The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-05-18
number at least IS per cent of the
population of Boston.

VI DOSlOI.
The Celt of Boston is not wealthy.
He is thrifty, owns property, and
has over s1oo,ooo,ooO deposited in the
savings banks, and other millions in
real estate mortgages, national banks
and industries, but there is not on ex-
hibition the millionaire fortunes that
dazzle the eyes.
The Celtic wealth is widely dis
tributed. Comparatively few have
amassed million or more to stamp
them as millionaires.
Thus it will be seen that the wealth
is so distributed that while the Celt
cannot be classified as poor and pow
erty- stricken, neither can he be classi-
fled as wealthy
The big families demand that the
purchases be made as cheaply as pos
sible, consequently it is to the depart
ment and other retail stores that the
Celt and his family go when seeking
to purchase the necessaries of life.
Being in the majority, in point Of
population, it must be admitted that
the Celt comprises the majority of the
purchasing public of Boston.
The men whose money is invested
in the big department stores recognize
the fact.
If there is any doubt on this point.
seek out the employees of these stores
and ask who the best statesmen are.
1t will be found that the men of Irish
blood are the best statesmen.
Their superiority is due to two
causes-natural ability to lead and a
wide acquaintance. The wide ac.
quaintance is centered in having the
patronage of men and women Of their
own blood, men and women who are
met at Mass, in church circle. at Cath
olic social events, in the homes and in
the daily activity of life.
The Celtic salesman does not build
up his trade from among the men and
women Of the Back Bay, or the men
and women who attend the Bible
classes Of nom Catholic churches.
These people have their own friends.
The Celt depends on the people he
meets most frequently, and it must be
admitted these people are of the blood
that courses in his own veins and of
the same religious faith.
In the state of Massa chusetts the
proportion of Catholics to all religions
is three to one. In the United States
there are as many Catholics as there
are in Belgium and Portugal together;
one-third as many as in Italy and
Austria Hungary; almost twice as
many as in the United Kingdom, and
tWo-thirds as many as there are in
Germany. The Catholic Church in the
United States has more communicates
than the combined following of the
Mthodists, Baptists. Episcopals, Pres
Jewish churches.
During the ten years covered by
the last census the gain in the Roman
Catholic Church was 80 per cent, with
almost 1000 churches; greater than
the combined gain of all the other re-
ligious denominations, including the
abnormal growth of the Christian
Scientists.
We have in the United States about
10000 priests, with about $4,000 900
Catholics. Based on Bishop Marechars
estimate Of the emigrant population
in 1920, and continuing thereafter by
dfcentennial periods, using the ratio OF
natural increase adopted by Culinary
Shay, the number of Catholics in the
United States at this time should not
be less than 100000, and probably
much more than that. In other words,
anywhere from 100000 Catholics up
wards have been lost to the church in
this country during the last century.
The question as to where these mil
lions of Catholics have gone to, if they
have gone, is more academic than
practical. but we don't want to see
any more go for want of interest in
them. Accepting things as they are,
it is probably true that the 10000 900
Catholics. more or less, in America,
are giant and growing. power