The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-03-19

900 were Irish, 100000 German, and 100000 of
other nationalities. Without doubt Irish names
figure largely and greatly outclass all others in the
catalogues of bishops and priests for those times
While admitting that other nationalites have con-
tributed generously to the erection of cathedrals,
churches, colleges, converts schools, orphanages
and hospitals it must be conceded that Irish
are preeminently conspicuous in the contrbutory
lists.
| The Irish element has melted into the American,
and the Church in the United States carries the dis
tnctive seal of the American mind and spirit. 9th
er nationalities in two or three generations
lost and disappear in the American, but the Irish
man becomes patriotic American without ceasing
to be an Irishman. He is true to the new land and
faithful to the old. The creation of the Catholic
Church in our country is in the main the work of
the spiritual of ST. Patrick; they are a provi-
Dental people, chosen generation and singled out
by God, his human Instruments when He laid
the foundations of the greatest and most fertile
province of the Kingdom of Christ in the New
World To other nations the opportunity had been
offered, and they were not equal to it; they accom-
plished much, but left much more undone. Cath
Ole France had sent her colonists to North Amer
leo, South and Central America; Catholic Portu-
gal colonized Brazil The French of Canada
in possession of their own, and are loyal to the
faith, but the actual condition of the so-called
Latin republics, today, records how the truths of
God have been despsed and the prerogatives of the
Kingdom of God on earth suffered to perish
The Church in our United States is not alone
expanding, it is already great; its organization is
complete and reaching, its discipline is that of
victorious army and its spirit is instinct with Wig
orous vitality The Church of North America bears
the stamp of its divine Master it is replete with
charity, with apostolic zeal with priesty learning,
with respect for authority, and reverence for the
word OF God. 1t is to the front in the fight for
Christian education, in the erection of Christian
buildings, educational and charitable institutions
and in encouragement of Christian art The
Church in wonderful land stands today the
most conspicuous fact in the religious life of the
American people. We do not pause to declare that,
under God to the Irish belongs the credit. It is
true God prepared them for the battle and the vic
tory In the past, in their own home, God ere
fined them as silver is refined and tried them as
gold is tried" Then the third part brought
through the fire" of persecution He sent forth
equipped for the fight under His own banner, the
Cross of Jesus Christ
He blessed them and their labors, and the re-
suit of these labors calls for our enthusiastic admi
ration. The children and grandchildren of these
Irish veterans these loyal soldiers of the Cross are
retaining the zeal and generosity of their sires In
the battles already won, in the marvellous work ac-
eomplished, and in the instruments employed, we
are reminded of the speech of Moses to Josue: "Do
manfully, be of good heart, for the Lord thy God
he himself is thy leader and will not leave thee. nor
forsake thee fear not, neither be dsmayed"
Assuredy the Church in the United States to-
day is one of the greatest manifestations of the
courage and faith of people numerically insignif-
icant and but yesterday despised, displayed in all
history.
If the children of Irish blood, priests and peo-
pie, of the future, stand true to their flag. they
must increase and multiply and fill the land; but
and we repeat the warning of the Holy Spirit to the
Jewish nations: "If thy heart be turned away, so
that thou wilt not hear and being deceived with err
ror thou adore strange gods and serve them, fore
tell thee this day thy inheritance shall be taken
from thee and thou shalt perish"