, in DOrsetshire, England, the ele-
CANT home of Mr.. Thomas Weld, a
representative Of All old and distin-
guislled Catholic family. Mr.. Weld
had the honor Of entertaining moro
than once King George III of Eng
land, and the friendship Of his SOW
ercign secured for his host religious
concessions which were denied to the
other Catholic gentry and nobility in
those days of persecution. The con-
sccrating bishop was DR.. Walmeslcy,
Vicar Apostolic of the London district.
This prclate was not only n learned
cllurchman, but also scientist of
marked distinction. When England
had determined in 1850 TO adopt the
Grcgorian calendar, Bishop Walmeslcy
was associated with other scientific
men in arranging the calendar and
adapting it to the British realm. One
of the acolytes who served at the altar
on the day OF cOrsccrntiOn was n son
of Mr.. Weld, and this youth nftcrward
became a distinguished cardinal of the
Holy Roman Church. The sermon
| v.
Charles Plowden, an intimate friend
Of Dr. Carroll and member Of the
Society Of Jesus. Father Plowden,
in his discourse, uttered n prediction
which has been amply fulfilled.
He said that the day would come
when the daughter would surpass the
mother and when the church in Amer
fca would outgrow in numbers and in,
fuence the church in England. His
words have been abundnntly verified,
for today the Catholic Church in the
United States vastly excels the church
In England in the number of the hier-
nrchy, I'm her clergy and laty and in
the splendor of her institutions Of rel.
igion and charity and education.
l regard the selection of Bishop Car.
roll as most providential event for
the welfare Of the American Church.
If prclate of narrow views and n
man not in sympathy and in harmony
with the genius OF the new republic
had been chosen, the progress Of rel
igion would have been seriously impcd-
ed. 1t is true that the Constitution
| had declared that no one should be
mOlested on account of religion or in
the free exercise thereof, but cons
tituti0nal cnactmcnts would have been
a feeble barrier to stem the tide Of
popular prejudice unless these enact
ments were vindicated and justified by
the patriotic example Of the chief ruler
of the American Church.
John Carroll was the man for the
occasion. We may apply to him the
words spoken Of John the Baptist:
''There was man sent from God
whose name was John, and he came
for Witness to bear witness of the
light"
He was man Of sterling piety and
enlightened zeal, and these gifts endear-
ed him to the faithful. He was
man of consummate tact, Of courteous
manner and unfailing charity. He en-
ioycd intimate relations with his fel.
low -townsmen in the various walks of
life without distinction Of creed. He
was deeply concerned in civil as well
as in religious affairs. He was the