Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-05-13
Necessity OF Accurate Catholic
Census Is Noted by the
Prelates.
Colonization Sche me For Immi-
grants Referred to Able
Committee.
METHOD OF HOLDING PROPERTY.

immigration, the revision OF
methods of holding Catholic church
property and the necessity for am ac-
curate Catholic census were among
the more important things discussed
cd the recent meeting of the Catholic
Archbish-ps of the United States at
the Catholic University at Washing
tom, ID. c. lhe meeting followed
that of the meeting of the Board of
Trustees of the Catholic University.
Cardinal Gibbons presided. Other
prelates who We're present were
Archbishop Ireland, of St. Paul;
Archbishop Pitival, " Santa Fe;
Archbishop Farley, of New York;
Archbishop Moeller, of Cincinnau,
Archbishop Quigley, of Chicago;
Archbishop Glennon, of st. Louis:
Archbishop O'Oonnell, of Boston, and
Archbishop Blenk, of New Orleans.
Archbishop Farley was elected Vice
President of the Board OF Trustees
of the Catholic University to succeed
the late Archbishop Ryan. The i'm
per2tive need of 9n accurate Catholic
census was generally discussed, but
all the Archbishops realized that il
was matter that 1nvolved great
obstacles. The chief obstacle is to
secure an accurate census of the i'm
migrants in each diocese. Many of
these are what are known as drifters
For several years after arriving i'm
the United States they drini from
nla M nj
However, the Archbishops hope to
evolve plan that will make the
census as nearly accurate as possible
The Archbishops of New York,
Philadelphia and St. Louis had pre-
pared a report dealing with the
methods of holding church property
in the various dioceses. According
to that report the holding of land by
the various local churches was not
regarded as so beneficial to the
church interests as having all the
church property under the direct
supervision of the Archbishops Ad-
ditional legislation is necessary be-
fore this revision of the methods OF
holding church property is made pos
sible.
The Archbishops also discussed the
matter of directing immigration to
settlements where it would be
brought directly in touch with
church influence. At present the inn
migrants who pour into this country
every year are scattered over a large
portion of territory. With present
facilities 1t is difficult to colonize
these immigrants to the best ad-
vantage of the church and to them
selves. Archbishops Ireland, Mess
mer and GlennCn were appointed a
committee to draft a joint pastoral
letter on the subject. When COM
pleted this pastoral will be circulated
in every diocese In the country The
three prelates VIII are to draft the
joint letter are already at work on
the matter.
These three Arohbishops have
given the subject "a immigration
much thought Each of them is deal
ing with colonies in their respective
provinces, and while the work is not
on an elaborate scale they feel that
progress is being made. Hundreds
of thosnauds of immigrants come to
cur shores every year. The greater
percentage of them are Catholics.
Nearly all are OF the farming class.
In many cases they remain in the
larger cities or else settle In COM
munities where there are no churches
In a short while they drift away or
their children grow up in ignorance
OF the truths OF the faith of their
fathers. AN these matters have been
considered by the Archbishops and
they will try IT, secure a general plan
for colonizing Catholic immigrants In
the West, South and North.