The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-04-16

ports and one in Chicago for the interior. These
would soon branch out, from Chicago one III
Kansas City, ST. Paul and Winnipeg would be ad-
Nanageous; also in points of country be settled
For the past one hundred years neglect of immi-
grants has been the cause of the greatest leakage
IN the Church. have no hesitation in saying that
II such bureau were in New York during the
past century under the guidance of wise and unset
1sl men, to day this country would be largely Cath
ollc. 1T would be about one-four Catholic; YES,
probably one-third instead of oneseventh.
1t is stated good authority that from the
immigration from ireland during the past one
Hundred years. there ought to be twenty-five million
Irish Catholics in this country. While the official
directory of 1904 gives only about helf this number
nearly twelve millions, (11,SS7317), and the twelve
millions is largely made up of German, French,
Italian, Slav and other peoples.
There is as large an immigration today as ever,
ana mostly from Catholic countries, while IN the
interior there is a great migration whether TO the
cotton fields of the South the farm lands of tie
North and West.
Last year there were 100000 Italian immigrants
as per your figures. Why don't these come in bands
to take up the cheap, free lands, and accompanied
by priest! Even 10000 of this 100000,
twentieth should Relocated on lands. Ten thousand,
20 perishes of 500 each, would constitute new
viearate every year. | know where there is free
land and tract adjoining at low figure and easy
annual payments, and | know where new railroads
going to be built to afford labor, to equip
these free lands or buy adjoining piece. But
these chances may be gone. And what | say of
Italians / say of other peoples-Poles, Germans
and Irish. Ten thousand English-sreaking people
could be got today in New York, Boston or Chicago
who would gladly avail themselves Of such oppGT
tunies. Even as | write th9re are. I am told
5,0n0 Germans and Galoians the seas TO be pro-
vided with homes and spiritual care thanks to the
great efforts OF n jealous prl3st. Some twenty
years ago these two great leaders Ii thought and
action-Arehbishop Ireland and Bishop Spaulding
took hand III colonizing, and Notwithstanding
tie sharp winds of adversely, the ireland coonists
are today amongst the most prosperous and happy
people in the land.
New settlements are establishing in the interior.
Thousands of immigrants coming III quest of
homes and lands. Vacant lands there are and these
should be occupied by our needy people.
Thousands of French nuns seeking our
shores The scene causes us anazement but we
may be assured such is permit ID by rovidence for
the ultimate prosperity of Lis Church. Distribut-
ed amongst our converts, soon they will be qualified
TO teach in this country.
| would like, then, to see bureau central
agency or some such organization established. 1t
is the crying need of the hour The Catholic people
viii then become more centralized. Scantily popul-
atod parishes viii receive enough TO have priest,
and schools and churches VIII flourish Even well
established parishes can be benefited. What can
be said of this diocese be said of many, that 1t
three four vacancies for settlers IN this par
ism, even. Let there then be bureau and in The
hands of practical business neE, while the clergy
may cooperate consistently with duty and Office.
Having said this much on the matter, let me
ask there any phianthropists to take up this
grand work of aiding persons to become happy and
independent! Any good men TO work along these
lines for the benefit of humanity. Any men to CO.
operate with each other in extending the Kingdom
of God on a grand scale:
II. And this brings me to an important part rel |
ative to the financial building of the church I |
would like TO sec an Insurance Bureau established
so that the millions of dollars yearly expended for /
Catholic properties, to the enrichment
Of the old line companies would be utilized for the
extension of the Church aiding poor missions Civ
ing cheap money for building churches and schools,
etc. Our Methodist friends in this case can teach
rs a lesson; each pastor being gratutous agent,
and the business placed in the hands of a bureau or
board Of directors of practical business man.
Of course in this article | have omitted what
belongs TO pastors and their parish oblipatons such
as the building Of schools--the nurseries of the
Church--the occasional having of missions to get
back the stray ones, and the instructions which
jealous pastors viii give occasionally Sunday
evenings, explaining Christian doctrine in the
paine5t language, for the article is intended for the
aitv. except where otherwise mentioned. l wish
10 see the daity interested - this ennobling work.
Good grateful for such efforts, would shower bles
sings the undertaking. Of course, heated or
angry discussions might be carefully avoided. But
It's amazing how ignorant neighbors are of
Catholic doctrine, and when explained to them they
seem pleased, and invariably ''Well, l never
knew that"
Dear reader. is the extending of the Kingdom
IF God worthy of best effortsshrdlutaoinao
# God worthy Of our best and most earnest efforts?
# So then let Us make it. And wonderful is the adj
rance the Church will make here in the next few
years. Yes, wonderful is the word.