The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-04-02

| ct
| for their time than would surprise
them. OF course. the interests of the
| Church demand that the services of
such men as the Scandinavian priests
| i'll the archdiocese of st. Paul be called
in for occasional lectures where there
are Scandinavian settlements.
10. And this brings me to the most
important part of this article. Bureaus
ought to be established for the benefit
of Catholic immigrants as we'll as for
Catholics moving from one part of the
country to another. Catholics ought
to be warned against moving from
where they have priest and Church and
school. to where they have no church
nor the prospect of having one.
would like to see two such Bureaus
established, one in New York in con-
nection with immigrant ports, and one
in Chicago for the interior. These
would soon branch out, as from Chica-
go, one in Kansas City, st. Paul and
Winnipeg would be advantageous; also
III points of country to be settled.
For the past 100 years neglect of
immigrants has been the cause of the
greatest leakage in the Church. | have
no hesitation in saying that if such a
bureau were in New York during the
past century under the guidance Of
wise and unselfish men, to-day this
country would be largely Catholic. 1t
would be about one fourth Catholic,
yes, probably one-third instead of ono
seventh.
1t is stated OH good authority that
from the immigration from Ireland
during the past 100 years, there ought
to be twenty-five million Irish Catho-
lies in this country. While the official
directory for 1904 gives only about half
of this number, nearly twelve millions
l1,SS7,31O, and the twelve millions is
largely made up Of German, French,
Italian, Slav and other peoples.
There is as large an immigration to-
day as ever, and mostly from Catholic
countries, while in the interior there
is great emigration, whether to the
cotton fields Of the South or the farm
lands of the North and West.
Last year there We're 100000 Italian
immigrants. Why don't these come in
bands to take up the cheap, free lands,
and accompanied by priest? Why
does not the Propaganda, solicitious for
the salvation of the world, look better
after her own? The society for the
Propagation land the Preservation of
the Faith ought to take this matter up
with the Catholic headquarters in
Italy. 1t would be better for Italians
(now that they CAM to own half-sec-
ton OF land rather than peanut stand,
or be scavensers in our cities, to the
ridicule of Italy by Ameri.
cans. Even 10000 of this 100000, or one
twentieth, should be located on lands
Ten thousand or twenty parishes of
900 each would constitute Il new vicar
late every year. 1 know where there
is free land and a trait adjoining at
low figure and easy annual payments.
ana L know where new railroads are
going to be built to afford labor. so as
to equip these free lands or buy an
piece. But soon these chances
may be gone. And what 1 say of
Italians l say of other peoples-Poles,
Germans and Irish. Ten thousand
En=lisll-speaking people could be got
ten today in New York, Boston or Chi
cago who would gladly avail them.
selves of such opportunities. Three
new dioceses could be established as
quick as the bulls would arrive from
Rome, or existing dioceses could be
Even as 1 write there
are. | am told. 5000 Germans and
Galicians ON the seas to be provided
with homes and spiritual care. thanks
to the great efforts of Il Jealous priest.
Some twenty years ago those two great
leaders in thought and action-Arch-
bishop Ireland and Bishop Spalding--
took Il hand in colonizing, and notwith-
standing the sharp winds Of adversity.
the Ireland colonists are to-day
the most prosperous and hap.
Ply people in the land
New settlements are establishing in
the interior. Thousands of immigrants
are coming in quest of homes and
lands. Vacant lands there are, and
these should be occupied by our needy
people
Thousands of French nuns are seek
ing our shores. The scenes cause us
hmazement but we may be assured
such is permitted by Providence for
the ultimate prosperity Of His Church.
Distributed amongst our converts, soon
they will be qualified to teach in this
country. Who knows but that Provi-
dence intends that these Sisters are to
teach these emigmnts' children?
would like then to see bureau or
central agency or some such OrganiZa-
tion established. 1t is the crying need
OF the hour. The Catholic people will
then become more centralized. Scanti-
ly populated parishes will receive
enough to have priest, and schools
and churches will flourish. Even we'll