The Irish standard., 1903-11-28
THE CHURCH.
Statistics Showing at a Glance Its
Present Strength.


Present Strength.
The thirteen provinces into which
the Catholic Church is divided in the
United States contain each an arch
diocese, subject to an archbishop, and
dioceses ruled by bishops, in all num-
bering eighty eight, says the Catholic
Messenger Magazine. The one hun
dred prelates, together with the eleven
CONDUCTORS or auNiliaries appointed to
assist some of them, are designated
by the pope, to whom they are NOM
mated by a ballot of the bishops of the
province, and another of the clergy of
the vacant diocese. There is no room
for INTERPRETATION or interference by
the state, or by any outside agency.
AS things are arranged at present. the
choice of bishops can be made prompt
ly; in fact, in the more important
archdiocese conductors are usually
appointed with the right of succession,
so that the administration may con-
tinue without Interruption. At the
head of this hierarchy as primate is
the cardinal, and, to expedite business
with the central government, an apos-
tolic delegate. There are 9,743 clergy
men subject in all things to the i'm
mediate jurisdiction OF the bishops:
and subject to them, also, in all that
concerns parochial ministrution, 1925
members Of the religious communl
ties in holy orders. These 12,96S
priests minister to 11,2S9,71O men,
bers, who worship i'll zoos churches
and 1878 chapels. There is no lack
of candidates for the ministry, 1882
actually preparing to be secular
priests and 1881 religious in the seven
universities and seventy-one seminar
les. There are 1G2 colleges for males
and CAB academies for females. These
schools are maintained in great part
by 5000 men. not in holy orders, but
dwelling in community. usually called
brothers.; and $4,000 women, the nuns
or sisters, who also aid the clergy in
the schools and charitable institutions
conducting, with proper lay assistance
1918 parish schools with 9G3. ti>Ss
pupils, and 923 institutions with Lib
OBJ inmates. Not least in import
ance are the laity who support pastors
III
tions, and who devote time as we'll as
money. working as members Of char
liable. benevolent, social and literary
associations Besides the many pio,,s
;Sodalities or confr,tcrnities. some of
which exist in every parish. there are
ut least twenty great national organi-
cations of men and women. growing
i'll numbers and efficiency every year,
and in order to work still more eff
GENTLY, all the societies of men, num-
bcring fully 2.OOO,OOO, are forming IL
federation which will be perfected in
another year. Intellectually. Cath
olics are beginning to show the results
Of the training given in their parochial
schools and higher academic institu-
tons, in which a religious and moral
as we'll as mental education is i'm
parted In number and efficiency
these schools are bound to grow every
year. In January, 1902, there We're
:},S35 parochial schools. In January,
1903. there We're 3,97S, an increase of
l]3. One salutary influence these
schools have already eXcrted, and will
exert still more strongly, is manifest
in the tendency of many tlcnOmina-
tons to initiate to some extent the
Catholic system. 1t is chiefly in social
matters that the Catholic Church will
show it's influence. Under its foster
ing care come nearly one-lnlf of the
vast number of emigrnnts daily nrriv
ing in our ports under the same care
are the great majority of workinglncn
who worship in any church, for. no
matter bow prosperous some OF it's
members may be. this Church never
'desists from serving the laborer and
the poor. These two facts speak vol
umes for the solution of the problems
raised by socialism, anarchy and the
irritable relations of capital and labor
Respect of authority. regard for per-
sonal and proprietary rights. close UNI
ion of pastor with people. ana habit
ual submission to law inculcatcd in
the church, home and school. among
so many employers and employed.
must necessarily make for social
tranquility and industrial peace.
Catholic worllingmen are numerous
enough to Influence the sentiment of
all the labor unions in the United
States. The private schools and cllari-
table institutions which Catholics sup
port with results as favorable us those
of the state, and often superior, for
one-haif and even one-third of the eN-
pense incurred by the state, are an
object lesson in civic economy which
must ultimately assert itself in our
sociology.
As to Church Choirs.
From time to time, we get intelli.