The Irish standard., 1903-12-05
CATHOLIC BOSTON.

The following editorial comment in
reference to the religious complexion
of Boston appeared in the last issue
of ''The Pilot
"At the first. meeting oi the Union
Conference of the Congregational
Churches Of Boston and its vicinity,
'reitl on November 10Th, in Park Street
church, the Rev. Theodore P. Prud-
den, D. D., of Newton, speaking on
THE Call OF Metropolitan Boston to
the Congregational Churches" made
these remarks:
1T has been held that Boston is Il
staid old Congregational city 1t is
not; it is an Irish city, Roman Cath
olic city and it is growing that way
fast. Over 62 per cent OF its popula-
ton are foreigners. The population
comes from 43 different countries. The
section around Copley square is not
all OF Boston, Now what's the call?
To keep this city from being heather,
to maintain the churches that we have;
a call for righteousness to meet un-
righteousness; it is 4 call for Protest.
ants to do for Professionalism lust
what Roman Catholics are doing for
Catholicism: it is call for patriotism,
for missionary care to save Boston
and her people,
"ln other words. eisentangling DR..
Prud,iens main assertions from ire
levant matter we find him stating
that Boston is a Catholic. an Irish. a
foreign. and. therefore, heather city.
Sixty-two per cent of it's population
arc foreign. therefore, heather.
1T would be interesting to get DR..
Prndden's precise definition of "ior-
cigncr" and "heathen.' Tnfcrentially
a foreigner" is any one not descend
ed from Pilgrim or Puritan stock. and
:! heather is Il Catholic.
AS to the immense amount OF Irish
blood in Boston. there cannot be two
opinions. The Hon. John +. Cronan,
who made careful study OF this sub
iect about seven years ago, reckonc
that Boston's population Of Irish BRIT
or descent was then iity-ciHht pes
cent OF the whole. All bit small
traction OF the Irish element is t'ut'.N
lie. But this fifty eight per cent i'll
clu1ed a great number OF native born
children. grandchildren and great
grandchildren OF Irish immigrants
even few sons and daughters OF the
Revolution. By what right does DR..
Pruddcn call such American citizens
foreigners?
catholics OF other than Irish blood
are increasing very rapidly in Boston,
especially the Italian Catholics. Sixty
TWO per cent is. VIC think. an unlercsti-
mate OF Catholic numerical strength in
this erstwhilc stronghold OF the Puri-
tans. But as Catholics accept the
Christian revelation in its entirety.
and as Boston Catholics are very. fair
~ Suppllcu Will Cllul GIGS, SSuoOlS ala
other agencies for maintaining them
in the faith. by what right does DR..
Prudden apply to them the opprobri-
Gus term of heather? We would like
to believe that he has been misquotcd:'
"'rhesc further statements are cred
tied to him:
"I think. there is a special call to
us because we are the oldest We
have been leaders in everything that is
good. Boston is the old home Of
Congregationalists and there is an ap-
peal that we leaven it with Christian
ity. Ii ever Boston should cease to
have religious life, think the Con-
gregationalists would feel as much
ashamed as any one. Boston is
heather, and we ought to heed the call
to redeem it from heatlenism. The
benevolences OF the six leading Con-