The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-04-30
CHURCH EXTENSION.
Immediate Action Necessary, Says
Father PheIan,

Father Phelan.
Dear Editor-Relative to my late
article on Church extension have re.
ceived many letters endorsing my
views as practical. If practical, why
not put them in practice? Why not be-
gin this very year, yes, right now, to
40 what is for the greater utility of
the Church and to promote the greater
glory of God? Every day that action
is postponed is a loss to the Church.
Plus X has marked the beginning of
his administration by his efforts to pro-
mote the interests of the Church. He,
designated by Malachi by the cogno4
men ''ignis ardens'' or burning fire, has
already manifested his peculiarly arr
dent missionary zeal. His motto is ITO
restore all things in Christ" Let US
bestir ourselves in these early days Of
his pontiticate. In no country today is
there more inviting field for mission
airy zeal than in the United States. Not
only have the Catholic citizens to be
looked after, but also the Catholic inn
migrants that are crowding to our
shores, and the conversion of nom
Catholics has to be effected.
1t would be gratifying to see the
Catholic Truth and the Propag CATION Of
the Faith societies further exercise
their missionary spirit now when the
springtime reminds the torpid earth
to prepare for harvest. Some system-
attic move ought to be made to estab-
fish these societies throughout the
land, and Catholic journals will give
the movement notice.
No doubt our German friends are
preparing to meet at an early day in
ST. Louis to lay plans for winning to
the Church as many souls as individ-
uals included in the original Louisiana
Purchase. The mission of the Church
in this country is to make her Catholic
and our Holland and German brethren
would greatly strengthen the Church
by the accession of their separated
friends that form so strong factor in
the nation. The Church in Holland
and Germany has made much advance
! in these countries in the past ten years
and we confidently look for refiux Of
tbs advancement here now. when an
earnest and successful effort is made
amongst Englisl-spealSing non-Catho-
lies ito restore all things in Christ"
| At a time when Protestant Germany
is disposed to recall her exiled religi@
GUS, we see Catholic France disposed
to exile hers. Are these religious thus
allowed to be exiled by Providence
partly for the purpose of attending to
the religious needs of the hundreds of
thousands of Italians and other Catho4
lie immigrants that are fiocking to our
shores?
Since 1 wrote one month ago sug-
costing that good, cheap lands be Sc.
cured for our people for colonization
purposes l find that over 100000 acres
have been taken and not one acre has
been secured for that purpose by Cath.
olics. These lands are gone, gone for
ever from our poor people. Some tracts
of good. cheap land yet remain, soon,
no doubt, to be taken by those in quest
of wealth.
Who will secure 10000 acres wheat
land? Five thousand dollars will do
it. Or secure some tracts of corn land
at $40 an acres years. payment. 1
would finally appeal that some of these
tracts be secured for our people. I'm.
mediate action must be taken. Such
investors may rest assured that thew
will be at no loss. I know of Catho-
lie settlements where the land is so
good and SO cheap that Catholics have
contracted that none but their core.
ligfonists be located there.
Certainly am in favor of Catholic
congress in st. Louis. 1t will be bene.
fetal to the Church and few leaders
is all that is needed for it's success,
REv) j. PHELAN.
1